Deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, ancient trees towered into the sky, miasma hung thick in the air, and beast roars rose and fell without end, filling the place with an aura of primal danger.
In a relatively open woodland clearing, Mo Lin's figure darted about like Gui Mei.
Relying on his body's instincts and the real-time guidance of the Snow Empress and Ice Empress within his sea of consciousness, he was engaged in a fierce battle with a massive second-tier magical beast covered in white fur—the Frost Demonic Ape.
"Three steps to the left. The ape's palm strike reaches three feet and seven inches. Frost energy is gathering in its right claw, making it slower. Close in and attack its armpit!" The Snow Empress's cool voice was like the most precise combat instrument, calmly analyzing every flaw in the demonic ape's movements.
"Idiot! Its frost breath is coming! Retreat! Use Ice Emperor's Armor to take the impact head-on, then circle behind it and use Ice Emperor's Claws to tear out its heart!" The Ice Empress's voice was filled with impatience and battle frenzy. Her fighting style favored offense over defense, fierce and domineering.
Mo Lin moved through an abstruse footwork technique, swift as the wind, seeking the best balance between the Snow Empress's precise predictions and the Ice Empress's savage tactical advice.
At times, he nimbly evaded the demonic ape's heavy strikes like a cat. At others, he lunged forward like a leopard, his fists covered in Ice Emperor's Claws carrying bone-piercing chill as they slammed into the ape's relatively vulnerable joints.
Bang!
A heavy punch containing Extreme Ice struck the side of the demonic ape's knee. Hard ice crystals collided with its fur and bones, producing a dull, thunderous boom.
The ape roared furiously in pain and spewed a dense stream of white frost from its mouth, instantly freezing the vegetation ahead into ice sculptures!
Having already withdrawn at the Snow Empress's warning, Mo Lin formed an ice shield before himself with the armor of Ice Emperor's Armor. Though the shield was covered in cracks from the frost stream's impact, it successfully blocked most of the damage.
He used the opportunity to push off with his feet, skimming close to the ground. By the narrowest margin, he circled behind the demonic ape, and Ice Emperor's Claws became two streaks of emerald frostlight that stabbed toward its lower back!
Rip!
The ice claws tore through fur, bringing up a spray of icy-blue blood!
The demonic ape let out a shrill scream. Its enormous body twisted sharply, and its thick tail swept over like a steel whip!
"Hmph! I've been waiting for that!" A cold glint flashed through Mo Lin's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, crossing his claws before his chest and forcibly blocking the sweeping strike!
Clang!
The massive crash, like metal striking metal, made his eardrums throb! Borrowing the force, Mo Lin drifted back several yards and landed steadily. His breathing was slightly hurried, but his gaze grew sharper still.
For the past month, he had been fighting life-and-death battles of this intensity nearly every day.
His opponents had ranged from first-tier Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolves to this second-tier Frost Demonic Ape, whose strength rivaled that of a human Five-star Dou Master.
Under the personal guidance of the two Empresses, his battle awareness, reaction speed, and control over his strength had undergone a complete transformation.
"That should be enough." Mo Lin took a deep breath and looked at the increasingly berserk demonic ape, its rage heightened by its injuries. A gleam of anticipation flashed in his eyes. "The warm-up is over. It's time to try that."
With a thought, the Ice Emperor's Claws covering his arms and the Ice Emperor's Armor ice armor over his body dissipated at the same time, turning into pure icy Dou Qi that flowed back into his body.
He needed to devote all his focus to what he was about to attempt.
That was—flight!
Ever since obtaining that Proficient Grade Advanced Flying Combat Skill, Eagle's Wings, he had studied it at every moment.
Combining the Snow Empress's profound understanding of changes in energy forms with the Ice Empress's peerless control over ice attributes, he had long since memorized the cultivation method. He had even tried integrating it with his own Extreme Ice attribute.
"Steady your mind. Circulate your Dou Qi through the meridians and gather it at the twin acupoints between your shoulder blades! Imagine an eagle striking through the skies, and shape your Dou Qi into wings!" The Snow Empress's voice was like an icy spring, washing over his slightly agitated mind.
Mo Lin held his breath and focused. The vast icy Dou Qi within his body began circulating wildly in an unprecedented manner, surging like a rushing river toward specific meridian nodes on his back.
A swelling, tearing pain spread through him, but he gritted his teeth and endured, controlling the transformation of his Dou Qi with all his strength.
Roar! The Frost Demonic Ape had no intention of giving him time to prepare. It rose onto its hind legs, pounded its chest with both fists, and let out a deafening roar.
