Chapter 181 : Bold Claims
The little white tiger was still waiting for the system's scan results when she unexpectedly heard the system announcing a new task. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it—after all, everyone was currently discussing killing demonic cultivators, and she would certainly take action when joining them. She would be killing them anyway, but now with the system's new task, she could earn some points as well. Perfect!
However, the little white tiger's joy at getting free points didn't last even two seconds. When she saw the task description that followed, she suddenly froze—
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have triggered a new task: Kill Demonic Cultivators... The Canglán Secret Realm is exceptionally vast, with a large number of demonic cultivators having infiltrated at an unknown time. You and your companions have discovered traces of demonic cultivators and, sensing the potential crisis, have decided to take the initiative.
Please kill demonic cultivators with your companions. Current progress: (0/32)."
The little white tiger's eyelids trembled when she saw the final number, and she asked the system: "System, are there really that many demonic cultivators on the ice plain?!" Their side had only seven people, plus her, just one tiger—the numerical disparity seemed rather large.
The system confidently answered: "Of course, the data compiled by the system is never wrong."
After hearing this, the little white tiger's heart sank. Not counting those already killed earlier, there were now 32 demonic cultivators just on the ice plain, with who knows how many more elsewhere. Earlier, Senior Sister and the others had worried something had happened outside the secret realm. Now it seemed their concerns were more than justified—she suspected the elders of the three sects at Mingzong Mountain had been completely captured; otherwise, how could so many demonic cultivators have entered?
Despite these thoughts, the little white tiger didn't delve deeper into matters outside the secret realm. She reluctantly accepted the reality of a large number of enemies with a furrowed brow. Then she continued to question the system: "Fine, now that the task has been issued, system, you should tell me where they are."
This time the system didn't delay and prompted the host: "Host, first click on the system task."
The little white tiger glanced at those around her, found no one paying attention to her, and then casually raised her paw to tap the semi-transparent panel before her eyes. The text changed, with additional information after the progress indicator—a careful look revealed these were demonic cultivator identification numbers, each followed by numerical coordinates, such as (5713, 2687).
The format looked somewhat familiar. The little white tiger suppressed a bad feeling and asked the system: "System, what is this?"
The system excitedly shattered her last hope: "Host, these are coordinates!" It transformed into a ball of light and flew a couple of circles in front of the panel: "Look, host, how considerate the system is—each target has real-time coordinate updates."
Indeed, in the time it took the system to speak, the coordinates the little white tiger had previously checked had changed to (5712, 2688). Through such changes, one could easily deduce the direction of travel... of course, by "easily," it meant easy for normal people, not for those directionally challenged.
The directionally challenged tiger remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "That's great, but can you just give me directions?"
The system responded with a profound expression: "Host, you need to learn to grow up..." and not depend on the system for everything.
Unfortunately, before the system could finish the second half of its sentence, it was swatted away by the embarrassed and angry little white tiger: "Grow up yourself! You just give coordinates without even a mini-map—how is anyone supposed to find anything? Do I need to catch a demonic cultivator first to locate them?!"
The system, always ready to play along with its host's performance, was once again swatted away. After a good while, it wobbled back and, under the tiger's watchful glare, compromised: "Alright, alright, you're impossible to deal with."
Only then did the little white tiger snort lightly, rubbing her paws, satisfied.
While the little white tiger was communicating with the system, Su Hao and the others had reached a conclusion in their discussion. For safety, they decided to split into two groups. After the discussion, they noticed that Jianbing had remained silent throughout. To show respect, Su Hao asked casually: "Our planned strategy is still rudimentary. Does Jianbing have any suggestions?"
No one expected the barely one-year-old Jianbing to actually have a plan. They hadn't even decided whether to reveal Jianbing's identity when facing the demonic cultivators. However, the little white tiger wasn't polite about it. She scanned everyone with her eyes and said: "I think you don't need to split up."
Hearing this, Su Hao smiled bitterly and explained: "We don't know the demonic cultivators' whereabouts. If we don't split up, it'll be difficult to find them."
As he finished speaking, Jianbing raised her chin pompously and made a bold claim: "You don't know, but I do."
This statement first caused doubt, then mutual glances among the group as they saw her confident expression—so if Jianbing knew the demonic cultivators' whereabouts, what had they been discussing this whole time? Had they been talking in vain?!
Su Hao tiredly rubbed his face and forced a fake smile: "If that's the case, then we'll follow Jianbing's lead."
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White snow stretched endlessly, the north wind howled, and the ice plain's extreme cold made it difficult to move a single step.
A blizzard had hit this ice plain just two days ago. Even the local spirit beasts found it too cold to venture out, yet in such extreme weather, a group of people still trudged through the ice plain, braving the wind and snow.
This group numbered seven or eight, walking scattered and loose, each wrapped in cloaks that obscured their appearances. Occasionally, the north wind would lift their hems, revealing the diverse clothing beneath their cloaks and the various magical instruments fastened at their waists.
