Chapter 287: Alliance on the Ice Plains, Scheming for the Water Key

Along with that Metal Key, it also lost all aura and trace!

Boom—

Everyone's attacks missed, blasting a bottomless pit in the ground of that area, with broken stone and metallic sand shooting up into the sky.

In the valley, it instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Only the residual energy storm howled, along with the wounded's groans and ragged breaths.

Everyone's faces were extremely grim. After fighting for half a day, with many casualties, they were ultimately outmaneuvered by a Void Clan member who had been hiding in the shadows—having the peach snatched away! The frustration and anger can be imagined.

Cangxuan's face was expressionless, but the surrounding air temperature seemed to drop sharply. Yan Jin's flames flickered unpredictably. Mingxian's shadows roiled more violently. Leizhen, furious, punched a nearby stone pillar, emitting a dull thud. Li Dao-yi silently put away his chessboard. Yu Liuli's immortal light dimmed slightly, his expression unreadable. Zhan Wují bore his great axe, cursing under his breath.

The other heavenly prodigies from various factions also had grim faces, their eyes flickering, unknown what they were thinking.

Wang Ping took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. That scene just now also left him startled. The Void Clan's Yuying's concealment, timing, and that strange "Voidification" talent are truly impossible to guard against. This is the struggle among top heavenly prodigies—not only a contest of raw strength, but also of patience, endurance, and the ultimate grasp of timing.

The first Metal Key, in such an unexpected manner, fell into the hands of the Void Clan. It is foreseeable that the Void Clan's Yuying will become the target of everyone's ire.

He did not linger, taking advantage of everyone's disparate thoughts and that they had not yet fully recovered from the shock of the Metal Key being taken, he slipped away silently from this chaotic valley.

Although this trip did not secure the Metal Key, he personally witnessed this top-tier melee, observed the trump cards and methods of various heavenly prodigies, gaining a considerable harvest. At the very least, he now has a clearer understanding of the opponents he may face next.

Moreover, the loss of the Metal Key means the struggle for the remaining two keys will become even more intense. He needs to quickly adjust his condition and prepare for the next step.

The struggle for the Myriad Laws Pool's key has only just begun.

The clamor and bloodshed of the Ancient Sword Tomb gradually faded behind him; Wang Ping headed north all the way, toward another marked spot in the secret realm with strong water-phase fluctuations—the Extreme Cold Ice Plains.

On the token bestowed by the Azure Feather Great Adept, the starlike silver markings, after the light pointing toward the Ancient Sword Tomb dimmed, now faintly point northward, corroborating with Wang Ping's own sense of water-phase energy and the vague information transmitted by the void runes.

The second Law Key, the Water Key, is highly likely to be nurtured or about to emerge in the depths of the Extreme Cold Ice Plains.

Having learned from the Ancient Sword Tomb's precedent, Wang Ping knows that trying to seize a key alone amidst the watchful eyes of numerous top heavenly prodigies is extremely difficult. The Void Clan's Yuying's success was special and coincidental, not replicable. He needs allies and a meticulous plan.

Coincidentally, not long after leaving the vicinity of the Ancient Sword Tomb, he encountered two "old acquaintances."

On a wasteland swept by biting cold winds, Wang Ping was speeding along on his escape light when suddenly a violent energy fluctuation and familiar thunderclap rang out ahead, mixed with a wild roar: "Leizhen is here—who dares block the road without eyes?!"

Wang Ping's heart stirred, and he quietly approached.

He saw that at the entrance of an ice valley, Leizhen was surrounded by three black-robed cultivators with a chilling aura. The three wore identical uniforms, each bearing a twisted ghost-eye emblem on their chest—clearly disciples of the Netherworld Sect. The Netherworld Sect is also a major demonic path among humanity, its deeds deceitful, skilled at commanding ghosts and souls, and casting deathly curses, somewhat similar to the Yin Underworld Clan but even more vicious.

At that moment, the three Netherworld Sect disciples were activating a Yin Soul Banner, releasing a sky-full of phantom shades and lurid green ghostfire, trapping Leizhen in the middle. The wails of ghosts and wolf howls pierced the heart, while deathly qi eroded Leizhen's protective lightning aura. Although Leizhen was brave, his lightning technique—ultra-yang and inherently suppressive of yin evil—was countered as the three formed a formation, cooperated seamlessly, and that Yin Soul Banner, evidently a high-quality magical treasure, momentarily entangled him; though his lightning continually shattered the phantom shades, he could not break the encirclement.

"Hehe, the Heaven Punishment Clan's lightning genius? Being alone is perfect—capture you, drain your thunder origin, the sect leader will surely reward handsomely!" the lead disciple, his face gaunt, said with a sinister grin.

Leizhen exploded in rage: "Cut the crap! If you've got the guts, take my thunder spear head-on!" His hand-held blazing-white thunder spear blazed brightly, ready to unleash a stronger lightning technique without regard for consumption.

Just then, a faint golden arc of lightning, unremarkable yet incredibly precise, shot forth silently from behind an ice rock to the side-rear like a serpent's tongue, not aiming at the three Netherworld disciples but striking precisely at the mana-connection node between the Yin Soul Banner and the lead disciple!

