Chapter 281: Come, Translate This!
Whooosh!
The icy wind howled, sharp and cutting like steel blades against bone.
The moment the white robed figure appeared, the temperature plummeted. A blizzard erupted from the heavens, black snowflakes whirling through the air as freezing winds howled across the landscape.
In an instant, the sprawling Wudi Mountain Range, stretching thousands of miles, was transformed into a frozen, blackened wasteland.
The snow and ice were not the usual white, but an eerie, inky black. The strange, dark chill blanketed the mountain range, making the already oppressive sky feel even heavier and more suffocating.
Medusa, Yun Yun, and the others narrowed their eyes, their pupils contracting as they locked onto the newcomer.
The man in white robes had a tall, slender frame and a youthful face, looking only a few years older than Lu Bu. But his aura was cold and sinister, sending chills down one's spine. On his forehead was a strange black snowflake symbol, emanating an icy, eerie energy that seemed to freeze not just the body but the soul itself.
The man stood with his hands behind his back, black snowflakes swirling obediently around him like loyal soldiers guarding their king. The sight was as strange as it was terrifying.
"Master… the Valley Master is here!" Tian Shuangzi and Tian She, who had been struggling moments ago, were suddenly filled with joy. They broke free from their respective opponents, retreating swiftly and dropping to their knees before the white robed man.
"Valley Master…" Medusa and Yun Yun's eyes narrowed further. The Ice River Valley's leader himself had appeared.
Before leaving for this region, the women had meticulously studied information about the major forces in Central Plains. The Ice River Valley Master, known as the Ice River Venerable, had long been a four star Dou Zun. It was under his rule that he became the leader of the entire Ice River Valley, earning the respect and fear of countless powerful individuals.
If all those years had allowed him to advance to a five star Dou Zun, his strength would now be unfathomable.
"This is trouble…" Medusa muttered, her grip on her sword tightening as the veins on her delicate hand bulged slightly. This was the strongest opponent she had ever encountered.
She hadn't expected the Ice River Valley to go to such lengths for the Woeful Poison Body, even mobilizing their Valley Master. Such a move was far from normal.
"Are you the only two left?" The Ice River Venerable's cold gaze swept across the battlefield. His voice was calm, but its icy edge sent shivers down everyone's spine. "Where are Bing Yuan and Bing Fu?"
Hearing this, Tian She and Tian Shuangzi froze, their faces twitching awkwardly. They had arrived with overwhelming power, confident of capturing the Woeful Poison Body with ease. But they hadn't expected their team to lose two members one dead, the other likely beyond saving.
If their Valley Master hadn't arrived when he did, both of them might have joined their fallen comrades. Tian She, now severely poisoned, was barely clinging to life, unable to withstand another attack.
"Pfft!"
Tian She suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood laced with gray and purple hues. His aura weakened to the point of collapse.
The Ice River Venerable frowned at the sight. He raised a hand, placing it on Tian She's head as Dou Qi flowed forth, stabilizing his condition.
"Damned fool…" Tian Shuangzi cursed inwardly as his lips twitched. With Tian She out of commission, the task of explaining their failure and taking the blame fell squarely on his shoulders.
Sure enough, the Ice River Venerable turned his gaze to Tian Shuangzi, his icy demeanor unchanged.
"Report," he commanded flatly, his hand never leaving Tian She's head as he continued to purge the poison.
Swallowing hard, Tian Shuangzi forced himself to respond. "Reporting to the Valley Master… Bing Fu has fallen in battle. His body was consumed by the Fallen Heart Flame, leaving no chance for his soul to escape."
"As for Bing Yuan… he was struck into the mountain below. Whether he survived… is unlikely."
"I see." The Ice River Venerable's tone remained calm, devoid of any blame or anger, like an eternal glacier untouched by emotion.
Tian Shuangzi's heart sank. He knew his Valley Master's calm was a prelude to fury. Once this matter was settled, he would undoubtedly bear the brunt of the blame.
Meanwhile, the gray purple poison coursing through Tian She's body was slowly drawn out by the Ice River Venerable's Dou Qi. The poison flowed up the man's pale, almost deathly skin, seeping into his body.
"Mmm… such pure Woeful Poison Qi. Truly intoxicating…" the Ice River Venerable murmured, a rare smile creeping across his face as he absorbed the venom.
