Chapter 142: Real Combat

The icy, bone‑chilling wind struck Li Jing's exposed skin like a knife slicing meat; she involuntarily furrowed her brows and instinctively tightened her light armor.

Li Qingxuan saw this, took out a blanket and wrapped it around her, saying concernedly, "Li Jing, the wind on this icefield is fierce; you need to adapt quickly—this is part of the training."

Li Jing's body shivered violently; only after wrapping herself in the thick blanket did she feel a bit better, stammering, "I understand, Li Qingxuan—I won't back down."

The Black Goat pressed on, while Huang Rong vigilantly surveyed the surroundings, whispering, "Although we've been clearing weird creatures around here, we can't let our guard down—there might be stragglers."

Li Qingxuan replied, "Huang Rong is right; everyone stay alert."

As they walked, a snowdrift ahead suddenly moved; Li Jing's face changed, and she nervously gripped her Tang Sword.

Li Qingxuan's eyes lit up, and he said, "Looks like there's something, Li Jing—don't panic; this could be a good practice target."

Li Jing took a deep breath, assumed the defensive stance from her prior training.

Li Qingxuan coached from the side, "Li Jing, watch its attack direction, dodge and look for a chance to counter."

No sooner had he spoken than a snow‑covered squirrel darted out of the snowdrift, quickly scurrying up a nearby tree and into a hole.

"Uh… let's treat this as a drill; we'll do real combat when we meet a weird creature next time," Li Qingxuan said, embarrassed.

Huang Rong couldn't help laughing, teasing, "Qingxuan, your judgment's off—you thought it was a formidable foe, but it's just a little squirrel."

Li Jing also let out a breath, her tense nerves relaxing as she smiled, "Li Qingxuan, it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for this first real‑combat drill."

Li Qingxuan scratched his head, saying, "Haha, I was too eager." Turning to see Huang Rong looking at him with a mischievous grin, he immediately understood.

"All right, Huang Rong, you deliberately wanted to see me embarrass myself, didn't you sense this earlier?" Li Qingxuan feigned indignation.

Huang Rong laughed and waved a hand, "I didn't mean to make you look foolish; the squirrel was just hiding too well—I barely noticed it, and you startled it out right away."

Li Qingxuan shrugged helplessly, "Fine, fine, chalk it up to bad luck—let's keep moving; we'll surely find a suitable sparring partner."

Li Jing nodded beside him, "Yeah, Li Qingxuan, I'm not in a rush—we can take it slow."

The three resumed their patrol, the Black Goat stepping steadily, leaving a string of footprints across the icefield.

Huang Rong remained fully focused on scanning the surroundings, Li Qingxuan constantly attentive to any movement, while Li Jing gripped her Tang Sword tightly, her eyes holding both anticipation and tension.

After a while, Huang Rong suddenly stopped, whispering, "Wait, I think I sensed something."

Li Qingxuan and Li Jing instantly went on alert; Li Qingxuan asked, "Huang Rong, where is it?"

Huang Rong closed her eyes, concentrating, and said, "Which direction."

Li Qingxuan nodded, saying, "Everyone be careful; we'll slowly approach and take a look."

The three proceeded cautiously toward the direction Huang Rong indicated; as they drew nearer, the weird creature's form gradually came into view.

It was a Icefield Worm as sturdy as a yak, its semi‑transparent body revealing pulsing azure veins, covered in diamond‑shaped ice crystal scales like armor inlaid with countless ice shards.

It was burying its mouthparts into the snow layer, emitting a faint sucking sound, seemingly drawing energy from beneath the ice, unaware of the trio's approach.

【Weird Creature: Icefield Worm】

【Type: Flesh Type】

【Constitution: 160】

【Spirit: 42】

【Grade: E-rank】

【Abilities: Ice Crystal Scale Armor, Acid Spray, Energy Drain】

【Weak Points: Soft underside, interior of mouthparts】

【Description: A weird creature active on the icefield, its semi‑transparent body sheathed in diamond‑shaped ice crystal scales, moving slowly; it sustains itself by sucking energy from the ice via its mouthparts. After sensing vibrations, it sprays pale‑blue acid, its feelers detect heat sources within 30 meters, and its scales can rapidly condense ice crystals to form a defensive barrier that then shatters into countless ice shards.】

Li Qingxuan lowered his voice to Li Jing, "Li Jing, this is an Icefield Worm—slow‑moving but with extremely strong defense; its dorsal ice crystal scales are as hard as refined steel, so aim for the soft underside when you attack. First observe its undulating rhythm, then look for an opening to strike."

