The number one genius of Qing Mao Mountain, who single-handedly reshaped the landscape of the three great families. From the moment he began cultivating, he dominated the field, silencing all competition and making even the Grade A geniuses pale in comparison. No one doubted his future achievements — even his enemies had to acknowledge it.
But now, someone was actually hunting him down, forcing him to flee in such a wretched state.
This was something Qing Shu and the others could never have predicted.
What surprised them even more was that the person hunting Bai Ningbing was none other than Fang Yuan from their own clan.
Their impression of Fang Yuan was still stuck on the arena matches and the incident where he had helped drive away the River-Engulfing Toad. And because Fang Yuan had voluntarily surrendered to Xiong Li, others had further underestimated his true strength.
"Since when did Fang Yuan become this powerful?"
Everyone found it hard to accept.
…
Fang Yuan turned the corner.
"Gu Yue Qing Shu!" When he saw the five members of Qing Shu's group, his heart jolted.
"It seems I've won this gamble. Bai Ningbing, it looks like today is your day to die." With these thoughts running through his mind, Fang Yuan called out, "Brother, you're here! This is great — quickly stop Bai Ningbing. He not only killed Xiong Li's group but also slaughtered our clan's Gu Yue Manshi and the others. His crimes are truly monstrous!"
"What?"
"The three great families signed an alliance."
"No — if it's Bai Ningbing, nothing he does could be considered going too far."
"So that's it! No wonder Fang Yuan is hunting down Bai Ningbing…"
Qing Shu and the other four were both shocked and came to a sudden understanding. It seemed Bai Ningbing had gone berserk, and after several fierce battles his combat strength had dropped to its lowest point, with Fang Yuan happening to gain the upper hand.
"Am I, Bai Ningbing, truly going to die here? No — my current True Essence is barely enough to detonate the Frost Demon Gu. I still have hope of victory!" Bai Ningbing cried out in his mind. With Qing Shu's group ahead and Fang Yuan pursuing from behind, the situation was extremely unfavorable for him.
In truth, there was friction between the brothers Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng, so Fang Zheng naturally would not listen to Fang Yuan's orders. But Bai Ningbing, as an outsider, did not know this. Looking at Fang Zheng and Fang Yuan's similar appearances, Bai Ningbing made a resolute choice.
He suddenly raised his right arm and poured every last drop of True Essence he had painstakingly recovered and accumulated in his Empty Orifice into the Frost Demon Gu resting in his right palm.
The flesh and blood of his right arm once again turned into pale blue hard ice. Outside the hard ice, his pale arm bone was clearly visible.
Bang!
With a deafening detonation, Bai Ningbing's entire right arm suddenly self-destructed.
In an instant, clouds of mist erupted and intense cold air spread wildly in all directions.
Crack, crack, crack.
In this scorching summer, on the narrow mountain path, pristine white frost surged outward, covering the soil and engulfing the trees. The surrounding air temperature dropped sharply.
"He actually sacrificed his entire right arm!" Fang Zheng was stunned by Bai Ningbing's ruthlessness.
"Retreat quickly." Gu Yue Qing Shu grabbed Fang Zheng and retreated rapidly.
Vast sheets of frost surged toward them like waves.
If they were actually frozen, it would be serious trouble.
Not just Qing Shu's group — Fang Yuan was no exception. They retreated a full hundred steps before the frost finally subsided.
This stretch of mountain path had been lush and verdant, fragrant with wild grass and thick with trees. Now it had become a world of frost. The trees were all frozen solid, and a thick layer of ice and snow covered the ground.
Fang Yuan stepped through the thick snow and walked to the center of the path.
There he saw Bai Ningbing completely encased in ice crystals. Like an insect trapped in amber, his expression still bore the ferocity, resolve, and ruthlessness of the previous moment.
"Has he… already killed himself?" Qing Shu's group also rushed over. Seeing this scene, Fang Zheng murmured.
"No!" Qing Shu's expression was very grave. "Bai Ningbing has already cultivated Ice Body. This layer of ice won't kill him — instead it's become armor protecting him, buying him time to recover."
Fang Yuan stared fixedly at Bai Ningbing and flung a Moon Blade.
Shing.
The Moon Blade struck the ice on Bai Ningbing's body with a crisp sound. On the three-meter-tall, two-meter-wide-and-long ice crystal, only a shallow cut mark appeared. But quickly, the cold air within the ice crystal spread out again, healing the cut until it vanished.
"Fang Yuan, is what you just said actually true?" Qing Shu turned his gaze to Fang Yuan and asked.
"Of course. Xiong Lin from Xiong Li's group is still alive and can testify. We can't stay here long — I'll explain the details later. Leaving first is what matters." Fang Yuan nodded and replied.