Chapter 17: Yaoxing Academy 17 Part 2

Lu Zhou, realizing what he’d just agreed to: “…”

He whipped around, broke into a sprint, and dashed off in one fluid motion, leaving only the image of his flushed neck in Xun Ji’s eyes.

Xun Ji laughed in place for a bit, but as he watched that receding figure, his smile gradually faded.

Ice Cellar Segment.

Whether his Task succeeded hinged on these final 2 kilometers.

The Ice Cellar Segment had been remodeled from a wartime relic at the mountain’s base, with its entrance at the bottom of the Ice Waterfall. The full length was 2 kilometers, all underground.

Originally, the Ice Cellar was a massive underground armory divided into two levels: the first underground level for storing weapons, and the second for freezing corpses and preserving special materials in a giant freezer.

Now, of course, there were no weapons or bodies inside. Yaoxing Academy had once considered turning it into an underground parking lot, but to preserve the Winter Sports Meet’s unique track features, they’d shelved the plan.

Competitors had to descend from the first underground level along the prepared ice path to the second, reach the final certification point, loop back to the first level, and exit the Ice Cellar toward the finish line.

This stretch was entirely artificially poured, quite flat and easy to navigate—far more relaxed than the previous downhill paths, ice bridges, and waterfalls. It was designed specifically for the final sprint.

The only challenge was the temperature.

The Ice Cellar track tested the Ice Marathon competitors’ cold resistance. The entire facility was colder than the surface, especially the second underground level. Though some refrigeration equipment had failed from age, it still lived up to its “Ice Cellar” name. Racers had to conserve energy and blast through quickly to avoid depletion from the low temperatures.

But for Lu Zhou, this wasn’t bad news at all. His days working at the Ice Factory had not only built his stamina but greatly enhanced his cold tolerance.

As he entered the Ice Cellar track, the temperature plunged, and visibility dimmed. Perhaps to heighten the tension, the lighting was minimal.

Lu Zhou ignored it all, maintaining his speed. Right now, he focused solely on reaching the finish line fast.

Descending from the first to the second underground level, the temperature dropped further. The heat from exertion was swiftly devoured by the surrounding chill—even Lu Zhou felt some discomfort. Fortunately, the final certification point was right ahead.

Guided by the ice path into a narrow ice chamber, Lu Zhou spotted the certification machine in the center, flanked by familiar Salute Cannons. Naturally, as a “reward” near the end, it had appeared here.

At the Ice Cellar track entrance, a few competitors clustered in small groups. In a normal Ice Marathon, they would have been Lu Zhou’s rivals for the medals.

But now, Xun Ji had blocked them all outside the Ice Cellar track.

“Young Master Xun, this is my first Ice Marathon. Let me in to experience the Ice Cellar Segment,” one racer pleaded eagerly. “Lu Zhou’s way ahead—I can’t catch him anyway.”

“Do you fear pain?” Xun Ji asked him.

The racer blinked and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Then stay out.” Xun Ji said.

Lu Zhou approached the certification machine and pulled on his cold-weather suit’s hood to avoid the golden confetti from the Salute Cannon drenching his head later.

“What does Young Master Xun mean?” the racer whispered to his companion.

“Just stay put like he said,” the companion hissed lowly. “Don’t piss off Young Master Xun.”

The racer sneaked a glance at Xun Ji’s expressionless face, unable to tell if he was pleased or not.

Lu Zhou positioned his Ice Claw Shoes on the certification device’s marked spots.

“Beep—You have reached the 10-kilometer mark. Please complete facial recognition.”

[Host, can your plan succeed?] The System’s tone carried worry.

Xun Ji looked up at the sky. Clear skies stretched endlessly, the sun shone warmly, and faint cheers drifted from nearby event areas.

Yaoxing Academy bustled with harmony.

“Recognition complete.”

A massive repulsive force instantly launched from beneath his feet, hurling Lu Zhou airborne. Spiderweb cracks raced outward from where he’d stood.

“Bang!” The Salute Cannon detonated.

The cracks sped toward a nearby support pillar. The enormous ice column shattered like tofu.

“…Congratulations. Your current ranking is…”

Lu Zhou’s face drained of color. He clutched his ears and collapsed to the ground.

The fractured pillar tore through the thickly frozen ceiling, which split open like a gaping maw, revealing frigid, icicle fangs.

“…First place!”

The rumbling collapse didn’t reach Lu Zhou’s ears.

The moment the Salute Cannon burst, a violent pulse slammed his eardrums. The surging disorientation made him lose control of his body instantly. His expression blanked, the world reduced to a piercing, unending ringing.

“Congratulations… Congratulations…”

Countless icicles rained down like knives.

An icicle pierced the certification machine, toppling it onto Lu Zhou with repeating noise.

Lu Zhou felt something sharp stab into his right ear.

It didn’t hurt. Just cold.

He didn’t know what had happened in that split second.

He couldn’t hear anything.

No—he could still hear the ringing. An eternal ringing.

The Salute Cannon had been tampered with, he realized. This final one caused deafness on detonation.

Yan Feng again?

And why did the ice pillar collapse… The ceiling too… So many icicles falling.

Thinking of the icicles, Lu Zhou finally understood what had pierced his ear. He wanted to touch it but belatedly realized how cold it was—too cold for his limbs to move.

Something thick and sticky oozed from his ear, soaking his hair. It felt disgusting.

The machine pinning him was heavy, making it hard to breathe.

The situation was bad. As consciousness faded completely, one last thought flashed through Lu Zhou’s mind.

Looks like I can’t bring him the gold medal.