Everyone was startled to realize that the chaotic battle at the mouth of the ice cavern above them was taking a dire turn.
Zhou Zhiqin drove his longsword into the ice wall with one hand while using the other to steady the swaying Dongfang Xiao. Hu Tianwei, fighting two White Fur Hous alone, was struggling to hold his ground, barely managing to fend them off.
From below, Mu Qingyan couldn’t bear to watch any longer and shouted, “Don’t fight them mid-air! Get to the ground first!”
Hu Tianwei and Zhou Zhiqin immediately understood.
No matter how formidable the White Fur Hous were, they were still mere four-legged beasts of flesh and blood. If surrounded by several top-tier fighters of the Martial World, they wouldn’t necessarily have the upper hand. But the current situation was different—the White Fur Hous’ padded paws and sharp claws allowed them to move effortlessly along the icy walls, while the humans found themselves at a disadvantage.
Zhou Zhiqin twisted his right hand, pulling his sword slightly out of the ice wall, then channeled his inner energy to descend. The blade left a straight crack in the ice as he used the controlled momentum to bring Dongfang Xiao and Jin Baohui safely to the ground. Meanwhile, Hu Tianwei spun his arm and hurled his second Judge’s Pen with all his might. The two White Fur Hous dodged hastily, and as the pen struck the ice wall with a loud crack, Hu Tianwei seized the moment to leap down.
The two White Fur Hous clung to the top of the cavern. The larger one used its mouth to pull out the Judge’s Pen embedded in the first beast’s eye socket, licking the wound a few times before both roared furiously and lunged downward.
Once on solid ground, the tide of battle swiftly turned.
Aside from the injured—Lan Tianyu, Dongfang Xiao, and Chen Fuguang—and those tending to them, like Qi Nong, everyone else was able to join the fight.
Hu Tianwei retrieved his two fallen Judge’s Pens, Zhou Zhiqin swapped his sword for Dongfang Xiao’s, and Mu Qingyan remained empty-handed as usual.
Cai Zhao had initially intended to join the fray, but Mu Qingyan shot Qian Xueshen a meaningful glance before charging forward. Qian Xueshen immediately began groaning dramatically, “Owwww, I must’ve hurt my leg just now! Someone help me up, quick!”
Cai Zhao said coldly, “Think carefully before you speak. You’re clutching your head right now.”
Qian Xueshen sighed helplessly, “If you already know what ‘your elder brother’ means, why make things difficult for me?”
Seeing Qian Xueshen’s sunken cheeks over the past two days, Cai Zhao suddenly said, “Once we get out of this ice cavern, you should leave the mountain.”
Qian Xueshen froze. “But… we haven’t found that thing yet.”
Cai Zhao sighed softly. “You’re not a bad person. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this danger.”
Qian Xueshen’s expression turned complicated. With earnest concern, he said, “Little Cai, I am a few years older than you, so let me teach you something today—whether someone is evil or not can’t be judged by their face.”
Cai Zhao remained unimpressed. “I know, it’s that whole ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ nonsense. My aunt says if you think someone is good, then treat them as good. You shouldn’t distrust people without reason. At worst, if you’re deceived, you can always settle the score later.”
“That’s not necessarily… Ouch!” Before Qian Xueshen could continue, a chunk of ice the size of a head came hurtling toward them. Cai Zhao yanked him aside just in time to avoid it.
They turned to see that one of the White Fur Hous had hurled a block of ice half the size of a man. Zhou Zhiqin’s swift swordplay sliced it mid-air, sending shattered fragments flying in all directions.
After watching Zhou Zhiqin for a moment, a thought crossed Qian Xueshen’s mind, and he couldn’t help stealing another glance at Cai Zhao.
By now, the two White Fur Hous had been forced into retreat under the combined assault of several fighters, their bodies riddled with wounds.The larger White Fur Hou suddenly stood upright and roared, followed by the other joining in. The deafening howls surged like waves, crashing against the hard walls of the ice cavern. The White Fur Hou's cries were already as shrill and piercing as an owl's, but now, amplified by the echoing ice walls, they left everyone dizzy and nauseous, with chunks of ice raining down from above.
