Roar!
At the center of Heavenly Lake, the giant snow ape reached out its palm and slapped the leading snow wolves into bloody pulp, flesh and blood flying everywhere.
One wolf after another leapt high, seizing the opening as the snow ape attacked, landing on its body. They suddenly opened their jaws, revealing razor-sharp fangs, and bit down hard.
With powerful jaws, they tore chunks of bloody flesh straight off the snow ape.
But the snow ape didn’t care about the pain at all—it grabbed the lead wolf by the neck, lifted it up, stuffed it into its mouth, and chewed voraciously.
Crimson blood splattered everywhere; all around were countless severed limbs and remains.
The snow wolves surged like a relentless tide, but the giant snow ape was an immovable fortress.
Rena Luo ran with the wolf pack, getting closer and closer, the intense scent of blood in the air growing stronger.
The stench made her face go pale, but even worse was the overwhelming pressure and killing intent radiating from the snow ape—her heart nearly stopped from terror.
Standing before the snow ape, she felt like a tiny ant, utterly insignificant.
Rena Luo felt even smaller inside.
The thick iron chains locked around the snow ape’s wrists gleamed coldly, as if they’d come down from ancient times.
Whenever the snow ape moved, those heavy chains groaned dully as they were pulled tight.
"Where is it—the path Mo Yang once took, where is it?"
Rena Luo stopped, scanning her surroundings. Snow wolves dashed past her now and then, and she searched through the gaps between their bodies for a new path forward.
"That’s..."
Rena Luo narrowed her eyes, looking toward the spot behind the snow ape’s right foot.
The entire Heavenly Lake had frozen into solid ice, trapping both of the snow ape’s legs completely.
Right at the spot below its right foot, a faint blue halo tinged with red glowed from within the ice.
It was a pitch-black hole.
At a glance, the opening was at most five meters high—far too small for the giant snow ape to enter.
If the lake hadn’t frozen over and pale blue light wasn’t pouring down from the sky, that entrance would never have been so easy to spot.
And the iron chains binding the snow ape were nailed down right beside the entrance.
"That’s it!"
Rena Luo’s eyes lit up. She looked up at the giant ape, less than five hundred meters away, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her nerves: "Mo Yang definitely didn’t brute-force his way in. As long as these snow wolves keep it busy, I’ll find a chance to slip inside."
Rena Luo clenched her fists.
A spark of red fire suddenly flickered in her eyes, and the air around her grew noticeably hotter.
As the temperature rose, the surrounding wind and snow steamed into white mist.
"Is that...a fire-based technique? Or maybe another Fire-Spirit Mortal Body?"
Evan Lin stood atop the ice of Heavenly Lake, watching Rena Luo from afar, surprised by her sudden move.
There's no spiritual qi fluctuation from her at all—she definitely can't be a Mystic Arts Adept or a Life-and-Death Mage.
At most, she's just an ordinary martial artist. No one I've seen so far could use attribute-based force like this.
Evan Lin frowned slightly.
Meanwhile, Rena Luo was already prepared. She seized the moment, let out a low shout, and pushed her energy to the limit.
She stepped onto the ice, and in the next instant, she'd already covered more than three meters.
In a full sprint, Rena Luo seemed wreathed in flames, quickly overtaking several snow wolves ahead of her.
At that same moment, five lead wolves all lunged at the snow ape, their icy fangs tearing into its flesh again and again.
The snow ape roared in fury, swinging its massive fists at everything around it in a frenzy.
"Now!"
Rena Luo's eyes sharpened, and she accelerated again like an arrow loosed from a bow, turning into a streak of red light that flashed behind the snow ape's heel.
She looked down, seeing the blue-and-red intertwined glow and the hidden opening beneath her feet, her eyes full of excitement.
"This is it!"
"Let me in!"
Rena Luo clenched her fist, gathering all her strength at her knuckles. Without hesitation, she shouted and smashed her fist down onto the ice.
Bang!
A muffled thud echoed out.
Her punch cracked the ice in several places.
Rena Luo didn’t hesitate—she threw punch after punch, each one packed with power, all aimed at the same spot.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The cracks in the ice spread wider and wider, and it looked like she was about to smash through completely.
Suddenly, the snow ape sensed the disturbance behind it. It looked down, eyes blazing with rage, and swung a massive palm straight at Rena Luo.
Feeling the rush of wind at her back, Rena Luo's face went pale. She didn’t dare hesitate and leapt to the side.
Even so, the side force from the snow ape’s slap sent her rolling far across the ground, leaving her badly injured.
Seeing another punch coming, Rena Luo gritted her teeth and scrambled back the way she’d come, fleeing in a panic.
Too fast! There’s no way I can make it!
After running for a while and finally putting some distance between herself and danger, Rena Luo coughed up blood, her eyes full of unwillingness.
Mo Yang must have gotten in this way back then, but with his strength, he could shatter the ice with one punch. I threw several punches and still couldn’t break through!
Damn it! I was just one hit away!
Looks like I’ll have to go back home, get help from my family, and come up with a new plan!
Rena Luo was seriously hurt; if she’d been even a split second slower, she’d be a pile of meat by now.
Just thinking about it made her shudder with fear—she didn’t dare risk her life again.
There were far fewer snow wolves around than before.
The five lead wolves that charged in earlier had all become the snow ape’s dinner.
Without those head wolves to distract the snow ape, going up now would be suicide!
What, giving up already?
A chilly voice rang out.
Rena Luo’s nerves, already stretched to the limit, nearly snapped.
Someone’s there?
Who are you?!
Rena Luo snapped, spinning around.
All she saw was swirling snow and wind.
The howling wind sent thick, goose-feather snowflakes flying through the sky.
Amid the storm behind her, a figure walked forward, step by step.
Hands in his pockets, his steps unhurried—at a glance, he looked like a wandering swordsman striding alone through the world!