Final Battle - 2

Inside the stronghold, everyone was either adjusting their breathing or checking their personal magical artifacts, and the air was filled with the tension of an impending battle.

Gui Tiao was clearly not used to it. He quietly ran to the supplies area and soon came back with a leather bag. He went to the fire and started taking out a special kind of honey made by the Changfeng Sect while muttering incantations.

"Sect Leader Ji, one." He respectfully handed it to Ji Wang.

"Me, one." He happily saved one for himself.

"Lord Bujiu, one." He carefully placed it on the low table beside Bujiu.

"I'll have one more." He stuffed another one into his pocket.

“Mr. Huaiqing…” He picked up the next candy, and just as he turned to look for Huaiqing, he found that the pocket where he had been sitting was empty.

Looking up again, I saw You Hang holding a bag in his hand, expressionlessly handing it out to Huai Qing and the Jiehai Mountain tribesmen beside him.

"Hey—Youhang!" Gui Tiao exclaimed anxiously, "You took them all! I haven't finished dividing them yet!"

You Hang glanced at him and said slowly, "What kind of way is this? 'One for me, one for myself,' aren't you afraid of choking?"

She pointed to the two pieces of candy that Gui Tiao was already holding: "These are enough to satisfy your cravings. The rest should naturally be shared with those who need them more. Besides..." She glanced at the candy with a hint of disdain, "This candy is terribly cloying."

Gui Tiao was rendered speechless by her words, and said sullenly, "I was just trying to lighten the mood..."

Ji Wang laughed at his appearance and stuffed the candy in his hand into Bu Jiu's mouth, who was chewing with his cheeks puffed out: "Gui Tiao, your way of dividing things looks quite lively at first glance. People who don't know better might think you're practicing some kind of unique counting technique."

Upon hearing this, even Bu Jiu's lips twitched slightly.

Ji Wang said in a relaxed tone, "Our Gui Tiao is kind-hearted and thinks everyone should get a share, which is a good thing. After this is over, I'll treat you to a good meal when we get back, and I'll make sure you're full."

Although Gui Tiao blushed from the teasing, her eyes lit up when she heard about the delicious food: "Then it's a deal."

Rest time slips away in the blink of an eye amidst these everyday moments.

The three regrouped at the cave entrance. You Hang and Gui Tiao followed them out, both with identical expressions of worry on their faces.

Seeing that the three were about to set off, Gui Tiao finally couldn't help but exchange a glance with You Hang, and they unanimously agreed, asking at the same time, "Are you sure you don't need us to come along?"

Gui Tiao's tone was one of pure worry and unease.

You Hang was more rational: "At least let us provide support from the outside? In case the internal situation changes..."

Ji Wang waved his hand: "No need, no need, really no need."

He looked at the two promising young men from prominent sects: "You two are the apple of your sects' eye, their future successors. Even we ourselves can't guarantee anything about this trip in. If you were to stumble and fall, get injured..."

He deliberately put on a lingering fearful expression: "From your sect leader and master to those watchdogs kept in the sect, they'll probably line up to slap me every time they come to Bu Nian Temple. My humble sect can't withstand that kind of treatment."

This analogy was truly absurd. Gui Tiao was taken aback and subconsciously retorted, "Our sect doesn't keep dogs."

You Hang was also somewhat amused and exasperated by Ji Wang's words, but he understood that Ji Wang didn't want them to take any risks.

"Sect Leader Ji..." She wanted to persuade him again.

"Alright." Bu Jiu interrupted her before she could finish speaking. He glanced at Ji Wang, seemingly somewhat exasperated by his joking way of refusing, then looked at You Hang and Gui Tiao, and said succinctly: "There are many people, and the commotion is great. The situation inside is unclear. What we need is concealment, not a chaotic battle. Your presence here, guarding the retreat route, is the greatest help you can provide."

Huaiqing also gently advised, "The environment deep in the Ice Abyss is unique, and too many people can easily hinder each other. With Elder Mi Quan here to oversee things, it is equally important for the two of you to assist them in stabilizing the outer perimeter and coordinating any necessary support."

Seeing that all three parties involved had made their stance clear and their reasons sound, You Hang and Gui Tiao, though unwilling, had no choice but to remain silent. Gui Tiao lowered his head and muttered, "Then you two be very careful."

As soon as the three landed outside the ice cave, they felt a chill and oppression several times stronger than the surrounding area.

The interior is winding and twisting, the ground is covered with solid ice and protruding icicles, and small ice chips fall from above from time to time.

However, in this extremely harsh environment, the two figures were light and swift, barely touching the ground, and with a few leaps and bounds among the jagged ice walls, they left Ji Wang a little distance behind.

Bu Jiu almost blended into the shadows, his movements only accompanied by the faint sound of his clothes rustling in the wind and the occasional pale golden afterimage reflected from his earrings.

Huaiqing moved nimbly between the ice walls, seemingly unhurried, but her speed was by no means slow.

The two stood close together, one in front of the other, their movements almost competitive, like a childish contest that had just begun.

