Chapter Nineteen: The Struggle for the Ice Lotus
As the group walked along the path, the fog seemed to thicken, and the path that was once faintly discernible was unknowingly hidden in a white mist.
The surrounding scenery began to repeat itself, and the familiar sound of the stream seemed to come from all directions, making one dizzy.
"Have we... come full circle again?" Xiao Tao tugged at Fang Li's sleeve anxiously, pointing to a crooked old tree next to them: "We think we've seen this tree three times already."
Zhao Tie gripped the knife on his back tightly, his brow furrowed: "Damn it, this Mist Demon Sect! It's like being trapped in a bewitching maze!"
Sun Yu tried throwing out a few exploratory talismans, but the spiritual light disappeared into the mist, like stones sinking into the sea, without any response.
"No, the talismans are also failing. The natural magnetic field here is chaotic, causing great interference." His face turned pale.
Fang Li was also filled with dread.
Although she had some vague memories, the details of the Cloud Mist Valley changed every time it opened, and this natural maze was clearly not within her expectations.
The team was momentarily at a loss, and the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive.
Just as the group was trying to find a way out but failed repeatedly, the fog ahead suddenly stirred slightly.
A figure in a green robe appeared leisurely. Xie Chen held a jade fan, a faint smile on his lips, and clear eyes, seemingly unaffected by the illusion array.
"Fellow disciples, have you strayed into this Nine-Bend Mist Barrier?" His voice was gentle. "This is a natural formation of heaven and earth, which can easily confuse people's minds and trap them here."
Xiao Tao and Sun Yu were immediately overjoyed, exclaiming, "Senior Brother Xie! You're in too? Please help us, this fog is so strange!"
Zhao Tie breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Thank you for your embarrassment, Senior Brother. We are indeed trapped. Does Senior Brother know how to escape the formation?"
Xie Chen smiled slightly and pointed in several directions with his jade fan: "No need to panic. Although this formation seems complicated, it actually conforms to the Nine Palaces Steps. All you need to remember is to turn left when you encounter a three-way intersection, turn right when you encounter a double path, go around stones, and go upstream when you hear the sound of water. You can get out of this area in half an incense stick's time."
His instructions were clear and concise, instantly dispelling the confusion in everyone's minds.
Fang Li lowered her eyes, concealing a hint of understanding in them.
Xie Chen's appearance was too coincidental, and his guidance was too effortless.
His special appearance was not simply out of a desire to help others.
Sure enough, Xie Chen changed the subject, casually saying, "Speaking of which, just now, from my vantage point, I vaguely saw a cold pool to the northeast of this maze, its spiritual energy extraordinary, seemingly indicating that an Ice Heart Lotus was about to mature. That Ice Heart Lotus is quite effective in stabilizing the mind and dispelling inner demons, a rare opportunity indeed. It's just a pity that it wasn't very useful to me, so I couldn't go and explore it."
Ice Heart Lotus?
Fang Li's heart stirred.
This item is indeed precious, especially for a cultivator like her who needs to quickly improve her strength while also being wary of inner demons; it is extremely attractive to her.
She remained expressionless and nodded slightly in courtesy: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."
"There's no need for formalities between fellow disciples." Xie Chen's smile remained unchanged as his gaze swept lightly across Fang Li's calm face, as if trying to capture the slightest fluctuation, but to no avail.
His interest grew even stronger, and this pear seemed to be getting more and more composed.
Following Xie Chen's instructions, the team quickly emerged from the maze area.
Suddenly, the view opened up, the fog dissipated, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Senior Brother Xie is so kind!" Xiao Tao patted her chest. "He even went out of his way to tell us about the Ice Heart Lotus!"
Fang Li remained silent, pondering Xie Chen's words repeatedly in her mind.
"Senior sister, shall we go to the Cold Pool?" Xiao Tao asked expectantly, "The Ice Lotus is a wonderful thing!"
"It's good to go and take a look, but be careful." Fang Li pondered, "Everyone, stay alert, and retreat immediately if there is any danger."
Following the direction they remembered, the team headed towards the cold pool. Half an hour later, they saw a pool of azure water, emanating a faint chill, with a thin layer of frost covering the rocks along its edge.
In the center of the icy pool, a lotus flower, as if sculpted from ice and jade, quietly bloomed. Its petals were translucent, and a point of azure light flowed slowly from its heart, emanating a pure and icy spiritual aura.
