Gu Junshi's eyes swept across the towering ice walls that stretched into mountain ranges, their mirror-like surfaces clearly reflecting their figures. Yet, if one looked closely into the ice-bound depths, strange creatures writhed and surged within the layered obstacles.
The ice-blue mountain walls were uniformly coated in thick ice. The hazy sunlight from above refracted off the ice, creating dazzling, illusory images. With each growing "crack!" and "crack!" the ice surface vibrated open, revealing a fissure.
Extending rapidly from a thin crack, from left to right, it spanned dozens of feet in the blink of an eye. The next moment, with a "boom!"—a thunderous roar—a silvery-white scale flashed out in the sunlight. The ice mountains on both sides exploded and collapsed, and shattered ice rained down like stones. In an instant, a cold mist filled the eyes, scattering into a white haze.
Liu Jiang Fusheng frowned deeply, immediately scooping up the treasure-seeking mouse to dodge. Ice blocks of various sizes fell everywhere. He made a spiritual seal to deploy a protective shield, but unexpectedly, a dark shadow swept across the sky. His vision went dark, and he instinctively looked up.
He saw a long, snake-shaped black shadow coiled above his head. Half of its body extended outward in the cold mist, while the other half was still trapped within the ice wall, struggling to pull itself free with its long tail.
Snow River Ice Python.
With a wisp of divine consciousness attached to the treasure-seeking mouse, Gu Junshi recognized the demon beast's nature at a glance.
However, Liu Jiang Fusheng had limited knowledge of the various demon beasts in the cultivation world at this time, so he did not know the identity of this colossal white and blue python, but he knew it was no ordinary creature.
Just as a sudden change occurred with Liu Jiang Fusheng, the other five individuals who had also entered the first realm encountered similar situations. They could even hear significant commotion from other directions with their sharp senses.
The ice layers, which should have been thick and hard, began to inexplicably shatter from within. Various Yin demon beasts, hidden within ice cellars and underground caves, seemed to have been waiting for this moment and burst forth from the ice.
Before Yan Jiujiao appeared a towering ice ape demon beast. Fang Rui encountered a flying-winged fierce fish. Not long after Ru Lan took a few steps, its carapace shifted, and a cold-spotted blood frog crawled out from underground.
Anyone with sufficient knowledge might guess that these demon beasts were all rare, ancient beasts seldom seen in the present era. Although their ranks were not high, they were not creatures that could be easily dealt with.
Generally speaking, fight?
They would be foolish to fight head-on!
At such a time, the most sensible thing was to run. Entangling with them was futile; their task was to climb to the peak as quickly as possible.
However, flight was not permitted within Illusion Peak. Although it did not hinder combat, relying solely on two legs made it foolish to try and outrun demon beasts.
Thus, unable to escape, unable to avoid, and unwilling to fight, they were still forced to face them.
Liu Jiang Fusheng saw that the snow river ice python, previously frozen, had finally broken free. Its body, wider and longer than a river channel, was revealed. Like the mythical Teng Snake, it could fly in the air. With a flick of its tail, it blocked the path before and behind him.
Trapped in the center of the python's coils, Liu Jiang Fusheng watched as its body, taller than himself, writhed and constricted. If he did not leave quickly, he would be tightly bound.
He was contemplating how to deal with this giant python, while also planning to place the treasure-seeking mouse into his storage ring to prevent it from being harmed later.
However, it refused. It would not return to the storage ring. Instead, it kicked its small legs and leaped from his embrace.
Liu Jiang Fusheng was startled and quickly chased after it: "Little White Mouse—"
Despite its small size, even smaller than a single scale of the Snow River Ice Python, the treasure-seeking mouse was not to be trifled with.
It climbed onto the Snow River Ice Python and opened its tiny mouth, biting into the python's scales. Although it was a weak, precious beast with little combat power, its teeth were extremely sharp; it could use them to shatter stone and break metal.
In its anger, it directly pierced the python's scale armor. Bite after bite, it moved with the speed of an afterimage. Although each bite was small, its speed was so fast that in a short time, a large section of the Snow River Ice Python's body was gnawed bloody. However, the subtle stinging pain, when combined into a large area, felt like a swarm of ants biting, and the Snow River Ice Python was instantly enraged.
Seeing the Snow River Ice Python turn its head back, its long body began to move, and the constricting python body, like a wall, loosened.
"Quick, come back!"
Hearing Liu Jiang Fusheng's call, the treasure-seeking mouse's plan succeeded. It did not linger, immediately leaping into Liu Jiang Fusheng's embrace with a few bounds.
Liu Jiang Fusheng did not mind the blood on its mouth and caught the treasure-seeking mouse with his arms.