Ji Wang followed behind, watching the two figures chasing each other, and couldn't help but call out to remind them: "Hey, you two in front... slow down! Watch where you're going! There's so much ice, it's not pretty to fall... Seriously, how old are you, still racing like this?"

In the brief moment between spinning around a giant ice pillar, Huaiqing still had the energy to turn around and smile at Ji Wang: "Xiao Bao, you never said that when you took us out to travel and do business before. You always complained that we were too slow and rushed us."

Ji Wang was taken aback by the sudden mention of the past, but he didn't stop walking. He laughed and scolded, "How can that be the same? How old were you back then? Hundreds of years have passed now!"

Although Bu Jiu did not turn around, he paused slightly, as if waiting for Ji Wang to come forward. Seeing this, Huai Qing also slowed down and walked side by side with Bu Jiu.

The atmosphere, however, was less somber than when they were heading into a dangerous place, thanks to the brief joke and the past events that Huaiqing had inadvertently mentioned.

"Alright, stop fooling around." Ji Wang caught up, patted Bu Jiu on the shoulder, and smiled at Huai Qing, "Save your energy, we'll be there soon."

The cracks grew deeper and deeper, and the heavy, slow breathing sounds from not far away became clearer, echoing in the confined space.

A massive ice cave came into view. Several enormous beasts, each the size of a small elephant, with snow-white fur, were curled up inside.

They had clearly been sleeping here for a long time, their presence almost blending into the entire ice cave.

Ji Wang gestured, indicating that now was the time.

After receiving their response, he quickly made several complex hand seals in front of his chest.

With his fingertips guiding the energy, spiritual power surged forth from his body, spreading along the path he had already locked onto, instantly erecting a complex and stable array at the key fulcrum of the ice cave.

The entire ice cave trembled slightly, and an incredibly solid barrier quietly formed, instantly locking in place the massive ice spikes that might have collapsed above.

Almost the instant the array lights up stably, the demon near the entrance slowly opened its eyes.

However, before they could fully wake up, Bu Jiu appeared without warning directly above the monster at the front.

He lowered his eyes and looked down, casually flicking his fingertips, and a cluster of pale golden flames appeared out of thin air, quietly hovering above his fingertips.

Then, with a slight flick of his wrist, the flames burst forth as if imbued with life, transforming into several fine yet lightning-fast strands of light that shot towards the demon's eyes and the smallest bone gap at the junction of its cervical vertebrae at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

The moment the light thread entered, the monster's body stiffened, and a pained roar erupted from deep within its throat, almost bursting out of its mouth.

"Shh." A calm voice rang out, sounding particularly clear in the violent space, even carrying a hint of coaxing, "Don't disturb others."

Huaiqing had moved to the side without anyone noticing, and waved the flower branch in her hand forward. In a flash of light, several budding phantoms at the top of the branch suddenly bloomed. The vines, with their calming and paralyzing effects, irresistibly wrapped around the monster's gaping maw.

The deafening roar that should have alerted its kin in the distance was gently muffled, instantly turning into a series of muffled, indistinct "whooshing" sounds. Its beastly eyes widened even more in shock, anger, and suffocation, only to find that its demonic power was being rapidly eroded by that seemingly harmless radiance.

Bu Jiu's toes touched the fur covered with ice crystals. The flame at his fingertips sensed his master's intention, and the flame flickered, suddenly bursting into a pale golden light.

He didn't look down at the demonic beast at his feet, but gave Huai Qing a quick glance not far away—signal him to step back.

Huaiqing understood immediately and glided back several feet, just avoiding the potential impact area.

Almost at the same instant Huaiqing stepped back, Bujiu lit the cluster of flames right above the demon's head.

After a crisp "snap," the flames instantly seeped into the patterns, frantically eroding along the veins of demonic power and life.

The monster's body suddenly stiffened, all its struggles and whimpers ceased instantly, and the raging anger and pain in its beastly eyes receded like a tide, quickly replaced by a hollow silence.

Bu Jiu had already leaped away before it collapsed, landing back beside Ji Wang: "How is it?"

Ji Wang had just stabilized the formation and was drawing his sword when he heard Bu Jiu's question. A smile suddenly appeared in his eyes, and he praised, "Excellent."

Huai Qing, who was cleverly tripping up the other awakened demonic beasts, continued working with his hands: "You have to praise this too?"

He shook his head, looking like he couldn't bear to watch: "Xiao Bao, you're spoiling him too much."

Bu Jiu snorted, quickly turned his gaze away, and locked onto the next prey, as if the question and the praise he had just received had nothing to do with him.

Ji Wang laughed heartily, twirling his longsword in his hand, and replied, "It's just a fact. My Bu Jiu did a good job, so of course I have to praise him."

He spoke with righteous indignation, his footwork shifting, forming a new pincer movement with Bu Jiu, their target the demon beast temporarily trapped by Huai Qing.

The remaining demonic beasts inside the ice cave have fully awakened, their claws waving and their demonic power surging.