As Yun Zhi heard the trembling sound of the final chain breaking, he noticed the confident expression on Mo Lian's face slowly fading. Freedom. The moment he had patiently waited for had finally arrived. But now, he knew that merely escaping wouldn't be enough.
Mo Lian's Ice Palace had begun to collapse. Massive chunks of ice were falling from the ceiling, merging with the dark waves of magic surging from below, shaking everything to its core. Yun Zhi took a deep breath and cast aside the remaining fragments of the chains.
"My time is running out."
But now, he had to make a choice. Should he leave Mo Lian behind and escape? Or should he end this game by playing by Mo Lian's own rules?
His eyes gleamed slightly. The game was not over yet.
Yan Xi, noticing the shift in Mo Lian's magic, immediately turned to Yun Zhi.
"The chains weren't really holding you back, were they?"
Yun Zhi smirked slightly. "Depends on how you look at it."
Yan Xi narrowed his eyes. "Did you lure us here on purpose?"
Yun Zhi stretched his wrists as he stood up. "On purpose? If that's what you want to believe, then why not?"
"But the truth is… things are now under my control."
Mo Lian didn't like seeing this level of confidence in Yun Zhi. "You're underestimating me."
Yun Zhi stepped closer. "Never. But I'm not alone."
At that moment, Ling Feng (凌风) darted from the shadows, launching a swift attack toward Mo Lian.
"It ends here!"
Mo Lian reflexively stepped back while Bai Xuan (白玄) analyzed the crumbling palace's magic seals.
"This place won't last more than five minutes. If we don't escape now, we'll all be buried here."
Ren Yue (仁月) raised her bow, scanning the surroundings.
"We need to clear a path."
But Mo Lian wasn't someone who would surrender easily. Concentrating his ice magic once more, he sealed off the escape routes.
"None of you are leaving."
Yet Yun Zhi had no intention of escaping from the beginning.
A spark ignited in his eyes as he activated his Celestial Pull (天引术).
Instantly, Mo Lian's magic began to unravel. A dark vortex formed within the palace—an energy-disrupting field that distorted the flow of spells.
This was his greatest ability: turning his opponent's magic against them.
Mo Lian staggered back in shock. "You—"
Yun Zhi, now completely unshackled, took a step forward. "You started this game, Mo Lian. But even you can't predict who will win."
A flicker of hesitation appeared in Mo Lian's eyes. But it was too late to run.
The Ice Palace was collapsing.
Ling Yue swiftly reinforced a magic barrier to protect the group, while Yan Xi's flames clashed against the freezing energy, stabilizing the chaotic forces.
Mo Ye vanished into the shadows, searching for an escape route.
And Yun Zhi stood before Mo Lian like a predator freed from its chains.
The final move was about to be made.
But just then, something else stirred.
From deep within the palace, an ancient seal was broken, unleashing a deadly aura that spread through the air.
Someone didn't intend to let them leave this place alive.