In the Water

The ice lake stretched for ten thousand miles, its cold energy biting to the bone.

This ice lake was vast enough to rank among the very largest on the entire Bei Cang Continent.

It was also the only ice lake among the three great lakes of the Bei Cang Continent.

Its name was Chilling Cold Lake.

Chilling Cold Lake stretched for seventy-eight thousand, six hundred and forty-three li. At the end of the lake lay a Cold Pool ten thousand zhang deep. Its depths were bottomless. Anyone wishing to explore the depths of the Cold Pool needed to reach at least the Supreme Realm to stand even a slight chance of uncovering its secrets.

No one knew when this Cold Pool had formed, much less what lay hidden beneath it.

This was a forbidden place, so dangerous that even Supremes who ventured deep within might perish there.

Both the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy and the Dragon Demon Palace had entered it at different times in search of its secrets. Yet both expeditions had unexpectedly ended in failure, and the two factions tacitly chose to say nothing about what had happened within.

After the failures of the two strongest powers on the Bei Cang Continent, this Cold Pool became a place that every other faction chose to ignore.

Even the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy and the Dragon Demon Palace had returned empty-handed. What right did they have to join in?

Of course, Chilling Cold Lake might have an extraordinary origin, but that was not something Bai Ye needed to consider right now.

His target was only within this area.

Or rather, beneath these waters.

According to the coordinates in the intelligence from the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy's Mission Hall, the locked-on Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect was located here.

Skilled at hiding, skilled at ambushing.

Those two phrases perfectly described the nature and way of life of this Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast.

If it remained beneath the water's surface, Bai Ye truly had no way to drag it out.

A Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect in the water was not the same thing as one outside it.

So—

This was when the refined Young Master in his hand needed to make an appearance.

"I think you'd be more than happy to help me."

Yue Ziqing frantically twisted in his grasp, terror written all over his face.

For some reason, the spiritual energy in his body had been sealed by a strange cold energy, leaving him completely unable to use it. Even opening his seemingly frozen mouth to speak took every ounce of his strength.

What kind of power was this?

"N-No..."

He spoke with difficulty. He knew exactly what was beneath this place.

On the Bei Cang Continent, intelligence for certain missions was shared between factions. He had once seen information about this mission among the sect missions of the Yin Soul Sect.

A fully mature Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast was a genuine Heaven Merging Realm Late Stage existence.

Under normal circumstances, he could have resisted it somewhat. But in his current state, wasn't he simply being fed to it?

No, no!

Terror filled his eyes, loudly declaring his refusal.

Bai Ye smiled faintly. "I knew you were such a kindhearted person."

Go to hell! You're the kindhearted one! I'm a disciple of the Yin Soul Sect! The Yin Soul Sect! Does that name sound like a place good people would stay?

Bai Ye could not hear his inner thoughts at all. He only knew that he needed bait to lure the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect out of the water, and the man in his hand had said he was more than willing to help.

That was enough.

The people in the top hundred of the Bounty Rankings truly were warmhearted, good people.

"Good luck."

Holding Yue Ziqing in his right hand, Bai Ye slowly summoned a blue Spirit Beast Essence Soul in his left. He lightly pressed it onto Yue Ziqing's body, and it sank into him.

The Myriad Beasts Record described the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect's diet like this.

It loved cold souls and delighted in spiritual flesh.

With those two things together, it would surely love this meal.

His right hand loosened, and Yue Ziqing's body fell straight down.

"Splash."

The tremendous impact sent water spraying everywhere. Bai Ye descended and stepped onto the water's surface, calmly waiting for the result. His gaze drifted once again toward the distant opera house, as though he were thinking of something.

Beneath the water, Yue Ziqing's vision gradually darkened. Not a trace of light could penetrate the pitch-black depths, while the icy water made his body tremble without end.

Fear and viciousness flashed through his eyes.

Fear because of the unknown situation, and viciousness naturally because of Bai Ye above the water.

If he could escape this time, he would settle today's score with him bit by bit. His own strength was not enough? That was fine. The Yin Soul Sect had plenty of senior brothers in the Heaven Transforming Realm.

As long as he paid a sufficient price, he could make that bastard with a woman's face die without a burial place.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

He had to die. He had to die horribly!

Boom!

At that moment, he suddenly realized that something seemed to have changed within his body. What was it?

Eh?!

His eyes flew wide open, surprise flashing through them. He sensed that the cold energy binding his body seemed to have vanished. His spiritual energy could circulate again.

Great! Before the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect here discovered him, he had to leave immediately.

