Chapter 200

Lu Fang nodded and said, “I agree too—Jiang Yuan is the best choice to harvest Frost-Crystal Grass; she can finish faster, and the two tasked with luring out the Water-Mamba Beast can escape more quickly as well.”

“The Young Master is right.”

Wu Fu Beitian glanced at the cold pool and said, “If we split into pairs, my realm is most suitable. Wu Jie, you go with Jiang Yuan to harvest the rare herbs.”

Monk Wu Jie chanted a Buddhist mantra and agreed to this grouping.

Among the four, he and Lu Fang were both Sixth Rank Third Stage; if the two of them—the weakest combatants—were sent to lure the Water-Mamba Beast, it would be bad for everyone.

Seeing the groupings settled, Jiang Yuan said seriously, “Young Master Fang and Beitian, just delay the Water-Mamba Beast as much as you can—don’t engage it directly. Its strength is already formidable, let alone in water.”

“If you truly can’t hold it back, send me a silent signal immediately—we’ll withdraw right away.”

“If Wu Jie and I finish harvesting the Frost-Crystal Grass or encounter any unexpected trouble and can’t proceed further, we’ll send the same signal—when you receive it, retreat as well.”

Clearly, Jiang Yuan had already thought through a viable plan for harvesting the Frost-Crystal Grass.

The four then carefully discussed the details: the overall plan was for Lu Fang and Beitian to enter the cold pool first, head to where the Frost-Crystal Grass grew, and lure out the Water-Mamba Beast.

If the two felt they could hold it off, they’d send two silent signals to Jiang Yuan; if they couldn’t, they’d send one. Upon receiving the signal, Jiang Yuan and Wu Jie would decide whether to assist or proceed with harvesting the Frost-Crystal Grass.

Above all, this mission prioritized safety.

If anything seemed wrong, they’d all withdraw from the cold pool together.

“Young Master Fang, do you have any concerns?”

Beitian asked again, slightly nervous—he was Fifth Rank Second Stage, roughly one rank higher than Lu Fang, and he unconsciously assumed Lu Fang was the weakest.

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and looked at Lu Fang. “If you feel uneasy, speak up now—it’s better than later. Otherwise, Wu Jie, you and Young Master Fang switch places.”

“I’m fine either way,” Wu Jie grinned. “If Young Master Fang hadn’t suggested luring the Water-Mamba Beast first, I would’ve proposed it myself.”

Lu Fang glanced at the three, his gaze settling on Jiang Yuan. Though they’d only known each other briefly, he could sense all three had excellent character.

Jiang Yuan clearly had sharp judgment when choosing friends.

“I’ll go lure out the Water-Mamba Beast,” Lu Fang said firmly. “I cultivate Righteous Qi—Beitian is a martial cultivator. If we fight the beast together, we can coordinate better.”

We can cover each other—one close, one distant.

If Wu Jie went instead, both of us would be close-range fighters—against a physically powerful Water-Mamba Beast, we’d be at a clear disadvantage.

In truth, Lu Fang hadn’t overthought it—he simply felt that if he couldn’t lure and hold the Water-Mamba Beast, it would be strange indeed.

Seeing Lu Fang so resolute, Jiang Yuan and the other two exchanged glances and all smiled. Luring the Water-Mamba Beast was clearly far more dangerous.

Lu Fang taking on such a risk made the others feel deeply reassured.

“Here are Water-Repelling Pills. Each of you take one before entering the cold pool—it’ll let you unleash your full strength.”

Jiang Yuan tossed one pill to Lu Fang and one to Beitian.

“Let’s go,” Beitian said, catching the pill and swallowing it whole. He called out to Lu Fang, then strode purposefully toward the cold pool.

Lu Fang did not take the Water-Repelling Pill. Trusting Jiang Yuan and the others was one thing; taking a pill was another.

Splash!

Beitian and Lu Fang jumped into the cold pool one after the other.

The entrance to the cold pool was only the size of a small room. As Beitian entered the water, he involuntarily shivered.

He was a martial cultivator, focused on body refinement—yet even his physique reacted this way. He turned to Lu Fang, worried—but to his surprise, Lu Fang showed no sign of being affected by the cold.

Lu Fang nodded to Beitian, then summoned two streams of Righteous Qi, wrapping them around both of them. He led the way, swimming swiftly toward the Frost-Crystal Grass at the pool’s bottom.

Beitian shook his head with a wry smile. Under the boost of Righteous Qi, his speed in water had clearly increased. Before he could think further, he saw Lu Fang far ahead—he hurried to catch up.

“This Young Master Fang is too reckless—doesn’t he feel any fear?”

As Beitian wondered, he accelerated, soon overtaking Lu Fang, as if taking the lead.

After swimming a while, they spotted, far ahead, a cluster of Frost-Crystal Grass growing beside an underwater cliff wall—and simultaneously, they felt an intense cold.

Beitian halted, scanning the surroundings cautiously. If nothing went wrong, the Fifth Rank Water-Mamba Beast should be nearby.

His visibility underwater was far worse than the beast’s special senses—he had to be even more careful.

“Watch out!”

The warning came—Lu Fang’s voice.

As Beitian heard it, he spun around instantly—and saw the Water-Mamba Beast’s blood-red eyes.

So fast!

Beitian instinctively crossed his arms before his chest, golden aura flaring around his body. Almost simultaneously, the Water-Mamba Beast slammed into him.

Beitian was flung backward.

The Water-Mamba Beast roared, its white body—over ten zhang long—curling like a spring as it shot toward Beitian.

At that moment, the water before the beast turned utterly still—as if time itself had frozen—even its speeding body slowed to a crawl.

Thud!

With a muffled crash, the Water-Mamba Beast was flung backward. When it steadied itself, its blood-red vertical pupils stared coldly at Lu Fang, standing motionless.

It had little intellect, but it sensed clearly—everything just now had been caused by this human.

Beitian, who had expected to be pursued, realized at once that Lu Fang had blocked the beast’s attack.

Beitian had braced himself before impact, so he suffered little damage.

Beitian returned to the battlefield, staring in surprise at Lu Fang and the Water-Mamba Beast locked in confrontation. He sent a silent message: “Young Master Fang, are you alright? This beast is indeed strong, but I think we can handle it.”

Lu Fang nodded, replying silently: “I’ll be the main one luring it. You assist as needed.”

After the message ended, a flood of Righteous Qi poured from him, forming a massive water-sword that slashed down over the Water-Mamba Beast’s head.

Enraged, Lu Fang turned and fled toward the distance.