Zhou Xuan held the Jade Slip to his ear and took two steps down the veranda, putting some distance between himself and Lin Qingzhu.
"Speak."
"The Giant Beast stopped."
Zhou Xuan stopped in his tracks.
"What do you mean, stopped?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. It stopped. Won't walk. Won't budge, no matter what."
Second Brother's voice was loud.
"Two hours ago, we'd just passed the far edge of the Far North's wasteland and were about to enter the pass through the Boundary-Breaking Mountains. Then the big fellow acted like its feet had grown roots. It's standing outside the pass and won't take a single step forward."
Zhou Xuan tightened his right hand around the Jade Slip.
"Where's Yang Mie?"
"Yang Mie's holding things down at the rear. He's nearly burned through all his blood energy, and it hasn't helped. Little Stone tried to resonate with it using sword intent and got thrown thirty feet away. He nearly fell off the cliff."
"What's Demon Spike's condition?"
Second Brother fell silent for two breaths.
"Not good. After the Giant Beast stopped, the War Intent inside it started running wild. This Binding Chain in my hand is shaking so hard I can barely hold on. The seal around Demon Spike is loosening too. Red light keeps spilling out in bursts."
Zhou Xuan felt his temples tighten.
"Have you tried increasing the vow power output?"
"I did. It didn't work." Second Brother raised his voice. "The moment the ribbon of vow power gets close, the Giant Beast desperately shrinks back. Listen to me. This thing is resisting. Saying it's tired and doesn't want to walk makes no sense."
"Resisting what?"
"Crossing the boundary."
Zhou Xuan froze for two breaths.
Second Brother kept talking, so anxious that even his words came out jumbled. A