The night wind howled and the temperature in the valley dropped sharply.

Sitting cross‑legged inside the cave dwelling, Lin Xi appeared to be regulating her breath in cultivation, but in reality her consciousness was immersed in the system panel.

Her fingertips brushed her storage ring, where the various talismans and pills she had just redeemed lay.

Only 200 points remained, which left her uneasy.

‘Points aren’t enough… in a critical moment I’ll still have to rely on these to stay alive.’

Suddenly, the system panel flashed a blinding red.

[Warning! Detected an extremely dangerous hostile aura!]

[Blood Shadow Sect elder at late Core Formation peak, ‘Elder Bloodfiend,’ has entered within a 5-km radius!]

[This person excels at tracking arts and poison techniques and carries multiple secret treasures!]

[Threat level: Extremely high! Recommendation: Host should immediately take defensive measures!]

Lin Xi’s face went pale at once.

Elder Bloodfiend?

She had seen that name in the system’s databank—one of the Blood Shadow Sect’s three great elders, second only to the sect master in strength.

More terrifying still, he was infamous for his vicious cruelty and ruthless methods.

She immediately pulled up a more detailed information panel.

[Elder Bloodfiend: Xiao Xuesha]

[Realm: Late Core Formation peak (only a single step from Nascent Soul)]

[Specialties: Blood Shadow Tracking Art, Ten Thousand Poisons Devour‑the‑Heart Art, Bloodfiend Demonic Art]

[Carried secret treasures: Soul‑Chasing Blood Mirror, Poison Mist Bead, Bloodfiend War Armor]

[Weakness: Over‑reliant on poison techniques; comparatively weaker in close combat]

Lin Xi’s heartbeat quickened.

An enemy of this level was already beyond what Luo Bingning’s current strength could handle.

She had to make perfect preparations.

‘System, redeem Antidote Pills and Purification Talismans immediately!’

[Ding! Redeemed High‑grade Antidote Pills ×10, spent 100 points]

[Ding! Redeemed Purification Talismans ×5, spent 100 points]

[Current remaining points: 0]

Her points were wiped out, but Lin Xi had no time to feel distressed.

She stowed the pills and talismans into her storage ring, then rose and walked toward Luo Bingning, who was training outside the cave dwelling.

At the moment, Luo Bingning was practicing a new sword art; ice‑blue sword‑qi traced graceful arcs through the night.

Each stroke contained powerful Cold Law force.

Her movements were fluid and lethal, the strength of late Core Formation on full display.

Suddenly, Luo Bingning halted.

She slowly turned, her ice‑blue eyes fixing in a direction beyond the valley.

Those eyes, gentle a moment ago, became razor‑sharp and dangerous.

“There is killing intent.”

Her voice was soft, yet carried a bone‑piercing chill.

“Very strong killing intent—and reeking of malice.”

Lin Xi hurried to her side, wearing just the right touch of anxiousness on her face.

“Bingning‑jie, are they from the Blood Shadow Sect?”

Her voice trembled slightly—acting honed to perfection.

Seeing the unease on Lin Xi’s face, the killing intent in Luo Bingning’s eyes deepened at once.

She reached out and drew Lin Xi behind her, her entire aura turning keen and severe.

“Most likely an expert of the Blood Shadow Sect—and a very strong one.”

Her hand stroked the hilt of her sword, her voice turning icy.

“So they finally couldn’t sit still.”

Just then, a sinister laugh sounded from afar.

“Jie jie jie… Frost Empress Luo Bingning, you really are hard to kill.”

The voice came from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint.

“This elder’s been tracking you for so long and to think you hid in such a godforsaken place.”

Luo Bingning’s expression went utterly cold.

She recognized the owner of that voice.

“Elder Bloodfiend, Xiao Xuesha.”

She enunciated each word, every syllable biting with frost.

“One of the three great elders of the Blood Shadow Sect. Your sect is like a swarm of flies—one wave after another coming to kill.”

Xiao Xuesha’s laughter grew more triumphant.

“You should feel honored that this elder is taking action personally. But after today, that honor ends.”

Sheltering behind Luo Bingning, Lin Xi trembled on the surface, but in truth she was rapidly analyzing the situation.

Through the system’s detection function she clearly saw Xiao Xuesha’s position.

He stood atop a peak five li from the cave dwelling, radiating a thick, bloody aura.

More alarming still, a blood‑red mirror hovered at his side.

That was the legendary Soul‑Chasing Blood Mirror, able to lock onto a target’s aura and leave them nowhere to hide.

