Chapter 73: Go get it quickly.
Chapter 73
As the low and heart-shaking roar gradually approached like rumbling thunder, the originally dreamy mist was torn apart by an invisible giant hand full of great power.
A giant beast, covered in gleaming silver armor and with scales glowing with a faint blue light, walked slowly into everyone's sight with steady and majestic steps.
This behemoth resembled a tiger, yet possessed a pair of enormous wings. When spread out, they seemed to block out the sun and the sky. Within its eyes, two balls of blazing flame danced wildly, the aura emanating from them enough to strike fear into anyone.
It just flapped its wings lightly, and in an instant, a strong wind blew up. The originally drizzling and silky rain was frightened by its powerful momentum, as if it was cast under a spell, and could not fall for a while, as if the time of the whole world was frozen at this moment.
"What... is this?" Bu Xingjin's face paled slightly. The beast before him stood three meters tall, its limbs agile, its power and dominance unmistakable. From its appearance alone, it was clear this was no kind creature, not one they could easily handle.
"Blue-winged ice tiger, looking at its size, I'm afraid its cultivation level can be comparable to that of a cultivator in the Spirit Severing stage?" Jia Feng answered Bu Xingjin's doubts in a timely manner.
He knew very well how difficult this monster was to deal with. Not only was it extremely powerful, as if it could carry a mountain, but it also possessed the magical ability to control ice. In this rainy and foggy weather, its combat power was even more powerful and increased exponentially, making it impossible to underestimate it.
Qing Yan's gaze finally became solemn, and the light on the dead branch in his hand became stronger and stronger like a lit beacon. It was obvious that he was concentrating on evaluating the strength of the powerful opponent in front of him.
At this extremely tense moment, when the air seemed to be freezing, a sudden and arrogant voice, like a sharp blade, broke the suffocating atmosphere: "Haha, I didn't expect to meet the Blue-Winged Ice Tiger here. God is really helping me!"
As the unbridled laughter died down, a group of five people slowly walked out of the thick mist like ghosts.
Leading the group was a young man dressed in a brocade robe woven from silkworms, the golden threads embroidered on it seeming to speak of his noble status. He wielded a longsword inlaid with dazzling gems, the light reflected from the blade seeming to pierce through the heart. His face was filled with a confident smile of determination, as if everything was under his control.
They were cultivators from the Yunlu Sect, another major faction outside Shangli City. Two of the five were at the Spirit Severing stage, like two towering mountains, emanating an awe-inspiring aura. The remaining three were at the late Nascent Soul stage, also not to be underestimated. Clearly, the two late Spirit Severing cultivators had been granted entry through the Shangli Order, though it was unknown what stringent conditions they had agreed to from the clans in exchange.
"It turns out to be Li Feiyang, the young master of Yunlu Sect. What a coincidence." Jia Feng's tone was filled with undisguised wariness. He had heard of all the deeds of this man before and knew that Li Feiyang was extremely ruthless and would do anything to get what he wanted. He was like a poisonous snake hiding in the darkness and was an extremely difficult character to deal with.
Li Feiyang smiled contemptuously, a smile as biting as the winter wind, his eyes revealing a trace of undisguised disdain: "Who are you? You actually recognize me, but it doesn't matter. It seems your luck is really terrible, encountering this blue-winged ice tiger. How about you retreat obediently and let us take care of this monster?"
Upon hearing this, Jia Feng's eyes widened in anger, and the rage in his heart suddenly rose up: "You are too domineering! It was obviously us who discovered this monster first!" Although when he first discovered it, he thought that if he couldn't deal with it, he would try to avoid it, but when he heard Li Feiyang's arrogant and domineering words, his heart felt like it was burning on fire, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.
Li Feiyang curled his lips in disdain, his eyes filled with mockery, as if he were looking at a group of ants. "So what if you discovered it? In this secret realm, strength is the iron rule that determines everything. Besides, everything in the secret realm is obtained by those who are destined to obtain it. Since you don't have that ability, just get out of my way."
In an instant, the atmosphere became tense. The two sides confronted each other tit for tat, and neither was willing to take a step back. It seemed as if invisible sparks were filling the air.