As the ice fragments fell, the slightly smaller White Fur Hou seized the moment to charge at a trembling section of the wall. With a forceful headbutt, the ice shattered, causing the entire cavern to quake violently.
"Disaster! The cavern is collapsing!" Jin Baohui wailed, perfectly escalating the panic.
Zhou Zhiqin lowered his hands from his ears, risking deafness as he lunged at the two beasts. But they twisted away and vanished into an ice tunnel behind them in the blink of an eye. Just as Zhou Zhiqin was about to give chase, Dongfang Xiao shouted from behind, "Don't follow! Beware of dangers in the tunnel!"
Zhou Zhiqin hesitated, then turned to see Dongfang Xiao struggling to dodge the sharp falling ice. He rushed back to shield her.
Amidst the chaos of screams and shouts, it felt like an eternity before the tremors finally subsided.
In the darkness, everyone heard Lan Tianyu's labored breathing: "Y-Young Master Yan, I... I have a firestarter in my robe."—he had been pulled aside by Mu Qingyan for protection during the quake.
Mu Qingyan retrieved the firestarter from his own robes, and by its light, the others quickly lit torches or makeshift candles from their belongings.
"Old Jin! Where's Old Jin?" Zhou Zhiqin helped Dongfang Xiao, whose forehead was bleeding, sit against the wall before realizing Jin Baohui was missing.
"I-I'm here..." a faint voice came from a freshly formed pile of ice debris.
Zhou Zhiqin and Cai Zhao hurriedly moved the two largest ice blocks aside, revealing Jin Baohui trembling as he crawled out, his plump face purple from suffocation.
Cai Zhao turned around: "Qian—Da Qiang, where are you? If you're alive, answer me!"
"H-Here... I'm alive!" Qian Xueshen shivered as he crawled out on all fours from a nearby tunnel.
At the same time, Qi Nong dragged Chen Fuguang out from another tunnel.
—The three of them had taken shelter in nearby tunnels when the massive ice chunks began falling.
Hu Tianwei and his mute servant only suffered torn clothes, looking somewhat disheveled.
Lan Tianyu was in bad shape—half his body had been clamped in the White Fur Hou's jaws, leaving severe injuries. After removing his bloodied, torn sleeves and pants, the group saw that one arm had been bitten clean through at the elbow, with only shreds of flesh barely holding the severed hand; one leg was mangled, exposing white bone.
Seeing this himself, Lan Tianyu gave a bitter laugh and drew a dagger from his waist with his uninjured hand, offering it to Mu Qingyan: "P-Please, Young Master Yan."
Mu Qingyan tore a strip of cloth for Lan Tianyu to bite on. With silent permission, he carefully excised the dead flesh from the arm with the dagger, then tightly bandaged the wound. He repeated the process for the leg. Fortunately, the fallen pack mule and luggage hadn't been buried, and spare clothes were available to tear into bandages.
The unluckiest was Jin Baohui—his last two remaining guards were now completely useless.One man had several large chunks of ice fall consecutively on his head and body, being smashed to death with brains and blood splattered everywhere. Another seemed to have lost his footing, rolled into a pit, and was buried by the cascading ice fragments. After digging for a long time, Cai Zhao and the others only managed to retrieve a single boot. It was likely that the person, like the Jade Goddess Statue, had fallen into the bottomless icy abyss.
After counting the remaining members, everyone raised their torches to survey their surroundings. They then realized the reason the ice cavern was so dark was that the entrance above had collapsed from the tremors. In other words, they were now sealed inside the ice cavern.
Jin Baohui immediately burst into tears, wailing and cursing, "We're not going anymore! My attendants, my guards—all gone! Damn this accursed snowy mountain! It's trying to trap us here! I—I don’t want to die here…"
"Stop your blubbering!" Hu Tianwei snapped, irritated by the crying. "None of the lackeys around you were any good—either capturing and raising vicious beasts or helping you bully common folk. They deserved to die! Keep howling, and I’ll slit your throat!"
Jin Baohui could only sniffle and shut his mouth.
