Ancient syllables echoed through the temple of ice crystals. Every character seemed to contain a power beyond language, resonating wondrously with the raging ice and snow energy around them. The Blizzard Articuno had unleashed noticeably weakened, then slowly subsided, leaving only tiny ice crystals swirling through the air like startled sprites.
But Articuno remained highly vigilant. Its ice-blue eyes, like two sapphires of the purest quality, coldly scrutinized Ye Li and the two orbs radiating powerful energy before him.
"Kree-"
Another clear, ringing cry rang out. This time, its call no longer held only anger and disdain, but a sense of challenge and questioning.
At its cry, the mirror-smooth ice around the altar suddenly began to crack and splinter. Countless deep-blue lines of light lit up beneath the ice like the meridians of a great dragon. Then, with a thunderous rumble, three enormous ice pillars, each more than five meters in diameter and dozens of meters tall, rose from beneath the ice.
The pillars were crystal clear throughout, as though flowing galaxies had been sealed inside them. On the surface of each pillar appeared an enormous, arcane puzzle pattern composed of countless complex Ancient Runes.
Watching the three pillars rise, Ye Li immediately understood. This was Articuno's test. A test more complex and more dangerous than the one he had encountered on Lightning Island. He could clearly sense that the three pillars represented the three primordial powers of fire, lightning, and ice. Only by solving these three puzzles about the balance of power within the allotted time would he have a chance of earning this Ice God's approval.
Nearby, Apollo and the others wore troubled expressions as they stared at the utterly incomprehensible runes, feeling as though their brains were about to turn to mush. This was completely beyond the