After defeating the Ice Demon, the group rested briefly on the icy plain. Although physically exhausted, Su Ran remained highly focused, knowing that she could not afford to be careless in this perilous environment. The other disciples gradually recovered, emerging from the tense atmosphere of the fierce battle.

Su Ran stood up and looked around. The icy plains remained a vast expanse of silvery white, the wind howling, as if the battle with the Ice Demon had never occurred. But the deep trenches and broken ice on the ground spoke of the ferocity of the fight. She looked down at the Ice Key in her hand, which emitted a ghostly blue light. They had obtained it after overcoming numerous hardships, yet they still had many more keys to find.

"Everyone, cheer up! We can't stay here too long. Although we've repelled the Ice Demon, there might still be other dangers," Su Ran said loudly, his voice firm and powerful, giving the disciples a shot in the arm.

Everyone stood up, packed their belongings, and prepared to continue their journey. The old man walked to Su Ran's side and said in a low voice, "This ice demon is so powerful, and it seems to have a close connection with the restrictions at the bottom of the lake. The road ahead will probably be even more difficult." Su Ran nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a trace of worry, but even more so, determination.

They continued deeper into the ice field, proceeding cautiously. The biting wind whipped their faces like knives, but everyone's attention was focused on their surroundings, almost ignoring the cold. After walking for a while, a sharp-eyed disciple suddenly shouted, "Look, something seems off about that patch of ice ahead!"

Following his pointing finger, everyone looked and saw a patch of ice ahead, its surface a pale purple, starkly contrasting with the surrounding pristine white ice. Su Ran frowned, gesturing for everyone to approach cautiously. As they drew nearer to the purple ice, a strange force washed over them, causing a wave of dizziness.

"This power... seems to be interfering with our spiritual energy," Su Ran said, circulating her spiritual energy in an attempt to resist it. The other disciples also tried, but they all felt their spiritual energy circulation becoming sluggish.

Suddenly, a series of low roars echoed from beneath the purple ice, as if some enormous creature was stirring within. "Not good, everyone retreat!" Su Ran shouted. But it was too late. The purple ice shattered instantly, and a gigantic purple ice beast burst forth from beneath.

This ice beast resembled a Qilin, its body radiating a purple, eerie light. Its eyes burned like two purple flames, filled with a ferocious aura. The ice beast opened its maw, unleashing a jet of purple ice flame towards the group. Su Ran swiftly cast an ice shield, protecting everyone within it. The ice flame struck the shield, producing a hissing sound, and purple ripples spread across the shield's surface, as if it might shatter at any moment.

"This ice beast's power is very strange. Everyone, don't panic, try to find its weakness!" Su Ran shouted. The disciples all cast spells, such as ice spirit sword energy and ice explosion, towards the ice beast. However, when these spells hit the ice beast, they only splashed some purple ice shards, seemingly causing little damage to it.

The ice beast seemed enraged. In a flash, it appeared before a disciple, its massive claws lashing out. The disciple couldn't dodge in time and was slashed on the arm by the beast's claws, blood staining the ice. Seeing this, Su Ran's heart tightened. She used her movement technique to quickly reach the ice beast, her ice sword aimed at its leg. The ice beast roared in pain and turned to sweep its tail at Su Ran. Su Ran quickly leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Just as everyone was locked in a fierce battle with the ice beast, the old man carefully observed its movements. He noticed that before each powerful attack, the purple flames in the ice beast's eyes would flash intensely. "Everyone, pay attention! The ice beast's eyes change before it attacks. We can use this opportunity to dodge and counterattack!" the old man shouted.

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed. Just as the ice beast was about to attack again, Su Ran keenly noticed the purple flames flashing in its eyes. She shouted, "Quick, dodge!" Everyone scattered in all directions. The ice beast's attack missed, and Su Ran seized the opportunity to cast an ice-based binding spell. Chains of ice rose from the ground, binding the ice beast's limbs.

The ice beast struggled fiercely, its ice chains cracking as if they might snap at any moment. Seizing this opportunity, the other disciples unleashed powerful ice spells, attacking the beast's head. Under their assault, the ice beast roared in agony.

Suddenly, the ice beast's purple light intensified, and it broke free from its ice chains. The ice beast glared angrily at the crowd, opening its maw to form a massive purple ice sphere. This sphere contained terrifying power, emanating a powerful aura of death from which everyone felt its presence.