Li Jing nodded, her palms sweating as she gripped her Tang Sword.

Li Qingxuan whispered from the side, "Watch the feelers on either side of its head—they're its sensory organs; getting close will trigger its acid spray."

The Icefield Worm seemed to have sensed the vibration through its feelers; its buried head shot up, its mouthparts emitting a "hiss" as pale‑blue acid frothed inside its mouth.

Seeing the scene, Li Jing's breath caught, and she instinctively stepped back half a pace.

"Don't be afraid; Huang Rong and I will cover you—there's no danger," Li Qingxuan guided gently.

Huang Rong instantly flung three flying daggers and whipped her lash toward the Icefield Worm's head.

The acid splashed onto the snowfield, emitting a "sizzle" as it corroded, sending up a sting of white smoke.

"Watch out—don't let the acid touch you!" Li Qingxuan warned, then shoved Li Jing forward, "Li Jing, its vision is disrupted by the lash—charge left!"

Li Jing gritted her teeth and surged forward, her Tang Sword carrying the force built up in training, thrusting hard at the seam where the Icefield Worm's belly meets its ice crystal scales.

But due to nerves, she struck the worm's back armor, producing a "ding"; the Tang Sword rebounded off the plating, numbing Li Jing's tiger's mouth and nearly flying from her grip.

The Icefield Worm writhed from pain, the ice crystal scales on its back flashing blue; Li Qingxuan shouted, "Fall back! It's hardening its scales!"

Huang Rong's lash snaked like a serpent around Li Jing's waist, pulling her back three meters.

The worm's back scales instantly congealed into an ice‑blue carapace, while acid gushed wildly from its mouthparts, corroding the snowfield into steaming pits.

Li Qingxuan drew the Tang Sword at his waist, its blade darkening with a black sheen, standing ready to attack at any moment.

Huang Rong flicked her lash, precisely snaring the worm's left and right feelers; pulling hard, she lifted its head slightly.

Li Jing steadied herself and charged again; this time she adjusted her angle, aiming for a fine gap where the worm's belly meets its ice crystal scales, and drove her Tang Sword forward with a rushing wind.

Having pierced just three inches, the Icefield Worm suddenly curled into a ball, its back scales emitting a "crack" as they hardened into a mirror‑like ice shield.

"Retreat!" Li Qingxuan surged forward, yanking Li Jing back; the shield's surface exploded, shooting countless fine ice shards, all of which Li Qingxuan's Tang Sword sliced apart.

Huang Rong nimbly dodged, her soft whip cracking with a "whoosh" as it struck the ice shards, shattering them; the lash's tip hammered the worm's mouthparts with a piercing boom, denting the struck flesh inward before flinging its head sideways.

"Now!" Li Jing planted her feet, leapt up, and drove her Tang Sword down along the previous slit with full force.

The Icefield Worm's belly was torn open, pale‑blue blood gushing out as it emitted a shrill wail.

After two struggles, the worm went limp on the snowfield, its azure blood freezing at the wound as its body convulsed violently.

Li Qingxuan swept his long blade sideways to shield Li Jing, guarding against the worm's death throes.

As the worm's struggles waned, it finally collapsed motionless on the ground.

Li Jing panted heavily, her face showing an excited and thrilled expression, "I... I succeeded!"

Li Qingxuan laughed as he patted her shoulder, "Well done, Li Jing, to perform like this in your first real combat is not bad."

Huang Rong also stepped forward, her eyes full of praise, "Li Jing, you've made great progress, keep it up."

Looking at the fallen Icefield Worm, Li Jing felt a surge of accomplishment.

Then Li Qingxuan stepped forward, recorded the corpse of this weird creature, a white light flashed, and the control panel prompted Constitution +40.

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