7: Ice Thunder Tribulation ૮₍♡♡₎ა

The moment the dark shadow attacked, Xiao Bing pulled Han Yue behind him, and his right hand condensed an ice blade, slashing it out horizontally. With a crisp 'clang', the ice blade collided with a paint black short knife, splashing a string of sparks.

"Not bad reaction." The assailant gave a sinister smile and retreated to the edge of the shadows. This was a man completely wrapped in a black robe, with a silver mask on his face, revealing only a pair of red glowing eyes.

Han Yue gasped, "Shadow Assassins! Uncle's private army!"

"Young Miss Han Yue," the black-robed man hissed, "My master wants me to take you back. As for this gentleman..." He looked at Xiao Bing, "He must die."

Xiao Bing sneered, "Just you?" Before he finished speaking, three ice cones shot out.

The black-robed man's figure twisted bizarrely, scattering and reassembling like smoke. Xiao Bing's ice cones passed through the illusion and nailed into the stone wall behind.

"Useless." The black-robed man cackled, "Physical attacks are ineffective against me."

Han Yue suddenly formed a Seal, and a silver light shot from her fingertips: "Moonlight Break!"

The silver light hit the black-robed man, causing him to grunt and stumble back two steps. "Han Family's secret technique?" The black-robed man's voice became dangerous, "Young Miss, are you betraying the Family?"

"It's Han Feng who betrayed the Family!" Han Yue retorted sharply, "He colluded with the Soul Hall, plotting to seize the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core!"

The black-robed man said no more, his figure splitting into three, attacking from different angles. Blue light surged in Xiao Bing's eyes, and he slammed his hands to the ground:

"Ice Hell Seal!"

Centered on him, an aura of extreme cold spread in a ring. The movements of the three black-robed men simultaneously froze, and thick frost condensed on their bodies.

"Now!" Xiao Bing shouted.

Han Yue understood, quickly forming hand Seals: "Moonlight Heavenly Net!" A net made of silver light tightly bound the three black-robed men.

"Go!" Xiao Bing pulled Han Yue and rushed towards the core area where the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core was located. Behind them, they heard the black-robed man's furious roar and the sound of ice cracking.

Passing through the last archway, the two finally arrived directly beneath the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core. Observed at close range, this Spiritual Thunder was even more shocking than from afar—it was as thick as a bucket, completely deep blue-black, with silver-white electric light flashing across its surface from time to time. The terrifying cold made it difficult to breathe even through the Seal.

"Alert: The Core Lightning of the Earth's Core Seal is about to collapse."

"External human-made damage detected."

Xiao Bing scanned his surroundings and quickly found several fresh carvings on the base of the Seal: "Someone intentionally weakened the Seal!"

Han Yue's face was pale: "It's Uncle... He wants to forcefully take the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core!"

Just then, the entire underground space suddenly vibrated violently! Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the Seal, and the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core furiously impacted the fragile Seal.

"Oh no!" Xiao Bing hugged Han Yue and quickly retreated. The next second, the Seal shattered with a bang!

"Roar—"

As if an ancient beast was roaring, the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core was completely unleashed! It coiled in the air like an enraged ice Dragon, freezing and cracking the stone walls wherever it passed. The temperature plummeted to extreme cold, and even breathing would cause frost to form at one's mouth.

The black-robed man had just chased in when he was grazed by a bolt of lightning, instantly freezing into an ice sculpture and then shattering!

"We must re-Seal it!" Han Yue gritted her teeth.

Xiao Bing, however, stared at the rampaging Core Lightning of the Earth's Core, System prompts flashing before his eyes:

"Emergency Mission: Acquire the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core."

"Warning: Extremely high danger level in immature state."

"Optional plan: Use the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold as a guide for forced Fusion."

There was no time to hesitate. The Core Lightning of the Earth's Core had already begun to attack indiscriminately, and if this continued, the entire Canaan Academy would suffer.

"Han Yue, buy me ten seconds!" Xiao Bing said in a deep voice.

Without waiting for a reply, he had already sat down cross-legged, fully activating the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold within his body. Silver-blue lightning emanated from his body, forming a small thundercloud above his head.

Although Han Yue was puzzled, she still gritted her teeth and stood in front of Xiao Bing, forming complex hand Seals: "Moonlight Sky Curtain!" A silver light curtain unfolded, temporarily blocking the rampant Core Lightning of the Earth's Core.

Cold sweat seeped from Xiao Bing's forehead. Following the System's guidance, he carefully condensed the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold energy into a "fuse," slowly extending it towards the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core.

"Roar!"

The Core Lightning of the Earth's Core seemed to sense something, suddenly changing direction and pouncing towards Xiao Bing! Han Yue's defense was torn apart like paper, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, being sent flying.

At the critical moment, Xiao Bing's fuse successfully touched the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core's core. The two energies of the same origin began to react violently!

