With a whoosh, a golden speck of light suddenly appeared in the darkness, like a grain of golden ice gleaming on a frozen lake at night. Its light was not dazzling, but it stood out unmistakably against the surrounding darkness.
A moment later, the golden grain split into two, then four, then seven, settling above the heads of Wu Di, who controlled it, and his six companions. The specks spread, rippling over their bodies like water before turning into barely visible, close-fitting shields. Their faint glow made it hard to believe they could withstand an impact of over a hundred pounds.
"This is the Metal Element Shield. With it, we have nothing to fear even if the Diamond White Bear discovers us. At the very least, it can take one full-force strike without letting us die. That will buy us precious time to escape," Wu Di explained after finishing.
Leng Feng found the sight intriguing, and another rare smile appeared on his face. "Interesting. I never thought I'd get to experience elemental power one day. Looks like I really did come to the right place."
"Shh. Don't talk. Listen," Mo Sha Wo whispered, clenching his fists.
The seven held their breath, making no unnecessary noise. The silence and terrifying atmosphere inside the cave instantly magnified in their ears, conjuring frightening images that differed from person to person.
"Huff, huff..." They all heard a sound, like an enormous mouth blowing hot air beside their ears. Not the warm breath of a woman, but something more like sparks.
"Just ahead." Mo Sha Wo gestured to the others, then moved forward with light steps. Wu Di followed him, then Leng Feng, Zeng Mu, and the other three.
As the breathing drew closer, every step became painfully slow and distinct. Their hearts pounded, each