On the other side of the Palace, amidst a garden shrouded in thick mist, Sanjung stood upright with one hand raised, channeling the Water Spirit flowing through his body. Around him, the air seemed to swirl, and droplets of water formed an unbroken ring, circling him like a protective shield. His opponents, the Black-Robed troops, emerged from the darkness with swift and coordinated movements, ready to charge.Beside him stood Zhi Shin—an expert swordsman renowned for his extraordinary skill. His sharp sword gleamed under the faint light of lanterns hanging from the surrounding trees. But today, he was not relying solely on his sword. A deeper power flowed within him, a force born from the Wood Element. Behind him stood the Wood Spirit, Asta, like a shadow invisible to his enemies yet present with immense power.“Don’t worry, Sanjung,” Zhi Shin said, his voice calm despite the aura of battle surrounding them. “With Asta’s help, we can face them together.”Asta’s voice sounded softly i

After the atmosphere in the Palace gradually calmed down, Song Que stood in the middle of the grand hall, his body covered in the blood of his enemies. Yet his eyes remained sharp and vigilant. He realized that this victory was only the beginning of something much greater—and far more dangerous.Sanjung and Zhi Shin quickly approached him. Asta, the Wood Spirit who assisted Zhi Shin, floated calmly beside its master. Its figure glowed with a gentle radiance, soothing the atmosphere that had been so terrifying moments ago.“Song Que, what happened to the Emperor of Ming?” Zhi Shin asked, even though the answer was already obvious.“It’s over,” Song Que replied briefly, his voice as cold as ever. “The Ming Empire has lost its ruler. But don’t lower your guard. Someone will surely try to seize control of their empire.”Sanjung glanced at the enemies bound by the Soul Imprisonment Formation.“What are we going to do with them? We can’t just let them live. They could return with an even la

The group led by Song Que shot into the green tunnel of light, passing through a long corridor made of pure ice. Its walls sparkled like diamonds, yet the freezing air pierced through their bones, as if reminding them that this place was the enemy's domain.Asta floated at the front, her green glow serving as the only source of illumination. “The energy here is highly unnatural. Natural life itself seems to be suppressed by darkness.”Song Que tightened his grip on Qilin Scale. “We must stay vigilant. This place doesn’t just protect the enemy—it’s filled with traps.”Zhi Hao, who was behind Asta, stared at the icy walls reflecting his image. “Qing Yuwen must be here. I can feel her aura, though it’s very faint.”Sanjung observed the path around them while creating a layer of protective water around her hand. “There’s no time to hesitate. If they dared bring Yuwen to a place like this, then they must have a major plan.”Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed throughout the corridor. The sound c

Before them stood the Black Ice Gate, radiating an overwhelming aura that seemed to absorb every trace of light that approached it. Its surface was covered with ancient runes emitting dark energy, making each step feel heavier than the last.“This must be the place,” Sanjung said, struggling not to tremble under the pressure of the energy emanating from it.Zhi Hao stepped forward with his sword, wind energy swirling around its blade.“Then let’s open it now.”“It’s not that simple,” Asta interrupted.Her green glow flickered as she touched the ground, reading the flow of energy surrounding the gate.“This door is bound by a high-level magical formation. Attacking it recklessly will only trigger its traps.”Zhi Shin examined the glowing runes. Small wooden roots emerged from his hand and touched the carvings.“Asta is right. But perhaps I can detect the energy pattern that locks it.”“Hurry,” Zhi Hao urged, his eyes filled with anxiety.“Qing Yuwen’s energy is getting weaker. We don’t

Outside the Ice Fortress, hidden behind the thick mist that blanketed the mountains, several dark silhouettes watched every moment of the battle unfolding within. They stood motionless, their bodies nearly invisible in the depths of the night. Only their eyes glowed with a dark crimson light as they observed every movement and every explosion of energy.“That battle... was incredible,” one of the shadows said in a raspy voice, barely audible yet filled with tension. “Their strength exceeds our expectations.”Another shadow, taller and fiercer in appearance, spoke with a deep voice.“We knew they were powerful. But they still don't realize this is only the beginning. If they defeated Xuan Lie, then they must have already passed the main trap. That was merely part of the game.”“Damn it,” said a third shadow, his voice trembling.“Asta... she's different from what we anticipated. She controls far too much life energy. If we allow her to continue like this, our entire plan could collapse