The Snow Empress pushed the Lunar Power to its limit, her movements as elusive as a startled swan under the moonlight, weaving and dodging through the shadows of the halberds. She occasionally retaliated with the Xuanbing Secret Technique, unleashing a barrage of ice spikes, ice blades, and ice walls that clashed fiercely with the black halberd. The intertwining of cold and deathly energy shattered the wasteland, leaving it riddled with holes, and ice and black mist filled the air.
However, the difference in their cultivation levels was undeniable, and Snow Empress gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, narrowly escaping death several times. If it weren't for the fact that her Taiyin Physique had a certain degree of restraint against the Yin Death Qi and that she had rich combat experience, she would probably have been defeated and captured long ago. Even so, she was still shaken to the point that her blood and qi churned, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and her clothes were torn in several places by the wind from the halberd.
"We can't delay any longer! We must find a way to escape!" Snow Empress thought anxiously. She could sense several powerful auras rapidly approaching from afar, clearly the companions of the Yin Sha Guard. Once surrounded, there would be no chance of survival.
She gritted her teeth, prepared to spare no expense and use a forbidden secret technique that would deplete her very essence to forcibly enhance her combat power and open a breach.
However, just as she was about to unleash her secret technique, a sudden change occurred!
Without warning, the Green Lotus Jade Pendant in her arms suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant blue light!
The azure light was not dazzling, but it carried a warm and vast aura, instantly dispelling the surrounding gloomy black mist. The jade pendant flew out of her bosom automatically, hovering above her head and spinning rapidly.
"Hmm?" The Yin Sha Guard paused, his scarlet eyes fixed on the jade pendant with suspicion. He sensed an indescribable, awe-inspiring aura emanating from the pendant, which sent a shiver down his spine.
The Snow Empress was also stunned, but then overjoyed. Was this a contingency plan left behind by His Majesty?
The light from the Green Lotus Jade Pendant grew brighter and brighter, and a faint, somewhat blurry azure phantom materialized out of thin air between the Snow Empress and the Yin Sha Guard. The phantom's face was indistinct, but it could be vaguely discerned that it was a tall and slender figure standing with his hands behind his back.
Although it was just a phantom, the moment it appeared, the entire world seemed to freeze for a moment. The wind stopped, the sand and dust hovered in the air, and even the crimson gaze of the Yin Sha Guard froze.
The illusory figure seemed to glance at the Snow Empress, nodded slightly, and then turned to the Yin Sha Guard.
Without a word, the phantom simply raised a finger and gently tapped it towards the Yin Sha Guard.
The movements were effortless, as if he were merely brushing away a speck of dust.
However, in the Yin Sha Guard's perception, it was as if the entire world was crushing down on him! A vast and incomprehensible force, as boundless as the starry sea, instantly locked onto and imprisoned him.
"No--!!!" Yin Sha Guard only had time to let out a desperate roar. His black armor, his halberd, and his entire body were like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser. From head to toe, they disintegrated and dissipated, turning into the finest dust. Not even a trace of ash or a fragment of his soul remained, as if he had never existed in this world.
Instant kill!
The Yin Sha Guard of the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, along with his armor and weapons, were wiped out completely by the phantom's finger!
The short, gray-robed man who had survived was terrified and collapsed to the ground, his crotch soaked. His mouth was open, but he couldn't make a sound; only boundless fear overwhelmed him.
The azure phantom seemed too lazy to even glance at this ant again, slowly turning its head to "look" at the Snow Empress once more. A calm voice, yet one that resonated directly in the Snow Empress's mind, spoke:
"This place has been exposed, and the Underworld will not let this go easily. Hold this jade pendant; it will lead you to me. If you encounter an insurmountable enemy on the way, you can infuse the jade pendant with the Lunar Power, which will protect you three times."
As soon as the words were spoken, the illusory figure began to fade slowly, as if it might disappear at any moment.
The Snow Empress quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your help, Your Majesty!"
The illusory figure nodded slightly before completely dissipating. The light on the Green Lotus Jade Pendant pendant faded, and it flew back into the Snow Empress's hand. But at this moment, the azure light on the pendant brightened again, and clearly pointed in one direction—northwest, which was roughly the location of the Ziwei Sect ruins!
Snow Empress gripped the jade pendant tightly, feeling much more at ease. With His Majesty's guidance and the jade pendant's protective power, she could proceed with peace of mind.
Her icy gaze shifted to the short, grey-robed man who was slumped on the ground, terrified and incontinent.
"Fairy... Fairy, spare my life! Spare my life! I was blind and offended you, it was all the Earth Venerable's fault that we were forced to do this! I am willing to be your slave, please spare my life!" The short man kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.
There was no pity in Snow Empress's eyes. People from the Underworld who collect special constitutions are no different from demons in their actions, and they deserve to die. Moreover, this person has seen Her Majesty's illusory image (although he couldn't see it clearly), so he cannot be allowed to live.
She flicked her finger, and a point of icy blue light entered the man's brow. His body stiffened, then collapsed to the ground, lifeless, yet there were no visible wounds on his face, as if he had simply fallen asleep— the Lunar Power had frozen his soul, causing him to die without pain.
Snow Empress waved her hand and collected the storage bags from the two bodies ( the Yin Sha Guard ' bags had already been destroyed with them). She then flicked out a flame of ice, turning the two corpses into ashes and erasing all traces of the battle. Without further delay, she transformed into a streak of icy blue light and sped off in the northwest direction, guided by the jade pendant.
About an incense stick's time after she left, several figures exuding a powerful aura of death descended upon the place.
The leader was a hunched figure shrouded in a wide black robe, obscuring his face, yet his aura was clearly at the Half-Step Almighty level of the First Heaven of the Immortal Platform! Behind him were four black-armored cultivators dressed similarly to the Yin Sha Guard who had been killed earlier, but with slightly weaker auras.
The black-robed man ( Earth Venerable ) crouched down, his withered fingers brushing across the ground ravaged by the aftershocks of the battle and the icy flames, sensing the lingering aura.
" Yin San, Third Transformation of Dragon Transformation, is dead. The auras of the two outer deacons have also vanished." The voice beneath the black robe was dry and unpleasant, like two bones rubbing together. "There was the aura of a third party... very faint, very peculiar, seemingly... carrying a supreme Daoist aura? Instantly obliterating Yin San, leaving not even a trace..."
He stood up and looked in the direction where the Snow Empress had left, two points of eerie green light flickering beneath his black robe.
" The Taiyin Physique... and an unknown powerful figure is involved? Interesting." The Earth Venerable let out a laugh like an owl. "Send word to activate the ' Ghost Net ' and find that Taiyin Physique for me! Also, investigate! Find out the source of that aura! I want to see who dares to interfere in the affairs of my Underworld!"
"Yes!" The four Yin Sha Guard behind him bowed and accepted the order, then transformed into black light and dispersed.
The Earth Venerable stood alone, gazing northwest, his eerie green eyes seemingly piercing through endless space.
" The Taiyin Physique... the pure Yin essence... is the perfect material for refining the main soul of the ' Ten Thousand Yin Banner '. And that jade pendant... also seems to contain peculiar energy. No matter who you are, you will pay the price for ruining my plans."
His figure slowly blended into the shadows and disappeared.