Chapter 258

Chapter 258: Time Flies Swiftly

A year had passed since the division of Vergha. During this period, the Frost Rose Alliance had not only been actively investigating the suddenly emerging nation of Clancia but also extended its influence to other countries within the Snowflower Seven Nations.

According to their initial plan, they should have annexed Vergha last year, quickly taken control of Westwind, established a foothold in the center, and then expanded outward. They were supposed to swiftly integrate the Snowflower Seven Nations before Cangcui launched any offensive.

The plan was sound. Vergha had infiltrated deeply, and some factions within Westwind had defected to them after its corruption. Various issues existed in the other countries as well.

However, unexpected events always came unexpectedly. Small civilian uprisings that had once been minor quickly spread across the northern part of Westwind. These uprisings then moved to different regions, even miraculously defeating the legendary Storm Knights of Westwind. This shattered the pillars of Westwind, causing the already unstable structure to collapse. The Frost Rose Alliance, originally planning to advance northward, was suddenly blocked by Hope Lane. Their old rivals, the Chrysanthemum Council, also intervened, preventing them from advancing easily.

In the face of such circumstances, the newly established Frost Rose Alliance internally saw many differing opinions. Some factions began considering reconciliation with the Chrysanthemum Council, hoping to form alliances with various countries to jointly resist the threat from Cangcui.

But there were also radical factions that did not agree with this view, believing that this was merely reversing history. They had founded the Frost Rose Alliance precisely to unite the Snowflower Seven Nations. Otherwise, what was the difference from the past? They would still be suppressed by Cangcui, living in constant anxiety.

Reconciliationists remained a minority. Most factions still supported continuing with the original plan to integrate the Snowflower Seven Nations. They also started mobilizing their hidden agents in other countries, leading to the spread of documents promoting the Frost Rose Alliance’s ideas.

Through studying the rise of Clancia, they learned to use professional personnel to spread their own ideologies, gain recognition from people in other countries, and unite them. Due to previous setbacks, they also retreated somewhat, ceding some rights. As long as other countries joined, they could enjoy corresponding rights within the united Frost Rose Alliance.

They claimed that in the future, the Frost Rose Alliance would no longer be divided by countries but by districts. Each district would establish a governorate, which would be centrally managed. The central authority would be the Frost Parliament, whose members would be leaders from various factions elected by residents. The Speaker would be replaced every six years through parliamentary elections.

It’s worth noting that each vote was not equal. This involved a relatively complex calculation model. In general, the more wealth one possessed and the higher their Sequence, the more votes they had. A Sequence 7 vote might be equivalent to thousands of ordinary citizens’ votes.

This was fundamentally different from Clancia. Although Clancia also had elections, it was generally dominated by professional bureaucratic institutions. Various departments managed their respective fields, and employment was competitive, based on examination results and achievements.

Although it wasn’t immediately apparent, over time, these fundamental differences would inevitably lead to different ideologies, ultimately forming two completely different nations.

Thus, letters and documents carrying the ideology of the Frost Rose Alliance began circulating among the remaining countries in the Snowflower Seven Nations. Many middle-ranking officials and power figures were attracted by the vision and beauty described in these documents.

Under the traditional framework, powerful Extraordinary Beings and wealthy individuals, due to bloodline, birth, or lack of opportunities, could only serve the traditional upper echelons. However, this time, the documents of the Frost Rose Alliance offered them hope and expectations.

These people were not uneducated poor folk; they mostly held certain powers and resources but were constrained by their origins and status. Now, the Frost Rose Alliance offered them a banner of justice.

Fight against the Cangcui Empire, uniting under one flag.

If you do not agree, you are considered a stubborn conservative, only concerned with your own interests. Standing on a moral high ground, you criticize anything they do, lowering and undermining their prestige.

For a while, the Snowflower Seven Nations were in turmoil, with hidden currents surging.

—

For now, ignoring the tumultuous events outside, Lolan Hill concluded her brief adventure, harvesting many ice cup flowers and a pearl-grade Extraordinary Gemstone.

Before leaving, she and Yixuegelin worked together to elevate some ice cup flowers to Natural Sequence 5·Cold Moon Ice Cup Flowers (rare pearl grade). The fruits produced were much more potent than before.

By the time she returned to the Maple Sect Courtyard, it was deep autumn.

Looking at the fallen leaves piled in the forest and the bleak autumn wind blowing over the green rocks, Lolan Hill slowly landed on a tall amber maple tree.

There was no time left. She could only wait until next time for that spot in the southeast.

Caressing the rough bark with intricate patterns, she slowly sat down, watching the wind sweep across the forest and leaves gently falling. Only when the sun set did she return to the house.

After taking a good bath, changing into comfortable pajamas, and combing her hair—this adventure had singed some of her hair, but recovery was quick.

She didn’t feel like moving much in the evening. She simply cooked some vegetable soup and crawled into bed.

After a fierce battle in the forest and helping Yixuegelin relocate and cultivate ice cup flowers, the already weakened girl felt utterly exhausted. Wasn’t it supposed to be a holiday? Why did she feel more exhausted than school?

So tired…

After stretching lazily, the girl yawned and fell into a deep sleep.

The night breeze rustled through the courtyard branches, making a soft sound.

The next day at noon, the sun rose high, shining into the small room of the wooden house. After dawdling in bed for a while, Lolan Hill slowly got up.

With limited holidays and unfinished business, she patted her cheeks to regain some energy and got out of bed, starting to wash up.

Today’s task was to develop a new potion. Even though she knew several suitable formulas, many details and effects still needed testing.

In the afternoon, Lolan Hill sat in the alchemy lab carefully mixing various reagents. The table was filled with alchemical test tubes, beakers, and bottles.

As the fire burned quietly, the potion in the glass tube gradually changed color from blue to green, and then from green to deeper shades, casting colorful shadows on the table under the sunlight.

Lolan Hill carefully controlled the heat and added a trace of ice-blue powder, a product of crushed ice cup flower fruits.

With the addition of the powder, the color turned back to green and deepened. Then, she added juice from amber fruits to neutralize and enhance its properties.

Finally, she completed the first vial of the Extraordinary Potion, which seemed to have snowflakes floating within. She named it Ice Cup Potion No. 1.

At this point, the sky grew dark.

Rubbing her slightly dizzy head, the girl stepped out of the house and watched the sunset slowly descend.

I can’t go on anymore. I’m getting old and feel like retiring. Sitting on the steps under the eaves, the girl sighed about the fleeting nature of time.

— Special thanks to readers like Huan Meng Fan Xing, Lunzzz, Shi Mi Ri Shi, Luo Yu MK, Yong Yuan Bei Ming Gu Ao De Xiao Zi Meng Lin Li, Jian Wen Xin Shen, and Shu You 20181030065944622 for their support.

— Special thanks to Huan Meng Fan Xing and Lunzzz for their support.

— End of Chapter