The icy pool waters that slowed Spiritual Power
Lu Changgeng's gaze lingered on Yang Xiao for a moment.
The aura emanating from the other party was more solid than before.
The last time we met, it was already unfathomable; now, upon seeing it again, that aura has deepened even further.
Lu Changgeng sensed something in his heart; it was most likely that he had made further progress.
Such progress would take ten or eight years for most people, but for Yang Xiao, it was as if he had just seen it once more.
Did General Pei send you?
Yang Xiao nodded. "Tell them you intercepted a Demon King here."
Lu Changgeng raised his sword and pointed it at the center of the pool.
"We've managed to intercept it, but it's hiding at the bottom of the pool and won't come out."
There was a hint of helplessness in his tone.
If he were saying this to someone else, he would have to carefully consider his words, but the person opposite him was Yang Xiao, someone who had rolled out of the rain of blades with him in the Weapon-Forging Valley.
There's no need to hide anything from acquaintances.
He then explained the events of those days in detail.
The beast's flesh couldn't withstand the Gold Pattern.
The problem is that the attack slows down and weakens after passing through the water layer, giving it ample time to dodge by the time the Sword Qi is truly upon it.
To pursue them into the pool, one must first traverse its frigid, cinnabar -Core Illumination Domain.
The entire pool of water is its territory; its icy water and poisonous liquid assault people layer by layer, and once inside, there's no guarantee of survival.
After listening, Yang Xiao did not immediately draw a conclusion.
He walked to the shore and squatted down.
Several dark, poisonous marks remained on the black rock, left by the Ice Toad King when it surfaced earlier and sprayed venom.
The edges of the mark were black and smelly; when you got close, a fishy, cold odor wafted into your nostrils.
He stretched out a hand and dipped it into the cold pool.
A chill crept up from my fingertips, instantly enveloping my entire arm, like plunging my hand into an ice cave in the dead of winter.
If an ordinary Mysterious Core Realm Martial Artist were to stay here, their Spiritual Power circulation would slow down by three points. If they stayed here for even a moment longer, the cold poison would seep into their bones through their pores.
Yang Xiao quietly sensed the sensation for a few moments.
It's cold, really cold.
But for his body, which was at the Core Illumination Perfected Stage refinement and comparable to that of Demon, it was nothing.
What truly caught his attention was that when another stream of Spiritual Power flowed through his fingertips, it was indeed dragged along by the pool of water, like chopsticks being stirred in syrup.
He noted this down and withdrew his hand.
When it makes its move, will it approach the water's surface?
"Yes," Lu Changgeng said, "But I won't stay long."
"The next time it surfaces, we'll act together."
"Okay." Lu Changgeng smiled gently.
Halfway through his thought, he suddenly remembered the Hundred-Footed Golden Centipede King of the Weapon-Forging Valley.
The first time the two teamed up to kill the Demon Core Illumination was in that valley.
At that time, Yang Xiao was still a Deputy General, standing by his side to fill in for him.
How long has it been?
When they met again, the other person was standing shoulder to shoulder with him, both serving Demon Suppression General.
"Since you're keeping watch here, I'll rest for a bit."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the tent by the pool.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't tired after keeping watch alone for three days and nights.
Even the Spiritual Power of the Core Illumination Realm couldn't withstand such an ordeal, not to mention the pervasive chill that seeped into every crevice. Layers of frost formed on the hem of his clothes, and he was barely clinging to life.
With Yang Xiao around, he could naturally feel more at ease.
The curtains fell, separating the cold mist from the surface of the pool.
A day and a night later.
Lu Changgeng closed his Breath Regulation in the tent. After circulating his Spiritual Power throughout his body, he slowly opened his eyes.
The tent curtain was half-open, and a sliver of sunlight slanted across the felt.
He peered through the curtain towards the pool, where Yang Xiao still stood quietly, in the same posture as yesterday.
However, he was tentatively walking into the pool.
The icy water in the pool had already reached above my calves.
Lu Changgeng's pupils shrank sharply, and he rushed out almost instantly, reaching the edge of the pool in a few steps.