"Absorb!"

Xiao Bing fully operated the special cultivation technique provided by the System. The Core Lightning of the Earth's Core was pulled little by little towards his body, but its resistance became increasingly fierce. His skin began to crack, and before blood could flow out, it was frozen.

"Xiao Bing!" Han Yue struggled to get up, her heart tearing at the sight. She suddenly remembered a record in the Family's ancient texts, and gritted her teeth, slashing her wrist:

"By the Han Family Bloodline as a guide, Moonlight as a medium, Covenant!"

The blood transformed into a Bloodline and flew towards Xiao Bing, entering his body simultaneously with the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core. A strange scene occurred—Han Yue's blood formed complex patterns on Xiao Bing's body, temporarily stabilizing the chaotic energy!

"Fusion progress: 12%... 35%... 7%..."

Xiao Bing's consciousness began to blur. He felt himself sometimes suffering in an extremely cold Hell, and sometimes being pierced by ten thousand bolts of lightning. The only thing he could perceive was a trace of warmth at his wrist—that was Han Yue tightly grasping his hand.

After an unknown amount of time, the intense pain gradually subsided. Xiao Bing weakly opened his eyes and found himself lying on an unfamiliar bed, with Han Yue sleeping beside the bed, her face terrifyingly pale.

"Fusion complete."

"Host Rank: One-star Dou Ling."

"New ability acquired: Core Lightning of the Earth's Core Armor (Defense increase 300%)."

"Special status: Formed 'Moonlight Covenant' with Han Yue (can share some ice-type abilities)."

Xiao Bing tried to move his fingers, waking the lightly sleeping Han Yue.

"You're awake!" She sat up in surprise, then her face hardened, "Do you know you almost died? Forcibly absorbing an immature Core Lightning of the Earth's Core is simply suicide!"

Xiao Bing smiled weakly: "Didn't you help me? That blood covenant..."

Han Yue's ears reddened slightly: "That was an emergency measure. Now my blood flows in your body, in a sense we are..."

Her words were cut short as the door was suddenly pushed open. Vice Principal Hu Qian entered quickly with several Elders, their expressions grave.

"Young man, you've caused big trouble." Hu Qian said in a deep voice, "Han Feng has surrounded the Academy with people from the Black-Corner Region, demanding that you and the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core be handed over."

Xiao Bing struggled to sit up: "The Core Lightning of the Earth's Core has already fused with me, they can't take it."

"That's not the problem." An Elder said worriedly, "Han Feng claims Han Yue betrayed the Family and wants to take her back for trial."

Han Yue's face turned ashen: "Uncle wants to silence me..."

Xiao Bing held her hand: "I won't let him succeed."

Hu Qian sighed: "You two stay in the inner courtyard for now. Also..." He gave Xiao Bing a meaningful look, "A Mr. Flame Brother asked me to tell you—'The three-year agreement is approaching, take care'."

Xiao Yan! Xiao Bing's heart warmed. It seemed Flame Brother already knew he was at Canaan Academy.

After everyone left, Han Yue whispered: "What now? Uncle won't give up."

Xiao Bing checked the new missions released by the System:

"Main Mission Update: Journey to Central Plains."

"Side Mission: Resolve the Han Feng Crisis."

"Hint: There are Soul Hall infiltrators within the Han Family."

"First, recover from your injuries." Xiao Bing looked out the window, "Then... it's time to meet your uncle."

Late at night, Xiao Bing's consciousness sank into the System space. After fully absorbing the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core, the System unlocked a new function—Spiritual Thunder simulation battles. He could practice controlling the Fusion of the two Spiritual Thunder here.

"Simulation Battle Start."

"Opponent: Soul Hall Venerable Elder (Five-star Dou Zong strength)."

Even though it was just a simulation, the oppressive feeling was terrifyingly real. Xiao Bing was instantly killed repeatedly, and repeatedly stood up again. On the one hundred seventh attempt, he finally found a way to deal with it—combining the slowing properties of the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold with the destructive power of the Core Lightning of the Earth's Core, creating a brand new combination skill:

"Lightning Tribulation of Ice: Frostfall!"

In the simulation space, a blue-black lightning bolt descended from the sky, shattering the Soul Hall Venerable Elder's illusion.

"Congratulations on creating a new Dou Skill: Lightning Tribulation of Ice (Quasi-Earth Rank)."

Exiting the System space, Xiao Bing found that it was already dawn outside the window. Han Yue was leaning on a chair, asleep, the morning light gilding her silver hair.

Xiao Bing gently draped a blanket over her, a plan already in his mind. Once Han Feng's threat was resolved, it would be time to set off for the Central Plains—there were clues to the third Spiritual Thunder, the Heavenly Frost Thunder, there.

And before that, he needed to fully master his newly acquired power, and... figure out the full meaning of that mysterious covenant with Han Yue.