freenovelworld Chapter 699: The Artifact Appears
Chapter 699: The Artifact Appears
In the bitterly cold land, a fierce wind, swirling with blizzards, roared like an angry beast, wantonly lashing out at this silvery white world. Yun Yao and Chu Mochen struggled forward through the vast snowstorm, each step seemingly choking on the frozen earth. The biting cold, like fine steel needles, pierced through their specially made winter clothing and pierced their very bones.
"Brother Chu, it's difficult to circulate spiritual energy in this damn place. Could the divine weapon really be in this ice cave?" Yun Yao's teeth chattered, and the white air she exhaled instantly frost on her eyebrows.
Chu Mochen frowned, his eyes firm: "What the crystal ball shows must be correct. We have to give it a try no matter how difficult it is." As he spoke, he swung his sword and shattered a flying ice spike. The ice spike hit the sword and made a sound of metal and stone.
The entrance to the ice cave resembled the gaping maw of an ancient beast, eerie and terrifying, emitting bursts of chilling air as if to devour any intruders. As the two approached, an inexplicable pressure rushed over them, causing them to hold their breath.
"Let's go!" Chu Mochen stepped in first, followed closely by Yun Yao. The moment they entered the ice cave, the chill intensified dramatically, as if they had instantly stepped into an icy purgatory. The walls were as smooth as mirrors, reflecting a faint, cold light. The path twisted beneath the ice like an endless maze, and every step carried the danger of a trap.
"Be careful!" Yun Yao exclaimed. Suddenly, a strange blue light shone from the ice beneath her feet, and several icy spikes burst forth from the ground like sharp arrows. She tapped her toes and leaped gracefully into the air. Her hand gestures swiftly shifted, and a flaming shield instantly formed, melting the icy spikes into droplets of water.
Chu Mochen swung his sword sideways, the sword wind whistling, sweeping away the ice spikes attacking from the side. Each sword was extremely precise, and ice chips flew and left shallow white marks on the smooth ice wall.
However, this was just the appetizer. Shortly after they advanced, a series of crackling sounds echoed through the ice cave, and from the shadows ahead, several ice puppets slowly emerged. They were tall, condensed from solid ice, their joints gleaming with a cold, azure light. Their movements were incredibly agile, blocking their path in the blink of an eye.
"Hmph, just in time. Let me try out my newly learned swordsmanship!" Chu Mochen's heroic spirit surged, the longsword in his hand humming and vibrating, runes flowing on the sword, as if it were alive. He flashed and approached a puppet like a ghost. His sword shot out like a dragon, and in an instant, he stabbed out several times, each one targeting the puppet's vital joints.
How could the ice puppets be anything but ordinary? They raised their hands to block, their arms colliding with the swords, creating a sharp metallic friction sound, sending sparks flying, and cold ice shards flying everywhere, blinding the eyes. One of the puppets, aiming at the moment Chu Mochen sheathed his sword, swung its thick icy arm and smashed it down fiercely, sending a whistling cold wind gusting down.
"Brother Chu, be careful!" Yun Yao saw this and waved her hand. An ice-binding spell instantly shot out, entangling the puppet's arm and slowing its attack. At the same time, she watched the puppet's movements closely, using the system to quickly analyze: "Brother Chu, attack the energy core in its chest. That's the weak point!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Mochen tapped the ground with his toes, using the force to rebound, his body rising over a foot high. Then, he flipped and swooped down, his long sword wrapped in spiritual energy, shining brightly, piercing the puppet's chest. With a "crack", ice chips flew from the puppet's chest, and the energy core flashed. It was obvious that it had been severely damaged, and its movements slowed down.
The two worked in perfect harmony, engaging in a desperate battle with the ice puppets. Yun Yao's spells, unpredictable, alternated between ice and fire, served as a distraction and support, while Chu Mochen, with his masterful swordsmanship, attacked the vital points. For a moment, the ice cave was ablaze with spiritual energy and icy air, sending ice chips and sparks flying everywhere.
After a bitter battle, both men were covered in wounds, but they finally broke through the numerous ice puppets blocking their way and continued to move deeper into the icy cave. As they approached the depths, a mysterious and powerful aura grew stronger, like a deep sea undercurrent, quietly surging but concealing a hidden mystery.
