Regarding why Xu Taiping came to the Ice Crystal Cave, she never really asked.

“If everything goes smoothly, fewer people will die in the Immortal Gourd Cave.”

Xu Taiping nodded.

Due to the instructions from the Nine Mansions, he couldn’t reveal this matter to anyone, so he could only hint a bit to Duan Xiaoyu.

“I understand.”

Hearing this, Duan Xiaoyu suddenly nodded solemnly.

“Don’t worry, Brother Taiping, I won’t let anyone in.”

As she spoke, she turned around, raised her blade, and stared unblinkingly at the entrance of the Ice Crystal Cave.

…

Inside the cave.

After taking out a Night Pearl for illumination, the scene inside the small cave became clear to Xu Taiping.

Like other parts of the Ice Crystal Cave, this place was almost entirely covered in ice crystals, with the cold even more intense than outside.

Scanning the area with the light of the Night Pearl, Xu Taiping finally found what he was looking for—claw marks on the ice wall.

There were seven such claw marks in the entire cave.

But because each mark was shallow and covered in frost, it would be hard to find them without prior knowledge.

According to Oriole, Xu Taiping had to melt the ice walls in the order of the claw marks to gradually activate the formation eye of the Ice Crystal Cave.

This was why Xu Taiping found it troublesome.

“Three thousand Gold Essence Coins are still too few.”

Xu Taiping muttered to himself as he quickly walked to the first ice wall that needed melting.

He placed his hand on the ice surface, converting the True Qi in his palm into fire element, forming a flame.

This flame, derived from True Qi, wasn’t as powerful as True Fire but was much hotter than ordinary charcoal.

As the flame in Xu Taiping’s palm rose, the surface layer of the ice wall began to melt at a visible speed.

But after the surface ice melted, a light blue rune suddenly appeared on the ice wall’s surface, and the melting speed slowed significantly.

“Just as expected.”

Xu Taiping frowned and withdrew his hand.

As Oriole had mentioned in the communication talisman, these ice walls were inscribed with rune restrictions by the Jade Green Scholar, requiring True Fire to slowly melt them.

If one tried to break them directly, the formation eye would self-destruct.

Xu Taiping glanced around to confirm he was alone in the cave, then raised his hand again.

A golden flame began to gather in his palm, quickly forming a golden crow surrounded by flames.

Given the current situation, he could only rely on the Red Crow Golden Flame Technique.

The Red Crow Golden Flame Technique did not disappoint him. Even with the protective restriction on the ice surface, it began to melt rapidly.

“According to Oriole’s estimate, it would take a stick of incense’s time to completely melt the seven ice walls using True Fire Talismans. With the Red Crow Golden Flame Technique, I can save at least half a stick.”

He calculated silently.

He did have True Fire Talismans with him, which could melt the seven ice walls simultaneously. But the melting order was crucial; otherwise, the formation eye would still self-destruct.

“Setting up so many layers of restrictions, it seems the Jade Green Scholar never intended for anyone to activate this teleportation array.”

He mocked inwardly while popping a Qi Boosting Pill into his mouth and continued using the Red Crow Golden Flame to melt the ice wall.

“Half a stick of incense’s time, with the Ice Toad and Duan Xiaoyu delaying, it should be enough.”

Xu Taiping looked worriedly towards the cave entrance.

…

Outside the cave.

“Gurgle…”

Sitting cross-legged on a piece of floating ice, Duan Xiaoyu’s stomach suddenly growled.

She skillfully pulled out a piece of jerky from her ring, continuing to stare at the cave entrance while gnawing on the meat.

The side effect of consuming that spiritual herb was constant hunger, even though she had already reached the Gazing Abyss Realm.

But thinking of the roasted wild boar she had before, the dry jerky in her hand suddenly lost its flavor.

“Sigh…”

She sighed, standing up with the Rosefinch Blade in hand.

“Boom!”

At that moment, an explosion sounded at the cave entrance, causing the Ice Crystal Cave to shake.

“Qingyu, you bastard, let me in too!”

An angry roar came from outside the cave.

But as rocks continuously fell, blocking the entrance of the Ice Crystal Cave, the voice outside gradually faded.

Alert, Duan Xiaoyu stuffed all the jerky into her mouth and, stepping on the floating ice, darted into a small cave.

“So, you are indeed inside.”

At this moment, a cold voice came from the cave entrance.

Duan Xiaoyu saw, under the faint glow of the ice crystals, a large water mass slowly forming into a human shape at the entrance.

Who else could it be but Qingyu from Yellow Maple Valley?

Before coming to the Immortal Gourd Cave, Duan Xiaoyu had heard of Qingyu’s name.

After all, Yellow Maple Valley was the third-ranked sect among the Nine Mansions, and its newly risen genius would naturally attract attention from other sects.

What puzzled Duan Xiaoyu was why someone with such talent as Qingyu would follow Nine Mansions and become a demonic cultivator.

“Don’t think you can hide in the cave and I won’t find you.”

Qingyu’s voice echoed again.

His powerful aura swept through the Ice Crystal Cave, and threads of water shot from his palm like spider silk, quickly heading towards the small caves below.

Although Duan Xiaoyu didn’t know what technique this was, she had a premonition that if these water threads entered the small caves, Xu Taiping would be discovered.

“Duan Xiaoyu, a promise is a promise!”

Recalling her promise to Xu Taiping, Duan Xiaoyu gritted her teeth, raised the Rosefinch Blade, and flew out of the cave.

“Swish!” Almost the moment Duan Xiaoyu flew out, Qingyu’s long blade, carrying the power of a claw shadow, slashed directly at her.

“Bang!” Although Duan Xiaoyu blocked the strike with the Rosefinch Blade at the last moment, the impact from Qingyu’s blade sent her crashing into the ice pool.

“Boom!” Even as she fell into the ice pool, Qingyu’s blade followed relentlessly, slicing through the water and aiming straight for Duan Xiaoyu’s chest.

But at this moment, Duan Xiaoyu became even calmer.