The Snow River Ice Python was too long, making it impossible for the head to attend to the tail. By the time the python's head arrived, its tail had to retreat, giving them a sliver of hope.
Seeing the opportunity, he quickly led the treasure-seeking mouse towards the exposed gap.
As they moved forward, whenever the Snow River Ice Python's unplaceable body blocked their path, Liu Jiang Fusheng, like the treasure-seeking mouse, wielded his flying sword to cut through its body, causing it pain, and then seizing the chance to pass through the obstruction.
Behind them, a cold, foul, fishy wind pursued relentlessly, carrying an aura of fierce coldness.
Liu Jiang Fusheng naturally avoided wide-open areas, as they would make him vulnerable to the Snow River Ice Python's encirclement and bites.
No matter how fast human legs ran, they could not match the speed of a demon beast hunting. Just as he was about to be surrounded again, Liu Jiang Fusheng had to squeeze into a narrow ice valley path. The passage, less than ten feet wide, could not accommodate the Snow River Ice Python at all. It no longer swam close to the ground to pursue but instead rose into the air.
The person ran below, the giant python flew above, its cold, vertically slit snake eyes fixed on the figure below.
Liu Jiang Fusheng looked up at the Snow River Ice Python above, while simultaneously pondering where the clue for passing would be placed. He also mentally weighed whether to fight this demon beast with all his might.
There were still seven realms to conquer, and no one wanted to expend too much spiritual energy in the first realm. This was not a competition to see who could kill more demon beasts.
However, to pass the first realm, one had to obtain the clue.
Upon entering, Liu Jiang Fusheng was immediately attacked by this demon beast, leaving him no time to search for the clue.
And in this vast expanse of glaciers, how long would it take to find it by human effort?
If it were hidden within the ice, without a bit of luck, wouldn't they have to search the entire glacier to find it?
He felt that the clue should not be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Or perhaps...
He looked at the pursuing demon beast above with some suspicion.
Could it be that to avoid a vast area, the clue was delivered directly, requiring only a bit of effort to obtain?
If what he sought was truly on this giant python, then this battle was unavoidable, and he should no longer evade it.
However, fighting it head-on would be too foolish. Liu Jiang Fusheng's dark spiritual eyes scanned his surroundings with exceptional clarity, as he searched for an opportunity.
Gu Junshi's thoughts were basically the same as Liu Jiang Fusheng's, and she knew even more than he did.
These demon beasts with ancient bloodlines were not truly existent. Illusion Peak, Illusion Peak, was actually a large illusion formation.
But who said that fake things couldn't hurt? The damage sustained within this place was not diminished in the slightest. The only difference from reality was that perhaps these seemingly majestic and powerful demon beasts were merely intimidating in appearance; when truly confronted, their power was less than a tenth of their real strength.
Ultimately, the "Newcomer Rankings" venue set up by the Void Gate was meant to select the best and weed out the weak, not to be lethal. Therefore, there were subtle opportunities for victory within each level of danger.
However, even this tenth of their strength was not to be underestimated by disciples like them, who only had Golden Core stage cultivation.
"Little White Mouse, go up."
Liu Jiang Fusheng tossed the treasure-seeking mouse, which immediately climbed the mountain using the ice blocks as footholds. It stared at Liu Jiang Fusheng, and he looked back at it, their gazes exchanging a fleeting spark of light.
He did not know if it understood his intentions. If not, it would be better for it to stay away from him, so as not to be harmed during the fight later.
At this moment, the persistently pursuing Snow River Ice Python began to grow restless. It started whipping the mountain below with its tail. The treasure-seeking mouse, amidst the rock walls, dodged along with Liu Jiang Fusheng below. However, its vantage point at the height was more open, and the Snow River Ice Python's attention was entirely focused on Liu Jiang Fusheng alone. The small, white ball of fur was overlooked.
Although the treasure-seeking mouse had high intelligence, it was not certain it could understand Liu Jiang Fusheng's veiled intentions. But it was Gu Junshi who was controlling the treasure-seeking mouse now.
She took in the entire area for several miles, analyzed the optimal battlefield, and then determined the forward path. All of this took place in an instant.
The winding ice valleys, crisscrossed and winding, were complex. Liu Jiang Fusheng was only a dozen meters away from a fork in the road. The path back had been destroyed by the Snow River Ice Python; there was no retreat, only forward.
He saw the several branching paths ahead, and his gaze deepened as he began to decide which one to take.
But before he could reach a conclusion, the treasure-seeking mouse had already jumped ahead of a path, squeaking at him.
Liu Jiang Fusheng might have been a simple and honest person before, but he was no longer so. He found it difficult to trust others. However, regarding the treasure-seeking mouse's current bewildering guidance, he chose to believe it without much thought.