"It really...it really is the Ice Lotus!" Xiao Tao exclaimed in surprise.
However, on the other side of the icy pool, a team of five inner disciples also appeared, their eyes fixed intently on the Ice Heart Lotus, their gazes filled with determination.
Fang Li vaguely remembered the leader; he seemed to be the grand-nephew of an elder from the Pill Hall, whose cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining.
Even more chilling was the sight of a giant lizard-like monster, its entire body covered in ice-blue scales, coiled up beside the icy pool.
Sensing the approach of the two groups of people, the demonic beast opened its vertical pupils, let out a threatening growl, and spewed out white breath mixed with icy shards.
The atmosphere instantly became tense!
"The Ice Heart Lotus is an unclaimed object; whoever sees it gets a share!" one of the inner sect members shouted, trying to preemptively seize the opportunity.
Zhao Tie glared at him angrily: "Bullshit! We found it first!"
"Find it first? Who can prove it? I could say we've been waiting here for a long time!" The other party retorted without backing down.
The two sides were on the verge of conflict, exchanging heated words and exchanging subtle spiritual energy.
Meanwhile, the ice-scaled lizard was scratching at the ice surface with its claws in frustration.
A cold gaze swept between the two groups of people.
The battle is about to begin!
Just as the inner disciples were about to make their move.
"Get out of my way, all of you! That monster is mine!"
A furious roar exploded from above everyone's heads!
A figure in black descended from the sky like a cannonball, crashing heavily onto the edge of the icy pool, stirring up a patch of icy mud.
Ji Qianqiu stood up, not even glancing at the Ice Heart Lotus, his burning gaze fixed on the Ice Scale Lizard.
"This beast looks tough! Perfect for stretching my muscles!" He licked his lips, his fighting spirit boiling. Ignoring everyone else present, he drew his heavy sword from his back and roared as he charged straight at the monster!
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
The inner disciples were both shocked and furious, never expecting that the battle maniac Ji Qianqiu would suddenly appear and disrupt their plans.
Fang Li's eyes twitched slightly. Ji Qianqiu, as expected, only had fighting on his mind!
Enraged by Ji Qianqiu's blatant provocation, the ice-scaled lizard abandoned its attempt to intimidate the others and roared as it charged forward. Ice shards flew everywhere, the roars shook the heavens, and a fierce battle ensued.
Almost at the same moment Ji Qianqiu landed, a figure dressed in white appeared on an ancient pine tree on the other side.
Shen Yunzhou stood with his sword in his arms, his long eyelashes lowered as he looked down at the chaotic scene below.
His indifferent gaze swept over the crowd vying for the prize, finally lingering briefly on the Ice Heart Lotus and Fang Li, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
He neither made a move nor spoke, simply observing coldly, yet he exuded a powerful aura that added an invisible pressure to the already complex situation.
Further away, amidst a thick fog and shadows, Xie Chen gently waved his jade fan, a pleased smile curving his lips: "Very good, all the pieces have entered the game. This play is even more exciting than expected."
His gaze lingered with interest among Fang Li, Shen Yunzhou, and Ji Qianqiu in the battle group, as if he were watching a meticulously choreographed drama.
The atmosphere by the cold pool became extremely strange due to Ji Qianqiu's intrusion and Shen Yunzhou's appearance.
The inner disciples looked at each other, unsure whether to grab the lotus first or deal with the chaotic situation before them.
Fang Li's mind raced as she quickly assessed the situation.
Bing Xinlian was determined to have it, but now was definitely not the time to snatch it by force.
"Zhao Tie, Sun Yu, Xiao Tao, prepare for any eventuality. Let's observe the situation first!" she whispered, her eyes scanning the entire room warily.
A chaotic battle seems imminent, about to erupt into full-blown combat!
No one noticed that Su Wanqing, who had been hiding at the back of the crowd, had a fleeting look of intense jealousy in her eyes.
Her gaze was fixed on Fang Li's back, and she flicked her fingertips almost imperceptibly.
A subtle, hidden force, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, silently pierced through the chaotic fluctuations of spiritual energy, striking directly at Fang Li's vital point in the back of his heart!
That hidden force was extremely fast and incredibly tricky.
Just when everyone's attention was drawn to the great battle between Ji Qianqiu and the demon beast.
Fang Li suddenly felt a chilling sense of crisis coming from behind her!
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