"Screech!"
High in the sky, the Ice Snow Flying Luan spread its wings, soaring gracefully as it let out a series of sharp, resonant cries. In each call, countless ice spears condensed around it, shooting down toward Shui Bing'er on the ground.
Relying on the cover of the towering snow pines within the forest, Shui Bing'er darted nimbly between the trees, evading every strike from the Ice Snow Flying Luan.
Following the ridge where the snow pine forest clung to the mountainside, she raced forward at top speed, trying to shake the flying spirit beast and rejoin Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu.
But as a top-tier, ten-thousand-year spirit beast, the Ice Snow Flying Luan's intelligence was formidable. Holding the advantage of aerial dominance, it locked onto her relentlessly—no matter how she tried, she simply couldn't shake it.
And with the Ice Snow Flying Luan essentially acting as a guide for the hunt, spirit beasts from all around the snowy woods began converging on her position from every direction.
The situation had turned extremely dangerous.
Deep underground, a thousand meters beneath the ice, Ye Yu was moving through the labyrinthine tunnels of the ice cave. His Blue Silver Domain was expanded to its fullest, scanning in all directions as he searched for any ice-attribute treasures that might be hidden here.
In addition to the immortal herb Ice Heart Snow Lotus, he had already found several other rare treasures scattered in these tunnels: Ice Spirit Vermilion Fruit, Snow Jade Ginseng, and Cold Ice Ganoderma, among others.
To ensure he missed nothing, Ye Yu kept the Blue Silver Domain radiating outward from his body in a perfect sphere, sweeping through both the surrounding tunnels and the ground above.
As he ascended through one upward-sloping passage, his domain brushed against a familiar figure—someone fleeing through a snow pine forest.
"…That's… Shui Bing'er?"
Ye Yu was startled. To run into her here, in the Extreme North, was beyond unexpected.
He quickly noticed, however, that she was surrounded by hostile spirit beasts—both on the ground and in the air, where a ten-thousand-year Ice Snow Flying Luan was hounding her relentlessly.
This puzzled him. If Shui Bing'er was here to hunt for a spirit ring, she should have been accompanied by her elders or teachers. Why was she alone and under siege?
Still, Ye Yu's impression of Shui Bing'er was a favorable one. And with danger this imminent, there was no way he could stand by and watch.
Besides, he had already scoured most of the ice cave. The treasures worth taking were likely all collected, so it was about time to leave.
Well… might as well save her on the way out.
After all, Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul and innate talent surpassed even that of Huo Wu. Building goodwill with her could only be a gain.
Having made up his mind, Ye Yu summoned his Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree Martial Soul. From its crystalline branches, a slender tendril sprouted and burrowed upward through a fissure in the ceiling, rapidly branching and extending toward the surface.
In moments, it broke through the snow above ground.
In the snow pine forest, Shui Bing'er's situation had worsened. While evading the Ice Snow Flying Luan, she found herself encircled by Ice Bears, Winter Frost Wolves, Ice Lions, and Ice-Armored Black Tigers.
Step by step, they herded her into the shadow of a snow peak.
Above, the Ice Snow Flying Luan wheeled in tight circles, keen eyes locked on her, ready to strike at any attempt she made to take flight.
On the ground, the surrounding beasts bared their fangs, growling with murderous intent.
Just as they were about to close in—
From beneath the snow, crystalline-blue roots burst forth, forming a wall of gleaming ice-like wood around Shui Bing'er.
The next instant, those roots twisted and lashed like massive serpents, whistling through the frigid air as they slammed into the attacking spirit beasts.
In a chorus of pained howls, Ice Bears, Winter Frost Wolves, Ice Lions, and Ice-Armored Black Tigers were either flung away or ensnared in the unyielding grip of the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree's roots.
"This is…"
Shui Bing'er froze for a moment, wide-eyed.
That blue-crystal root—she recognized it instantly.
Wasn't this the Martial Soul of Ye Yu, captain of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's first team?
"Miss Bing'er, we meet again."
Having created a dense thicket of Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree roots, Ye Yu stepped into the snow through the Blue Silver Space, turned to face her, and smiled faintly.
"You… Young Master Ye Yu?!"
Shui Bing'er's ice-blue eyes widened in surprise.
She had heard rumors in Heaven Dou City that Ye Yu's appearance had changed—but seeing him now, with his figure, facial features, even his hair and eyes transformed, she still found it hard to believe.
"That's right. It's me."
Ye Yu's smile didn't fade.
"What's going on with all these spirit beasts?"
Even as he spoke, he controlled the tree roots to easily restrain the approaching beasts. He glanced up at the sky as he waited for her reply.
Shui Bing'er exhaled helplessly.
"We honestly don't know. I broke through Rank 50, so our headmistress brought us to the Extreme North to hunt for my next spirit ring.
"At first, everything was fine. But then, the spirit beasts here suddenly went berserk. Whole groups started attacking us nonstop.
"Our teacher stayed behind to hold them off while we fled. On the way, I ran into that ten-thousand-year Ice Snow Flying Luan. I had to draw it away… and ended up like this."
Ye Yu's expression turned slightly strange.
He couldn't help but suspect… could this be because he had forced the Ice Empress into a sacrificial offering, and the Snow Empress had found out?
If the Snow Empress had issued a kill-on-sight order against all humans in the Extreme North…
Then Shui Bing'er and the Skywater Team were being hunted because of him.
That was… awkward.
Still, he kept his expression calm and said lightly,
"Fate has brought us together here. Since I've found you, I'll lend you a hand."
With a thought, the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree's roots surged upward, striking toward the ten-thousand-year Ice Snow Flying Luan in the air.
"Scree!"
The great bird let out a disdainful cry, flapping its wings to summon a howling blizzard in an attempt to block the attack.
But the storm failed to stop the advance. The crystalline roots ignored the extreme cold, winding tightly around the bird until it was wrapped up like a dumpling.
With a mournful screech, the Ice Snow Flying Luan plummeted from the sky, crashing into the snow pines below and sending up a wave of white powder.