Chapter 409: Separated

As the distance grew closer, the blue light spot became larger and larger, and Han Li and the others gradually saw the full appearance of the light cluster.

It was indeed a water-blue spatial vortex, very similar in fluctuation to the vortex they had entered through.

When they were only about a hundred steps away from the vortex, a sudden change occurred!

The high sky, shrouded by flying snow, suddenly trembled violently. All the falling snowflakes froze for a moment, then transformed into a snowflake dragon a hundred zhang thick, charging down at Han Li and the others with ferocious momentum.

With a thunderous roar,

the blue light sphere enveloping everyone was struck by the snowstorm dragon and collapsed. The surging snowflakes became extremely狂暴, mixed in the chaotic gusts, sweeping everyone in all directions, tossing them into the high sky.

Whether it was the power of the sudden snowstorm dragon or the unleashed might of this realm after being disturbed by the dragon, a violent and unmatched great storm began to rage across the land.

Everyone in the high sky tried to stabilize themselves, but for a time, they were unable to control themselves under the impact of turbulent currents from all directions. One after another, figures disappeared from the high sky, swept away by the storm to unknown places.

Han Li's body blazed with azure light, arcs of lightning flickered behind him, and a pair of azure-white thunder wings materialized, flapping rapidly in the storm and snow as he struggled to steady himself.

Just as he was about to check on Hu Yan Dao Ren's location, he saw a black shadow rushing toward him, and then felt a soft body embrace him.

Struck by this great force, Han Li's barely stabilized form wavered, tilting backward. Caught by a turbulent current, he involuntarily fell into a spatial storm.

Amidst a dizzying whirl, the buzzing in Han Li's ears grew loud again. Before he could see who was clinging to him like an octopus, his mind went hazy and he lost consciousness.

…

On an unknown vast snowy plain, the howling wind whistled, and the snowstorm continued.

But compared to the previous realm, the space here was much more stable. Scattered around were clusters of white spires, with patches of dark green visible in the gaps—large snow-covered pine trees.

In front of a snow-covered pine forest with towering white spires stood over a dozen figures, led by a beautiful woman, none other than Xue Ying, the Vice Palace Master of the North Cold Immortal Palace.

Although these people stood together, any discerning eye could see the divisions among them. The larger group from the North Cold Immortal Palace gathered together, while Ouyang Kuishan and his two companions from the Candle Dragon Sect were separated by an invisible chasm.

"Vice Palace Master Xue Ying, the immortal mansion is only open for a year. Why hasn't Palace Master Xiao come to join us?" Ouyang Kuishan looked at the snowy high sky and asked.

"If someone hadn't leaked the entrance to the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion, why would time be so tight?" Xue Ying replied coldly without looking at him.

Clearly, regarding the leak of the mansion entrance, they would not suspect their own palace members, only these three outsiders.

Ouyang Kuishan's face darkened upon hearing this. He snorted coldly and said no more.

"The Palace Master went to deal with those who entered later. By making some moves to send them into spatial storms, even if they are teleported, they will be scattered, and their strength will naturally be weakened. Then, if anyone is uncooperative, it will be easy to pick them off one by one." Xue Ying glanced at him and said.

Ouyang Kuishan and his companions exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

…

On an unknown gray desert, large and small gray pebbles covered the ground, with no trees or grass in sight. Patches of unmelted white snow were frozen everywhere.

In the center of the gray desert was a shallow, winding gully, seemingly a channel formed by melted snow runoff, with pools of varying sizes, their surfaces frozen with a layer of ice.

On a mudflat on the left bank of the channel, beside a snow pine trunk that had been washed there by melted snow, lay a man and a woman, sprawled unconscious.

The man was tall and lay face down, his face unclear, while the woman had delicate features and was extremely beautiful.

But at that moment, her hands were tightly clasped around the man's waist, her cheek pressed against his side, a posture that seemed somewhat improper and awkward to behold.

At that moment, the man lying prone suddenly trembled slightly and was the first to wake.

He turned over and sat up, a middle-aged man's face showing a hint of doubt as he looked around.

He was none other than Han Li, who had changed his appearance using the Wuchang Alliance mask.

At this moment, besides the young woman who had fallen asleep leaning on his knee, there was no one else around.

Hu Yan Dao Ren, Yun Ni, and the others were all missing.

"Miss Lu..." Han Li's palm glowed with azure light as he patted the woman's shoulder and called out.

