Chapter 181 – Frost and Snow Festival

Regardless of how many conspiracies had already unfolded, or how many heroic tales were currently unfolding, time flowed ceaselessly forward like an unending torrent, without the slightest pause.

For Formal-Level beings with their long lifespans, a week was but a fleeting moment. Unconsciously, the week Punk had agreed upon with Bloodclaw had passed, and the Frostfall Festival had quietly arrived.

The annual Frostfall Festival was typically held during the final weeks of the Coldwinter season. On this day, people celebrated the passing of the harsh winter, bid farewell to the cold and merciless Frostmaiden Sinya (a Lesser Divine Power deity), then prepared unique icy delicacies, donned splendid garments usually kept for special occasions, and finally enjoyed the chilled treats while singing and dancing alongside the handsome priests of the Frost Church.

Moreover, since Sunset City’s Sword Saint Grand General Vic was a devout follower of the Frostmaiden Sinya, preparations for Sunset City’s Frostfall Festival had begun a full month in advance.

Through the diligent efforts of several Apprentice-Level priests, Sunset City had been completely transformed within a single week. Beautiful snowflake decorations adorned every corner, colorful ribbons were tied to trees lining the streets, snow piles along the roadsides were sculpted into adorable snowmen, and paper-cut snowflakes hung densely from the eaves of homes and shops.

The Coldwinter season painted Sunset City in cool tones, but the Frostfall Festival added a vibrant splash of vitality to the icy palette.

Early this morning, people from all walks of life – merchants, Nobles, farmers – eagerly rose from their warm beds. Children carefully donned small silver hats while adults straightened snowflake-shaped badges, everyone cheerfully taking to the streets. Meanwhile, vendors along Sunset City’s bustling avenues had already prepared an array of exquisite delicacies to welcome their customers.

“I must admit, these delicious foods are truly no worse than Earth’s fast food. And with such diverse seasonings, they simply surpass anything Earth’s restaurants could offer!”

Punk nibbled slowly on the food he had just purchased, his heart filled with admiration.

With several hours remaining until the festival’s main event – the “Frostfall Ceremony” – arriving too early might make Bloodclaw suspect some trap. Thus Punk leisurely strolled through the streets, savoring both the specialty foods and the dazzling sights of the Frostfall Festival.

Currently, Punk held a box of peculiar jelly that emitted cold mist, white and crystalline. This Sunset City specialty called “Frostfruit” used various fruits as ingredients, frozen in the cold weather into this translucent semi-solid state that made one’s mouth water just looking at it.

Gently scraping a portion of the “Frostfruit” with a small spoon into his mouth, a refreshing coolness spread between his lips and teeth. The subtle fruit fragrance was invigorating, while the sweetness released upon biting into it was richly aromatic. The jelly’s texture was smooth and delightful, its flavor perfectly preserving the gently cool sweetness.

“Mmm, much better than dry rations!”

Without ceremony, Punk quickly finished all the “Frostfruit” in several bites.Since arriving in Sunset City, Punk had been eating dry rations for over five years. One must know that as a half-Ancient Elf, he actually had a great fondness for sweet fruits.

Besides the sweet “Icefrost Fruit,” Punk had also tasted treats like wind-dried fruit preserves coated with winter honey, “Snowflake Bowls” similar to Earth’s shaved ice, and even “Frostfruit Puree” that resembled an otherworldly version of ice cream.

Of course, most of these delicacies were considered noble foods—unquestionable luxuries that even minor nobles could rarely afford. But for Punk, who had plundered much wealth from Doleiz City, they were mere trifles.

Thus, while enjoying these delicacies, Punk made his way to the plaza at the center of Sunset City. Unlike usual days when no one lingered, nearly ten thousand people had gathered here now. The nobles stood in the front rows, while the commoners watched from afar.

On the stage at the very center of the plaza, several youthful and vibrant Frostsnow Church priestesses were performing. They danced energetically while unabashedly showcasing their proud figures, occasionally casting one or two dazzling cantrip-like divine spells that elicited uncontrollable cheers from the children in the crowd.

The dancers’ slender, snow-white thighs were adorned with vibrant patterns, and white accessories embellished their bright silver short skirts and blouses, making them appear like ice spirits emerging from snowy plains—ethereal, stunningly beautiful, and utterly transcendent.

The dancers, combined with the scattered snowflakes and light effects created by divine spells, along with the ethereal music, transformed Sunset City’s plaza into a breathtakingly beautiful winter wonderland.

Almost everyone in the audience was captivated by the exquisite dance, with even some women utterly enchanted by the beautiful performance.

However, Punk paid no attention to the dancing girls on stage, nor was he interested in those low-level cantrips. In fact, he was silently grumbling to himself:

“Is dancing really the only way Fearun celebrates festivals? The Emerald Festival was like this, and now the Frostsnow Festival is the same—just with a different dance style. How convenient!”

Though Punk had been watching for a while, his main focus was on the Formal-Level Sword Saint—Vic—sitting below the stage.

After a brief observation, Punk concluded that the rumors about this Sword Saint were quite accurate. Though he couldn’t probe the other’s specific class level, Punk could sense through intuitive danger perception that this guy’s level was no lower than his own, possibly even comparable to Tisha Xia’er, the mastermind behind Doleiz City.

Moreover… the massive two-handed broadsword he leaned on—”Wind-Bathing Punisher”—was unquestionably Master-level equipment, possibly even superior in quality to the Master-level Robe Punk wore.

“Indeed, it was wise not to provoke this guy recklessly.”

Punk took a deep look at the Sword Saint, thinking with no small amount of wariness.He decided to find Bloodclaw as soon as possible and head to Black Fort. Although the shielding ability of the Haitzita Magic Box was trustworthy, lingering under the watchful eyes of an unknown powerful enemy was still too risky. Most importantly… he hadn’t yet collected the two Doclayna Man-Eating Fruits that Bloodclaw owed him!

However, since Vic was sitting at the front desk watching the dance, Punk couldn’t freely expand his perception to search. He had no choice but to cast “Visual Clarity” on himself and swiftly weave through the crowd looking for Bloodclaw.

Though the plaza was densely packed with people, Punk easily parted the crowded masses with an Apprentice-Level “Minor Deflection Field.” Moreover, even Nobles would quietly shut their mouths after being pushed aside upon seeing a mage, so Punk’s movement through the crowd wasn’t particularly difficult.

Combined with a Formal-Level Mage’s powerful photographic memory and the System’s analytical capabilities, it took Punk less than an hour to locate Bloodclaw in the crowd!

However, unlike Punk who had no interest in the Frost Snow Festival… this debtor appeared far more cheerful than his “creditor.”

(End of Chapter)