As expected, it wasn’t long before Yun Xiao called Gu Xiaoxi, urgently saying, "Headquarters is gathering everyone for a meeting. Hurry back."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Xiaoxi went straight to Quan Shaoqing, who then escorted her back to her home at the International Alliance.
Yun Xiao was already waiting for her at the doorstep of her house.
Afterward, Gu Xiaoxi led her team to the meeting.
In this moment of strict propriety, Mr. Luo also wore a solemn expression.
Inside the meeting room, the bright light from the glass lamps illuminated the faces of each serious person seated there.
In the Snow Country, the situation had become increasingly serious.
The International Alliance had sent six teams, but none had returned, an unprecedented event.
The number of casualties had risen sharply, greatly affecting the International Alliance.
Moreover, if this issue couldn’t be resolved, the reputation of the International Alliance would also be damaged.
Even though the Snow Country had raised the bounty to six billion, everyone was still considering whether or not to go.
The atmosphere at the meeting became very heavy after Mr. Luo’s speech.
"Is there anyone willing to go?" Mr. Luo asked.
Jing Rui and Gu Xiaoxi, sitting together, discussed for a moment and decided to go together.
So, the two of them raised their hands.
This action caused everyone present to reveal looks of disdain.
Even if Gu Xiaoxi had shone brightly in the previous mission involving the Rat King, this mission was clearly much more dangerous than the last.
They didn’t believe she could be as formidable as last time, having won by luck.
Even with Jing Rui by her side, it wasn’t certain they could complete the mission successfully.
Apart from Gu Xiaoxi, no one else spoke.
"I am willing to go!" Gu Xiaoxi stood up, her gaze resolute.
Mr. Luo observed her for a while and then turned to Jing Rui, saying, "Have you thought this through? This mission will surely be more dangerous than the last."
Jing Rui nodded just as firmly, "Yes, I have thought it through."
Since no one else in the room was willing to go and Jing Rui and Gu Xiaoxi agreed, Mr. Luo could only bid them well and wish them success on the mission.
If even the International Alliance couldn’t resolve the situation, then things were truly serious.
The meeting concluded.
Gu Xiaoxi and Jing Rui began their preparations to rush to the Snow Country.
Behind Iceland, the Snow Country, perpetually blanketed with snow, is home to people who all make their living by fishing.
Despite that, the people of the Snow Country were quite wealthy.
Before departing, Gu Xiaoxi led her team to purchase some weapons.
Then, they took a flight to the Snow Country.
All the way, she pondered whether to call Ya.
With him around, their odds of succeeding in the mission would be greater.
She wasn’t going there to die.
Facing certain unsolvable unknowns, he had more experience than she did.
Finally, the plane landed in the Snow Country.
Gu Xiaoxi still called to invite Ya to join them, and regarding the reward, she could share a portion with him after completing the mission.
She also informed Quan Shaoqing about this.
For now, his intervention wasn’t necessary.
However, upon hearing the news, Quan Shaoqing was worried about her safety.
He entrusted the matters at hand to Lin Mi and then went to join Gu Xiaoxi in the Snow Country to prepare for their entry into Snow Mountain.
To uncover the secret of the lost people.
He too sensed that this matter was indeed out of the ordinary.
Ya did not refuse; as long as Gu Xiaoxi needed him, he would do his best to help her.
Upon arrival in the Snow Country, Jing Rui’s team and Gu Xiaoxi’s team gathered together.
After collecting some information about Snow Mountain, they began leading their people up into the mountains.
On the way, both Gu Xiaoxi and Quan Shaoqing wore thick down jackets.
Counting it up, this was the first time they were fighting side by side.
"Shaoqing, don’t you feel that this whole thing is very strange?" Gu Xiaoxi furrowed her brows, gazing at the expanse of white snow; the car couldn’t advance. They had no choice but to proceed on foot up the mountain.
Quan Shaoqing breathed out a sigh, his handsome face cold and resolute, "I too have noticed. This isn’t a normal occurrence. People don’t just vanish into thin air, nor should electronic devices fail to find any trace."
"That’s why, I’m worried there might be a barrier!" Gu Xiaoxi said gravely.
Ya followed them, and at this time, he was also observing the surroundings.
Even someone as powerful as him felt uneasy.
Ya suddenly stopped, looking deep into Snow Mountain, his tone serious, "I see it. In the depths of Snow Mountain, there definitely is a barrier."
"What?" Everyone turned to look at him simultaneously, their expressions grave.
At this moment, no one doubted Ya’s capabilities.
Gu Xiaoxi straightened up, infusing her eyes with Spiritual Energy, and soon she too saw a blueish glow not far away.
A blue glow that covered a substantial area.
"And it’s one I cannot unravel!" Ya added.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. If even Ya couldn’t undo the barrier, it implied that the person who had set it up was extremely powerful, far more so than the Rat King they had encountered before.
"Should we still go?" Jing Rui clenched his fists, his expression tense. At least they had discovered the danger before going in.
At that moment, everyone looked toward Gu Xiaoxi.
Gu Xiaoxi stood tall, looking toward the blue barrier not far away.
From the outside, it was impossible to see anything within, only an icy blue haze.
If one relied on the naked eye, they’d only see a vast expanse of a white snowfield.
At this point, Gu Xiaoxi was uncertain.
If they didn’t enter, should they watch as people of the world gradually disappeared?
Allow the person inside the barrier to steadily grow stronger?
"This place is not friendly territory!" Ya warned again.
Gu Xiaoxi took a deep breath, turned to look at everyone, "Shaoqing and I will go in and take a look. The rest of you go back first!"
She knew how to measure risks and wouldn’t proceed blindly.
Quan Shaoqing possessed the ability for Spatial Teleportation, and she had both Inner Strength and Cultivation; ordinary people couldn’t do anything to her.
Seeing that she was determined to go, Ya also stepped forward, his tone serious, "I’ll join you! The three of us will go ahead and scout the situation. If it can be solved, the three of us will surely do so. If not, bringing everyone along would only be troublesome."
Jing Rui agreed that they were unlike Gu Xiaoxi in strength. If they went in, they would only be a burden to them.
"Then be careful. We’ll wait for you outside," Jing Rui didn’t contend.
The others, like Yun Xiao, only expressed their worry to Gu Xiaoxi, "Make sure to come back safely."
Gu Xiaoxi gave them a reassuring look, nodding, "Don’t worry, I will! With Shaoqing and Ya here, not many people can trouble us."
Afterward, Jing Rui led the others to establish a base on the perimeter, waiting for their return.
Gu Xiaoxi, Quan Shaoqing, and Ya, the three were ready to investigate further.