"Xuefeng, the barrier outside the divine hall is growing weaker." Xue Li entered from outside, his expression somewhat worried.
Xue Feng rose and asked, "Is there any news from His Highness yet?"
Xue Li shook his head, "Xue Song and Xue Yan have infiltrated the Desolate Marsh Imperial Palace, but there's been no news from them."
Xue Feng looked into the distance. "Since there is no news, we shall guard the divine hall even unto death."
Xue Li nodded. "I will go and dispatch more men."
"Very well," Xue Feng replied.
"Lord Xue Feng, trouble..." someone rushed in from outside the door.
Xue Feng's expression changed slightly. "What is it?"
"There are people gathered outside the divine hall, attempting to force their way in. Our subordinates couldn't hold them back, and many have been injured or killed."
"Lead the way," Xue Feng said, his expression extremely grim.
Arriving outside the divine hall, Xue Feng saw the gathered crowd. Among them, one person exuded an air of immortal grace. He recognized this person from a portrait shown to him by Qing Yi; it was Fan Min, the one who destroyed the Poison King Valley.
"Go and invite Qing Yi over," Xue Feng ordered. He knew he had no chance of victory against Fan Min.
"Who goes there? Do you know this is the Snow Country Divine Hall? No outsiders are permitted without the Crown Prince's permission." Xue Feng strode forward, drawing his waist sword coldly.
Fan Min heard this and laughed heartily, his brows raised. "Your Crown Prince has been captured alive by this old man. Do you think you can harm me in the slightest?"
Xue Feng's expression remained unchanged. "Whether I can harm you or not, I do not know. However, the Crown Prince has ordered that no one enter the divine hall. Even if I lose my life, I will not let you enter."
"What if I insist on entering?" Fan Min leaped down, landing not far from Xue Feng.
Xue Feng gripped his sword, saying coldly, "As long as I, Xue Feng, am here, you will never enter."
"Overestimating yourself," Fan Min sneered. With a wave of his hand, a blade-like gust of wind swept rapidly towards him.
Xue Feng was greatly alarmed. Someone could actually materialize an intangible force into a tangible weapon.
Xue Feng managed to dodge this first gust, but then several more came at him simultaneously. Xue Feng couldn't dodge one, and took the blow directly.
Instantly, his robes were cut, and blood seeped through.
Fan Min sneered, "Young man, you are no match for me. I advise you, for your own life, to retreat!"
Xue Feng showed no fear. "What my lord has tasked me with, I will accomplish even if I die."
Fan Min clicked his tongue twice, sighing. "Seeing you young hotheads come to your deaths one after another, I feel a pang of regret."
Fan Min's expression suddenly changed slightly, and he said coldly, "Since that is the case, I shall send you to your death."
With that, dozens of gusts of wind, mixed with blade-like sharpness, surged towards Xue Feng. Xue Feng raised his sword to block. As he parried the second gust, his sword snapped. The remaining blows rushed towards Xue Feng's body.
Xue Feng gritted his teeth, crossing his hands to protect himself, preparing for the fatal onslaught.
One landed on his shoulder, another on his chest, and a third on his leg. Xue Feng coughed up blood. The last gust aimed for his head.
Xue Feng had no strength left to resist. He felt immense guilt. "Your Highness, I am sorry. Xue Feng failed to complete your command."
He slowly closed his eyes, awaiting the fatal blow.
Suddenly, a barrier descended from above his head, blocking the fatal gust aimed at his skull.
A green figure descended slowly from the sky, landing before Xue Feng.
Xue Feng opened his eyes and saw this. A message then materialized from within his body: "Xue Feng, the Empress's body is no longer safe in the divine hall. Quickly take the Empress's body and leave. Find Princess An Ning."
"Qing Yi..." Xue Feng was startled.
The green figure in front turned around. It was indeed Qing Yi. He said solemnly, "Fan Min is determined. The divine hall cannot be protected. You should take the body and leave."
Xue Feng looked at Qing Yi for a moment. "Alright. Take care!"
Qing Yi smiled. "I will. After all, Du Hun still needs me, Qing Yi."
Xue Feng turned and vanished outside the divine hall.
Qing Yi turned back, his expression colder than ever. "Fan Min, you killed my master and fellow disciples. This deep enmity, I will settle with you today."
Fan Min chuckled. "I knew someone had escaped that day. It turns out it was you."
Qing Yi gritted his teeth. "The hatred for my master's murder is irreconcilable, Fan Min, you shall die!"
Saying this, Qing Yi lunged towards Fan Min.
Fan Min snorted. "Just a mere child, daring to speak so boldly? Utterly foolish!"
With a wave of his hand, blade-like gusts appeared from Fan Min's hand, directed at Qing Yi.
Qing Yi dodged them, a little surprised. He hadn't expected Fan Min's skills to have reached such a profound level.
Fan Min sneered, watching Qing Yi struggle to evade. He kindly reminded him, "Young man, you are considered the last disciple of the Poison King Valley. If you also die, will the Poison King Valley have no successor?"
Qing Yi sneered, "So what? As long as I kill you and avenge my master and fellow disciples, what does it matter if I die? I will face them with honor in the afterlife."
Fan Min shook his head. "Since that is the case, I shall show no further mercy."
Fan Min's expression turned cold. A palm strike, which he had been condensing for a long time, materialized into a solid blade and flew towards Qing Yi.
Qing Yi quickly formed a barrier, attempting to block the blade. However, the barrier was like striking a rock with an egg against it.
The barrier shattered bit by bit, and blood trickled from Qing Yi's lips.
When the barrier finally broke, Qing Yi spat out a mouthful of blood. He tried to get up, but Fan Min arrived and grabbed him by the neck. "Kid, look at you. You're just tickling me. You've been defeated in just a few rounds."
Qing Yi chuckled. "So what? I am simply outmatched. Give me ten more years, and I will surely kill you."
Fan Min paused, then smiled. "You have spirit, boy. Very well, I will not kill you. Come find me in ten years. I will show no mercy then."
He then kicked Qing Yi away and headed towards the divine hall. From behind him, a voice called out, "Master Fan, there is a barrier on the door."
Fan Min heard this and sneered. "These things have no effect on me."
With a wave of his hand, he pushed open the door of the divine hall. The people behind him were astonished. Previously, they had been repelled when they tried to approach the door. They hadn't expected Fan Min to open it with a mere wave of his hand.
Fan Min entered. It was very dark inside. He threw something outwards, and suddenly the place was illuminated as if it were daytime.
In the center was a large ice coffin, on which lay a maiden.
Fan Min stepped forward, waved his hand, and the ice coffin opened. He smiled. "Finally obtained."
The maiden in the ice coffin suddenly opened her eyes and plunged a dagger towards Fan Min.