They had been walking against the wind and snow for two hours. Finally, someone in the previously silent group couldn't help but grumble: "How much longer do we have to walk? This cursed place, this cursed weather—it's worse than when I was just a mortal." After grumbling, he cursed: "Aren't those righteous path brats cold? With so many good places to go, they had to come here..."
A companion nearby, hearing his increasingly heated complaints, reminded him: "Third Brother, stop talking and save your energy."
Third Brother didn't appreciate the advice and grew even angrier: "Save what energy? Keep searching any longer, and I'll freeze to death!" He looked at the person who had just spoken: "I'm not like you, all bundled up like a ball, comfortable in this cold."
Just then, a gust of northern wind howled past, lifting the cloaks of both men and revealing what lay beneath. It turned out that the complaining Third Brother had bare abs under his cloak, evidently accustomed to exposing his chest and not wearing or preparing proper clothing. His companion, however, wore a thick fur garment under his cloak, looking very warm.
This gust of north wind made everything feel even colder. Third Brother grew increasingly irritated by his companion. Being an unrestrained demonic cultivator, if not for someone in charge watching over them at the moment, he might have attacked his companion right then to steal that fur garment!
His companion clearly sensed the hostility in his attitude and looked up at Third Brother—the hood of his cloak shifted slightly upward, revealing half a face as pale as a ghost. His eyes remained hidden within the hood, but there was a vague, chilling, intimidating feeling. Being looked at like this, Third Brother immediately felt goosebumps rise on his back.
Third Brother shuddered, feeling even colder, but his inner rage grew more intense: "What are you looking at? Want to provoke me?"
His companion had only said one sentence, yet somehow a dispute had arisen between them. The others in their group weren't surprised by this. Finally, the Team Leader, annoyed by the noise, reprimanded them: "Both of you quiet down! Keep making trouble, and I'll hand you over to the Young Master to deal with!"
Third Brother had a fiery temper and respected no one, including the Team Leader. Normally, when angry, he would definitely talk back rather than obediently comply. However, upon hearing the leader's threat, he immediately quieted down. He wrapped his cloak tighter and asked the leader: "Boss, how long do we have to keep searching? This ice plain is so vast—who knows where those little brats are hiding."
Yes, these many demonic cultivators appearing on the ice plain weren't just after You Yi and Ruan Le. These demonic cultivators had somehow learned about Yun Qingyue's group, knowing that five people from Xuanqing Sect and two from Buddha Sect had entered the ice plain together.
Now these people wandered the ice plain, hunting You Yi and Ruan Le on one hand, and lying in wait for the Xuanqing Sect and Buddha Sect people on the other.
The Team Leader was also very impatient. The ice plain had too many restrictions and was freezing cold. Walking on it for too long gave one the illusion of returning to mortal status. His legs had gone numb from the cold. Hearing the question, he suppressed his irritation and replied: "How would I know?!"
Third Brother grew angry at his attitude but, constrained by the earlier threat, swallowed his temper. Still, he couldn't help saying: "I really wish we'd encounter them now, take care of those brats, and get back..."
A thunderous "BOOM" suddenly erupted, almost immediately after Third Brother's words. The quiet ice plain suddenly exploded.
The explosive talismans buried beneath the ice layer were triggered. The solid ice layer shattered into fine ice crystals, scattered in the air creating a white haze that hindered visibility. Simultaneously, before the demonic cultivators could react and take defensive positions, several streaks of treasure light pierced through the ice crystals, attacking with lethal intent. Some quick-reacting, high-level cultivators managed to defend themselves somewhat, while others with slower reactions and lower cultivation levels couldn't block at all.
In an instant, the white ice crystals were stained with brilliant colors, as spurts of crimson burst open in the air. All this happened in a flash, and only now did someone react, shouting hoarsely: "Enemy attack! It's an ambush!"
But this cry came far too late. The sounds of combat had already erupted all around.
The initial surprise attack had eliminated nearly half the demonic cultivator team, so the battle ended very quickly. By the time the shattered ice crystals were blown away by the north wind and visibility cleared, the originally seven or eight demonic cultivators had all fallen.
Su Hao's gaze swept over the "corpses" on the ground, then he suddenly stepped forward with his sword, delivering a finishing blow to someone's dantian. The demonic cultivator who had been feigning death had no time to react before his Nascent Soul was completely annihilated.
Seeing this, Tanming and Tan Xin joined their palms and recited a Buddhist invocation, their faces full of compassion for all living beings.
The little white tiger stepped on the ice layer with her paws a couple of times, then leaped back into Senior Sister's embrace, looking at the two monks with an expression that was hard to describe—they might show compassion now, but when they had been fighting, these two monks' movements had been swift and decisive. Especially Tanming, whose monk's staff had proven exceptionally efficient at cracking skulls. Truly, appearances could be deceiving.