Unexpectedly, he had already fallen so deep, yet that Heaven-Rank Spirit Beast had still not appeared. He had to admit that this was his good fortune and Bai Ye's bad luck.

Yue Ziqing circulated his spiritual energy and looked toward the surface above.

"If I go straight up, that guy will definitely spot me. I'll swim in another direction first."

Going upstream might lead him into even more terrifying Spirit Beasts. Downstream would be safer.

He headed downstream.

He activated the spiritual energy in his body and swam diagonally upward, moving his spiritual energy with utmost caution, afraid of being discovered by the unknown Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect or Bai Ye above.

The viciousness in his eyes grew stronger.

That bastard surely had not expected him to survive through sheer luck.

A student at the Heaven Merging Realm Initial Stage—he would skin him alive, pull out his tendons, and refine his Yin soul. Only then could he repay today's hospitality.

He maintained a steady pace, swimming carefully without disturbing any living creature.

Within Chilling Cold Lake, Spirit Beasts could be found anywhere beyond the outer region where the Qin Lian Opera House stood.

Even if these Spirit Beasts were not particularly strong, Yue Ziqing did not want to provoke them now. If a battle broke out underwater, he could not guarantee that the noise would not alert the person above.

Almost there, almost there. He was about to reach the surface.

The smile at Yue Ziqing's lips could no longer be concealed. He had already swum a great distance from where he had fallen. Bai Ye definitely would not be able to find him.

And even now, he had not seen any sign of the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect.

He had truly struck it lucky.

Even the heavens did not want to watch him die here.

Yue Ziqing was not fated to die!

Of course, if Yue Ziqing had properly studied the various Spirit Beasts recorded in the Myriad Beasts Record, he would have known that the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect's entry contained the following line.

"Skilled at hiding, skilled at ambushing; cunning by nature and exceptionally patient."

Within a blind spot in Yue Ziqing's vision, a sky-covering mass of eyes had already surrounded him. Closer, closer, closer. Its enormous body did not stir even the slightest ripple.

Until...

Boom!!!

Just as Yue Ziqing was about to burst from the water, a long shadow shot toward his relaxed body.

Its tail whipped and smashed down.

"Get lost, beast!"

Yue Ziqing reacted at once, fury exploding in his eyes. He had been so close! Just a little more!

He formed a hand seal, and countless wails immediately rang out from the Mark. One Yin soul after another surged forth.

Ghosts wailed and wolves howled as they collided with the enormous tail.

The moment Yue Ziqing unleashed his attack, he turned around. He had to escape before Bai Ye could react. If he delayed any longer, it would be too late.

The Yin soul attack shattered on the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect's tail, and the iron-like tail continued charging toward him without obstruction.

Gritting his teeth, Yue Ziqing produced a banner and swung it fiercely. Black mist poured out from the banner, once again blocking the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect's attack.

This attack was clearly much stronger than the last, stopping the iron tail for roughly three seconds.

At the same time, Yue Ziqing's face immediately turned pale and weak. He gathered every bit of spiritual energy in his body and rushed upward without hesitation.

Three seconds were enough!

"Screech!"

After being obstructed again and again, the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect seemed to be completely enraged. It drew back its tail, its body rippling violently as it shot upward, swimming straight toward the surface.

Yue Ziqing burst out like a madman.

Light—it was sunlight!

The scene before him suddenly opened up. He was out!

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha! I'm out!"

Run!

Without hesitation, he shot into the air. Yet at that moment, a mass of eyes blocked his path without warning.

A mocking smile appeared on that ugly face without the slightest restraint.

It opened its massive mouth to welcome its escaping prey.

"No, no!!"

Yue Ziqing's body was swallowed in a single gulp. This time, no accident came to save him.

The Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect chewed, and satisfaction appeared simultaneously in all one hundred eyes across its body.

"Does it taste good?"

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared atop its head without warning.

A fierce gleam flashed through the Hundred-Eyed Frost Insect's eyes. Its tail lashed upward, attacking him directly.

Bai Ye's gaze remained utterly calm.

He gently pushed out his palm.

Boom!!!

It collided with the tail, sending out a powerful shockwave.

"I kept my promise. I didn't kill you."

Bai Ye spoke softly.

He was someone who valued his word. If he said he would not kill someone, then he would not kill them.

He had merely helped out, and then met with an unfortunate accident.

So hypocritical, but so interesting.

He had wanted to try this kind of style for a long time.

But judging from things now, it did not seem to suit him very well.

After all...

"You're much more interesting."

"Sea Overturning Seal!"

Boom!!!

A massive Mark blotted out the sky as it crashed down with unstoppable force.

Then let this sea be overturned!