The beautiful woman was none other than Lu Yuqing.

At Han Li's pat, she let out a soft moan and slowly woke up.

"Brother Liu, where is this place?" After recognizing the face before her, she rubbed her sore temples and asked blankly.

Han Li did not answer immediately. Instead, his eyes flashed blue as he released his spiritual sense to probe the surroundings.

"It's certain that we are still inside the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion. But I'm not sure exactly where we are now." After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and said slowly.

"What about the others? Why are we the only ones here?" Lu Yuqing looked around, blinked, and asked in confusion.

"It seems we were suddenly attacked and swept into a spatial storm, all separated. Now it appears only the two of us landed here." Han Li smiled bitterly and replied.

Hearing this, Lu Yuqing remembered how she had clung tightly to Han Li in the storm, and her cheeks flushed with a hint of red.

"Then... what should we do now?" To ease her embarrassment, she quickly asked.

Han Li fell into thought. According to the original plan, everyone was supposed to act together, so he hadn't yet learned the specifics of the immortal mansion from Hu Yan Dao Ren.

Suddenly ending up in this situation caught him off guard.

"I probed the surroundings with my spiritual sense earlier. There are no obvious spiritual power fluctuations nearby, except in that direction, where the temperature drops the farther you go." Han Li pointed to a distant direction and said.

"If so, we should head in that direction. That should be the first region of the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion, the Nether Cold Realm." Lu Yuqing's expression turned serious as she spoke.

"Nether Cold Realm... Miss Lu, how do you know this?" Han Li looked at her with slight surprise and asked.

"Brother Liu, don't be so surprised... Actually, our Black Wind Island discovered the entrance to the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion long ago and guarded it for many years under orders from the North Cold Immortal Palace. Although we were told not to spread the word, my father secretly gathered much information about the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion. So it's not strange that I know some things about it." Seeing Han Li's expression, Lu Yuqing had to explain.

Han Li's face showed a strange expression as he asked:

"So, after the North Cold Immortal Palace set up the formation to hide the mansion entrance, it was your island lord's mansion that secretly leaked the entrance location?"

Han Li's conjecture was not entirely baseless.

Black Wind Island had guarded the mansion entrance for the North Cold Immortal Palace for so many years, with hard work if not merit. Yet the Immortal Palace looked down on the remote Black Wind Island, not even giving it a single spot among the twelve who entered the mansion.

Thus, Lu Yuqing had no choice but to beg Han Li to secure a place from Hu Yan Dao Ren to enter the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion and seek a chance.

"Brother Liu, you mustn't say that. How would we dare? If the Immortal Palace finds out, our island lord's mansion would face annihilation." Lu Yuqing was startled by Han Li's words and quickly waved her hands.

"I was just asking casually. Don't take it seriously." Han Li had no intention of pursuing the matter. Seeing Lu Yuqing's strong reaction, he smiled and nodded.

In fact, whoever leaked the information, Han Li was happy about it. Although he and Hu Yan Dao Ren had formed an alliance, their strength was ultimately no match for the North Cold Immortal Palace or the Fuling Sect.

The leak of the mansion entrance attracted many forces, thoroughly muddying the waters of the Nether Cold Immortal Mansion. This made it much easier for Han Li and his group to fish in troubled waters.

As he pondered, Han Li looked into the distance and waved his hand. A flash of azure light passed, and a green bird-shaped flying boat with four azure wings on each side materialized, hovering in the void.

"Let's go. We should set off too." He flickered and landed on the spirit boat, calling to Lu Yuqing.

Lu Yuqing responded with a soft "mm," then leaped high and landed lightly behind Han Li.

Han Li urged the spirit boat, and it immediately streaked across the sky like a azure light, speeding into the distance.

Dark clouds piled up in the high sky, pressing down on the heavens, giving the realm a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

All around was silent, with no living creatures in sight and barely any sound. Neither spoke, leaving only the howling wind in their ears.

After flying for about half an hour, snow began to fall from the sky. At first, only a few flakes, but as they went further, the snowflakes grew larger and denser.

At the same time, the scenery beneath them gradually changed. The gray desert was left far behind, replaced by a vast ice field.

Here, the leaden clouds in the sky had turned blue-gray. The falling snowflakes were not as light as usual; each seemed to carry considerable weight, falling rapidly and densely.

Fortunately, although the wind and snow here were equally cold, they were not as bone-piercing as before. By releasing protective spiritual light, one could block them out.