The chapter opens with a brief description of the events of the previous chapter. In this chapter, we are introduced to a new character, the ice mage, who is on his way from the Mingyue Empire to the Aolan Empire's capital. He is accompanied by three other members of the empire's elite mages guild. The three of them are planning to travel to the capital to deliver a message to the Emperor. The ice-mage asks the three members of his guild what they need to do to get there. They reply that they need seadustick and the "to avoid unwanted troubles" . He asks if they are high-level mages, and they reply that he must be a "high - level" mage. He tells them that he can kill the enemy with the same magic source as they are still casting spells, and that he will surely die if he cannot strike them. They tell him that once the army is on its way, they will let him go at ease. He then shows them the insignia of his country's mage guild. He explains that he was ordered by the Emperor to deliver the message. He says that he is not really from the empire, but a colleague. He also tells the three of his countrymen that they are in a "special situation" because the Emperor has declared war on them. He adds that there are five great empires in the world, but only one wants to annex another. The peace of the continent is maintained by such a "delicate balance of power" between them. The huarong Empire has three fire mages, the only country on the continent that does not need to respect the ice- holy high priestess. The only country that needs to show respect is the "bingyue empire" because it has only one divine mage and no other divine mages. The Aolan empire has a powerful army