The chamber's ice cracked, bell runes pulsing wildly, their blue light flickering as the altar crumbled. Qin Mo's shard burned, its heat a faint spark, the cold overwhelming his veins. Yi, Ren, and Lian stood close, the FFD System's warnings urgent, the bells' chime a relentless summons to the mountain's heart.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 12% / Cold 88%. Scan: Silent Tax ritual core, 20 meters below, threat level: Lethal.]
Ren's daggers glinted, his voice steady. "My brother's down there. I'll find him."
Lian's bow was ready, her eyes hard. "My family died to stop this. We finish it."
Yi's threads hovered, her face pale but resolute. "For my village. No more sacrifices."
The floor split, revealing a descent into a frozen abyss, its walls glowing with bell runes. A sect enforcer emerged, azure robes glowing, blade drawn, jade token pulsing red. "Core-bearer," he sneered, "the Tax claims its due."
[FFD System: Sect enforcer detected. Frostfire aura active. Heat loss: 25%. Balance: Heat 10% / Cold 90%.]
The enforcer struck, blade weaving blue flames, frost trailing like smoke. Qin Mo dodged, Frostflame Blade flaring, ice and fire clashing with the enforcer's strike, sparks flying. Lian's arrows pierced his arm, slowing him, while Yi's threads bound his legs, snapping his stance.
Qin Mo unleashed Frost Fang, icy teeth biting the enforcer's chest, frost blooming. Ren's daggers slashed his throat, ending him. The altar flared, summoning a frost array—lines pulling at Qin Mo's shard. He activated Eagle Eye, spotting a bell fragment in the altar's core.
[FFD System: Altar essence detected. Devour progress: 15%. Balance: Heat 9% / Cold 91%.]
Yi's threads disrupted the array, Lian's arrows struck the runes, and Ren's daggers carved the fragment free. Qin Mo grabbed it, the shard absorbing its cold, heat surging briefly.
[FFD System: Bell fragment acquired. Silent Tax chain: 9/9. Binding risk: 70%.]
The team moved, the frost heavier, the broker's words echoing in their minds.
[FFD System: Silent Tax resonance: 80%. Ritual site unstable.]
The chamber shook, the bells' chime a vow sealed in frost and flame.