383: Chapter 382 Fierce Battle Inside the Cave! Si Yao Seriously Injured!

At this moment, Bai Ruoxue stood at the edge of the pit, her cold eyes like lightning. She had already thoroughly searched the entire mountaintop platform. Aside from the churning white mist in the pit before her, there was nowhere else to hide.

The white mist blocked her vision, and Bai Ruoxue worried that if she entered rashly, she might be ambushed by Qin Yi and the other person.

Moreover, the methods that little girl from the Si Family had used earlier—though she only had the strength of the Mid-stage Dark Force—seemed to have True Qi attributes that countered her own Mystic Ice True Qi. She had to be cautious.

However, given the vast difference in strength, Bai Ruoxue was still confident she could win decisively if she faced the two of them head-on!

Furthermore, the white mist before her was actually very advantageous for her.

Within the white mist, water vapor was highly concentrated; she could start with a wave of 'saturated' attacks!

Thinking this, a cold sneer curled on Bai Ruoxue's lips—since she couldn't see the situation inside, she would turn the entire cave into a frozen Hell!

“Qin Yi! Do you think you're safe just by hiding inside and using the mist as cover? How naive!”

With that, Bai Ruoxue extended her arms, and the Mystic Ice True Qi within her body erupted. The white mist around her swirled frantically, quickly condensing into a tornado laced with ice crystals.

Countless ice spikes formed within the tornado, their tips shimmering with a faint blue cold light, looking like the fangs of a grim reaper.

“Qin Yi! Since you don't dare to come out, then just be frozen here!” She slammed her palms downward, her sharp shout echoing through the valley:

“Mystic Ice Thousand Blades!”

The sky full of ice spikes instantly crashed down like a torrential rain, enveloped in Mystic Ice True Qi. Each ice spike seemed to contain the terrifying power to pierce through metal!

“Boom—”

The ice spikes struck the rock walls and instantly exploded. Ice shards mixed with crushed stones fell into the deep pool below, creating muffled “thud, thud” sounds!

“Be careful!”

Several ice spikes grazed past Qin Yi's ears, gouging half-inch deep marks into the rocky path behind him. The icy chill made Qin Yi's scalp tingle.

Qin Yi's pupils constricted. Almost instinctively, he pulled Si Yao toward the deepest recess of the cliff wall. Holding his dagger across his chest, the True Qi in his Dantian—a Fusion of Blazing Sun True Qi and the Supreme Soul Suppressing Art—surged through his arm and into the dagger.

Qin Yi's wrist flicked rapidly as the dagger drew dazzling arcs, and the True Qi condensed into a semi-transparent barrier in front of them.

“Sizzle—”

The moment the ice spikes hit the barrier, white mist billowed up, actually propping up a brief safety zone in front of the two.

Feeling that familiar yet strange scorching Aura, Si Yao's beautiful eyes were filled with shock—the True Qi Qin Yi released actually had the characteristics of 'Blazing Sun True Qi'! But Qin Yi had only flipped through the Secret Manual today, how could this be...

Before Si Yao could ask about her confusion, Bai Ruoxue's arrogant laughter suddenly came from above the cave entrance: “Hahaha, Qin Yi, I've finally found you!”

In fact, this was exactly what made Mystic Ice True Qi unique!

Those ice spikes seemed like independent entities, but Bai Ruoxue could clearly sense the movement and change of every single one.

The moment Qin Yi's True Qi melted an ice spike, Bai Ruoxue had already sensed his position!

As soon as she finished speaking, she activated the ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’ movement technique, and her figure stepped into the cave like a ghost. Under the influence of the Mystic Ice True Qi, the white mist beneath her feet rapidly condensed into steps of translucent ice crystals.

As Bai Ruoxue's toes lightly tapped the steps, her robes fluttered like butterflies, looking like an ice crystal Fairy descending to earth. However, the killing intent in her eyes was even more piercing than the ice spikes.