"What do we do now? Are we really going to be trapped here to die?" Qian Xueshen began to panic.
Cai Zhao looked puzzled. "That shouldn’t be the case. When I was little, my aunt hired a blind fortune-teller for me who said I’d live comfortably and die of old age."
"You believe the words of a Martial World charlatan?!" Qian Xueshen nearly lost his mind at such nonsense.
"Why not? He was the most expensive fortune-teller in our town—charged two taels of silver per session."
Meanwhile, Zhou Zhiqin turned to his dear friend with deep remorse. "Brother Dongfang, it’s all because I was so fixated on avenging my son that I’ve dragged you into this predicament."
Dongfang Xiao, sitting cross-legged in meditation, opened his eyes slightly. "Sworn brothers don’t speak of dragging each other down. If it were my matter today, Brother Zhou would surely act the same."
Seeing this from afar, Cai Zhao couldn’t help but admire, "Truly noble heroes—one word of commitment, unwavering even in life and death."
Mu Qingyan remained expressionless. "So fake."
Qian Xueshen smirked. "This time, I agree with Young Master Yan."
Cai Zhao snorted. "You two Demon outsiders only share the same breath when it comes to mocking me."
Mu Qingyan replied, "Not mocking—just stating facts. Brothers who’ve been friends for decades should have said all they needed to say long ago. Their hearts should already be in sync. If they still need words to express their feelings now, it shows their bond is mediocre at best."
Qian Xueshen added, "Even if it’s not mediocre, they’ve clearly never faced life-and-death trials together."
Cai Zhao: "...Da Qiang, do you still want me to let you leave the mountain after we get out of this ice cavern?"
Qian Xueshen immediately changed his tune. "On second thought, Xiao Han makes a good point. As the saying goes, a candle won’t shine unless lit, and principles won’t be clear unless spoken. Even blood brothers should express their feelings openly."
Mu Qingyan chuckled and scolded, "Coward."
Lan Tianyu, listening to the trio bicker, couldn’t help but interject, "How can you all still joke around in a situation like this?"
Cai Zhao replied, "My aunt said even if you’re going to die, you should die happily. Do you think scowling and cursing will magically open a path for us?"
Mu Qingyan smiled faintly. "My little sister is right."
Qian Xueshen: "My fiancée and future brother-in-law are right."
Even Lan Tianyu, despite his severe injuries, couldn’t suppress a smile.
He knew these three weren’t actually siblings or betrothed, but the fact that they stubbornly kept up the act even while trapped in an ice cavern was undeniably amusing to witness."Don't worry, we can get out," Lan Tianyu suddenly said, then raised his voice to repeat it.
Hu Tianwei immediately rushed over, his face full of anxiety: "Old Lan, what are you saying!? We can still get out?"
Lan Tianyu weakly explained: "Tear a strip of cloth and hold it up to each cave entrance to see if there's any slight airflow."
Everyone listened and did as instructed—sure enough, at more than one cave entrance, the cloth strips fluttered slightly.
Lan Tianyu said, "These caves formed by glacial erosion—some are dead ends, while others lead outside. I wasn’t sure at first, but when those two white-furred beasts dashed into the cave and disappeared, it confirmed for me that the path leads upward."
Jin Baohui suddenly understood: "Now that you mention it, I recall. White Fur Hous don’t live underground—they need wind and rain, nourished by the sun and moon."
Lan Tianyu: "So, the White Fur Hous must know the way out. Later, we’ll follow the cave those two beasts went into, and we’ll escape."
Hu Tianwei beamed: "The best part is, those beasts are huge. Any cave they can squeeze through, we can too. You’ve worked hard, Old Lan—I’ll carry you later."
—In such a treacherous place beneath the glacier, Lan Tianyu’s usefulness was undeniable.
Zhou Zhiqin shot Hu Tianwei a disdainful glance and snorted lightly.
Hu Tianwei had wanted to set off immediately, but Lan Tianyu suggested they rest briefly to put more distance between themselves and the White Fur Hous that had just fled into the cave. If they encountered them in the narrow passages, the outcome would be uncertain.
Everyone agreed this was wise.