Medusa, Yun Yun, and the others felt their expressions harden at the sight. Even seasoned poison masters from the Cloud Empire couldn't refine and absorb such a venomous poison, yet this man could do it with ease.
Medusa's eyes flashed with realization.
Back when she sought to break into the Dou Zong realm, she had considered two plans. The first was to evolve using a Heavenly Flame, a method both dangerous and incredibly challenging given the rarity of such flames. Fortunately, she had succeeded in finding one.
Her second plan, however, had been to create a Woeful Poison Body. The Snake People Tribe had a natural affinity for poisons, and their desert homeland was teeming with venomous creatures. Their ancestral knowledge included methods for crafting a Woeful Poison Body.
However, creating one required an astronomical amount of resources not just poison but high grade pills as well. Even fifth and sixth tier pills were necessary, and seven tier pills were preferred for optimal results. Despite the exorbitant costs, a Woeful Poison Body would still come with severe side effects.
Given these drawbacks, Medusa had ultimately chosen to pursue her first plan.
Now, it was clear that the Ice River Venerable had succeeded in creating a Woeful Poison Body for himself.
"No wonder the Ice River Valley has been so relentless. No wonder they've been stockpiling so many poisons…" Medusa muttered, her gaze cold.
"I should have destroyed that wretched Desire Immortal Sect and the Ice River Valley elders when I had the chance."
"Hehehe… So you've figured it out," the Ice River Venerable said, rubbing the black snowflake on his forehead. His face lit up with excitement.
"Come with me. I promise I won't harm your companions. And don't worry I won't hurt you, either," he said, his voice soft and reassuring as he turned to Xiao Yi Xian.
"Keep dreaming!" Xiao Yi Xian snapped coldly, her white hair billowing as her aura surged violently.
"Yun Yun, let's face him together!" Medusa shouted, her long sword crackling with radiant, colorful lightning.
Against such an opponent, Xiao Yi Xian's poisonous Dou Qi was ineffective using it would only strengthen him.
"Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, support us from the rear!"
The three women hesitated briefly but quickly complied. Yun Yun's figure flickered, reappearing beside Medusa in a flash of green light.
The two women stood shoulder to shoulder, their swords at the ready as gales, flames, and rainbow colored lightning crackled and roared around them.
Whooosh!
The icy wind howled sharply, cutting through the air like knives.
The Ice River Venerable stood with a faint smile on his face, shaking his head as if in exasperation. "Ah… you lot… always so troublesome," he sighed. "Why don't you just obediently listen to me?"
The black snowflake at the center of his brow flickered eerily. Raising his hand, he pointed his finger forward toward Medusa and Yun Yun.
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
The black snowflakes swirling around him suddenly shot forth, filling the sky in a deadly cascade of sharp, blade like flakes.
"Wind Barrier!"
Yun Yun's clear voice rang out as she swiftly formed a seal with her hands. Instantly, a wall of spinning wind materialized in front of the two women.
The wall, composed of countless razor sharp wind blades, spun furiously as it collided with the oncoming black snowflakes.
Boom!
The snowflakes shattered upon impact, disintegrating into a fine black powder.
The Ice River Venerable remained unfazed, his faint smile unchanged as he watched the black energy slowly seep into the wind barrier, gradually dyeing its once green surface a sinister black.
"Give up. You can't hmm?"
Before he could finish speaking, the black energy that had seeped into the barrier began to dissipate, vanishing entirely within moments.
The Ice River Venerable's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.
"Careful, Valley Master! That wind element woman has some sort of secret technique allowing her to control the Fallen Heart Flame!" Tian She suddenly shouted, his voice filled with urgency. He vividly remembered the earlier attack and knew that if their strength had been closer, that single strike would have been enough to end him.
"You should've mentioned that earlier…" the Ice River Venerable muttered with a faint glance at Tian She.
"Idiot…" Tian Shuangzi smirked mockingly, enjoying the sight of Tian She digging his own grave.
Tian She's face went pale as he realized he had spoken out of turn.
Boom!
The air suddenly crackled with the sound of thunder.
Medusa's aura surged violently as a torrent of colorful Dou Qi erupted from her body. In an instant, a massive serpent over a hundred meters long materialized, its body shimmering with seven colored scales that looked razor sharp.
The serpent's mouth opened wide, revealing its gleaming white fangs as seven colored lightning began to gather within.
