Xi Xi quickly switched the scythe to a new mode, then swung it around like a whirlwind.

As she moved, a powerful energy surged from the scythe, forming a dazzling light.

"Come closer to me!" Xi Xi shouted, her voice echoing in the frigid air. She held the fire blade high, flames roaring on the edge, radiating intense heat.

The crowd gathered around, with Xi Xi holding a fire-bladed scythe on one side and Xi Zhongcang wielding fire arrows on the other. The intense heat emanating from the flames caused the ice insects to retreat.

In extremely cold regions, corrosive water becomes a hindrance, freezing upon being swung and significantly reducing its range.

In this way, Xi Xi integrated the remaining Flame Arrow and the into the multi-bladed scythe, thus forming a new scythe blade—the Fire Blade!

The fire blade drew a brilliant arc in the air, trailing blazing flames, and streaked past like a burning meteor.

Chen Xu suddenly realized what was happening. He quickly took out the bottle containing whale oil from his bag and scattered it around.

Xi Xi understood immediately and lit the oil ring. In a short while, a ring of fire formed around them, keeping the ice insects out.

These ice worms are clearly extremely sensitive to temperature, which is why they are so keen to detect the approach of living beings. Once they sense the heat of a human body, they frantically burrow into clothing and devour the flesh.

Then, Cheng's father took out some wood, mixed it with whale oil, lit a fire, and placed it around the fire.

"Quick, burn these bugs to death now!" Everyone attacked the swarm of ice bugs together.

Flames leaped and crackled in the ice and snow. Ice insects struggled and writhed in the flames, but they could not resist the lure of the heat and surged forward one after another, only to be burned to a crisp in no time.

After a long while, once the last wave of ice worms was eliminated, the surroundings returned to calm.

Before Xi Xi could even catch her breath, the surrounding ice walls, no longer supported by the insect swarm, began to collapse violently, with huge chunks of ice crashing down from above.

"Run!" Xi Zhongcang shouted. Everyone ran forward desperately, dodging the constantly falling ice blocks.

In the chaos, they followed the fluorescent markers they had sprayed earlier and finally found a relatively safe passage.

When they stopped and looked back, they couldn't help but gasp. The original excavation site had become a ruin, and the wrecked ship's hull had almost revealed its original form after the ice wall collapsed.

It turns out that the ship was not a stranded and sunken vessel frozen in place, but rather that the place itself was a natural underground ice cave!

"This...this is too unbelievable!" Mr. Cheng muttered to himself.

Still shaken, the group stood at the cave entrance. The chilling air emanating from the cave rushed towards them, carrying the unique frigidity and crispness of an ancient glacier, instantly coating their helmets with a layer of fine ice crystals.

“It seems we need to rethink our plans. This place is much more complicated than we imagined,” Xi Zhongcang said seriously after surveying his surroundings.

The surrounding ice walls are as smooth as a mirror, yet they have been sculpted by time into all sorts of strange shapes.

Some ice walls resemble winding, coiling dragons with clearly visible scales, their heads held high as if about to break through the ice and soar into the sky; others resemble giant blooming ice flowers, their petals layered upon each other, crystal clear, each shimmering with a cold light, as if meticulously sculpted from the purest crystal.

The ice wall is not a single pure white color, but rather varies in shades of blue depending on the light and the thickness of the ice layer.

Xi Xi began to examine the ship closely. The surface of the huge ship was covered with a thick layer of ice, but some broken markings and traces could still be seen in some gaps.

This is clearly a luxury passenger ship!

Xi Xi carefully trod the path paved with ice. The carved a path of light through the ice cave, illuminating the unknown darkness ahead.

The ship's hull was covered by a thin layer of frost, like a cold suit of armor, yet it could not completely conceal its exquisite outline.

Xi Xi and the others slowly ascended the ice ladder along the side of the ship, the ladder creaking under their feet.

The moment they stepped onto the deck, an indescribable eeriness washed over them. The facilities on the deck were brand new, and the railings were spotless, showing no signs of age.

The lifeboats were neatly arranged on both sides, their paint bright and eye-catching, as if they had just been painted.

Xi Xi reached out and gently touched the railing. The cold touch traveled through her feather gloves from her fingertips; it was rough and without a trace of rust.

“This…this is so strange,” she murmured to herself, her voice echoing sharply on the silent deck.

Xi Zhongcang frowned as well, his eyes filled with vigilance: "Even if the environment in the extreme cold is pure and the freezing and preservation effect of ice and snow is excellent, it is impossible for this ship to remain so new after so many years..."

It was Cheng Xu's first time leading a team on an adventure, and he excitedly looked around: "Maybe this ship is some kind of reward! We just pulled off such a big heist, let's hurry in and see what treasures are inside!"

Cheng's father glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense. Be careful, this place is eerie."

The group walked along the deck toward the cabin entrance. The glass door at the entrance was clean and transparent, without a trace of fog or ice.

The moment Xi Xi pushed open the door, a warm yet uniquely scented breeze rushed in, creating a stark contrast to the extreme cold outside.

The interior of the cabin was even more astonishing. In the lobby, crystal chandeliers shone brightly, and the soft yet bright light illuminated the entire lobby as if it were daytime.

The walls of the reception hall are adorned with vibrant murals, depicting lifelike figures that exude an air of wealth and luxury.

All around, the sofas, coffee tables and other furniture were arranged neatly, without a speck of dust, as if they had just been used.

Xi Xi's doubts deepened. When she arrived at the elevator, she was even more surprised to see that the floor indicator was lit up, and she froze on the spot.

There's electricity here?!

The elevator doors opened, but the four people exchanged glances and all headed towards the stairwell.

They followed the signs in the hallway and entered the main restaurant of the passenger ship.

The main restaurant is clearly a buffet style, somewhat similar to the Dongli Inn in the transit station. The tables are set with exquisite tableware, and the silver knives and forks gleam coldly under the lights.

The rows of buffet boxes even contained food items; the bread was golden brown, and the fruit was fresh and juicy, emitting an enticing aroma.

Xi Xi picked up an apple with a slight pause, just as she was about to examine it closely, when suddenly, a light footstep sound came from afar. Everyone was startled and gripped their weapons tightly.

The footsteps stopped after a few seconds, but the atmosphere inside the cabin became even more tense.

When Xi Zhongcang mustered his courage and pushed open the main restaurant door, the corridor was already silent, as if no one had been there.