So they spread out their packs—some sat cross-legged to regulate their breathing, others bandaged wounds, gnawed on dry rations, or took a few sips of liquor to warm themselves. They also retrieved essential items from the mountain donkey’s baggage to carry with them, and some even took the chance to explore nearby ice caves.
With hope of escape, the atmosphere in the ice cavern grew much more amicable. The only downside was the occasional appearance of several large white-furred rats darting out from the caves.
The group noticed these rats were much larger than ordinary ones, with eerie crimson eyes that gleamed maliciously and rows of tiny, sharp teeth that sent chills down their spines. Hu Tianwei and Zhou Zhiqin stomped on them one after another, killing over a dozen in one go.
Jin Baohui, however, seemed quite fond of the white-furred rats and lamented: "What a shame the timing isn’t right—otherwise, I’d definitely take a few back to raise. Tsk tsk, look at those teeth! Perfect for tunneling through millennia-old glaciers—sharper than ordinary blades."
After resting briefly, the group ate and drank their fill, their spirits lifted. Even Dongfang Xiao had recovered seventy to eighty percent of his strength.
Hu Tianwei eagerly carried Lan Tianyu on his back, while Qi Nong gently supported Chen Fuguang. Zhou Zhiqin took care of Dongfang Xiao, leaving Jin Baohui to reluctantly shrink behind Mu and Cai, hoping the two would look out for him.
Just as they were about to set off, another dozen or so white-furred rats scurried out from the surrounding ice caves.
Hu Tianwei frowned: "They just keep coming. Forget it—let’s ignore them and move."
"Wait," Mu Qingyan suddenly said. "Don’t you hear something sliding inside the ice?"
Hu Tianwei snapped impatiently: "Stop imagining things. There’s no sound—none at all. Let’s just go—"
"Hold on," Zhou Zhizhen said, tilting his head to listen. "I hear it too."
It was a low, slow sound—like the scrape of blades on ice during winter skating, or the slippery slide of a fish across a frozen surface. A hissing, rustling noise, muffled yet carrying an undercurrent of unknown dread.Mu Qingyan watched the white-furred mice scurrying on the ground. "Have you heard the saying 'snakes and rats share the same den'?"
The group was taken aback, unsure of his intention.
Mu Qingyan continued, "Why would snakes and rats share a den? Because although snakes prefer dwelling in burrows, they cannot dig them themselves—whereas rats can. Thus, snakes always seek out rat colonies, gaining both shelter and food in one stroke."
"Please, stop talking!" Jin Baohui's teeth chattered. "I feel a chill creeping over me..."
Before he could finish, a thunderous crash erupted as a smaller cave was violently breached. An enormous white serpent emerged, its scales like shards of frozen ice, its gaping maw nearly two zhang wide, and its body thick enough to require seven or eight men to encircle. Only half of its body was visible, leaving its full length unknown.
Compared to this creature, humans seemed pitifully small and frail.
Now, with cold, gleaming emerald eyes, it raised its body several stories high, fixating on the group as it hissed, its crimson forked tongue flickering like a Demon's.
Hu Tianwei was also stunned, cold sweat pouring down his face. "Wh-what kind of monstrous beast is this...?" At this moment, he no longer dared to spout bold claims like "divine blessings follow heavenly wonders."
While they stood frozen, the colossal white-scaled serpent moved—slithering forward with a chilling gust, its breath thick with a foul stench. The massive snake lunged toward the group, smashing through the icy ground and nearby walls in a deafening impact.
The panicked crowd scattered desperately, battered by flying shards of ice as the cavern trembled violently. Qi Nong rolled into a small crevice with Chen Fuguang in her arms, while Qian Xueshen was swept into another cave by the fierce wind.
Cai Zhao thought hiding here might be best.
"No choice now—we fight!" Zhou Zhiqin drew his sword, and Dongfang Xiao followed suit.
Hu Tianwei pulled out his judge's pen from his waist and grinned. "Don't be afraid, everyone! No matter how fierce, it's still just a beast. If we work together, we can take it down and share the spoils!" Though less knowledgeable than Jin Baohui, even he could tell this white serpent was extraordinarily rare.
