320: Turning against each other

However, the sense of unease in Lin Jingyu’s heart grew thicker, like a gathering storm cloud.

Everything about this tribe was too “normal,” almost perfectly normal, forming a stark contrast with the extremely harsh ice plain environment outside.

Moreover, his powerful Divine Sense had always faintly detected an uncomfortable, cold aura.

It was constantly rising and enveloping everything.

It seemed this place was not a paradise, but rather concealed unknown dangers.

It was not suitable to stay long; he currently had no time to meddle in others' affairs.

No longer hesitating, he stood up, cupped his hands, and spoke with a firm tone: "Many thanks for Clan Chief's hospitality. However, I am eager to find my friend and dare not delay for a moment. Furthermore, I possess some self-preservation abilities, so it is inconvenient to stay long. I shall take my leave now."

Just as he turned to leave!

An ancient, ethereal voice, seemingly seeping directly from the depths of ten-thousand-year-old ice without the slightest emotional fluctuation, suddenly echoed directly in the depths of everyone's mind in the entire main hall, without any warning:

"Esteemed guest, you have traveled far, and Karma is set. Why rush? Since the threads of destiny have drawn you here, how can mere mortal strength easily break free?"

Before the voice faded, the light at the entrance of the main hall dimmed slightly. An elder, dressed in an intricately complex pure white sacrificial robe, holding a bone staff taller than himself with an egg-sized, strangely glowing blue crystal embedded at its tip,

Appeared there silently like a ghost, precisely blocking Lin Jingyu's path.

His face was extremely withered, as if only a thin layer of skin covered his skull, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken like two black holes. But the pair of eyes that suddenly opened were terrifyingly bright.

They were like two bottomless cold pools, their gaze falling upon Lin Jingyu, carrying a condescending scrutiny, a deep-seated probing, and a trace of... an indescribable longing, as if he had discovered a rare treasure?

"Lord Prophet!" Clan Chief Lieshan and all the high-ranking tribal members in the hall immediately bowed in unison upon seeing this person, their expressions respectful to the point of reverence, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Lin Jingyu's heart tightened, and his muscles instantly tensed!

The aura of this elder, referred to as the "Prophet," was extremely reclusive. Even with his powerful Divine Sense at the second layer of the Spirit Refining Art, he was temporarily unable to accurately judge its depth.

But the sense of threat, like being targeted by a primeval beast, stemming from his life's instinct, instantly spread throughout his body like a dousing of ice water.

This person's strength definitely far surpassed Clan Chief Lieshan!

He stopped, the Evergreen Spiritual Power and Thunder True Intent within him quietly accelerating their circulation, but his face remained impassive as he calmly spoke: "Your Excellency is the shaman here? May I ask why you are blocking my path?"

Lord Prophet slowly raised his withered right hand, which held the bone staff. The blue crystal at the staff's tip emitted an even denser, eerie blue glow, illuminating his face with a ghastly blue hue, adding to his strangeness.

His voice still echoed directly in everyone's minds, without the slightest ripple:

"I wouldn't dare to offer guidance. It's just that Your Excellency carries an anomaly; your fate is shrouded in heavy mist, and your future is also a complete darkness. If you leave now, you are bound to fall into Chaos and distress.

Why not stay within my Frost Tribe?

Eligible unmarried women are available for you to choose from.

Isn't this better than going to your death?

"Thank you for your kindness, but I refuse?"

Lin Jingyu's tone remained calm, but his eyes were already sharp as blades, and the spiritual Qi within him surged like a river, poised for action.

The shaman's dying warning, "Don't trust anyone," rang like an alarm bell in his heart.

How could the gaunt Lord Prophet before him possibly care for an outsider like him!

There must be some unspeakable secret.

On Lord Prophet's face, the shriveled skin twitched, revealing an extremely stiff and eerie smile. His voice was like grinding ice:

"The trajectories of fate are already intertwined, and the net of Karma has long been cast. I'm afraid... this time, Your Excellency has no choice."

As soon as his voice fell, the strange bone staff in his hand slammed onto the ice surface.

"Buzz!"

A pale blue wave of cold Qi, visible to the naked eye, suddenly spread out from the point where the bone staff struck.

The temperature of the entire hall instantly plummeted below absolute zero.

The ground, walls, and even a few dust motes floating in the air instantly condensed into a thick, foot-deep layer of blue ice, shimmering with a metallic luster.

In the air, countless sharp ice spikes, emanating a chilling aura, condensed out of thin air, like venomous snakes with lives of their own, shooting towards Lin Jingyu from every direction: above, below, left, and right.

Their speed was comparable to Flying Swords!

At the same time, an even more terrifying mental pressure, solidified as if containing myriad ancient glaciers, descended like an invisible ice mountain tsunami, directly crushing towards Lin Jingyu's Sea of Consciousness.

This mental attack was not a simple impact; it also carried a strange power to freeze thought and seal the Soul.

Lord Prophet, if he didn't act, he wouldn't; but once he did, it was a swift, merciless, and deadly trap!

The power he displayed had clearly reached the Late Stage Foundation Establishment level. Moreover, his power attribute was extremely cold and bizarre, specifically harming the Divine Soul and Physical Body.

"Thunder Armor! Protect!"

Lin Jingyu was already prepared. He let out a low roar in his heart, and brilliant purple electric light instantly burst forth from the pores all over his body.

The crackling Thunder power instantly intertwined and condensed, forming an extremely solid Thunder Armor, with electric arcs leaping and flowing, thoroughly protecting his entire body.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"

The dense ice spikes impacted the Thunder Armor, instantly vaporized and melted by the supreme Yang and supreme rigid Thunder power, emitting continuous explosions, yet unable to penetrate in the slightest.

Spirit Refining Art, guard the spiritual platform!

Within his Sea of Consciousness, three mental lakes surged, and the vast Divine Sense power transformed into an indestructible invisible barrier, forcefully resisting the mountain- and sea-like mental impact.

Although his Divine Soul trembled violently, as if frozen by ten-thousand-year-old Profound Ice, experiencing waves of stinging pain and stiffness, under the protection of the profound Cultivation Technique of the Spirit Refining Art, he ultimately stabilized his stance, maintaining a clear spiritual platform.

"Indeed, there's some skill! As expected of someone with an anomaly!"

A hint of clear surprise flashed in Lord Prophet's eyes, which then transformed into an even more intense and fervent interest, as if a hunter had spotted the rarest prey.

He waved the bone staff in his hand again, and more extremely pure ice power gathered from the Void Realm, instantly transforming into a giant ice crystal claw that blotted out the sky, with clear Texture (veins/patterns), emanating an aura that could freeze all things.

Its five fingers were like hooks, bringing with them a harsh tearing sound through the air, and it grabbed down towards Lin Jingyu.

Its power was several times greater than before!

Lin Jingyu knew that this place was strange and he absolutely could not stay long; he had to finish the fight quickly.

He no longer held back. The startling thunder sword unsheathed with a clear Dragon roar.

"Startling Thunder Strike! Break!"