39: Chapter 39 Ice Lotus Tempering, Great Terror

The massive corpse of the Ice Scale Python lay across the ice, its dark red blood flowing slowly and congealing into eerie ice flowers in the extreme cold.

The ice chamber was filled with a thick smell of blood and biting cold qi.

The surviving Lin family guards supported each other as they tended to their wounds, their gazes toward Ye Chen filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and undisguised awe.

Lin Dong supported the heavily injured Scarface; his face was pale, but his eyes were bright.

"Brother Ye, we really owe this to you this time!"

Lin Dong said sincerely, his voice trembling slightly, both from his injuries and his agitated emotions.

Slaying a Second-Order Yao Beast—this achievement was enough to make their squad famous throughout Qingyun City!

Scarface also forced himself to stand up and bowed solemnly to Ye Chen with cupped fists.

"Young Master Ye, I will never forget your life-saving grace! If you have any orders in the future, I will not hesitate to die for you!"

He knew clearly that if Ye Chen hadn't intervened twice just now, he would have already died in the python's maw.

Ye Chen waved his hand, his breathing still somewhat unstable.

"You are being too serious, Brother Scarface. We were just helping each other out."

He turned his gaze toward the ice heart lotus quietly rotating in the center of the cold pool.

"The most urgent task is to collect this lotus and leave here as quickly as possible. The commotion just now was too great; I fear it will attract unnecessary trouble."

The expressions of the group tightened, and they nodded one after another.

This ice cave was not a safe place, and no one knew if there were other dangers or if others might come after hearing the commotion.

Ye Chen walked to the edge of the cold pool. The pool water was deep blue and the cold qi was biting; just getting close made one feel their blood flow slowing down.

He carefully took out the largest cold jade box from his storage ring; this had been specially prepared for him by Lin Qingxue to store extremely cold medicinal Materials.

He circulated his Profound Ice True Essence to protect his palms and slowly reached into the pool water.

The moment his fingertips touched the pool water, a bone-chilling cold spread up his arm, several times more intense than the Black Water River!

Ye Chen let out a muffled groan and sped up his movements. His True Essence wrapped around the roots of the ice heart lotus, and he lifted it gently.

As the ice heart lotus left the pool water, its seven petals trembled slightly, and the cold qi it emitted caused the surrounding air to make faint freezing sounds.

He quickly placed it into the cold jade box, closed the lid tightly, and applied a Seal.

The jade box felt ice-cold in his hand, and that incomparably pure cold qi still faintly seeped through the box walls.

Ye Chen felt reassured. With this item, his chances of breaking through to the Meridian Opening Sixth Level were much greater.

"We..."

Scarface had just started to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly turned his head to look toward the entrance of the ice cave!

Almost at the same time, Ye Chen also sensed something, and his eyes swept toward that direction, sharp as blades!

Chaotic footsteps and faint voices were approaching from afar!

Someone was coming!

And there were quite a few of them!

"Quick! Pack up your things and prepare to evacuate!"

Scarface hissed, ignoring his injuries, and immediately commanded the guards who could still move to quickly strip the valuable Materials from the Ice Scale Python, while keeping a vigilant eye on the entrance.

Ye Chen put the jade box into his storage ring, gripped the ice scar sword, stood at the front of the group, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Scarface and Lin Dong.

At a time like this, they absolutely could not panic.

A few moments later, a dozen figures appeared at the entrance of the ice chamber, blocking the not-so-spacious exit.

The two people leading them were none other than Tiger Wang and the Ye Family Elder who was leading the team!

The Wang family and Ye family disciples following behind them all had malicious gazes and bloodstains on their bodies.

Evidently, they had also experienced a fierce battle. They saw the Ice Scale Python corpse on the ground and the Lin family guards who were collecting the spoils of war.

They were stunned at first, then expressions of greed and viciousness appeared on their faces.

"Ice Scale Python?!"

Shock flashed in Tiger Wang's eyes, then turned into a grin.

"Good! Truly, we found it without even looking! Scarface, Lin Dong, and you trash Ye Chen! I didn't expect you to be so lucky as to actually kill this beast!"

"However, it's our gain now! Hand over the ice heart lotus and the python Materials, then cut off one of your own arms, and we might consider leaving you a whole corpse!"

The Ye Family Elder also said sinisterly.

"Ye Chen, you murdered a clansman (referring to Ye Ming), a heinous crime! Today is your death day! Surrender now, and perhaps you can suffer a little less!"

Scarface's expression was ugly. The enemy had strength in numbers, and both Tiger Wang and the Ye Family Elder were at the Meridian Opening Ninth Level. His side had suffered heavy casualties, and Ye Chen had also expended a great deal of energy; the situation was extremely disadvantageous.

He said in a deep voice.

"Tiger Wang, Elder Ye, do you want to break the rules and fight here? Aren't you afraid of the City Lord's Mansion investigating after we go out?"

"Rules?" Tiger Wang sneered.

"In this godforsaken place, strength is the rule! If we kill you, who would know it was us? Blame only your own bad luck!"