“Bingning‑jie, watch out for that mirror!”

Lin Xi lowered her voice and whispered quickly into Luo Bingning’s ear.

“That’s the Soul‑Chasing Blood Mirror, a secret treasure built for tracking.”

Luo Bingning gave a slight nod, secretly surprised.

‘How did Xi’er know so many details?’

But now was not the time to ponder it.

She drew her life‑bound sword—the Frostsnow Sword—from her storage ring.

The blade was wholly ice‑blue, exuding a biting cold.

“Xiao Xuesha, if you want my life, let’s see if you have what it takes.”

Her voice was terrifyingly calm, yet the killing intent within made the air grow still and freezing.

Sensing her battle will, Xiao Xuesha’s laughter twisted nastier still.

“Good—quite imposing. But what interests this elder even more is that little girl by your side.”

His gaze slid past Luo Bingning and fell on Lin Xi.

“The mysterious girl said to have healed your injuries looks quite ordinary to me. But for the illustrious Frost Empress to protect her so fiercely, she must be special.”

At those words, the killing intent on Luo Bingning nearly took form.

The air around them began to freeze, a thin sheen of frost spreading over the ground.

“If you so much as touch a single hair on Xi’er’s head, I’ll make your entire Blood Shadow Sect pay for it.”

Her tone was even, but the threat within made even Xiao Xuesha feel a twinge of dread.

He narrowed his eyes.

The Frost Empress’s recovery was faster than the intel had suggested.

But he was no pushover either.

“Jie jie jie, tough talk is useless.”

He drew a dark‑green bead from his robe.

“This elder’s Poison Mist Bead—prepared especially for you.”

The bead glimmered faintly in his palm, giving off a nauseating stench.

Lin Xi identified the item through the system at once.

[Poison Mist Bead: Profound‑rank, high‑grade poison weapon. Releases a toxic miasma that corrodes spiritual defenses; lethally dangerous to Core Formation cultivators.]

She promptly took several Antidote Pills from her storage ring and slipped them into Luo Bingning’s hand.

“Bingning‑jie, these are Antidote Pills. Be careful of his poison techniques.”

Warmth rose in Luo Bingning’s heart.

Xi’er always gave her precisely what she needed at the crucial moment.

“Don’t worry, Xi’er. I won’t let anyone who tries to hurt you keep on living.”

Her tone brooked no doubt and the tenderness in her eyes was reserved for Lin Xi alone.

Watching their exchange, jealousy and malice flashed in Xiao Xuesha’s eyes.

“How nauseatingly affectionate. But this will all be over soon.”

He crushed the bead in his hand.

Dark‑green miasma billowed out at once, surging toward the cave dwelling.

Where the fog passed, flowers and grass withered, bare rock corroded—the toxicity was clearly extreme.

Luo Bingning did not panic in the slightest.

Raising the Frostsnow Sword, she awakened the Ice Phoenix bloodline within her.

Freeze Ten Thousand Li!

Horrific cold burst from her body, instantly freezing the rolling poison fog into ice.

Dark‑green crystals drifted through the air, glinting with an eerie light.

Xiao Xuesha’s face shifted.

“To freeze my poison fog—looks like I underestimated you.”

But he didn’t flinch; instead, his smile turned more sinister.

“But that was just an appetizer.”

Bloodlight surged around him as a gigantic blood‑red skull coalesced behind his back.

It was the strongest form of the Blood Shadow Sect’s top art—the Bloodfiend Demonic Art.

The skull gaped wide and let out an ear‑splitting shriek.

The sonic attack struck directly at the soul, impossible to guard against.

Lin Xi went dizzy, nearly losing her footing.

Luo Bingning instantly drew her close, circulating spiritual power to shield Lin Xi’s spirit.

“Xi’er, are you alright?”

Worry weighed heavy in her voice.

Lin Xi shook her head and forced her mind steady.

“I’m fine. Bingning‑jie, focus on the enemy.”

Seeing Lin Xi’s resolve, Luo Bingning felt both heartache and pride.

She turned back toward Xiao Xuesha, killing intent surging stronger than ever.

“Xiao Xuesha—hurt Xi’er and today will be the day you die!”

Her Ice Phoenix bloodline fully awakened; a colossal ice phoenix phantom rose behind her.

The phoenix’s cry rang through heaven and earth, clashing fiercely with the skull’s shriek.

Two terrifying forces collided in midair, unleashing a storm of energy ripples.

Boulders throughout the valley shattered; even distant peaks trembled beneath the aftershocks.

A true battle of life and death was about to begin.