21: Wang Wu: I may not be able to come back.

The Soldiers also discovered the danger on this side, but they couldn't react in time!

At the critical moment!

Gun Gun, startled by the surprise attack, suddenly had a fierce glint flash in his big eyes!

It wasn't fear, but the ferocity of being thoroughly enraged!

Relying on his instincts, he didn't even have time to fully turn his body, and with a brutal force, he swung the emerald green bamboo he had been holding in his arms backward like lightning!

The movement was simple and crude.

"Gun Gun, strike!"

Soaring Sky Strike!

The tender green leaves at the tip of the bamboo drew a green afterimage in the air.

Bang!!!

A dull, heavy thud.

That seemingly slender and fragile emerald green bamboo solidly struck the Icefield Gnawing Beast on its forehead.

Crack—

The crisp sound of bones breaking even drowned out the howling wind and snow.

That ferocious Gnawing Beast didn't even let out a scream, and its ice-blue eyes instantly lost their luster.

Its entire body flew backward rapidly!

With a thud, it heavily crashed into the snow several meters away, twitched twice, and then completely fell silent.

The power of this strike was more than a notch stronger than when it dealt with the Frost Spider last time!

"Gu..." Gun Gun looked at his small paws, then at the dead Gnawing Beast, tilting his head.

He felt a bit bewildered and surprised by the destructive power he had caused.

A hint of surprise flashed in Mo Yan's eyes.

The moment Gun Gun swung the stick just now, he clearly felt that the faint demonic power within Gun Gun's body seemed to surge.

It was much more active than usual.

"Gun Gun's potential is unleashed very quickly in combat," Mo Yan thought to himself, looking forward to the little guy's future even more.

His stunning blow completely intimidated the remaining Icefield Gnawing Beasts.

The Soldiers' morale was boosted even further, and their cooperation became more seamless, quickly slaying all the remaining panicked Gnawing Beasts.

"Clear the battlefield," Mo Yan ordered, while walking over and rubbing Gun Gun's head as encouragement.

"Gu!" Gun Gun comfortably narrowed his eyes and rubbed against his hand again.

The Soldiers skillfully piled the Gnawing Beast's corpses in front of Mo Yan, who, with a thought, stored them all into his innate space.

After the battle ended, the team rested briefly, replenished some stamina, and then continued westward.

Having experienced a sudden encounter, everyone was on high alert, and their steps became more cautious.

The dangers on the icefield were far more than what was recorded in the notes.

After another half hour of travel, enduring the biting cold wind, the surrounding environment began to change.

The wind and snow here lessened, but the chill in the air became even more biting.

Beneath the ice, faint traces of weak blue light could be vaguely seen flowing.

Mo Yan sensed that the energy fluctuations permeating the air became denser and purer.

"It's Spiritual Qi... much denser than near the territory," Mo Yan thought to himself.

This strong indication suggested they were approaching a significant energy source.

It was very likely his target this time!

"My Lord!" Wang Wu, who was ahead, suddenly returned quickly, his face showing unprecedented solemnity.

"Something's been found ahead!"

"Speak," Mo Yan motioned for him to calm down, gripping the Frost Sword in his hand.

Wang Wu took a breath, lowering his voice, "About five hundred meters ahead, there's the entrance to a huge Ice Rift Valley. At the entrance... there are three Ice Armor Beasts lurking!"

He paused, then added, "But they're not the ordinary kind we encountered before. They're much larger, I estimate they're almost two meters tall!"

"Their carapaces are dark blue, almost black, and thick ice crystals are condensed on them. The cold Qi they emit is much stronger than that of ordinary Ice Armor Beasts!"

"Elite Ice Armor Beasts?" Mo Yan's eyes narrowed.

The notes only mentioned exotic beasts lurking, but he didn't expect them to be of this Rank, and three of them at once!

Larger size meant stronger defense and attack power.

"What are they doing?" Mo Yan pressed.

"It looks like they're... guarding the entrance," Wang Wu replied. "They're pacing back and forth near the entrance, and anything that gets close will be attacked by them."

"I saw fragments of other small exotic beast bones on the ground."

Mo Yan looked up in the direction of the Ice Rift Valley.

Although obscured by ice hills and snow, he could feel that the dense Spiritual Qi was coming from that direction.

"It seems the notes were right. The Ore's reflection is very likely the energy manifestation of a Primordial Stone Vein."

Mo Yan whispered, "These few Elite Ice Armor Beasts are, in all likelihood, the guardians of the Primordial Stone Vein."

He immediately made a decision not to alarm them: "All personnel stop advancing! Find cover and hide! Maintain silence!"

The team quickly found a low ice hill nearby and cautiously hid behind it.

Mo Yan motioned for Wang Wu to join him, quietly climbing to the top of the ice hill, using accumulated snow and rocks as cover to observe the Ice Rift Valley entrance in the distance.

Just as Wang Wu said, three massive dark blue Ice Armor Beasts, like motionless small icebergs, stood guard at the rift valley entrance.

Their heavy carapaces reflected a cold, eerie glow under the faint natural light, exuding a powerful aura that warned all living things to stay away.

Mo Yan's brows were tightly furrowed.

To enter the Ice Rift Valley, they must first deal with these three Elite Ice Armor Beasts.

But this would definitely be a tough battle, even a life-or-death struggle.

Mo Yan lay prone on the cold top of the ice hill.

Below, three massive Elite Ice Armor Beasts came into view; their movements were slow.

But each step carried a heavy sense of oppression; thick ice crystals condensed on their dark blue, almost black, carapaces, exuding a biting cold Qi.

A direct charge?

That would be tantamount to leading the Soldiers to mass suicide!

Not to mention the Soldiers, even he himself, wielding the Frost Sword and with the greatly potential Gun Gun, might be instantly killed by one of the Elite Ice Armor Beasts.

But the temptation of the Primordial Stone Vein within the Ice Rift Valley was simply too great.

This not only concerned the construction of Yu Shan Workshop and the hot spring but also his ability to quickly research immortal cultivation technology.

Improving his own cultivation and widening the gap with other lords was key to the territory quickly entering the right track of immortal cultivation!

No pain, no gain! He would risk it!

He suppressed the throbbing in his heart, his mind racing.

He must outsmart them!

He silently slid down the ice hill, returned to where the team was hidden, and looked at Wang Wu, who was beside him, also looking solemn and gripping his wooden bow tightly.

Mo Yan's gaze was sharp and scrutinizing: "Wang Wu, I need you to lure the leftmost one, draw it away from the entrance for a certain distance. How confident are you?"

Wang Wu licked his somewhat chapped lips, his gaze sharply fixed on the distant Ice Armor Beast and the surrounding terrain.

His fingers gripping the wooden bow tightened slightly, his knuckles protruding.

As a hunter, he instinctively assessed the risks and escape routes.

He was silent for a few seconds, then said in a deep voice, "My Lord, their size dictates that their movement speed is not fast."

"Using the terrain to maneuver and lure one away should theoretically be possible."

His tone shifted, carrying a calmness in the face of death: "But the Elite monster's perception range far exceeds that of ordinary exotic beasts. Once it completely locks onto me..."

"Given my speed and defense, it would probably be very difficult to shake it off. I need enough time and distance."

"My Lord, for this mission, I might... not return."

Mo Yan fell silent; he knew Wang Wu was speaking the truth.