"Yang Xiao, you can't go any further!"
The water in this pool has the effect of stagnating the flow of Spiritual Power, and coupled with its extreme coldness, it makes it even more inconvenient for people to move around in it.
The Ice Toad King has occupied this pool for many years, taking advantage of this strategic location.
Going in is like handing your life to the enemy.
Yang Xiao turned around, saw Lu Changgeng's expression, and calmly pulled his legs out of the icy pool.
Once his feet touched the shore stones, Lu Changgeng stood frozen in place.
The clothes are dry and look brand new.
Not a speck of frost touched them, not even a drop of water could be found on their trouser legs, as if they had just walked not through a pool of cold water, but through an ordinary dry road.
Seeing Lu Changgeng's nervousness, Yang Xiao offered an explanation.
"I'm just trying it out."
The Canglan Water Pattern grew on the Mystic Core, and the Water Essence in this entire pool obeyed his commands, flowing in and out at his will.
It's true that the pool water stagnates Spiritual Power; once you enter the water, circulating your Spiritual Power will be slower.
In a life-or-death struggle, this line could be fatal.
However, he has not yet used the Eroding-Realm Mystic Light entry. If the Ice Toad King really does something after he enters the water, he will definitely catch the opponent off guard!
He would personally test the depth and pressure of each kick before stopping.
Lu Changgeng stared at him for a couple of breaths, then looked at the dark pool of water, and ultimately said nothing more.
Seeing that Yang Xiao was indeed unaffected in the slightest, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The two stood quietly by the pool.
The cold mist drifted along the water's surface, and the sun moved past the cliff top before slowly sinking below the horizon.
I don't know how much time passed.
A dark shadow emerged from the center of the Cold Frost Pool.
Several small bubbles rose to the surface, popping one after another with a gurgling sound.
It's here!
Lu Changgeng tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
This time, he didn't gather his strength; the sword light slashed out almost at the moment the bubble burst, the golden line skimming across the surface of the pool, heading straight for the dark shadow.
Buzz--!
The Sword Qi pierced the water, pressing down inch by inch towards the bottom of the pool.
Yang Xiao stood to the side, without moving.
The Core Illumination Light silently spread from beneath his feet, instantly enveloping the surface of the pool. He deliberately restrained his strength, focusing only on sensing rather than competing with the domain within the pool.
Every slight change in the water's flow in the pool was reflected in his perception.
He noticed that as the Sword Qi penetrated deeper, a section of water in the pool flowed to the side first.
The water moves first, then the demon moves.
Then, the Ice Toad King's enormous body moved to the side along the flowing water.
Yang Xiao had just noticed this when he raised his left hand.
Golden energy surged from his palm, instantly condensing into a ten-foot-long golden spear, its tip sharp and gleaming with the cold light of Geng metal.
With a flick of his wrist.
The golden spear left his hand, tearing through the icy mist, heading straight for the Ice Toad King's new location on the surface of the pool!
Puff--!
The golden light burst through the water, its momentum undiminished, and struck the Toad King squarely on the shoulder and neck.
"Gurgle--!!"
A scream of pain erupted from the pool.
The dark red bloodstains bloomed in the water, instantly freezing into dark icicles in the icy pool, which slowly sank to the bottom.
The Ice Toad King, who had buried himself in the icy pool, couldn't understand.
I clearly dodged that Sword Qi, so how come this golden spear is waiting in its path?
Before it could think it through, the intense pain spurred it to open its mouth and launch an attack.
Several ice spikes coated with venom shot out from the surface of the pool, their cold light forming a line as they headed straight for the shore.
One of them shot directly at Lu Changgeng.
Lu Changgeng swung his sword, the blade blocking in front of him and shattering the ice spikes.
Clang.
But the moment the ice spike shattered, the toad venom sealed within it also dispersed, turning into a spray of dark green venom that grazed the back of his hand.
The icy poison seeped into his skin, and his fingers gripping the sword instantly went numb.
The injury was minor, but it slowed down the finishing move of the sword strike by half a beat.
From the pool below, a blood-red tongue emerged and swiftly tore through the water's surface!