He figured he had to choose a path anyway. Since he couldn't make up his mind, and it wanted him to go a certain way, what was the harm in complying?
But he did not actually believe the treasure-seeking mouse understood his intention of wanting it to help find the way. Yet, it did precisely that. Was it a coincidence, or was it truly so intelligent, so cunning, more so than humans?
Liu Jiang Fusheng's footsteps faltered, and he turned to run in the direction it was pointing. The wind howled, the scenery blurred, the mountains and marshes were desolate. He stared deeply into the small, snow-white figure ahead.
It was here again...
That strange feeling, like cat claws scratching, or like wings suddenly unfurling in his heart, brushing against his heart's tip.
It had already disappeared, but this time it had returned.
Squeak, squeak, squeak...
The treasure-seeking mouse led him onward without stopping. Using obstacles to conceal their figures, they finally reached a large, wide, flat area. In the distance, a spectacular ice valley lay beneath the snow peaks. Large streams and icefalls were frozen, like two colossal silver screens descending from the heavens. The irregularly frozen icicles were vertical and striped. On the cliff face, ice pillars, short as a few feet and long as a few yards, were like sharp swords made of crystal.
This location perfectly matched Liu Jiang Fusheng's plan.
He couldn't help but stare blankly at the treasure-seeking mouse. Had it truly become sentient? Even if it had, could it be so good at discerning human hearts?
Liu Jiang Fusheng couldn't help but be distracted.
Since he had found a suitable location to display his sword techniques, the next step was to "lure the snake into its hole."
The Snow River Ice Python had been slightly delayed due to the complex and winding terrain, and with this delay, it naturally sped up its pursuit.
This vast area would not feel cramped for its massive body. Compared to the previous narrow gorge, there was ample space even with it fully present.
Hiss, hiss, hiss~
It writhed its snake body, and from a distance, its snake eyes were fixed on Liu Jiang Fusheng. The aura of determination began to surround him.
"You want to kill me? Come on."
Liu Jiang Fusheng uttered a provocative remark, turned, and walked towards the icefall.
As expected, the simple-minded Snow River Ice Python pursued relentlessly, finally entering the fixed position Liu Jiang Fusheng had estimated from the beginning.
For the thick-skinned and tough Snow River Ice Python, due to its massive size, even if he launched an offensive, it would be impossible to take it down in one go. But if he could not defeat it with a single blow, he would face a demon beast in a berserk state, and he was unsure if he would still have the confidence to defeat it.
Even if he won by sheer luck in the end, he was unwilling to pay such a heavy price.
Before the stout giant snake could launch its attack, Liu Jiang Fusheng had already chosen a place to hide. He leaped into a crevice. Earlier, disregarding the treasure-seeking mouse's wishes, he had forcibly taken it into his storage ring. Immediately, he made a hand seal: "Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Art—Mysterious Star Sword Rain!"
A hundred sword formations immediately spread across the entire ice valley and snow peaks. With a fierce shout: "Fall!"
Innumerable sword lights descended from the sky. They struck the icefall and frozen waterfall. The valley shook, ice and stones, along with icicles, broke off and rained down, kicking up tens of meters of cold mist.
Like an avalanche, accompanied by a dull rumbling sound, the Snow River Ice Python within the sunken valley, due to its clumsy and massive body, could not evade in time. With a piercing scream, it was crushed by the ice and rocks from above and impaled by countless icicles from above.
But this was not the end. Liu Jiang Fusheng knew the principle of striking a snake's seven inches. He leaped forward swiftly and lightly, along its immobilized body, took out his spirit sword, and plunged it into its snake body.
*Puchi*—blood sprayed out. He continuously twisted the sword tip into the flesh, until he extracted a snake core.
At this moment, the Snow River Ice Python let out an extremely tragic cry. Despite suffering such a heavy blow, it did not die immediately. Instead, it struggled, twisting the front half of its body and turning its head to counter-attack.
Its gaping maw was filled with sharp, venomous fangs dripping with green liquid. Its mouth was so wide that it could swallow two Liu Jiang Fushengs. He felt danger, turned his head, and thrust his sword fiercely into its upper jaw. It writhed in pain.
But Liu Jiang Fusheng's eyes were extremely cold. He knew it was at the end of its rope, so he injected spiritual power into the sword, pushing it in even deeper.
At this moment, the snake core that had fallen nearby transformed into a beast hide, and the Snow River Ice Python gradually disappeared, scattering like illusory mist in the wind, leaving nothing behind.
Liu Jiang Fusheng then understood that this demon beast was not real.
He picked up the beast hide that had transformed from the demon core on the ground. It seemed he had not guessed wrong; this demon beast was the clue for this realm.