Chapter 521: Go, or Die!

Hum~

Thud-thud!

At the fissure's mouth, the conflict between yin and yang energies intensified, with freezing currents and scorching waves colliding and erupting; the ground shook violently, and shattered stones tumbled down in a steady rattle.

The four Jiuyou Sect disciples strained to activate the "Four Symbols Soul Array," the gray-black net of light trembling precariously, their faces pale, clearly struggling to maintain it.

The battle between the Yin Official and the Poison Bug Witch had also reached a fever pitch.

The Yin Official's palms danced like shadows, his yin qi sharp as knives, each strike carrying a chill that could freeze the soul.

The Poison Bug Witch moved with uncanny agility, slipping like an eel coated in grease; her green blade appeared and vanished at will, and she constantly launched forth tiny poisonous insects and powders, blending with the toxic mists drifting through the air due to the chaotic energies—utterly impossible to guard against.

Their cultivation levels were evenly matched, and for now neither could gain the upper hand, but the Poison Bug Witch's poison arts were deceptively cunning, giving her a slight edge; faint green mists had already clung to the Yin Official's body, slowing his movements slightly.

"Gah-gah! Jiuyou Sect's cold qi is nothing! Watch the old woman's 'Ten Thousand Poisons Devouring Heart Worm'!"

The Poison Bug Witch cackled, suddenly opened her mouth, and spat out a thick, unyielding cloud of deep green smoke; within it, countless tiny worm-like shadows writhed, emitting a grating, teeth-chilling hiss, engulfing the Yin Official from all sides.

The Yin Official's face turned ashen—he recognized the deadly nature of this worm—and was about to activate his escape technique to evade its edge—

Hum!

A low, deep resonance, as if rising from the earth's very depths, suddenly emerged from the heart of the most violent energy conflict within the fissure.

This resonance was not sound, but a vibration that directly affected the soul, pulling at some fundamental rule.

In the next instant, the conflicting yin and yang energies at the fissure's mouth sharply contracted inward, then exploded violently.

But it was not an outward blast—it formed a towering, bizarre column of intertwined blue and red light.

The column shot straight into the sky, punching a hole through the churning sulfur clouds above; a qi permeating the meaning of birth, death, and cyclical transformation spread outward with the column.

This sudden change was too abrupt—the Yin Official and the Poison Bug Witch, both caught in the midst of battle, were thrown back by the residual energy surge, their bloodlines churning; they each retreated, halting their fight, staring at the column in shock and suspicion.

The four Jiuyou Sect disciples groaned in unison; the "Four Symbols Soul Array" collapsed completely, the four small flags shattered with a "crack!"—they suffered backlash, spitting blood and collapsing to the ground.

Yet this astonishing column did not last long; after roughly three breaths, it rapidly retracted, dimmed, and vanished entirely, as if the entire event had been an illusion.

But the lingering qi at the fissure's mouth, and the still-chaotic yin and yang energies in the air, proved it had not been false.

More strikingly, at the very spot where the column had erupted—previously suppressed by the Ice Soul Pearl's glow and the yin array—a thing now slowly materialized in midair.

It was a token.

Entirely deep, profound ice-blue, crystal-clear, as if carved from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, its surface rippled with wave-like cold light.

The token's size resembled the "Summer" token held by Ning Zhixi, its shape similar but slightly longer, its edges engraved with patterns of snowflakes and ice spikes.

On its front, an ancient character was deeply carved in relief—its structure expansive and cold, each stroke seeming to contain snowstorms and frozen time.

Winter!

The Winter Token.

The "Winter Key" of the "Four Seasons Keys" had appeared here—by this means—on its own!

"Winter Key!"

The Yin Official and the Poison Bug Witch both gasped, their eyes blazing with terrifying greed; their prior standoff vanished instantly, and both became blurs of motion, lunging at top speed toward the hovering ice-blue token!

But someone was faster.

Precisely speaking, the "Winter" token, the moment it fully solidified, as if summoned by an intense force, paused slightly, then—"whoosh!"—shot off as a streak of ice-blue light, not toward the two charging figures, but straight into the rock fissure where Chen Mu and Ning Zhixi hid!

Its speed rivaled instantaneous teleportation!

The Yin Official and the Poison Bug Witch lunged into empty air, watching helplessly as the ice-blue streak vanished into the fissure; their faces turned grim, shocked and furious.

Inside the fissure, Chen Mu's eyes flashed with sudden understanding the instant the "Winter" token flew toward him.

He made no move to block it, nor to catch it.

The token, as if sentient, circled him halfway, then hovered still before Ning Zhixi.

Ning Zhixi froze, instinctively extending both hands.

The ice-blue "Winter" token gently settled into her palm.

It felt cold to the touch, yet not piercingly icy—instead, a crisp, pure chill swiftly dispelled the discomfort caused by the scorching environment, clearing her mind as well.

As soon as she held it, the token resonated subtly with the "Summer" token in her bosom and the stone tablet fragment.

A warmth and a chill—two opposing yet seemingly related forces—flowed faintly within her, balancing each other.

"This…?"

Ning Zhixi looked at Chen Mu, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

She did not understand why the "Winter Key" had flown to her.

Chen Mu's gaze was deep; he glanced at the "Summer" token in her hand and the stone fragment in her bosom, then said slowly: "At the extreme of 'Summer,' yin reaches its peak and yang is born—hidden within is the opportunity for 'Winter'… It seems not merely that the node contains a clue to 'Winter,' but that the 'Xia Yao' and its corresponding fragment, when nearing specific conditions, can trigger and summon the 'Winter Key' of the 'Four Seasons' to manifest."

"You carry the 'Xia Yao' and the fragment—you are the catalyst."

"Summer" and "Winter" attract each other?

Ning Zhixi suddenly understood—and yet found it utterly unbelievable.

The design of this "Four Seasons Secret Treasury" was profoundly mysterious.

Their conversation had not been transmitted via silent speech; the Yin Official and the Poison Bug Witch outside the fissure heard every word clearly.

"What? The 'Xia Yao' is on this girl?!"

The Yin Official's eyes locked onto Ning Zhixi, especially the ice-blue "Winter" token in her hand; his greed nearly solidified into visible light.

"Hand over the 'Winter Key'! And the 'Xia Yao'! Or I'll make you beg for death!"

The Poison Bug Witch cackled: "Little girl, you've got good luck—but holding two keys is a burning hand. Give them to the old woman, and perhaps I'll spare your life—make you a poison slave."

The two advanced slowly from left and right, their qi signatures firmly locking onto Chen Mu and Ning Zhixi.

Though they harbored some caution toward Chen Mu, the temptation of the "Summer" and "Winter" Keys was too great—they were willing to risk everything.

Besides, they did not believe this young man could simultaneously face two of the finest among the Earth Altar Realm cultivators, especially with the Poison Bug Witch's deceptively elusive poison arts.

Chen Mu slowly stepped out of the fissure, took two steps forward, and stood before Ning Zhixi, his gaze calm as he swept over the two.

"Leave, or die."