"Are you ready?"
"All set." Guō Xiāng wrapped her arms around my neck again, her legs clamping around my waist, hanging onto my back like a koala.
I didn't move forward immediately. Instead, I lowered my head to examine the Energy Pendant. Its surface showed no anomalies, but I could feel its temperature rising.
Later, I would learn that those two streams of cold air were manifestations of Extreme Cold Elemental Spirits. Due to the extreme cold deep underground, these frigid energies gradually nurtured faint consciousness, similar to human souls. If left unchecked, they might even evolve into beings with advanced intelligence over tens of thousands of years.
After a moment's thought, I gripped the Energy Pendant in my left hand and then removed it. As long as the Energy Pendant stayed on my person, I could absorb the heat it emitted.
Continuing forward, I soon encountered another stream of cold air. This time, I didn't use an energy blade. Instead, I tried facing it with the Energy Pendant held in my left hand.
"Hoo!"
The cold air entered my body, and I felt my entire left arm go numb with cold. Just then, the Energy Pendant grew hot, instantly absorbing all the cold air without a trace.
I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this Energy Pendant was indeed magical, capable of absorbing all the cold air.
With this technique mastered, the rest of the journey became much easier. I sped forward, absorbing any condensed cold air I encountered with the Energy Pendant.
Before long, the path ahead opened up, revealing a vast space.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Guō Xiāng exclaimed with genuine admiration.
I, too, was awestruck by the sight before me. The space stretched for hundreds of square meters, surrounded by ice crystals emitting a blue glow, like brilliant crystals, shining resplendently. Above, countless ice stalactites of varying sizes hung down like magnificent chandeliers, exuding ethereal beauty.
The surroundings were a deep azure. I turned my head and suddenly noticed a black speck. A thought sparked, and I quickly approached the ice wall on the left. There, embedded deep in the ice, was a long sword, only its black hilt exposed.
I bent down, gripped the hilt, and a chill permeated my body. I pulled with all my might, but it didn't budge. After pondering, I raised my energy blade and struck the ice forcefully. A metallic clang echoed as my energy blade was repelled, leaving no mark on the ice.
Such hard ice!...
"Big brother, why is there a sword here?" Guō Xiāng, lost in the wondrous scenery, only noticed the suspended sword when the sound broke the silence.
"I'm not sure." Although I didn't know its origin, I had a vague suspicion that this might be the place where Ling Long was sealed. The island was rarely visited, so it was unlikely a martial artist placed the sword here. Moreover, the environment itself was inhospitable even to martial artists. Only the one who sealed Ling Long, or Ling Long herself, could have left it here.
With this in mind, I didn't rush to pull the sword. Instead, I surveyed the surroundings, scrutinizing every corner. However, to my slight disappointment, I found no unusual objects. There seemed to be only ice and that sword.
I stood there stunned for a while, then decided to go back and bring Ling Long over. She would know everything upon seeing it.
"Little sister, do you still want to look?"
"Of course! I haven't seen enough yet! Big brother, go over there, look how beautiful those ice crystals are!" Guō Xiāng's voice was filled with excitement.
In my heart, this was Ling Long's seal. Although excited, I wasn't overly anxious. So, I carried Guō Xiāng on my back and admired the surroundings.
The scenery here was monotonous. After the novelty wore off, Guō Xiāng quickly lost interest. I carried her back.
When we reached the cave entrance, Xiao Guai was still waiting.
Guō Xiāng jumped off my back, patted Xiao Guai's head, then took my hand and said with a smile, "Big brother, it's really beautiful inside. We should come back and explore again sometime!"
"Good idea!"
Guō Xiāng was clearly happy. She pulled me along, skipping and hopping out of the cave.
As soon as we exited, a wave of heat washed over us, making us feel scorching hot. Looking up, I saw the sun directly overhead, it was noon.
Guō Xiāng complained, "It's so hot outside!"
"Second Sister, where are you?" At that moment, Guō Fú's voice called from down the mountain.
Guō Xiāng's body stiffened, and she stuck out her tongue.
Guō Xiāng said reluctantly, "Big brother, I have to go back. You must find me to play with again in the future!"
"Don't worry! Little sister, I'll come find you often." I chuckled inwardly. Guō Xiāng was lively and active, but Guō Fú and Yelü Qi didn't accompany her, so she could only find me.
The sound of Guō Fú's voice grew closer, sounding very anxious. It seemed she had been calling for a long time.
Guō Xiāng leaped onto Xiao Guai's back and sped off, shouting, "Sister, I'm back."
Guō Fú immediately began to scold.
Damn it, this Guō Fú is really a nuisance! She will definitely become a considerable obstacle in the future.
I waited for a moment, then quickly returned to Stone Mountain.
Wang Yuyan and Zhong Ling had finished their cultivation. Several people were preparing lunch inside the cave, and Grandma Sun was also helping.
After lunch, I bid farewell to Wang Yuyan and the others and took Ling Long to Turtle Mountain again.
I didn't tell her about my discovery that morning. Firstly, I feared she would be disappointed if it wasn't the place; secondly, I wanted to give her a surprise.
It was just past lunchtime. Guō Fú and the others should be resting. I took Ling Long directly to the stone cave entrance from that morning.
"Why did you bring me here?" Ling Long looked at the stone cave with curiosity.
"You'll know soon. It's very cold inside the cave. I'll use True Energy to help you resist the cold in a moment. Let's go!"
Ling Long, not understanding, let me pull her into the cave.
Guō Xiāng had internal energy, but Ling Long couldn't use hers at the moment. After only a few steps, she felt the biting cold.
I held her hand tightly, channeling True Energy to her.
Soon, ice began to appear ahead, emitting a faint blue light.
Ling Long was both surprised and delighted: "This is..."
I watched the change in her expression. Her face quickly fell, and she shook her head, saying, "It's not right! How could this be?"
My heart sank slightly. Could this not be the place?
Ling Long looked up and asked, "What's inside here? Was this where you came this morning?"
I nodded. "I don't know what's inside either. Let's go take a look together!"
"Okay!"
As we moved forward, the cold intensified, and the blue light grew stronger.
Ling Long frowned slightly, as if contemplating something.
We moved faster than that morning. Soon, I was using eighty percent of my strength, and Ling Long was trembling uncontrollably.
I picked Ling Long up, letting her legs clamp around my waist and her hands wrap around my neck, holding each other face-to-face.
"Does this feel warmer?"
Now that we were face-to-face, our breaths almost mingling, Ling Long appeared somewhat uneasy. She frowned, asking, "Why are you holding me like this? Can't you carry me in a different way, or have me on your back?"
I chuckled and whispered in her ear, "This way is more comfortable."
Ling Long lowered her head, remaining silent.
A thought crossed my mind, and I gently kissed her earlobe.
Ling Long shuddered and buried her head in my neck, hiding her face from me.
I was surprised. Given her usual demeanor, why wasn't she scolding me? I lowered my head and whispered in her ear, "Do you like me holding you like this?"
There was no response.
I asked again, still no answer.
Not knowing what she was thinking, I was about to move forward when I felt two ice pellets land on my shoulder, falling onto my chest, chilling me to the bone.
My heart stirred. Just as I was about to help her up, she suddenly looked up and sharply rebuked, "Let go of me! I'd rather die than have you hold me!"
Two ice pellets, formed from tears, clung to her face, making her look pitiful and lovely.
I froze for a moment, filled with guilt. I asked, "What's wrong?"