In an instant, Bai Ruoxue blocked Qin Yi's path. Mystic Ice True Qi circulated in her palms, and the cold Aura behind her almost froze the rocky path solid.

“Qin Yi, let's see where you can run this time!”

Qin Yi instinctively shielded Si Yao behind him and tightened his grip on the dagger. An air of disdain curled at the corner of his mouth: “Run? You think too much of yourself. I just have urgent business and don't feel like wasting time with you. Did you really think I was afraid of you?”

“Oh? You're young, but your mouth is quite stubborn.” Bai Ruoxue sneered. “In that case, let me see just how much skill you really have!” As she spoke, she raised her jade-like hand, and a Mystic Ice Palm lunged toward Qin Yi with a chill that could freeze one to the marrow.

Seeing this, Si Yao immediately wanted to step forward to block it, but she was stopped by Qin Yi.

He said urgently: “Si Yao! Be good! Your Meridians are already damaged, don't release any more True Qi! If you force it again, I really won't be able to save you!”

“But...”

Before Si Yao could finish, she was interrupted by Qin Yi: “No buts! Don't worry, I can handle this!”

With that, Qin Yi flicked his wrist and immediately threw out two ‘junior misfortune talismans’. The moment the misfortune talismans left his hand, they turned into two streaks of light and silently sank into Bai Ruoxue's body.

In the next second, the palm wind Bai Ruoxue struck out suddenly veered half an inch, grazing Qin Yi's shoulder and hitting the rock wall, freezing it into a patch of ice flowers.

At the same time, her heart skipped a beat, and the Mystic Ice True Qi in her Dantian actually experienced a brief stagnation, as if it had been tripped up by something.

That feeling again!

Bai Ruoxue's mind was shaken, and the look she gave Qin Yi actually contained a hint of shock!

Now is the time!

A sharp light flashed in Qin Yi's eyes as he instantly circulated the ‘Supreme Soul Suppressing Art’, sending an invisible force pressing toward Bai Ruoxue. Simultaneously, he pushed the ‘Divine Movement Hundred Changes’ movement technique to its limit, his figure blurring and leaving several afterimages on the rocky path. The True Qi in his Dantian surged through his arm to the dagger, the blade glowing with a faint luster.

When he reappeared, Qin Yi had already circled behind Bai Ruoxue. The dagger in his hand, carrying the heat of Blazing Sun True Qi, stabbed directly toward her lower back—this was the combo Qin Yi had planned: first use the ‘misfortune talisman’ to disrupt the opponent's rhythm, then use the ‘Supreme Soul Suppressing Art’ to briefly lock their movements, and finally use ‘Divine Movement Hundred Changes’ for a sneak attack!

Last time, he had used this to unexpectedly subdue Zhang Yu!

However, this time, he had underestimated Bai Ruoxue's strength.

The ‘Supreme Soul Suppressing Art’ was originally taught to Zhang Yu by Bai Ruoxue's godfather. Naturally, Bai Ruoxue knew the way to counter it.

Getting caught by it before was only because Bai Ruoxue hadn't expected Qin Yi to also know techniques that could interfere with the Divine Soul.

An instant before the dagger could strike, Bai Ruoxue's lips curled up as she suddenly leaped into the air. Simultaneously, she swung her hand back. “Insignificant tricks! Did you really think I would fall for it again! I was just playing along!”

In the next second, the Mystic Ice True Qi transformed into dozens of ice blades, sweeping toward Qin Yi like a gale!

“Divine Movement Hundred Changes!”

Seeing the sneak attack fail, Qin Yi didn't dare take the hit head-on. His figure moved like lightning through the narrow rocky path, dodging most of the ice blades. However, a few still grazed his arm, leaving several deep wounds that reached the bone. The cold air invaded through the wounds, making him shudder uncontrollably.

What shocked him even more was that Bai Ruoxue's ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’ movement technique was actually faster than his ‘Divine Movement Hundred Changes’!

Bai Ruoxue followed him closely, sticking to him like a shadow. The ice blades were constantly aimed at his vitals, forcing Qin Yi to remain fully focused.

