Chapter 346: One Step Ahead

Xie Yan's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he gave a light response.

"Alright."

At that moment, Yuan Yao slipped her head out to glance at the six people behind her.

Now, she also recognized those people.

They turned out to be Bian Chen, who had previously come to her aid in Snow City, and a few others including Nie Bai.

They shouldn't have a map on them, so how did they locate this place? Could it be just good luck?

Soon, she discovered a clue.

Yuan Yao saw them occasionally bow their heads, point at the ground, and exchange a few words.

She was startled.

Yuan Yao instantly turned to say something to Xie Yan, but she didn't expect to crash straight into his arms; just as she was about to topple forward, a large hand suddenly clasped her waist.

The two were pressed tightly together.

Close enough that Yuan Yao could see his distinct, individual eyelashes.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Yuan Yao lowered her gaze, steadied herself, then struggled slightly, causing him to release her waist.

Xie Yan asked, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Yao looked up at him, "They came following our footprints!"

Hearing this, Xie Yan's eyes darkened slightly.

He immediately gathered a burst of spiritual energy, turning it into a gale that erased the noisy footprints on the surrounding snow.

Soon, Nie Bai, Bian Chen and others arrived here; they also saw the dense herd of snow beasts ahead, their expressions changed abruptly, and they exchanged a glance.

They did not act rashly; instead, they concealed themselves behind the snow mountain to discuss a plan.

One of the Nie family disciples said, "Why are there so many snow beasts here?"

Another Nie disciple guessed, "Could this be the snow beasts' den?"

Nie Bai squinted slightly, "Impossible."

Bian Chen suddenly said, "The footprints on the ground have vanished."

"Brother Bian, what's your take?" Nie Bai looked at Bian Chen with a half‑smile.

Bian Chen analyzed, "The owner of those footprints should be nearby, perhaps watching us from the shadows. I guess they have lingered here for a long time, and the reason they didn't move forward is that a large pack of snow beasts appeared ahead."

Upon hearing this, the four Nie disciples all showed complicated expressions.

They immediately scanned the surroundings warily.

Nie Bai smiled, "Brother Bian is truly clever."

Having said that, his gaze swept every corner here with a sharp intensity.

At the same time, the two people not far from them naturally also heard their conversation.

Xie Yan stood behind Yuan Yao, leaned slightly forward, and whispered into her ear, "They're testing us; no need to worry."

Yuan Yao's whole body stiffened slightly.

His scorching aura made her entire ear feel numb.

Xie Yan did not notice her abnormality.

He knows Bian Chen's temperament well; although he observes details carefully and cautiously, he still appears somewhat conservative in action.

As for the other five…

Xie Yan suddenly whispered, "I'll go out first to draw them away."

Before Yuan Yao could answer, Xie Yan was about to dart out.

And just then—

From the front left, fierce battle sounds erupted.

"Wait." Yuan Yao, startled, reached out and grabbed Xie Yan.

The pull slid along his sleeve and landed in his icy palm.

Xie Yan instinctively grasped her hand.

Yuan Yao clearly felt the thin sheath in his palm, his long, clearly jointed fingers gripping her hand tightly.

She lifted her eyelashes slightly, her gaze a little bewildered.

"Let's go out together and see," Xie Yan raised an eyebrow, "but we must keep our distance."

His gaze gradually dropped, landing on the intertwined hands of the two.

Yuan Yao tried to pull her hand back.

But he held it tightly.

"Let go," Yuan Yao glared at him.

Hearing this, Xie Yan released her hand.

His palm still retained her lingering warmth.

Yuan Yao stepped in front of him, planted a foot on his instep, let out a cold snort, and then swiftly headed toward the source of the sound.

Xie Yan lowered his eyes to the footprint on his instep, his lips curling slightly.

He quickly followed.

Meanwhile, Bian Chen, Nie Bai and the others heard the clash, exchanged a glance, and then slipped away.

Yuan Yao fixed her gaze and saw a squad dressed in floral‑themed attire, forcibly carving a path through the snow beast herd.

It was the Flower Sect team led by Hua Chengyan.

Yuan Yao quickly scanned each member of the team and realized that Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, and Fourth Senior Brother were absent.

She furrowed her brows.

Immediately after, she sent a mental message to Xie Yan: "I'll go ahead."

After leaving that sentence, Yuan Yao hurried swiftly toward the direction of Hua Chengyan and the others.

Yuan Yao's footwork was extremely fast, and in a moment she had already arrived at the spot where the Hua Sect's troops were locked in fierce battle with the snow beasts.

Hua Chengyan, the Great Elder of the Hua Sect, and Jiu Shu instantly noticed her presence, and their expressions changed slightly.

"Young Master Hua!"

Yuan Yao drew her sword and, after flipping over several snow beasts that surged forward, her sharp gaze swept toward Hua Chengyan, "Where are my Eldest Senior Brother and the others?"

"Yuan Daoist, calm your anger," Hua Chengyan said with a hint of apology, "Your Eldest Senior Brother and the others are unharmed; they simply separated from us."

Yuan Yao heard this and coldly said, "You'd better be telling the truth."

Jiu Shu grew angry, "Yuan Yao, what kind of attitude is this?!"

Hua Chengyan slightly frowned, "Jiu Shu!"

Jiu Shu was suddenly angry but dared not speak.

In his heart he was dissatisfied with Qianshan Liuzi in every way.

Yuan Yao immediately tossed them a piece of news, "There's another team inside; they're trying to find a way to breach the treasure‑holding place!"

Hearing this, the expressions of Hua Chengyan and the others darkened a few degrees.

"Thank you, Yuan Daoist, for the information."

After speaking, Hua Chengyan glanced at the Great Elder of the Hua Sect.

The Great Elder understood instantly, clapped both hands simultaneously, and a massive, unparalleled spiritual force surged out like a torrent, weaving in the air into a dazzling, radiant light.

In the blink of an eye, a giant seal totem towering dozens of zhang suddenly took shape!

The seal totem was engraved with intricate, bizarre floral patterns.

Boom—

Countless snow beasts were blasted away by the force, tumbling backward like kites whose strings had been cut.

At the same time, the towering snow mountains surrounding them could not withstand the violent impact, beginning to crack and collapse, with rolling avalanches pouring down like a breached dam, the scene terrifyingly overwhelming.

"Yuan Daoist, together?" Hua Chengyan turned his head toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao nodded, "Alright."

They proceeded together toward the front.

At that very moment, Nie Bai and his party also hurried to the spot; seeing the scene, their faces lit up with joy, confirming their guess.

They did not hesitate, quickening their steps, tightly following behind the Hua Sect members.

This scene was captured in the eyes of the Ghost‑faced Youth perched atop a massive stone.

His gaze followed Yuan Yao's figure until it was blocked by the snow beasts.

At that moment, he seemed to sense something, turned his head, and in the distance faintly saw two silhouettes.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

That was—

Her two senior brothers.