Crack!
The thunderous roar of lightning echoed as a beam of seven colored electricity shot forth from the serpent's maw. The beam tore through space, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it hurtled toward the Ice River Venerable.
"Quite an unusual Dou Qi," the Ice River Venerable remarked, his brow furrowing slightly as he observed the oncoming attack. "But… nothing I can't handle."
Whooosh!
Black, frigid air swirled around him, coiling and twisting as it rapidly formed a massive ice dragon. The black ice dragon roared as it surged forward to meet the seven colored lightning.
Boom!
The two attacks collided violently, releasing a massive shockwave that rippled across the battlefield. The force of the impact cracked the very fabric of space, leaving behind spiderweb like black fissures.
Medusa let out a muffled groan, her figure retreating several steps.
"Oh?" The Ice River Venerable's eyes narrowed in surprise. A single star Dou Zun had managed to withstand his attack without sustaining any injuries? How could her physical body be so powerful?
"Interesting. It seems you're no ordinary fighter," he said with a playful smile. "I only came here for the Woeful Poison Body, but now I think I'll take you as well. I'm quite curious… how did you manage that?"
"Wind Surge!"
Yun Yun's clear voice rang out again as a fierce gust of wind spiraled around her, dispersing the lingering icy air. With a low cry, she pushed her hand forward.
The wind formed a massive tornado in the shape of a dragon, which tore through the sky with devastating force. Wherever it passed, everything in its path was shredded to pieces.
Yun Yun's eyes gleamed as the formless fire snakes coiling around her wrist darted forward, merging with the wind dragon.
Wind fed the flames, and fire amplified the wind!
The combination of the tornado and the Fallen Heart Flame caused the dragon's power to soar to terrifying levels, scorching the sky as it erased the Ice River Venerable's icy domain in an instant.
"Can a four star Dou Zong really unleash this level of power?" Tian She muttered, his face twitching as a sense of foreboding settled over him. Even as a peak Dou Zong, he felt a hint of danger from Yun Yun's attack.
Tian Shuangzi, standing nearby, gulped nervously. A chill crept up his spine as he glanced between the four women.
Each one of them was terrifying in their own right:
Medusa, with her overwhelming physical strength and deadly swordsmanship, would crush him in seconds.Xiao Yi Xian, with her Woeful Poison Body, possessed poison so potent even their Valley Master coveted it.Zi Yan, despite being only a one star Dou Zong, had defeated a six star Dou Zong with her monstrous physical strength.And Yun Yun, the seemingly "ordinary" four star Dou Zong, could wield the Fallen Heart Flame alongside her wind element Dou Qi, creating attacks far beyond her supposed level.
And worst of all, what if these four women had someone supporting them? A person capable of uniting such terrifying individuals was bound to be unimaginably powerful.
"Impressive display, but you're still too weak," the Ice River Venerable said calmly, raising his sleeve.
The shattered remnants of the black ice dragon reformed, condensing into an even more fearsome figure.
Boom!
The flaming wind dragon clashed with the reformed ice dragon, causing another earth shaking explosion. The resulting shockwave shattered the air, sending Yun Yun flying backward.
The black ice dragon disintegrated, scattering into countless shards of dark ice.
"Interesting…" the Ice River Venerable murmured. His repeated setbacks left him both amused and intrigued. "A four star Dou Zong who can take my attack head on… You're all far more fascinating than I imagined."
He raised his hand once more, and four thin, flexible black serpents materialized, darting toward the women.
"I've changed my mind. You're all quite remarkable… So I'll take all of you!"
The black serpents coiled around Medusa and her companions, binding their movements.
"You'll never succeed!" Medusa roared, unleashing a surge of Dou Qi that struck the black serpents like crashing waves.
"Don't waste your strength. You can't hmm?"
The Ice River Venerable's words were cut short as he noticed a layer of purple black flames engulfing the serpents.
Crack!
With a crisp snap, the serpents shattered into pieces.
"Who's there?!" the Ice River Venerable demanded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings.
A dark figure slowly emerged from the void, gazing at him with a calm, indifferent expression.
"Ice River, was it?" the figure said coldly. "Come on, explain to me… what do you mean by 'I'll take all of you'?"
Behind him, the four women's faces lit up with joy.
"Finally! We've found you!"
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