Given the current situation, splitting up was indeed the best choice.
Meng Chao would take the "Suicide Passage," while Ice Storm would take the long way around, arriving one or two days after him.
During those one or two days, Meng Chao would leave special markers along the route from Scarlet Peak to the Summit of the Holy Mountain, markers known only to the two of them.
If he had a chance to enter the Holy Mountain Temple, he would leave the same markers inside it as well.
The two had split up and acted separately many times before, and they had developed considerable tacit understanding.
Besides, in the worst-case scenario, Meng Chao could still take the risk of using Spirit Link to borrow the Ancient Dream Saintess's eyes and ears to check on Ice Storm's situation.
Of course, he had also promised Ice Storm that he would never act rashly—when the spatial changes began shortly, he would still cling tightly to the mountain, carefully observe the airspace below, and only risk jumping after confirming that he could clearly see Scarlet Peak.
If conditions did not allow him to take the shortcut, then he could only honestly turn back and take the long route with Ice Storm.
With matters having reached this point, there truly was no better solution.
Ice Storm and Meng Chao discussed a series of covert markers capable of conveying complex information. Ice Storm then tied the Ancient Dream Saintess to their back, gave Meng Chao a long, deep look, and climbed back into the nearby crevice protected by Holy Light Magic.
Meng Chao alone remained atop the tallest peak of Thousand Blade Peak, wielding Skull Crusher in a ceaseless frenzy of chopping and carving, cutting dozens of footholds into the mirror-smooth cliff face so that when