The interior of the cave was unexpectedly spacious. Soft green moss covered parts of the floor, and jagged stalactites hung from above. The sound of the waterfall behind him became a low thunder, muffled by the stone walls.
"Shadow Ming, come out."Xiao Wei called calmly.
In response, a black figure slid out from Xiao Wei's shadow like flowing smoke, slowly condensing into the solid form of Shadow Ming. He stretched his limbs with a relaxed sigh and looked around the cave with his sharp, spectral eyes.
"This place will do nicely. Hidden, damp, and the ambient Spiritual Energy here is actually denser than outside. A good place to rest… or hide. I think we will find a treasure, if we went more deeper in the cave"Shadow Ming murmured.
"Then put up an array formation to seal the entrance. I don't want anyone stumbling in here."Xiao Wei said.
Shadow Ming raised an eyebrow and looked at him like he was asking for the moon.
"Brat, you think I can form array formations from nothing? Do you think an array master just waves his hand and formations appear from thin air?"Shadow Ming said, folding his arms.
Xiao Wei frowned.
"You're a Tier 2 Array Formation Master, right?"Xiao Wei asked.
Shadow Ming rolled his eyes.
"Yes, but I still need materials. Monster Core, Spirit Stones, formation flags, or other things. You can't build a house without bricks, and you can't create a proper array formation without resources."Shadow Ming replied.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"Xiao Wei muttered, a note of frustration in his voice.
Shadow Ming scoffed.
"How was I supposed to know you planned on making an array formation here? You've been marching through the Secret Realm like a wandering herb picker, not a tactician!"Shadow Ming said.
Xiao Wei sighed.
"Forget it. Let's just keep quiet and hope no one finds this place."Xiao Wei said.
Then, his expression shifted as a sharp gleam passed through his eyes.
"Arise"Xiao Wei whispered in a low voice.
From the shadow cast by his feet, a faint shimmer rippled, and a bird-like figure shot forth in a burst of dark mist.
Chirp!
With a chirp that echoed like a whisper through the cavern, the Shadow Bird emerged. Its wings were sleek and composed of ethereal darkness, trailing smoke-like shadows with each beat. Its small eyes gleamed with intelligence as it landed lightly on a nearby rock.
"Keep watch near the waterfall. If anyone approaches, alert me immediately"Xiao Wei said to the Shadow Bird, gesturing toward the entrance.
Chirp!
The Shadow Bird tilted its head, let out another soft chirp, and then glided to the deepest corner of the cave entrance. Within moments, it vanished from sight entirely.
Now alone with Shadow Ming, Xiao Wei proceeded into the depths of the cave, each step echoing softly. The walls were damp and covered in moss, the air thick with an earthy scent that only intensified the deeper they traveled. Though unarmed, Xiao Wei moved with a calm confidence, his senses alert, his body prepared. Beside him, Shadow Ming held the wooden bow loosely in his pale hands, his shadow form flickering faintly in the darkness like a spirit tethered to the living world.
Nearly an hour passed as the two ventured deeper into the cave system, the passage twisting and narrowing, until suddenly Xiao Wei paused. A visible shiver passed through his frame, and a soft mist began to appear with each exhale.
"…It's cold here"Xiao Wei muttered, rubbing his arms lightly. His breath turned white in the air.
Shadow Ming glanced at him, his expression unreadable.
"Cold? I feel nothing."Shadow Ming said as he check the surrounding.
Xiao Wei looked at him sideways, rolling his eyes.
"Of course you don't. You're not alive anymore."Xiao Wei said.
They continued forward, the temperature dropping steadily. Frost began forming on the cavern walls, and thin icicles hung like fangs from the ceiling. The air turned still and sharp, and even the faint sound of dripping water had disappeared.
Eventually, they reached what appeared to be the end of the tunnel—a large natural chamber whose floor was slick with frozen moss and glimmering frost. A soft, ethereal glow lit the space, emanating from a single object in the center.
Xiao Wei's eyes widened as he saw the source of the light: a crystalline blue flower blooming from a bed of ice, delicate and hauntingly beautiful. Its petals shimmered like cut sapphire, and its stem gleamed like frozen jade.
