Chapter 78: The Domain of Ice and Annihilation

At 2 AM on April 5th, the sky, typically veiled in endless darkness, instead glowed with a chilling, blood-soaked eeriness, a direct consequence of the encroaching crimson night.

Beneath the shroud of that crimson night, within Yunlu Town, snowflakes began to drift silently from the tranquil sky, these pristine sprites descending gracefully from the heavens, their gentle fall gradually expanding in scope.

Within moments, half of Yunlu Town lay enveloped in ice and snow.

From an aerial perspective, every corner of the land and its structures appeared as a meticulously sculpted world of ice, a testament to nature’s artistry.

Yunlu Town now seemed cleaved in two by an unseen, mysterious force, revealing starkly contrasting vistas.

One side appeared to be engulfed by a scorching volcano, where rolling heatwaves intertwined with the crimson night, emitting a suffocating intensity.

The other side, however, felt like the heart of the Arctic’s deepest chill, where biting winds howled and snowflakes danced wildly, evoking a bone-deep cold.

“Students, everyone, retreat! This is a domain—quickly, get out of the ice-covered area!”

A teacher from Saint Sea Academy cried out, his voice hoarse with an overwhelming mix of urgency and dread.

Upon hearing their teacher’s desperate plea, the students, though filled with reluctance and fear, slowly retreated, glancing back repeatedly.

They clutched their magical artifacts and items, unleashing furious attacks upon the undead pursuing them.

Brilliant streaks of magical light flashed across the night sky, like beacons of flickering hope.

Subsequently, they quickened their pace, swiftly exiting the perimeter of the ice-covered area.

The instant the last student successfully withdrew from the domain, the previously still snowflakes seemed to awaken with life, becoming instantly animated.

Like tiny sprites from a winter wonderland, they danced joyfully, swarming towards the undead within the domain.

Before long, a crackling and popping sound erupted from within the ice-covered domain.

Initially sparse and faint, the sounds grew progressively denser and louder, reminiscent of the boisterous firework displays during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

This sky-piercing cacophony echoed throughout Yunlu Town, inspiring a sense of awe in all who heard it.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Yunlu Town, the teachers, students, and adventurers who had arrived as reinforcements were left utterly dumbfounded by the sight before them.

Those closer to the domain could clearly discern that every undead creature on the ice-clad ground was encased in a thick layer of ice.

Their bodies were gradually freezing solid, then slowly shattering into fragments.

The incessant crackling seemed like a mournful dirge for the fading lives of the undead, each pop signifying another demise.

Outside the Yunlu Town domain, onlookers felt a prickling sensation on their scalps, and a chill involuntarily crept into their hearts.

They all thought, in unison, that if such a scene unfolded on a battlefield, it would be a catastrophe of unimaginable horror, claiming countless vibrant lives amidst the ice and snow.

This formidable and enigmatic power was unfathomable, akin to an abyss that defied exploration or comprehension.

“He has grown stronger once more; his rate of growth has far surpassed anything I could have imagined, leaving me utterly unable to keep pace.”

Lin Wanyun meticulously treated the wounded, listening to the crackling sounds emanating from the ice-covered domain.

She shook her head with a sigh of resignation.

“It’s Ouyang Xiyue! He’s here, and his power is incredible!”

A student exclaimed, their face alight with excitement, their voice brimming with both surprise and admiration.

Following this student’s shout, a stir rippled through the crowd, and a glint of anticipation and excitement shone in everyone’s eyes.

“Everyone, we must immediately organize the evacuation of the wounded and the town’s residents.”

“Now that all the undead have been contained, we must seize every second and tolerate no delays!”

Bai, clad in a white cloak, stood atop a rooftop, his gaze complex as he stared towards the ice-covered expanse, his tone firm and composed.

Upon hearing Bai’s command, everyone sprang into action, attending to their respective tasks.

Meanwhile, Bai surged with incredible speed into the ice-clad land, dashing towards a different direction.

Where he passed, the ground was strewn with a myriad of spirit cores, densely packed together.

Beneath the icy shroud, these cores glittered with brilliant light, resembling stars scattered across the night sky.

“Lin Yao, use instant transmission to keep up with Ouyang Xiyue; his speed is increasing, and we’re falling behind.”

Night Xuehui, his usual calm shattered, said anxiously, his voice tinged with both helplessness and urgency.

“Alright, come closer.”

Lin Yao replied calmly, a glint of determination and confidence in her eyes.

Initially, Night Xuehui and Lin Yao could barely keep pace with Ouyang Xiyue.

However, as time passed, they realized Ouyang Xiyue’s speed was escalating, becoming ever swifter.

Gradually, his figure blurred, seeming on the verge of vanishing into the icy wilderness.

To catch up with Ouyang Xiyue ahead, Lin Yao had no choice but to expend a significant amount of mana, activating instant transmission.

Lin Yao swiftly formed hand seals, chanting incantations under her breath, as a surge of potent magic erupted from her body.

Instantly, a silver magic array materialized beneath her feet, emitting a faint, mysterious white glow, causing the surrounding space to ripple violently.

The next second, Night Xuehui and Lin Yao vanished from their spot.

Several hundred meters away, the space rippled once more, and a silver radiance slowly emerged, revealing their figures anew.

Thereafter, they began a series of repeated instant transmissions, leaving trails of silver light across the icy landscape.

“You are the commander? You are too weak; summon the one behind you.”

“I can sense someone secretly observing this direction, and if he doesn’t come, you will die!”

At that moment, Ouyang Xiyue stood with his foot planted on an undead creature, its body tattered, possessing three eyes and two mouths.

It was evident that the undead’s limbs were completely encased in ice, rendering it utterly immobile.

This undead commander, though incapable of human speech, seemed to comprehend human words.

It understood Ouyang Xiyue’s intent: that it should go summon reinforcements.

In that moment of life and death, it did not hesitate in the slightest.

Its three severely decayed eyes swiveled frantically, and opening its two rotten mouths, it emitted an incredibly grating sound from its throat.

The noise was akin to a demon’s roar from the depths of hell, instilling an immediate sense of irritation in anyone who heard it.

Listening to the undead’s unpleasant cries, Ouyang Xiyue furrowed his brow slightly, pondering inwardly:

‘This creature is quite clever for an undead, able to understand human speech; no wonder it can command an army of them.’

‘However, its power is still too meager.’

‘An undead like this is akin to an ancient strategist of minor standing—not particularly powerful itself, but possessing a certain degree of intelligence, especially when compared to its more brutish counterparts.’

Naturally, within the realm of the undead, there were also many beings whose bodies remained intact, capable of speech, and possessed immense power.

The Red-robed, Black-robed, and Blue-robed Deacons, serving beneath the Monarchs and Lords, each commanded formidable, awe-inspiring strength.

As Ouyang Xiyue mused, it wasn’t long before he suddenly sensed an incredibly terrifying aura rapidly approaching from within the Undead Kingdom.

A silent alarm rang in his heart, for this aura was comparable to that of a Red-robed Deacon.

‘A Red-robed Deacon, then? If it’s just one, it’s hardly enough to worry me.’

Though Ouyang Xiyue’s brow remained furrowed, he felt little pressure, possessing absolute confidence in his own strength.

In his estimation, even if an eighth-tier expert were to arrive, he was certain he could contend with them.