Pfft!

In the faint explosive sound, the deathly qi at that node stalled slightly; the torrent of phantom shades released by the Yin Soul Banner momentarily showed a slight, extremely brief discord.

For a battle-hardened heavenly prodigy like Leizhen, that slight discord was already enough!

"Break!"

Leizhen's eyes flashed with sharp light; seizing the fleeting opportunity, his thunder spear left his hand, transforming into a blazing-white bolt that tore through the gloom, striking the lead disciple whose mana connection had lagged, at twice his previous speed!

"What?!" the disciple exclaimed, hastily raising a bone shield to block.

Boom—crack!

The bone shield lasted only half a breath before shattering violently under the ferocious thunder spear; the spear's momentum undiminished, it ruthlessly pierced his chest! Blazing-white lightning erupted instantly, annihilating his five viscera, six bowels, and even his soul!

"Senior brother!" the other two Netherworld disciples cried, their faces paling as the formation instantly collapsed.

Leizhen pressed his advantage, his fists erupting with lightning as he lunged forward, his blows like dragons; he sent the two other disciples, their minds in chaos and bereft of formation support, flying backward vomiting blood, instantly losing combat ability.

The battle ended in a few breaths. Leizhen took a rough breath, dispersed the lightning on his fists, and sharply gazed toward the ice rock where Wang Ping hid: "Which friend lent a hand? Leizhen thanks you!"

Wang Ping no longer concealed himself, stepping slowly from behind the ice rock and clasping his hands: "Brother Leizhen, long time no see."

"Is it you?" Leizhen stared at Wang Ping, first stunned, then burst into a wide grin, stepping forward and clapping Wang Ping's shoulder hard (the force causing Wang Ping's internal spiritual power to automatically circulate and dissipate), "Haha! Wang Ping brother! So it's you! I said that lightning arc felt somewhat familiar and yet so crafty—well done!"

He is straightforward and bold; although they had only briefly interacted at the Hundred Races Pavilion earlier, he had a good impression of Wang Ping, and now, having received the favor, his attitude became even more enthusiastic.

"It was just a small effort; Brother Leizhen, no need for thanks. Why did those three surround you?" Wang Ping asked.

"Hmph, those three Netherworld Sect lackeys tried to take advantage of me being alone, not even weighing their own strength." Leizhen spat contemptuously, then turned serious: "Brother Wang Ping, where are you headed? Also after the Water Key in the Extreme Cold Ice Plains?"

Wang Ping nodded: "Exactly. Brother Leizhen, are you also going for that?"

"Exactly!" Leizhen's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, "The Ancient Sword Tomb let that sneaky Void Clan brat snag a benefit—how annoying! This Water Key, I'll fight for it no matter what! Brother Wang Ping, I see your strength is not bad, your lightning technique also has unique points—why not team up? It'd be good to have backup; those top-notch fellows are none easy, going solo is too costly."

Wang Ping's heart stirred slightly. Leizhen is strong, his character straightforward but not foolish, and he distinguishes gratitude from grudges—making him a fine temporary ally. After a brief pause, he nodded in agreement: "Brother Leizhen speaks truly. I too share this intent. Joining forces with you raises our chance to seize the Water Key by a notch."

"Haha! Refreshing!" Leizhen rejoiced, "Then let's set off now! We can plan along the way!"

The two teamed up and continued northward. Along the way, Wang Ping briefly recounted what he saw and heard at the Ancient Sword Tomb, omitting details like the Essence of Yang Earth and the Fragment of the Earth-Shaking Wave, focusing instead on the melee situation and the process by which the Void Clan's Yuying seized the key. Listening, Leizhen gritted his teeth and cursed the Void Clan's slyness.

"However, after this incident, others will surely be more vigilant on the Extreme Cold Ice Plains; similar covert ambush tactics like those of the Void Clan will likely be hard to repeat." Wang Ping analyzed, "The struggle for the Water Key will probably evolve into more direct frontal clashes—or… require coping with the ice plains' own environment and guardian forces."

"Makes sense!" Leizhen stroked his chin, "I've also heard that deep in the Extreme Cold Ice Plains there seem to be tribes of Ice Soul Spirits dwelling. If the Water Key lies in the plains' core, it's likely tied to those spirits—perhaps they are its guardians. These spirits innately command extreme cold; their power doubles in the ice plains environment, making them tough opponents."

The two traveled while exchanging information and drafting a preliminary plan. Wang Ping also learned some of Leizhen's lightning traits and combat habits, while Leizhen gained an intuitive grasp of Wang Ping's gravity technique and Five Arts methods; the foundation of mutual trust and cooperation was quietly forming.

Several days later, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted. The cold wind cut like a blade, rolling ice crystals and snowflakes into a vast white world. In the distance, towering glaciers lay like prostrate dragons, reflecting the frigid sky-light. This is the outer fringe of the Extreme Cold Ice Plains.

The two did not rush deep inside, but instead temporarily camped in a wind-sheltered ice cave on the outskirts, partly to adapt to the environment and adjust their condition, partly to await any other possible "allies" or observe developments.

Indeed, there were not a few cultivators active in the outskirts of the ice plains, most also moving in groups of three or five, mutually wary.