Chapter 229: Trapped

Just after Qi Huanyu and his group repelled the ice mantises, deep within the White Fox Valley, Tang Chuan and his team were also battling a swarm of white ice scorpions.

These ice scorpions were numerous, at least twenty or thirty, and quite powerful. Originally, Tang Chuan and his group were at a disadvantage, with many disciples showing panic and nearly collapsing. However, several of the most powerful Ice Scorpions at the Deity Transformation stage suddenly vanished for unknown reasons.

Overjoyed, Tang Chuan and his team immediately counterattacked, quickly killing all the scorpions and continuing forward.

In midair, a figure flickered, and Su Tongxiao appeared briefly before vanishing again.

...

Dozens of silver threads shot down with a loud hissing sound, piercing the body of a white ice python and creating a huge wound.

The Deity Transformation stage ice python let out a miserable cry, its massive body crashing to the ground as a torrent of blood gushed out. The python convulsed a few times and then lay still.

The silver threads flew back, coalescing into a silver flying sword that returned to Bai Suyuan's side.

Sun Ke and the others stood near Bai Suyuan, forming a circle to protect her. Beyond them were over a dozen Deity Transformation stage pythons, furiously attacking the six.

Sun Ke and the others each faced two or more ice pythons. Though at a disadvantage, they could still hold on for now.

After killing one python, Bai Suyuan did not pause. Her jade finger pointed.

The silver sword shot out again, transforming into dozens of silver sword threads vaguely forming a lotus shape, shooting toward a python that was fighting Sun Ke.

Sun Ke's face lit up with joy, and he quickly urged his four cyan flying blades to assist with full force.

The trial had now been going on for ten days. They had penetrated deep into the Mystic Ice Mountain Range, encountering increasingly powerful beasts. Today, they were surrounded by over a dozen Deity Transformation stage mid-phase pythons.

The six quickly decided to form a circular defensive formation, protecting the strongest, Bai Suyuan, so she could free up her hands to attack.

Bai Suyuan lived up to expectations, repeatedly using secret techniques to display formidable combat power, killing one python after another.

As time passed, the battle began to tilt in favor of the six.

Dozens of sword threads pierced a python's body. Though they didn't hit a vital spot, they made it pause.

Whoosh!

A thick, purple-golden staff shadow descended from the sky, striking the python's head heavily.

The python's head split into several pieces, white brain matter mixed with blood splattering out.

“Roar!” A white python let out a strange cry, turned, and fled into the distance.

The remaining pythons immediately followed, disappearing into the distant sky in the blink of an eye.

Bai Suyuan and the others did not pursue. The fierce battle had consumed much of their mana, so they silently took out pills and spirit stones to recover.

In midair, Han Li's figure blurred as he hid within a cloud, nodding slowly.

Along the way, he had not intervened.

Bai Suyuan and the others had commendable temperament and intelligence. Their tactics in the recent battle were somewhat immature, but considering their cultivation levels, it was already quite good.

Bai Suyuan and her group did not linger long and soon continued forward.

Han Li moved and followed.

But the next moment, his expression shifted slightly as he looked to the side. There, the void flickered, and Su Tongxiao's figure emerged.

“Brother Su, why are you here? Isn't it a problem not protecting the other two groups?” Han Li smiled.

“I've basically cleared the way ahead on both paths; I'm exhausted! Those two groups of disciples have also improved quite a bit, so there shouldn't be any problems. These kids have excellent aptitudes, but they are too inexperienced in combat.” Su Tongxiao sighed.

“They grew up in the sect under the protection of elders, so naturally they haven't experienced major setbacks,” Han Li said, feeling somewhat dismissive.

After all, in his view, having mere cultivation without real life-and-death combat experience would be of little use in dangerous situations.

“Improving combat skills isn't difficult. The sect has a Phantom Nightmare Tower reserved for core disciples, specifically for enhancing combat experience,” Su Tongxiao said.

“There's such a place.” Han Li was slightly surprised.

“There are many wondrous places in the sect; Brother Li will learn about them gradually,” Su Tongxiao laughed.

Han Li nodded silently, then suddenly looked up.

Su Tongxiao also frowned.

Ahead on Qi Huanyu's path, a Body Integration stage beast was rapidly approaching.

“Eh, a Body Integration beast appearing early?” Su Tongxiao muttered to himself.

Han Li squinted, the corners of his mouth imperceptibly lifting, and said, “Probably caused by your clearing of the beasts ahead on the two paths.”

“Perhaps,” Su Tongxiao said, about to fly over.

Qi Huanyu's group had trouble even with Deity Transformation beasts, let alone a Body Integration one. To be safe, he had to go.

At that moment, his expression changed slightly as he looked toward Tang Chuan's direction.

Almost simultaneously, another Body Integration beast appeared within his divine sense range, heading toward Tang Chuan's group.

