Young White Horse: I, Ye Dingzhi, offer sacrifice to the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Page 126

"Who exactly are you people? Why are you under this palace?" Ye Dingzhi asked.

The merfolk leader said, "We are the guardians of this palace, protecting its secrets for generations."

"What secrets are hidden here?" Ye Dingzhi asked.

The merman leader hesitated for a moment, then said, "There is a hidden entrance to a mysterious world here, but this entrance cannot be opened casually, or it will bring disaster."

Ye Dingzhi's heart skipped a beat: "An entrance to a mysterious world? What's so special about this mysterious world?"

Chapter 146 A New Goal [Please Subscribe]

The merman leader said, "That world is full of powerful forces and precious treasures, but it also has many dangerous creatures and traps."

Ye Dingzhi pondered for a moment and said, "Do you have any way to open this entrance?"

The merman leader shook his head: "We are merely guardians, without the ability to open the entrance. However, we know that to open the entrance, we need to find three mysterious keys, which are hidden in different places."

"Three mysterious keys?" Ye Dingzhi frowned.

“Yes, and each key is guarded by a powerful guardian,” the merman leader said.

Ye Dingzhi, after looking at the experts on the nine sides of the novel group, said, "It seems we have a new target. Do you know where these three keys might be?"

The merman leader said, "We only know that one of the keys might be on the northern ice plains, where there is a castle covered in ice and snow, and the key might be inside the castle. As for the other two keys, we don't know their exact locations."

Ye Dingzhi said, "Alright, then we'll go to the northern ice plains to find the key. But you must promise not to attack our backs after we leave."

The merfolk leader said, "As long as you don't reveal the secrets here, we won't harm you."

Ye Dingzhi nodded, then led everyone out of the underground cave and out of the palace.

After leaving the mysterious island, they set off towards the northern ice plains. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the edge of the ice plains.

A biting wind howled across the icy plains, and snowflakes danced in the air. Ye Dingzhi and the others wrapped themselves tightly in their clothes and circulated their inner energy to ward off the cold.

"This icy plain is indeed cold; everyone must proceed with caution," Ye Dingzhi said.

They ventured deeper into the ice field, encountering many ice creatures along the way. There were enormous snow bears, roaming the ice field, letting out deep growls upon spotting Ye Dingzhi and his companions. There were also ice wolves, running in packs across the ice field, their eyes gleaming with ferocity.

Ye Dingzhi and the others carefully avoided the creatures and headed towards the castle covered in ice and snow.

Finally, they saw the castle looming in the distance. Enveloped in thick snow and ice, it looked eerie and mysterious.

As they approached the castle, several ice arrows suddenly shot out from within. Ye Dingzhi dodged the arrows with a swift movement, then shouted, "It seems they're prepared here. Everyone, be careful!"

Everyone drew their weapons and watched the castle warily.

Just then, the castle gates slowly opened, and a person completely shrouded in white ice armor stepped out.

"Who are you? Why have you come to my castle?" the armored man asked in a cold voice.

Ye Dingzhi said, "We've come looking for something; we've heard that what we need is here."

The armored man said, "There's nothing here. Leave now, or don't blame me for being impolite."

Ye Dingzhi frowned: "We have to go in and take a look. If you don't move aside, then we'll have no choice but to take action."

The armored man sneered, "Then come on."

With a wave of his hands, the surrounding ice and snow instantly gathered, forming several enormous ice beasts. The ice beasts pounced towards Ye Dingzhi and the others, spewing icy breaths from their mouths.

Ye Dingzhi brandished his demonic sword and charged towards an ice beast. His sword clashed with the beast's claws, sending ice shards flying. Ye Dingzhi felt a chill on his arm and quickly circulated his inner energy to dispel the cold.

Other experts also engaged the ice beast in battle. One expert thrust his longsword at the beast, but its body was incredibly hard, and the sword could only penetrate a small part before stopping. The ice beast swung its claws, sending the expert flying. The expert adjusted his stance in mid-air, landing steadily on the ground, and then charged forward again.

The battle between Ye Dingzhi and the ice-armored man began. An ice sword appeared in the ice-armored man's hand, and he thrust it towards Ye Dingzhi. Ye Dingzhi dodged to the side, and his demonic sword slashed towards the ice-armored man's arm. The ice-armored man bent his arm, and the ice sword blocked the demonic sword's attack.