“Heh! Is this all the strength you have? It's over!”

Bai Ruoxue shouted as she suddenly accelerated, circling to Qin Yi's flank. The Mystic Ice True Qi in her palm surged, aiming straight for his Dantian's vital point—if this palm hit, Qin Yi's True Qi would surely be frozen, leaving him at her mercy!

“Qin Yi, watch out!”

Seeing Qin Yi fall into a disadvantage and facing the risk of death, Si Yao could no longer care about Qin Yi's warnings. The Blazing Sun True Qi in her body erupted with full force, and she threw herself in front of Qin Yi. Striking out with both palms, her scorching True Qi surged toward Bai Ruoxue.

“Pfft—”

The two True Qis collided. Unfortunately, they were two minor Realms apart, and some of the ‘Mystic Ice True Qi’ remained unneutralized, striking Si Yao squarely in the chest. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her body flying backward like a broken kite and crashing into Qin Yi.

“Si Yao!”

Qin Yi cried out and reached out to catch Si Yao. The massive impact caused both of them to lose their balance and fall toward the deep pool below.

Bai Ruoxue hovered in mid-air, watching coldly as their figures were swallowed by the pool water, her eyes devoid of any pity.

She hadn't wanted to harm someone from the Si Family, but things had come to this. Only by keeping both of them here could she prevent a conflict between Hongmen and the Si Family!

Thinking of this, her Aura surged again, and her Mystic Ice True Qi churned frantically. Her hands slowly pressed down, her cold voice echoing in the rocky passage:

“Ice—Seal—A—Thousand—Miles!”

She wanted to completely freeze this deep pool, leaving Qin Yi and Si Yao frozen beneath it forever!

But at this critical moment, the pool water suddenly exploded with a “splash”!

A Giant Black Python surged out of the water, its crimson eyes staring fixedly at Bai Ruoxue—it was the same giant python that had attacked her and Zhao Lintai in the swamp earlier and had been wounded by her!

Now, the wounds on the giant python had miraculously healed. Its scales shimmered with a cold light in the dimness as it flicked its tongue, charging toward Bai Ruoxue with sky-shattering rage.

“Vile beast! You dare come back to seek death!”

Bai Ruoxue shouted and once again unleashed ‘Mystic Ice Thousand Blades’, sending countless ice spikes toward the giant python.

But this time, the giant python did not retreat. Instead, as if it were prepared to die, its massive body crashed through the ice spikes and continued to charge at Bai Ruoxue.

After continuously using ‘Mystic Ice True Qi’ and ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’, the True Qi in Bai Ruoxue's body was running low. If this continued, she might actually be entangled by this giant python. If that happened, it might be difficult to even escape!

“Dammit!”

Helpless, Bai Ruoxue could only push ‘Treading Snow Without a Trace’ to its limit, her figure turning into an afterimage as she fled toward the cave entrance.

The giant python seemed unable to fully leave the deep pool. Seeing that it couldn't catch Bai Ruoxue, it could only let out an unwilling roar and fall back into the water.

Meanwhile, Qin Yi was holding Si Yao, sinking toward the depths of the pool.

Si Yao leaned in his arms, her breath weak and blood still on the corner of her mouth, making Qin Yi's heart tighten.

However, the deeper they went into the pool, the water temperature actually began to warm up.

Just as the two were about to reach the bottom, Qin Yi's eyes suddenly lit up—at the very bottom of the pool, a cave emitting a faint golden light appeared before them!

At the same time, the System's notification sound rang out in Qin Yi's Sea of Consciousness.

[Ding! Dragon Vein detected, fifty meters directly ahead of the host!]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the random mission—Escape from Bai Ruoxue! Mission completed. Reward: +2 to all six-dimensional attributes, +1 special gacha draw!]

Qin Yi's spirits rose as he held Si Yao and swam with all his might toward the cave.

Bai Ruoxue would never have imagined that her killing blow had instead sent Qin Yi and the other into the true Dragon Vein Secret Realm!