His gaze swept over Ye Chen, the killing intent most intense.

"Especially you, Ye Chen! Today I will take your dog life to avenge my brother!"

Ye Chen was expressionless, sneering in his heart. It had come after all.

He secretly circulated his Cultivation Technique to accelerate the recovery of his True Essence, while communicating with his jade pendant and the jade booklet in his Sea of Consciousness, preparing to fight for his life.

Lin Dong also gripped his sword tightly, his eyes resolute.

Just as the tension was at its breaking point, suddenly, a low, terrifying roar came from the depths of the ice cave!

This roar contained powerful pressure, shaking the entire ice cave and causing the ice stalactites on the ceiling to fall with a rustling sound!

"What sound is that?!"

Everyone was shocked and looked simultaneously toward the endless darkness in the depths of the ice cave.

The roar was full of violence and hunger; clearly, a more powerful Yao Beast had been disturbed by the smell of blood here!

"Not good! Something more powerful has been attracted!" Scarface's face changed drastically.

Tiger Wang and the Ye Family Elder also looked suspicious and uncertain. They could feel the aura emitted by the owner of the roar, which was definitely far superior to the Ice Scale Python!

"Roar—!"

Another roar came, accompanied by heavy footsteps approaching from afar, and the ground vibrated slightly!

A heart-stopping, fierce aura rushed toward them!

"Run!"

Scarface made a prompt decision. He didn't care about the people from the Wang and Ye families and signaled the Lin family group to rush toward the entrance! Saving their lives was the priority now!

Tiger Wang and the Ye Family Elder looked at each other and also revealed fear.

They wanted to kill Ye Chen, but they didn't want to lose their own lives in the process.

"Count yourselves lucky! We're retreating!"

Tiger Wang glared at Ye Chen unwillingly and led his people to rush toward the entrance first, wanting to get in ahead.

The Ye family followed closely behind.

The entrance was narrow, and they immediately crowded together!

"Move aside!"

Tiger Wang roared and slapped a Lin family guard who was blocking the front.

"Tiger Wang, you're courting death!" Scarface shouted angrily and swung his blade to block.

In the chaos, Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. He saw Tiger Wang deliberately shove an injured Lin family guard who was moving a bit slowly toward the sharp ice stalactites on the side!

If he hit it, he would surely die!

Ye Chen moved, utilizing his Mist Transformation Steps to the limit. He flashed past in an instant and grabbed the guard.

At the same time, he used his ice scar sword to parry Tiger Wang's insidious follow-up strike!

"Clang!" Sparks flew everywhere.

"Ye Chen!" Tiger Wang gritted his teeth.

"If you don't want to die, get out!"

Ye Chen said coldly, pushing the terrified guard toward the entrance.

At this moment, the terrifying aura from the depths of the ice cave was getting closer, and the heavy footsteps sounded like a death knell!

Tiger Wang and the Ye Family Elder dared not tangle any further. They glared fiercely at Ye Chen and led their people to squeeze into the entrance passage.

Ye Chen, Scarface, Lin Dong, and the others also quickly followed.

The group fled for their lives along the path they had come. Behind them, the terrifying roars and footsteps were in hot pursuit, as if they would pounce out of the darkness at any moment!

No one dared to look back, and they ran toward the exit with all their might.

They didn't know how long they had run, but they finally saw the light of the exit!

Everyone scrambled to rush out of the Millennium Ice Cave and returned to the relatively bright ice field.

One by one, they collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, still feeling lingering fear.

Looking back, the entrance to the ice cave was pitch black, and the terrifying roar seemed to be restricted by something.

It didn't chase them out, but it still made one's scalp tingle.

"Just now... what was that thing?" Lin Dong gasped, his face pale.

"I don't know, but it is definitely not something we can deal with."

Scarface still felt lingering fear and looked at Ye Chen, "This time, we owe it to Young Master Ye's alertness again."

Ye Chen shook his head and looked in the direction where the Wang and Ye family teams had disappeared, his eyes cold.

He would remember this debt.

After this commotion, both sides had completely torn off the facade, and within this mining area, there was no room for turning back.

"Let's find a safe place to heal and rest first."

Scarface suggested.

Everyone agreed unanimously and quickly left the vicinity of the ice cave, finding a sheltered ice hollow on the edge of the ice field to camp temporarily.

After setting up a simple early warning Formation, everyone began to treat their wounds and distribute Medicinal Pills.

Ye Chen found a quiet corner and sat cross-legged. He took out the ice heart lotus, but did not consume it immediately; instead, he first circulated his Cultivation Technique to adjust his state to the best condition.

The previous battle had consumed a great deal, but it also made his control over his own power more refined. His Middle Stage cultivation of the Fifth Level was completely stabilized, and he had even faintly touched the barrier of the Late Stage.

It was time to use this ice heart lotus to charge toward a higher Realm!

Only with stronger strength could he deal with the upcoming crises.

He took a deep breath, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and he gently plucked a petal of the ice heart lotus.