Mu Qingyan's sleeves billowed as he gathered his energy, clearly preparing to strike as well.
Zhou Zhiqin shouted, "Brother Dongfang, draw its attention from the front while we attack from the sides!"
Dongfang Xiao acknowledged the order.
Hu Tianwei shot Zhou Zhiqin a sidelong glance, recognizing his favoritism—with Dongfang Xiao's agility, as long as he kept a distance of four or five zhang, he could evade the serpent's strikes. If the snake dared to lash out with its tongue, Dongfang Xiao could even sever it mid-motion.
Meanwhile, those attacking from the flanks would be in far greater danger. If the serpent turned in pain, they might not dodge in time.
With no objections, Dongfang Xiao hurled several chunks of ice at the serpent, provoking it to charge at him.
The lightness skill of Clear Wind Temple was once renowned across the Martial World. Dongfang Xiao danced effortlessly across the icy walls, his movements graceful and swift. The serpent's repeated lunges missed entirely, only shattering the ice around him without even grazing his robes.
Zhou Zhiqin, Hu Tianwei, and Mu Qingyan each targeted a vital spot on the serpent's body, ready to strike simultaneously.
Below, Cai Zhao shielded Jin Baohui while gripping her silver chain tightly.
After several failed attacks, the white-scaled serpent paused briefly, as if gathering strength. When it lunged at Dongfang Xiao again, it slowly opened its massive jaws.
For some reason, Cai Zhao's mind flashed to the frozen corpse with its expression of horrified disbelief. A cold dread crawled up her spine—"Stay away from its mouth! Don't face its mouth directly!" she screamed.
But it was already too late.
The serpent's maw, large enough to swallow an entire horse, slowly opened, revealing two fangs as tall as a man, surrounded by countless smaller jagged teeth. A breath of icy venom, as if exhaled from the underworld itself, blasted directly at Dongfang Xiao. Even Cai Zhao on the ground and Mu Qingyan to the side felt the piercing cold.
Dongfang Xiao took the full brunt of the serpent's breath. His body instantly stiffened, and with a loud crack, he plummeted straight down. Then, the sound of something hard shattering echoed through the air, like a child smashing an inkstone or a maid breaking a vase.
As the white mist of cold dissipated, everyone saw that Dongfang Xiao had been frozen alive into an icy corpse. From the height he fell, his body shattered into four or five pieces—snapped at the waist, with both upper and lower halves splitting further into two or three chunks. The broken edges revealed frozen flesh and marrow, crystallized by the extreme cold.
Zhou Zhiqin's eyes turned red. Disregarding his own safety, he rushed forward and clutched the frozen remains of Dongfang Xiao, wailing, "I killed you! It's my fault you died..."
The others were utterly stunned.
So was Cai Zhao.
—She never could have dreamed that the first among them to die would be Dongfang Xiao.
"It's the Jade-Eyed Ice Crystal Python! The Jade-Eyed Ice Crystal Python that failed to ascend and became a Demon!" Jin Baohui suddenly shouted, his eyes gleaming with a fanatical light. "I thought it was just a myth, but it's real!"
At that moment, Qian Xueshen stumbled out of a nearby cave, rubbing his head as if he had just regained consciousness after being knocked out by the earlier tremors.
Cai Zhao screamed hysterically, "Go back! Go back now! Don't come any closer!"
Qian Xueshen turned toward her voice, his face blank with confusion.
The giant serpent quickly noticed Qian Xueshen standing in the open and lowered its head to exhale another icy blast.
"No—!" Cai Zhao shrieked in horror.
She watched helplessly as Qian Xueshen was struck by the freezing breath, instantly turning into a rigid corpse. Then, with a powerful swipe of the serpent's tail, his frozen body shattered like ice. His frozen skull rolled to a stop at her feet, his expression eerily preserved.
The violent commotion triggered another tremor in the ice cavern.
The ground shook violently, and chunks of ice rained down from above.
Mu Qingyan grabbed the girl and pulled her into a larger cave for shelter, with Jin Baohui hastily following behind.
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