This beast was a giant bird, extremely fast, and would soon encounter them.

“Two Body Integration beasts!” Su Tongxiao's face showed urgency.

The three paths were far apart. If he went to Qi Huanyu's side first, he wouldn't make it to Tang Chuan's in time.

“Brother Li, could you do me a favor and deal with the beast near Tang Chuan? I would be most grateful,” Su Tongxiao said, looking at Han Li.

Han Li glanced at a certain point ahead, his face showing hesitation. After a moment's delay, he said, “Since Brother Su has asked, I'll help you with this favor.”

“Thank you, Brother Li. I am deeply grateful,” Su Tongxiao thanked him, then flickered and shot off into the distance.

Han Li glanced at Su Tongxiao's back, pondered briefly, then flickered and vanished from the spot.

...

Tang Chuan and his group of eight flew forward. According to the map, they were not far from their destination.

Along the way, the number of beasts had decreased by seventy percent, making their journey quite smooth.

Tang Chuan knew very well the reason for the sudden scarcity of beasts: it must be the work of the True Immortal elder secretly protecting them.

But now that there were no worries behind, winning the top prize became his urgent priority.

“Speed up a bit!” With this thought, Tang Chuan turned and shouted to the others behind.

He wanted to reach the Snow Brown Bear as quickly as possible and kill it, causing all other core disciples to fail the trial.

As for whether the eight of them could kill the Snow Brown Bear, he wasn't worried at all.

As long as the True Immortal elder was there, he would never let him be killed by the bear. At that point, the elder would have no choice but to intervene.

Tang Chuan felt smug, and the light around him intensified, speeding up further.

Just then, a distant screech came from ahead.

Though still far away, the sound was as piercing as a steel needle, causing his eardrums to sting. He couldn't help but grunt, and his flying speed slowed.

The others, with lower cultivation than Tang Chuan, fared even worse, crying out in pain and covering their ears.

“What is that?” Tang Chuan's face changed color.

Before he finished speaking, a black dot appeared on the left front horizon, flying toward them with incredible speed. In an instant, it was near—a terrifying beast.

This creature was several hundred zhang in size, shaped like a flood dragon but far more ferocious. It had a pair of broad wings on its back, each feather like a sharp sword. Its long tail was covered in huge bone spikes, and the tip had a scorpion-like hook that glowed faintly blue, clearly venomous.

A vast aura emanated from this giant beast, reaching the Body Integration stage.

“Oh no, a Body Integration beast!” Tang Chuan and the others' faces turned pale as they retreated rapidly, looking around as if searching for something.

The ferocious beast gave them no time to react. It opened its mouth and let out a roar.

The massive sound waves formed visible ripples in the air, enveloping the eight.

Before Tang Chuan and the others could even activate their treasures, they were engulfed by the roaring torrent. Their qi and blood churned violently, and blood oozed from their seven orifices.

The beast flapped its wings, and large, thick blue ice spikes materialized, shooting toward Tang Chuan and his group, about to pierce them.

At the critical moment, a cyan figure appeared before the eight without warning, pointing a finger without a word.

Dazzling cyan light emerged, weaving into a huge light screen that shielded the eight.

The roaring torrent abruptly ceased, and the ice spikes shattered upon hitting the light screen.

The beast was startled. Its huge eyes fixed on the figure before it, sensing the immense aura emanating from it. Suddenly, terror filled its eyes. It flapped its wings and fled into the distance.

But the cyan figure flickered and vanished, reappearing the next moment atop the beast's massive head.

With a single point of its hand, a cyan light shot out and entered the beast's head.

Bang!

The beast's huge body suddenly froze, then its massive head exploded.

At that moment, black orbs flew out from the beast's head, appearing around the cyan figure, their surfaces flashing wildly with black light.

Seeing this, the cyan figure was about to fly away.

With a “puff” sound!

The black orbs exploded, turning into dazzling black light that connected with each other, forming a huge black light array with countless black runes churning inside.

Threads of law power emanated from the array. The air around it instantly became as hard as steel, and faintly, a cyan figure could be seen firmly trapped inside.

“What is this?” Tang Chuan and the others were stunned, not knowing what had happened.

Almost at the same time, deep within Snow Camel Ridge.

Qi Huanyu and four other disciples were hiding in fear behind a low hill. Most of them were heavily injured, as if they had just experienced a fierce life-and-death struggle.

In the air beside them were four small figures about two inches tall, seemingly the nascent souls of their former companions, whose physical bodies had been destroyed.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on a huge black light array a few hundred zhang ahead of the hill.

On the ground beneath the array lay the corpse of a giant beast. Above the corpse, Su Tongxiao was firmly trapped in the black light array, struggling fiercely with dazzling light emanating from his body.

However, the black light array was clearly no ordinary formation; it was extremely solid. Though it trembled repeatedly, there was no sign of damage for the time being.