Finally, deep within the ice cave, a faint blue light came into view. In the center of the cave, a divine artifact, like a dormant ice spirit, hovered in the air, emitting a cool yet captivating glow. The light flowed like water, illuminating the surrounding ice walls with a dreamlike brilliance.
"That's it!" Yun Yao's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, her eyes filled with burning desire. She knew that this artifact was not only crucial to her own advancement, but also held the hope of her family's revival.
As she approached, the artifact seemed to sense something, its light suddenly flickering, as if scrutinizing this uninvited guest. Yun Yao took a deep breath, channeling her spiritual energy. This spiritual energy shone through her, forming a brilliant halo around her, a testament to her strength and resolve. She approached, each step treading on a taut nerve.
The artifact's light flickered, as if weighing something, then gradually softened. Yun Yao reached out and gently touched it. In that instant, a cool yet mellow power flowed through her fingertips and into her body. The artifact slowly fell into her palm, and a faint blue light lingered around her arm like a thread, as if speaking intimately.
"That's great, Yun Yao, I finally got it!" Chu Mochen's face was full of joy and he walked over quickly.
However, just as they were about to leave, the ice cave suddenly shook violently. Ice spikes from the cave ceiling fell like deadly arrows, and the ice on the ground cracked like a ferocious maw, spreading continuously.
"Oh no! The restriction has been triggered! Let's go!" Yun Yao was horrified. She hugged the artifact tightly and turned around with Chu Mochen to run. However, the road they came from was completely blocked by collapsed ice. The ice dust was everywhere and the road ahead was endless.
At this critical moment, the artifact in Yun Yao's hand shone brightly once more, and an icy blue arc of light shot out like a sharp sword, carving a narrow passage through the ice ahead. Without a second thought, the two men desperately ran along the passage.
The passage ended at a cliff. A howling wind blew, and below lay a bottomless icy abyss, pitch black like an endless abyss, a chill rising as if to swallow everything in the world. Danger loomed behind them, the sound of the ice cave collapsing was deafening, and ice fragments flew, hitting their bodies painfully.
"What should I do?" Yun Yao's eyes were full of anxiety, and she looked at Chu Mochen for help.
Chu Mochen gritted his teeth and grabbed Yun Yao, saying, "Let's fight!" He then unleashed a powerful flying spell, his spiritual energy surging through him, transforming into a pair of illusory wings of light. Together, they leaped off the cliff, using the spell to briefly soar through the howling cold wind.
However, this extremely cold place consumes a lot of spiritual energy. Before flying far, Chu Mochen's face turned as pale as paper, and his wings became dim and shaky.
"Brother Chu, let me try!" Yun Yao clutched the artifact tightly, concentrating her mind, attempting to communicate with it. Fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead, instantly freezing in the cold wind. The artifact, as if sensing her eagerness, trembled slightly, and a gentle force responded, shielding them both and slowing their descent.
But this force was insufficient. The bottom of the ice abyss, like a demon's maw, rapidly approached. Yun Yao, anxious, searched the ice wall. Suddenly, she discovered a depression on one side, resembling a natural ice cave.
"Brother Chu, over there!" Yun Yao shouted. The two of them used up their last bit of strength, adjusted their direction, and rushed towards the ice cave. At the moment when they were about to hit the ice wall, Chu Mochen swung his sword fiercely, and ice chips flew everywhere, and the two of them rolled into the cave in a mess.
As they entered the cave, a loud bang erupted behind them, and the ice cave collapsed completely, shaking the entire cave. The two men collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, and a surge of relief at having survived the ordeal.
"Fortunately, we have this magical weapon, otherwise we would have died here today." Chu Mochen smiled bitterly and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Yun Yao gently stroked the artifact, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Next, there are two more artifacts waiting for us. The road ahead is difficult. Brother Chu, are you afraid?"
"With you here, what's there to fear?" Chu Mochen's gaze was resolute as he gazed towards the icy abyss outside the cave. Though the wind was still freezing, it couldn't dampen their resolve to find the artifact and revive their family. After a moment's respite, the two men rose, packed their belongings, and prepared to embark on another unknown and arduous journey, to explore the remaining artifacts hidden in the mysterious places of the cultivation world and continue their legendary story.