3: Cold Mist and Thunder

The Magic Beast Mountain Range’s mornings were always shrouded in a thin mist.

Xiao Bing stepped on the damp moss, following the subtle traces Xiao Yan had left behind.

On the System map, a blue light dot was slowly moving three miles ahead.

“Warning: Mystic Ice Spiritual Lightning 'Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold' energy fluctuation detected!”

“Direction: 5 kilometers to the northeast, on the edge of the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s territory.”

Xiao Bing’s steps paused.

The Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold was one of the Nine Mystic Ice Spiritual Lightning mentioned by the System, and he hadn't expected it to appear here.

He glanced at the direction Xiao Yan was heading; the two were exactly opposite.

“I’ll go find Flame Brother first.”

Xiao Bing made his decision.

After all, the System’s main mission was to grow together with Xiao Yan, not simply to collect Spiritual Thunder.

Deep in the dense forest, Xiao Yan was squatting by a stream, taking water, while Yao Lao’s Soul body floated beside him.

“Little fellow, your sworn brother has followed,” Yao Lao suddenly said.

Xiao Yan didn’t even raise his head: “I know, he’s been following since we left the city.”

“Not planning to meet him?”

“Let him follow; the Magic Beast Mountain Range is no joke,” Xiao Yan tied the water pouch back to his waist, “He’ll show himself when he encounters danger.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a wolf howl suddenly came from a distance.

Xiao Yan’s expression changed: “It’s the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!”

On the other side of the dense forest, Xiao Bing was surrounded by seven mercenaries.

The one-eyed man leading them carried a large saber and sneered: “Kid, hand over anything valuable, and we’ll leave you a complete corpse.”

Xiao Bing’s expression was calm, and his right hand quietly formed a seal.

The strongest of these mercenaries was only a five-star Dou Zhe, posing no threat to him.

But just as he was about to make his move, a black shadow descended from the sky.

“Boom!”

The Heavy Xuan Ruler smashed onto the ground, stirring up a wave of Qi.

Xiao Yan stood on the ruler’s handle, looking at everyone with a half-smile: “Gentlemen, bullying my younger brother isn’t very nice, is it?”

“Xiao Yan?!” The one-eyed man’s face changed drastically, “Retreat!”

“Trying to leave?” Xiao Bing suddenly moved.

His hands rapidly formed seals, and a wave of cold Qi spread out from him.

“Ice Condensing Palm: Frost Path!”

The ground instantly condensed into a smooth icy surface, and the fleeing mercenaries slipped and fell one after another.

Xiao Yan seized the opportunity to leap down, sweeping the Heavy Xuan Ruler horizontally, sending several people flying.

The battle ended unexpectedly quickly.

Xiao Yan put away his heavy ruler and raised an eyebrow at Xiao Bing: “That move was good; when did you learn it?”

“Just thought of it last night,” Xiao Bing put away his Dou Qi, “How did you find me?”

“Yao Lao reminded me,” Xiao Yan patted his shoulder, “Since you’re here, let’s go together.

I happen to be looking for something.”

The two set off deeper into the mountain range together.

Along the way, Xiao Bing told Yao Lao about the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold.

“Mystic Ice Spiritual Lightning?” Yao Lao showed a surprised expression, “I didn’t expect such a legendary thing to actually exist.”

Xiao Yan asked curiously: “Similar to Heavenly Flames?”

“Quite the opposite,” Yao Lao explained, “Mystic Ice Spiritual Lightning is an extremely cold object, clashing with Heavenly Flames.

However…” He looked meaningfully at Xiao Bing, “It’s a great tonic for your younger brother.”

That night, the three rested in a cave.

Yao Lao was explaining the basics of alchemy when his expression suddenly changed: “A big fellow is approaching!”

The ground began to vibrate, and a deafening lion’s roar came from outside the cave.

Xiao Yan grabbed his Heavy Xuan Ruler: “It’s the Amethyst Winged Lion King! How could it…”

“It’s coming for me,” Xiao Bing stood up, blue light flickering in his eyes, “The cold Qi in my body attracted it.”

“Urgent Mission: Collect the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold!”

“Mission Hint: There’s a cold pool behind the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s nest.”