Even the blue-winged ice tiger seemed to feel the tense atmosphere in the field and let out an even more deafening roar. The sound was like rolling thunder, boldly declaring to everyone that its territory was sacred and inviolable.
Bu Xingjin quickly weighed the pros and cons. They hadn't come here for the demonic beast in the first place. While the Blue-Winged Ice Tiger was precious, a conflict with the Yunlu Sect over it would likely delay important matters. Furthermore, considering the demonic beast's ferocity, even if the three of them joined forces, they might not be able to escape unscathed.
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, this monster is for you."
Bu Xingjin looked at Qing Yan, who nodded slightly, agreeing with his decision. Then, the two of them slowly retreated, preparing to take a detour. Seeing them leave, Jia Feng, though extremely reluctant, had no choice but to quickly follow them.
"Hmph, a bunch of cowards," Li Feiyang said mockingly. In his opinion, according to common sense, shouldn't the other party be angry and attack them? Why did they back down so easily? This completely contradicted his usual understanding.
The three of them, as if they hadn't heard anything at all, resolutely turned and left, leaving Li Feiyang feeling a bit uneasy, as if he had punched cotton. He glanced at the people behind him and signaled one of them to follow Bu Xingjin and the others, to confirm that they were truly leaving, not just pretending to leave while waiting for the opportunity.
Then, he shouted at the remaining people: "What are you still standing there for? Everyone has left. Come with me and capture this blue-winged ice tiger!"
"Be careful, don't damage its scales. I want to use them to make a suit of armor..."
They hadn't walked far when they heard the sound of fierce fighting behind them, like a raging storm. Jia Feng asked with a distressed look on his face, "Are we just leaving like this?"
According to his previous approach, unless there was an absolute difference in strength, he would never obediently follow instructions. Even if he left at the time, he would try his best to sneak back and trip up others, never letting others get the treasure he discovered first so easily.
Although there were only three of them, their fighting power wasn't completely powerless. The other party was so rude, why did they just leave like that? He always felt a little embarrassed, and his heart felt like a huge stone was blocking him.
"That's right." Bu Xingjin nodded and replied, "That monster looks difficult to deal with. Wouldn't it be better to let them deal with it?"
Jia Feng looked at Bu Xingjin, who obviously didn't understand what he meant, and remained silent helplessly, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
Qing Yan ignored the two people whispering behind him and led the way silently, like a silent iceberg. He could clearly feel the sword's aura getting closer and closer, as if the sword was calling him.
The three of them walked silently in the rain, which poured down like a torrential downpour, seemingly sweeping away everything in the world. Bu Xingjin, still reminiscing about the tense confrontation, glanced back. The sounds of battle had gradually faded.
Qing Yan seemed to sense something, and his pace became even more rapid, as if a mysterious force was pulling him. Although Jia Feng felt a little unwilling, he could only follow closely. At this moment, Qing Yan suddenly stopped, and a deep cave appeared faintly in front of them.
The rain continued to pour down without stopping, forming deep puddles on the ground, like mirrors reflecting the dark clouds in the sky. Guided by the sword's aura that Qing Yan sensed, the three of them arrived outside the cave.
The entrance to the cave was tightly covered by dense vines, which were intertwined with each other like a mysterious curtain woven by nature.
Raindrops dripped continuously along the vines, making a gentle and rhythmic "tick-tick" sound, as if playing a mysterious piece of music. The rain seemed to be getting more and more intense, and the raindrops hit the ground at the edge of the cave like sharp arrows, splashing countless crystal water droplets.
A faint light shone through the cave, forming a sharp contrast with the dark clouds and torrential rain outside, adding a sense of mystery and unease, as if a pair of eyes were watching their every move in the darkness.
Bu Xingjin raised his head and gazed at the mysterious cave entrance, feeling a surge of unease, as if an invisible hand were gently tugging at his heart. He could clearly feel the chill emanating from the depths of the cave, a stark contrast to the peaceful and calm surface. It was as if something was silently watching them from the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. He unconsciously approached Qing Yan and whispered a warning, "Qing Yan, this cave is probably very dangerous. We must be careful."
"Yeah." Qing Yan responded softly, his voice like a breeze blowing across the lake, calm yet powerful.
