The fierce sword qi from Evan Chu's plain but powerful strike shot toward the ice pillar. He was sure it would shatter—but things didn't go as he'd hoped.
The two-meter-long blade of light slammed into the mirror-smooth ice pillar, only to be blocked. It left behind nothing but a few tiny scratches.
"Damn it!" Evan Chu couldn’t help but curse. That was his strongest attack, and it still couldn’t break the ice pillar. How was this possible?
Even if he couldn’t smash it, he should’ve at least chipped off a piece. But looking at the pillar, it was nearly untouched. Evan Chu was seriously frustrated.
"Macy, what’s going on? Didn’t you say a divine weapon could break this thing? Are you messing with me—trying to watch me fail?" Evan Chu glared at Macy, his face full of anger.
Macy snorted. "Bro, I said a divine weapon could do it, and that’s true. But did you actually use one? You just attacked with sword qi. That rusty Frostbane Sword in your hand hasn’t even touched the pillar! How’s that my fault?"
Watching Evan Chu’s defeated look was honestly hilarious, but Macy was still shocked by the power behind his attack. If that strike had hit anything else, it would’ve been pulverized.
She figured even she might get hurt if she took a hit like that. Macy couldn’t understand how Evan Chu’s attacks were so ridiculously strong.
Evan Chu looked at the Frostbane Sword in his hand, then at Macy. "So you’re saying I need to actually touch the pillar to break it? Then how did you get Ice Crystals before?"
Macy put on an innocent face. "Bro, I’d never trick you. The Ice Crystals I found were natural—left behind when the pillar broke on its own. I don’t have the power to smash these things myself."
Evan Chu didn’t say a word. He studied the ice pillar in front of him, then strode forward, ready to split it open with the Frostbane Sword.
"Bro, get back! It’s dangerous!" Macy cried out in alarm.
Evan Chu stopped and turned to ask, "What’s so dangerous? Explain it to me."
Macy immediately replied, "Are you really that clueless, or just pretending? If you break the pillar directly, the Coldflame inside will burst out and swallow you whole. You’ll die on the spot—what’s the point of getting an Ice Crystal then?"
"Oh, you’re right. I totally forgot about the Coldflame inside—was just focused on smashing the pillar." Evan Chu admitted, then walked back over to Macy.
"Bro, let’s just head back. Goldwing and Jenny are waiting for us, and I bet they’re worried sick right now." Macy urged, concern in her voice.
Evan Chu stayed silent, turning over ideas in his mind. How could he break open the pillar and grab the Ice Crystal without getting burned by Coldflame? For the moment, he couldn’t think of any good solution.
After a while, Evan Chu suddenly shouted, "Ha! I’ve got it—I totally forgot about that move!"
"What did you remember? You found a way to crack it?" Macy asked, curiosity piqued.
"I’ve got it. I used to know a way to control my sword with my mind, but after I learned to split my focus recently, I totally forgot about the original Heart Sword. Macy, watch me break this pillar." Evan Chu grinned.
With that, Evan Chu retreated dozens of steps, then used his mind to control the sword. He poured Chaos Qi into the Frostbane Sword and unleashed his Heart Sword technique, sending the blade flying at the ice pillar.
Bang! The Frostbane Sword was knocked back by the impact, but it still hovered in midair.
Evan Chu saw that his strike had actually created cracks in the ice pillar—faint, but definitely there.
"Ha! It worked! Not bad—let’s see what happens when I keep going!"
After the fifth thunderous strike, the ice pillar finally shattered. A cloud of white mist burst out, swept away by the astral wind and swirling snow.
As the white mist appeared, the temperature around them plummeted. Snowflakes in the air instantly turned into tiny ice pellets, and for the first time, Evan Chu felt true cold—he couldn’t help but shiver.
Macy collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably. The power of Coldflame was obvious, and Evan Chu was shocked.
About a minute later, the white mist faded away. Evan Chu grinned at Macy, "See? I did it. Pretty awesome, right?"
"You are awesome, Bro, but if you get one or two more Ice Crystals, I might freeze to death. That Coldflame is just unbearable." Macy said, still shivering.
"Got it. Next time, stand farther away. You were way too close." Evan Chu said, then walked straight over to the shattered ice pillar.