The two exchanged blows, locked in a fierce and evenly matched fight. Ye Dingzhi discovered that the ice-armored man's attacks carried a chilling power, which would affect his internal energy circulation. He needed to find the ice-armored man's weakness as soon as possible to end the battle.

After some observation, Ye Dingzhi discovered that the ice-armored warriors would pause briefly after launching an attack to gather their ice and snow power. He decided to exploit this weakness.

Ye Dingzhi deliberately created an opening, allowing the ice-armored man's ice sword to pierce him. Thinking he had succeeded, the ice-armored man thrust forward with all his might. Ye Dingzhi dodged, and the ice-armored man's ice sword missed its mark. In the instant the ice-armored man paused, Ye Dingzhi's demonic sword pierced towards the ice-armored man's chest.

The armored man hurriedly used his ice sword to defend himself, but Ye Dingzhi was too fast, and the demonic sword still pierced the armored man's shoulder. The armored man cried out in pain and staggered back a few steps.

Ye Dingzhi pressed his advantage, unleashing a series of attacks with his demonic sword. The ice-armored man began to struggle to defend himself. With a wave of his hands, the surrounding ice and snow gathered again, forming an ice wall that blocked Ye Dingzhi's attacks.

Chapter 147 A Sudden Change of Mind [Please Subscribe]

"Trying to stop me? Not so easy." Ye Dingzhi circulated his true energy, and the demonic sword emitted a dazzling light. He shouted, "Break!" and then thrust it towards the ice wall.

The demonic sword easily pierced through the ice wall and continued its thrust towards the ice-armored man. The ice-armored man's eyes widened in terror; it was too late for him to dodge.

Just as the demonic sword was about to pierce the ice-armored man, the man suddenly shouted, "Stop! I can let you in."

Ye Dingzhi stopped wielding the demonic sword and asked, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

The armored man said, "You are very strong, and I don't want to make unnecessary sacrifices. Besides, I know what you are looking for, and I can take you there."

Ye Dingzhi sheathed the demonic sword and said, "Then lead the way."

The ice-armored man led Ye Dingzhi and the others into the castle. Inside, the castle was also a world of ice and snow, with various ice sculptures hanging on the walls. These lifelike ice sculptures seemed to be telling ancient stories.

They walked around the castle for a while and came to a large hall. In the very center of the hall was a stone platform, on which sat a key that emitted a blue light.

"This is the key you've been looking for," the armored man said.

Ye Dingzhi stepped forward and picked up the key. The moment he picked up the key, the surrounding ice and snow began to shake violently.

"What happened?" Ye Dingzhi asked.

The armored man's expression changed: "This is bad. Taking the key has triggered the castle's defense mechanism. We must leave here immediately."

Everyone hurriedly ran towards the outside of the castle. Just as they ran out of the castle, it collapsed with a crash, scattering snow everywhere.

Ye Dingzhi looked at the key in his hand and said, "This is only the first key; I don't know where the other two are."

"Your Majesty, we can go and look for other clues," said one of the experts.

Ye Dingzhi nodded: "Let's leave this icy plain first, and then make further plans."

They left the ice field and began searching for clues about the other two keys. They visited many places and asked many people, but they didn't get any useful leads.

One day, they arrived at an ancient town. The people in the town looked mysterious; they wore ancient clothing, and their eyes shone with a peculiar light.

Ye Dingzhi and his companions inquired around the town and finally obtained some clues from an old woman.

The old woman said, “I have heard that there is a mysterious forest in the far south, and in the forest there is an ancient temple, which may hold what you are looking for.”

After thanking the old woman, Ye Dingzhi led everyone south.

After a long journey, they arrived at that mysterious forest. The forest was filled with towering trees and dense foliage, where sunlight could only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

They entered the forest and found it filled with all sorts of mysterious atmospheres. The forest was home to many strange creatures, including talking squirrels and winged snakes.

They walked along the path in the forest when they suddenly heard a melodious flute sound.

"This flute music sounds very strange, everyone be careful," Ye Dingzhi said.