But directly beside the flower lay a monster—curled up like a boulder made of winter itself. It was an enormous frog, its skin a gleaming icy-blue, its body lightly trembling as if caught in a deep dream. Each breath exhaled by the creature frosted the air around it.
"What is that?"Xiao Wei muttered to himself.
Shadow Ming's expression grew solemn.
"That's a Tier 2 Level 9 Ice Crystal Frog. And that flower… that's a Tier 4 Ice Crystal Flower. Extremely rare. The flower only grows near the Ice Crystal Frog—it produces the cold aura that nourishes the plant."Shadow Ming explained.
Xiao Wei stared at the flower, then at the Ice Crystal Frog.
Shadow Ming spoke again.
"We have to kill the Ice Crystal Frog. And we need to do it quickly. That thing is trying to break through to Tier 3. If it succeeds, even I wouldn't be confident in winning."Shadow Ming added, already taking out an arrow from his Storage Ring.
The shaft gleamed faintly, made of dark wood with a silvery arrowhead.
Xiao Wei nodded.
"Understood. I'll attack first. Cover me."Xiao Wei said.
With that, Xiao Wei stepped forward, lowering his stance. His fingers flexed, his Spiritual Energy flowing rapidly through his limbs. The air around him shifted—he activated Tiger Claw technique. Muscles coiled like springs, his aura rippling with strength. Then, without a word, he burst into motion.
A low thrum filled the air as he charged the sleeping Ice Crystal frog.
The Ice Crystal Frog stirred slightly, sensing the disturbance, but it was too late. Xiao Wei's palm, wreathed in Spiritual Energy, struck the Ice Crystal Frog's side with a loud bang, pushing the monster back against the icy wall. Frost cracked where the Ice Crystals Frog's body collided.
Croak! Croak! Croak!
Its eyes flew open, gleaming with deep sapphire light, and it let out a guttural croak that trembled the chamber. Rage flared in its gaze as it locked eyes with Xiao Wei.
Just then, a whistle sliced through the cold air.
SWOOSH!
A single arrow pierced through the silence—and drove straight into the Ice Crystals Frog's left eye with brutal precision.
The arrow buried itself deep into the monster's left eye with a sickening crunch. A high-pitched, guttural screech erupted from the Ice Crystal Frog's throat, echoing off the icy stone walls of the cave with enough force to make Xiao Wei's ears ring. The Ice Crystal Frog convulsed violently, its body twisting as it recoiled in pain.
Blood mixed with shards of ice burst from the creature's eye socket as it thrashed wildly, its legs kicking against the icy floor, gouging out grooves in the stone. Shards of frost and shattered rock exploded in every direction.
Xiao Wei leapt backward, narrowly avoiding a powerful swing of the frog's limb. His back hit the cave wall as ice flew past his face like shrapnel. His expression remained steady, but adrenaline surged through him.
Shadow Ming, standing behind him, already nocked another arrow.
"Its left eye is blinded. I'll aim for the rigjt eye next"Shadow Ming said in a low voice.
Xiao Wei didn't hesitate. Activating Water Flow Steps, he zig-zagged forward, his movements as fluid as water, each footfall nearly silent. He struck again, this time targeting the Ice Crystal Frog's side with another Tiger Claw.
But the Ice Crystal Frog retaliated blindly, its massive tongue lashing out like a whip, but Xiao Wei was faster dodging it easily.
Without hesitation, Shadow Ming loosed another arrow.
Shoosh!
This one flew toward the Ice Crystal Frog's remaining good eye—but the wounded monster, wild with fury and survival instinct, jerked its head just in time. The arrow struck the cave floor and splintered, scattering fragments of ice and wood.
Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh!
Shadow Ming fired again and again, aiming for the Ice Crystal Frog's right eye, but the monster was moving erratically now, thrashing in its pain. The arrows missed their mark, grazing the Ice Crystal Frog's cheek or bouncing harmlessly off its armored limbs. However, when he shifted his aim and targeted the already wounded left eye again.
Thwip!
Another arrow pierced the damaged orb.
The Ice Crystal Frog let out another scream, more frenzied than before. Blood and icy fluid streamed down its face. Its pain became unrestrained rage. With a thunderous croak, it opened its enormous maw, and a long, muscular tongue lashed out like a whip toward Shadow Ming, glistening with freezing mist.
"Watch out!"Xiao Wei shouted.