The enormous purple ice ball spun rapidly within the ice beast's mouth, emitting a chilling buzzing sound, distorting and warping the surrounding air with its powerful suction. Su Ran inwardly cried out in alarm, knowing that if this attack were unleashed, the group would be utterly unable to withstand it.

"Everyone, don't scatter! Concentrate your spiritual power and unleash your full defensive spells!" Su Ran shouted as he poured his own spiritual power into the ice shield without reservation. Hearing this, the disciples quickly gathered together, continuously channeling their spiritual power into the shield. The old man also frowned, his hands rapidly forming hand seals as he chanted incantations. An ancient ice rune flew from his palm, merging into the shield and adding to its resilience.

The purple ice ball hurtled towards the group like a meteor, slamming into the shield instantly. In a flash, light burst forth, and a deafening roar echoed across the icy plain. The powerful impact caused the shield to tremble violently, its runes flickering as if it might shatter at any moment. Su Ran and the others gritted their teeth and persevered, large beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads, their faces as pale as paper from the excessive depletion of their spiritual energy.

Just as the shield was about to shatter under the strain, something strange happened. The ice beast seemed to be suddenly restrained by a mysterious force, and its ferocious attack came to an abrupt halt. The power of the purple ice ball was greatly reduced, and after only a brief stalemate, it shattered into countless tiny ice shards with a "bang," scattering in all directions.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the ice beast, noticing a hint of fear in its previously ferocious eyes, and its massive body trembling slightly. Then, the ice beast turned and fled desperately into the distance, quickly disappearing from their sight.

"What... what happened?" a disciple asked, his face full of confusion. Just a moment ago, they were on the verge of death, but in the blink of an eye, the crisis had inexplicably been resolved.

Su Ran was also bewildered, but she had a vague feeling that some mysterious force was controlling things behind the scenes. "Never mind that for now, everyone check your injuries," Su Ran said. The others then came to their senses and began checking their own and their companions' injuries. Fortunately, thanks to the ice-type shields, although everyone had expended a great deal of spiritual energy, none of them were in mortal danger.

After a period of rest, the group regained some of their physical and spiritual strength. Su Ran looked at the surrounding icy plains, pondering her next move. Suddenly, she noticed that the purple ice surface where the ice beast had appeared was now emitting an even more intense purple light, with ancient runes faintly visible within the light.

"Everyone, follow me and let's see what's going on over there," Su Ran said, taking the lead towards the purple ice surface. The others followed cautiously behind her, filled with both curiosity and a hint of wariness.

As they approached the purple ice surface again, the mysterious power reappeared, but this time it lacked its previous aggressiveness. Su Ran circulated his spiritual energy, attempting to sense the source of this power. Just then, the runes on the ice surface suddenly shone brightly, and a huge teleportation array slowly emerged. The teleportation array was covered with various strange patterns and runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

"Could this be a teleportation array leading to some mysterious ruin?" The old man looked at the teleportation array, a hint of surprise and worry flashing in his eyes. He was surprised that they might find more clues about the Ice Key in the ruins; he was worried that countless unknown dangers must be hidden within the ruins.

Su Ran pondered for a moment and said, "We have overcome countless hardships and dangers on our journey. Now that we have discovered this teleportation array, it may be the opportunity for us to find the next Ice Key. If everyone is willing, we can enter together. But I must remind everyone that the dangers inside are unpredictable, so please be careful."

The disciples exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with determination. Having followed Su Ran this far, they considered the search for the Ice Key their mission. "Senior Sister, we'll go with you!" one disciple exclaimed, and the others nodded in agreement.

Su Ran smiled with satisfaction, then led everyone into the teleportation array. Once everyone stepped inside, the runes shone brightly, enveloping them in a powerful beam of light. Immediately afterward, they felt dizzy and disoriented, as if pulled by a powerful force, being teleported to an unknown destination.

After an unknown amount of time, the light gradually faded, and the group found themselves in a huge ice cave. The cave walls were inlaid with countless crystals emitting a soft glow, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime. Huge stalactites hung from the cave ceiling, each with a unique shape, some like sharp swords, others like lotus flowers, a breathtaking sight.

However, the group had no time to appreciate the strange beauty. They cautiously surveyed their surroundings, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to face any potential danger. Just then, a low roar echoed from the depths of the cave, sending chills down their spines.