They walked towards the sound of the flute and found a boy dressed in green playing it. The boy stopped playing when he saw Ye Dingzhi and the others.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" the boy asked.

Ye Dingzhi said, "We're here looking for something. We've heard there's an ancient temple here. Do you know where it is?"

·· ···Requesting flowers· ········

The boy smiled and said, "I know, but it's dangerous there. Why do you want to go there?"

Ye Dingzhi said, "We have important things to do, and we must go there."

The boy said, "Then I can take you there, but you have to agree to one condition."

"What are the conditions?" Ye Dingzhi asked.

The boy said, "You must help me find a herb called Spirit Flower. This herb is very important to me."

Ye Dingzhi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, we agree."

........ ......... 0

The boy led Ye Dingzhi and the others toward the temple. Along the way, the boy told them about the various dangers and secrets of the forest.

"There's also a flower that releases a hallucinogenic fragrance. If you inhale too much of it, you'll experience hallucinations and see all sorts of terrifying scenes," the boy explained earnestly as they walked.

Ye Dingzhi and the others followed cautiously behind the boy, constantly alert to any movement around them. Suddenly, a slight rustling sound came from the bushes beside them. The group immediately stopped and gripped their weapons.

"Who goes there? Come out!" Ye Dingzhi shouted.

A group of people dressed in strange clothes slowly emerged from the bushes. Their skin was bronze, and their eyes gleamed with a wild light.

“You outsiders, trespassing into our forest and thinking you can find a temple? That’s just wishful thinking!” one of the men, who seemed to be the leader, said angrily.

Ye Dingzhi frowned: "We mean no harm, but we have important business to attend to at the temple."

"Hmph! No matter what your reasons are, you cannot pass through here." The leader brandished his spear, assuming an attack stance.

Chapter 148 Ignoring the Pain [Please Subscribe]

Ye Dingzhi sighed helplessly, "It seems we have no choice but to fight." He slowly drew his demonic sword, its blade shimmering with a faint light.

The strangely dressed figures let out a shout and charged towards Ye Dingzhi and his companions. Ye Dingzhi's eyes sharpened, and he was the first to meet them. He moved like lightning, his demonic sword flashing in his hand with impenetrable speed.

He sidestepped an attack from someone charging at him, then swiftly thrust his demonic sword forward, striking the man's shoulder accurately. The man winced in pain, nearly dropping his weapon, but endured the agony and continued his assault.

The experts behind Ye Dingzhi also clashed with the "80s and 90s" group. One expert, skilled in boxing, unleashed punches like cannonballs, each strike accompanied by a whistling sound. He struck one of the attackers in the abdomen, sending him flying backward, crashing into several small trees before coming to a stop.

But these strangely dressed people seemed unfazed by the pain; they continued their frenzied attack. One of them leaped high into the air, wielding a large axe in both hands, and brought it down towards Ye Dingzhi's head. Ye Dingzhi shifted his stance, sliding several feet backward, while simultaneously swinging his demonic sword upward, unleashing a sword aura towards the man. Unable to dodge in mid-air, the man was struck by the sword aura and crashed heavily to the ground.

The battle intensified, and Ye Dingzhi discovered that although these people's attacks were chaotic, they were full of power and savagery. He moved freely through the crowd, his demonic sword relentlessly reaping the lives of his enemies.

At this moment, the boy joined the battle. The flute in his hand suddenly transformed into a green longsword, his swordsmanship agile and graceful. In a flash, he appeared behind one of the attackers, and with a gentle swing of his longsword, he slit the man's throat.

"You can't finish them off like this. They are the guardians of the forest. Only by defeating their leader can you make them stop attacking," the boy shouted to Ye Dingzhi as he fought.

Hearing the boy's words, Ye Dingzhi began searching for the leader. He discovered that the leader was engaged in fierce combat with two experts. Although the two experts were well-coordinated, the leader's strength was not to be underestimated. He wielded a spear, and each of his attacks forced the two experts to retreat repeatedly.

Seizing the opportunity, Ye Dingzhi flashed forward, charging towards the leader. He somersaulted in mid-air, his demonic sword aimed at the leader's back. The leader seemed to sense the danger behind him; he whirled around, his spear deflecting Ye Dingzhi's demonic sword.