Then it dropped onto all fours and charged at Mo Lin like a white hill. Its bloody maw opened wide as deadly frost breath gathered within!
At that critical moment!
Crack... crack...
A strange sound, like ice shattering and reforming, came from behind Mo Lin.
Then, before the Frost Demonic Ape's astonished gaze, a pair of wings formed entirely from crystalline Extreme Ice burst from Mo Lin's back!
These wings were neither the black of eagle wings nor the pale blue of ordinary ice wings. Instead, they were a deep, noble dark blue, like the core of ten-thousand-year profound ice.
Their span approached ten feet. Rather than being fully feathered, they combined the sleek flow of eagle wings with the sharp angularity of ice crystals. Their edges were thin as cicada wings, yet they radiated a cutting chill sharp enough to slice through anything.
Mysterious ice patterns faintly flowed over the wings. With the slightest flutter, they stirred biting winds and fine ice crystals—this was the Flying Combat Skill Mo Lin had initially condensed by combining the method of Eagle's Wings with his Extreme Ice attribute: Ice Cloud Wings!
It worked! Mo Lin was ecstatic as he felt the wings behind him respond as naturally as his own limbs, along with the subtle buoyancy that freed him from the earth's pull!
At that moment, the demonic ape's frost breath had already reached him!
The dense white frost stream surged over like raging waves, freezing everything in its path!
"Perfect!"
Mo Lin gave a low shout, and the Ice Cloud Wings on his back suddenly beat!
Whoosh—!
Like an arrow released from a bowstring, his body shot away with the powerful thrust provided by the wings. With a light tap of his toe against the ground, he slid sideways more than ten meters in an almost graceful motion, effortlessly dodging the core of the frost stream's attack.
His speed far surpassed the limit of what he could achieve through footwork alone!
Roar?! The Frost Demonic Ape's attack missed. Confusion and rage filled its scarlet eyes as it turned and pounced again!
However, with the ability to fly, Mo Lin's fighting style had completely changed!
No longer confined to the ground, he beat the Ice Cloud Wings again, and his body abruptly soared upward, easily leaping above the demonic ape's head.
From above, his view was wide open. Every movement of the demonic ape was laid bare before his eyes, riddled with openings.
"It's over."
Mo Lin's gaze turned icy. The ice wings behind him maintained his balance as he held two fingers together like a sword, rapidly condensing pure icy Dou Qi.
"Emperor Sword: Peerless Ice Extreme!"
A dark-blue crystal longsword instantly took shape. Though it was still only an initial form, the ultimate sharpness and cold contained within made the demonic ape below sense mortal danger, causing it to let out a terrified wail!
"Cut!"
Mo Lin flicked his wrist, and the ice sword traced a cold arc, falling in an instant like an ice waterfall descending from the nine heavens!
Slash—!
The sword light passed over the demonic ape's thick neck. There was no great sound, only a faint crisp noise, like ice crystal being sliced apart.
The ape's forward charge abruptly halted. Its enormous body froze rigidly in place, and a thin blue line appeared on its neck.
The next moment, the ape's savage head slowly slid off. Its massive headless body crashed heavily to the ground. No blood spurted from the wound—only ice shards from flesh frozen solid.
Mo Lin slowly descended, and the Ice Cloud Wings behind him turned into specks of icy-blue light that scattered into the air.
He walked over to the demonic ape's corpse and looked at the fruits of his month of hard cultivation, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"Flight... truly is an entirely different realm." Feeling the thrill of soaring freely just moments ago, his pursuit of power burned even more fiercely.
With Ice Cloud Wings, whether he was pursuing, fleeing, exploring, or... facing powerful opponents skilled in aerial combat in the future, he would hold a tremendous advantage.
"Hmph, it's passable. At least it finally looks somewhat decent. You didn't disgrace this Empress." The Ice Empress's haughty voice rang out, though she could not hide the hint of pride in her tone.
After all, the formation of those wings also contained her principles of ultimate control over the ice attribute.
The Snow Empress's cool voice also carried praise. "Creating a Combat Skill by combining it with your own attribute is a path that can lead to greatness.
Now, you have ice claws and the Emperor Sword for attack, Ice Emperor's Armor for defense, and Ice Cloud Wings for movement. The foundation has taken shape.
Next, it is time to make the final preparations for that 'treatment.'"
Mo Lin nodded, his gaze turning toward the deeper reaches of the mountain range. He knew that his "encounter" with Yun Yun, as well as the moment to test the healing arts he had learned from Xiao Yi Xian, was about to arrive.
He collected the demonic ape's magic core, then vanished into the dense forest once more, silently making his way toward the valley where that destined meeting would take place.
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