“Too eerie!”
Witnessing this scene, everyone felt a chill run through them.
The white wolf’s strength was comparable to a king-level master, yet in that white light, it had no power to resist and was reduced to dust.
It took a while for the group to recover from their shock.
“What exactly is that white light?”
“How did it turn the white wolf to dust in an instant?”
“The white light is clearly immensely destructive, so why can’t we sense any killing intent from it?”
As the group puzzled over this, a dragon’s cry, “Ang,” shook the heavens and earth.
The Dragon Vein, coiled before the mountain peak with its head raised high, fixed its massive dragon eyes on Ye Qiu and his group, its gaze dripping with contempt, as if saying, “Come and get me if you dare, you bunch of weaklings!”
Master Longbrow flew into a rage. “Damn it, how dare it look down on me? Once I catch you, I’ll devour you in one bite.”
“You greedy dog, what now?” Priest Chongxu asked.
“To capture the Dragon Vein, we must cross the bridge, so we need to find a way to deal with that white light.”
Master Longbrow took out a copper coin and flicked it with his hand.
“Swish!”
The small coin shot like a dart into the white light.
The next second, without a sound, the coin turned to dust.
“Hm?”
Master Longbrow raised an eyebrow, pulled a flame talisman from his robe sleeve, and muttered an incantation.
Moments later, he shouted, “Go!”
With a toss, the flame talisman flew swiftly into the white light.
“Whoosh!”
Flames erupted.
“Hmph, I refuse to believe it can’t be burned…” Master Longbrow’s words halted abruptly.
The flames vanished silently, and the talisman turned to dust.
“What the hell is going on?”
Master Longbrow was visibly irritated.
“Let me try,” Priest Chongxu said, stepping forward and producing three one-inch wooden swords. He formed a hand seal.
Instantly, the swords radiated peerless sharpness and shot into the white light.
Without suspense, the three swords turned to dust.
“Too eerie,” Priest Chongxu said, his expression grave.
“Could that white light be guarding the Dragon Vein?” Xiao Zhan ventured.
“Obviously! If not for that light, we might already have the Dragon Vein,” Master Longbrow said.
Silence fell over the group.
Ye Qiu observed for a while and said, “I have an idea.”
“What idea?” Everyone turned to look at Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu said, “We can use Wind-Riding Talismans to bypass the bridge, reach the top of the opposite peak, and descend to capture the dragon.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
Great idea!
The white light protected the Dragon Vein from the front, with the peak at its back, meaning there was no defence above it.
If they used Wind-Riding Talismans to bypass the bridge, reach the peak’s summit, and descend from above, they could execute the dragon-capturing technique.
However, at that moment, boundless white light suddenly appeared on the opposite peak, cascading down like a galaxy, enveloping the Dragon Vein completely.
The Dragon Vein was surrounded by white light on all sides, without the slightest gap.
Instantly, the group’s faces darkened.
They had finally devised a plan to capture the dragon, only for this to happen.
“Damn it all!” Master Longbrow cursed loudly.
Priest Chongxu sighed deeply. “It seems the only way to capture the dragon is through that bridge.”
But how could they break through that white light?
“Master!”
Suddenly, Hu Zi broke the silence, saying, “Why don’t I give it a try?”
“Nonsense!” Ye Qiu said sternly. “That white light is extremely strange. Even with your high cultivation, you might not withstand it.”
“Master…”
Hu Zi tried to speak, but Ye Qiu silenced him with a sharp look.
Master Longbrow’s eyes darted, and he said, “Little rascal, we can’t just stand here forever. I think Hu Zi should try.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ye Qiu glared at Master Longbrow. “Are you trying to send Hu Zi to his death?”
“Little rascal, don’t misunderstand. Hu Zi’s one of us. Why would I send him to die?” Master Longbrow said. “Hu Zi’s cultivation surpasses ours, and he’s… different, you know what I mean?”
Master Longbrow winked.
Ye Qiu understood he was referring to the Life-and-Death Talisman, but he still disagreed. “No, it’s too dangerous for Hu Zi…”
Before he could finish, Hu Zi darted forward onto the bridge with a “swish.”
“Hu Zi, come back!” Ye Qiu shouted.
Hu Zi ignored him, striding forward until he reached the white light, then stopped.
“Hu Zi, come back!” Ye Qiu shouted again.
Hu Zi paid no heed, his eyes fixed on the white light, and then he stepped into it without hesitation.
Ye Qiu’s heart leapt to his throat.
“You old fool, if anything happens to Hu Zi, I won’t let you off,” Ye Qiu said coldly.
“Relax, Hu Zi’s blessed by fate. He’ll be fine,” Master Longbrow said.
After entering the white light, Hu Zi slowed his pace, moving cautiously.
After just three steps, he stopped abruptly, sensing an invisible chain binding his body, rendering him immobile.
Then, excruciating pain surged through him, as if someone were slicing him with a knife.
A ghostly blue flame erupted on his right hand, his skin splitting instantly. Black blood oozed out, only to turn into mist.
“Ah…”
Hu Zi cried out in pain, black mist rolling off him, his eyes turning blood-red.
He channelled all his strength, finally breaking free, and quickly retreated.
“Are you alright?”
Ye Qiu appeared at Hu Zi’s side, supporting him.
“I’m fine,” Hu Zi said, glancing at his right hand, where the burned wound healed rapidly.
“Hu Zi, what happened? What did you find?” Master Longbrow asked.
Hu Zi looked at the white light, fear in his eyes, and said, “I took three steps, and suddenly my body was bound, as if an invisible rope tied me up, with unbearable pain.”
“Then that flame appeared.”
“But that’s not the worst. The most terrifying thing was an invisible force that felt like it was melting my body.”
“That force was horrifying, as if it could melt anything in the world.”
What?
The group was stunned.
Master Longbrow stared at the white light, recalling Hu Zi’s words and the white wolf’s disintegration, and said, “Perhaps I know what that white light is.”
Ye Qiu urgently asked, “What is it?”