Qing Yan paused, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cave, as if trying to see through the darkness, straining to sense something. Jia Feng followed closely behind, standing beside him. Looking at the pouring rain, a sense of unease welled up within Jia Feng. He whispered, "It's raining so hard, and the surroundings are so strange. I don't know what dangers we'll encounter next. We've been using our spiritual energy to maintain the protective shield, and I wonder if this will cause any problems."
"I've found the exact location. It's not far from the cave entrance." Qing Yan ignored Jia Feng's concerns, reaching out to push aside the vines and resolutely walking inside. His figure was like a sharp sword, slicing through the veil of darkness. Bu Xingjin followed closely behind, and Jia Feng immediately followed suit. The three of them stepped into the cave one after another.
The cave was dimly lit, as if shrouded in darkness. Only the strange white fluorescent stones emitted a soft glow, barely illuminating the path ahead, like a twinkling star of hope in the darkness. A faint chill hung in the air, forming a sharp contrast with the humidity outside, making one shiver, as if stepping from the scorching summer heat into an ice cellar.
The cave wasn't spacious, but as the three of them walked deeper, the space gradually grew larger. It was much more spacious than one might imagine. Countless stalactites hung from the ceiling, gleaming in the dim light like works of art meticulously crafted by nature, each bearing the marks of time.
The walls were covered with strange runes, emitting a faint light, as if silently telling some ancient and mysterious secret. Those runes seemed to have life, dancing to a mysterious rhythm in the darkness.
The cave floor was incredibly slippery, and from time to time, water dripped from the ceiling, making a crisp sound like an ancient ballad echoing through the cavern. A damp smell, mixed with a faint odor of rust, filled the air, leaving one feeling a sense of oppression, as if an invisible boulder were pressing down on one's heart.
After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, a stone gate suddenly appeared in front of them. Carved into the stone gate was a complex pattern, seemingly the patterns of some mysterious formation. The patterns intertwined to form a mysterious maze. Qing Yan stopped and examined the stone gate carefully, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was pondering how to solve this difficult problem.
"There is a restriction on this stone door. It needs to be broken before it can be opened." He whispered, and the voice echoed in the cave, sounding particularly clear.
Jia Feng walked forward, observed it carefully, shook his head and said, "This restriction doesn't look simple. I'm afraid it will take some time."
Bu Xingjin scratched his head and said helplessly, "I know nothing about restrictions, so I can only rely on you."
Qing Yan said nothing more. He raised his hand and gently pressed the stone door. The light on the dead branch instantly condensed into a thin line, flowing slowly along the rune lines, like a lively stream flowing through a mysterious river. His movements were extremely cautious, and every subtle movement was filled with his full attention. Jia Feng, who said he was assisting, was actually staring at Qing Yan's miraculous operation in amazement, his heart filled with wonder.
Time ticked by, the caverns silent except for the three people's breathing. It felt as if the entire world had stopped, with only the mysterious light slowly flowing. Finally, with a slight click, the stone door slowly opened, revealing a deep passage that seemed to lead to an unknown and mysterious world.
"Success." Qing Yan took the lead and stepped in, his steps firm and powerful.
The passage wasn't long, and soon the three of them arrived at a spacious stone chamber. In the center of the chamber lay a massive, naturally formed pool. The water glowed with a strange blue light, like a dreamy ocean, imbued with some mysterious power that made one want to explore.
In the center of the pool, a small sword tip quietly floated, a faint chill surrounding the blade, like a lonely swordsman guarding his own secret. Occasionally, the sword tip lightly touched the water surface, stirring up ripples.
"There is a broken sword here! But only the tip of the sword is left. It must have gone through a fierce battle to destroy such a good sword like this..." Jia Feng sighed as he looked at the tip of the sword. There was no spiritual energy in the tip of the sword. It was probably not even as good as a low-grade mortal weapon. The former glory had disappeared, leaving only this lonely broken body.
Bu Xingjin recalled the piece of sword fragment that Qing Yan had obtained before. It was the middle part of the sword. Together with the tip of the sword, it could be pieced together to make up two-thirds of the sword. In other words, if only the hilt part was missing, Qing Yan's sword would be found in its entirety.
"Go get it quickly." Bu Xingjin pushed Qing Yan excitedly. The huge pool looked calm, as if there was no danger at all.
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