Xiao Yan and Xiao Bing exchanged glances, both smiling.

“The usual?” Xiao Yan asked.

“You distract it, I’ll go get the Lightning,” Xiao Bing nodded.

Yao Lao watched the two tacitly making their plan, dumbfounded: “When did you two get so close?”

The plan went smoothly.

Xiao Yan maneuvered with the Lion King using his Blasting Step, while Xiao Bing circled to the back of the nest and indeed found a deep pool emitting cold Qi.

In the center of the pool, a silver-blue lightning bolt swam like a living creature.

Xiao Bing took out the cold jade bottle prepared by the System and cautiously approached.

Just as he was about to succeed, an unexpected change occurred!

The pool water suddenly exploded, and a humanoid creature made entirely of ice emerged, its empty eye sockets staring directly at him.

“Ice Guard?” Xiao Bing’s heart tightened.

This was a high-level energy body mentioned in the System’s data, at least equivalent to a Great Dou Master in strength.

“Combat Mode Activated!”

“Temporary Unlock: Mystic Ice Armor (lasts 300 seconds).”

A layer of ice crystal armor instantly covered Xiao Bing’s entire body.

He rushed towards the guard without hesitation, his right palm condensing all his Dou Qi.

“Ice Condensing Palm: Thousand Frosts!”

The guard was hit in the chest by this palm, its movements slowing for a moment.

Xiao Bing seized the opportunity, flashed next to the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold, and threw the jade bottle into the lightning.

“Collect!”

The silver-blue lightning was absorbed into the bottle.

The guard let out a silent roar, and its body began to collapse.

The entire cold pool froze at a visible rate.

Xiao Bing had no time to be happy, because the System’s warning sound had already sounded:

“Alarm! Energy Overload!”

“Suggestion: Immediately find a safe place to absorb the Spiritual Thunder.”

He rushed out of the nest, just in time to see Xiao Yan being swatted away by the Lion King’s claw.

Without much thought, Xiao Bing leapt to catch Xiao Yan, simultaneously flicking an ice bead towards the Lion King.

“Go!”

The ice bead exploded, and a sky full of ice mist obscured their vision.

By the time the Lion King dispersed the mist, the two had already vanished without a trace.

In a cave ten miles away, Xiao Yan was gasping for breath, checking his injuries, while Yao Lao was healing him.

Xiao Bing sat cross-legged in the corner, the jade bottle containing the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold suspended before him.

“Are you sure you want to absorb it now?” Yao Lao’s expression was solemn, “The energy fluctuations of this thing are very unstable.”

Xiao Bing nodded: “I have a special method.”

Saying that, he looked at Xiao Yan, “It might take a day.”

Xiao Yan grinned: “I’ll be your Protector.”

When Xiao Bing guided the Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold into his body, an bone-chilling cold instantly swept through him.

Ice crystals condensed on the surface of his skin, and his hair also turned frosty white.

“Absorption Progress: 1%... 3%...”

Time passed by minute by minute.

Outside the cave, Xiao Yan vigilantly guarded the entrance.

Yao Lao floated beside him, deep in thought.

“Teacher, what’s wrong?”

“This sworn brother of yours…” Yao Lao hesitated, “He’s not simple.”

Xiao Yan smiled: “Everyone has their own secrets.”

Just then, a powerful burst of cold Qi suddenly erupted inside the cave!

When the two rushed in, they saw Xiao Bing floating in mid-air, silver-blue lightning coiling around him.

“Absorption Complete!”

“Host Rank increased: Six-star Dou Zhe!”

“New Skill Acquired: Mist Lightning Robe (Defensive Type)!”

Xiao Bing slowly landed, the blue light in his eyes gradually fading.

He looked at the dumbfounded Xiao Yan and said softly:

“Thank you.”

Xiao Yan recovered, laughing as he put an arm around his shoulder: “Between brothers, what’s there to thank for!

But…” He winked mischievously, “Next time something this exciting happens, remember to tell me beforehand.”

The two exchanged smiles.

Meanwhile, in a place they didn’t know about, an Elder of the Yun Lan Sect was looking at a shattered jade token in his hand, his face grim:

“The Mist Lightning of Extreme Cold has been taken? Investigate!”