With a clang, swords and spears clashed, sending sparks flying. Ye Dingzhi and the leader stared at each other, both seeing unwavering resolve in each other's eyes.

“You are strong, but this forest is our home, and I will not let you pass through easily,” the chief said through gritted teeth.

“I respect your determination to protect your home, but we must go to the temple; it is our mission,” Ye Dingzhi replied.

Having said that, the two simultaneously unleashed their power, attacking each other. The leader's spear, like a nimble snake, relentlessly pierced various parts of Ye Dingzhi's body. Ye Dingzhi, however, relied on his agile movements and the exquisite sword techniques of the demonic sword to deflect the attacks time and again.

Ye Dingzhi suddenly noticed that when the leader attacked, his left hand would unconsciously retract slightly, as if protecting something. A thought struck him, and he deliberately created an opening, letting the leader's spear pierce his chest. The leader, thinking he had an opportunity, thrust forward with all his might... Just as the spear was about to strike him, Ye Dingzhi turned his body to the left, simultaneously thrusting his demonic sword towards the leader's left hand.

The leader was terrified, but it was too late to retract his left hand. Ye Dingzhi's demonic sword had successfully pierced his left hand, and a small object he was holding fell to the ground. Ignoring the pain, the leader hurriedly went to pick up the small object.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ye Dingzhi kicked the leader, knocking him to the ground. With the demonic sword pressed against the leader's throat, he said, "Now, do you still want to stop us?"

The leader lay on the ground, looking at Ye Dingzhi with resentment in his eyes: "You can pass, but I hope you will not destroy the forest and the temple."

Ye Dingzhi sheathed the demonic sword: "We won't. We're just looking for what we need."

Upon seeing their leader defeated, the strangely dressed people ceased their attack and silently retreated into the depths of the forest.

Ye Dingzhi and the others continued to follow the boy. After walking for a while, the boy suddenly stopped.

"The spirit flower is in that patch of grass ahead, but there's a guardian beast watching over it," the boy said, pointing ahead.

The group looked in the direction the boy pointed and saw a huge white tiger lying in the grass, its eyes fixed on them, emitting a low roar.

"This white tiger looks tough to deal with," one of the experts remarked.

Ye Dingzhi stepped forward: "No matter what, we must obtain the Spirit Flower."

The white tiger seemed to sense Ye Dingzhi's hostility. It slowly stood up, its body larger than an elephant. It opened its blood-red maw and pounced towards Ye Dingzhi.

Chapter 149 A Direct Fight Is Not an Option [Please Subscribe]

Ye Dingzhi dodged the white tiger's attack with a swift movement. The white tiger's claws left several deep marks on the ground. Ye Dingzhi knew that this white tiger was incredibly strong and he couldn't fight it head-on. He began circling the white tiger, trying to find an opening.

The white tiger pounced again, and this time Ye Dingzhi didn't completely dodge. The tiger's claws grazed his arm, leaving a cut. Ye Dingzhi frowned, feeling a burning pain in his arm.

"Your Majesty, let's attack it together!" a skilled warrior shouted.

Ye Dingzhi shook his head: "That might provoke it and make it even more frenzied. I'll try to find its weakness again."

While dodging the white tiger's attacks, he carefully observed its movements. He noticed that after each pounce, the white tiger would pause briefly upon landing, and its belly would be slightly exposed during the attack.

Ye Dingzhi decided to take the risk. He deliberately stood directly in front of the white tiger, provoking it to pounce again. The white tiger roared and pounced at Ye Dingzhi. Just as the white tiger was halfway through its attack, Ye Dingzhi suddenly charged to its side. The white tiger missed its target and paused upon landing. Ye Dingzhi seized this opportunity and thrust his demonic sword towards the white tiger's abdomen.

The white tiger sensed the danger in its abdomen and tried to dodge, but it was too late. The demonic sword pierced the white tiger's belly, and the white tiger let out a painful roar. It twisted its body frantically, trying to shake Ye Dingzhi off.

Ye Dingzhi gripped the demonic sword tightly and twisted it forcefully, widening the wound on the white tiger's abdomen. The white tiger's strength gradually weakened, and it finally collapsed to the ground, lifeless.