“Ding!”
The first refresh—nothing.
“Ding!”
The second refresh—still nothing!
“Ding! Ding! Ding!”
Jun Changxiao refreshed ten times in succession, wasting another two hundred contribution points before finally getting one useful item—something called an Ice Bracelet.
This item was an ice-type treasure. When worn by ice-type martial artists, it could enhance ice-type strength by twenty percent.
It was good, but its drawback was also obvious—it only worked for Wutu and Wushi. Once one advanced to Wuzong, it became useless.
“I can buy it for Qianqian,” Jun Changxiao said.
“Ding! Host has spent fifty contribution points and obtained Ice Bracelet x1. It has been delivered to your spatial ring.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 640/1000.”
He continued refreshing, spending another one hundred forty points to buy a pile of daily necessities before forcibly suppressing the urge to refresh again.
Looking at the umbrella, soap, bath towel, and other goods in his spatial ring, Jun Changxiao said helplessly, “Why the hell am I even being a sect master? I might as well just open a general store in this other world!”
The System said, “That’s not a bad idea actually.”
“Scram.”
…
Lu Qianqian had said one day, but it wasn’t until the afternoon of the second day that she withdrew her ice-type attributes.
When she opened her eyes, two cold glints flashed in her pupils.
At this moment, there were still five or six hours remaining until the epic quest deadline.
“How is it?” Jun Changxiao asked.
Lu Qianqian pondered briefly before saying, “With my comprehension of the Nine-Fold Ice Sealing Palm, I should be able to ice-seal the Fire Dragon Beast for three to four breaths.”
“Three to four breaths is five or six seconds,” Jun Changxiao thought to himself. “That should be just about enough.”
In the high martial world, a brief few seconds could truly determine victory or defeat.
For instance, Zhou Hong and Ye Xingchen—if they unleashed their sword techniques, they could absolutely slash out several hundred sword strikes in just a few seconds.
“Here.”
Jun Changxiao handed over the Ice Bracelet with a smile. “This thing is a bit cold—it should suit you.”
Lu Qianqian’s expression froze.
Giving a girl a bracelet carried another layer of meaning.
She gently raised her head, looking at that smiling face. Her originally ice-cold heart rippled with waves once again.
“I don’t want it.”
“This Seat is giving a girl a bracelet for the first time—show some face.”
“…”
“This is a Sect Master’s order.”
Lu Qianqian accepted the cool bracelet and put it on her right wrist, then turned her face away. Cold qi permeated her entire body, as if concealing something.
“Snap!”
Jun Changxiao snapped his fingers. “Inner disciples, follow this Seat inside. Outer disciples, form up outside.”
Quality over quantity—elite forces were what mattered.
“Yes!”
The disciples responded in unison.
“They’re going in!”
“This venture is incredibly dangerous!”
“I thought about it all night and feel it’s better to leave.”
“Let’s wait and see—perhaps the Fire Dragon Beast won’t charge out of its own territory.”
The rogue cultivators discussed in low voices.
While they talked, Jun Changxiao had already led seven inner disciples and Zhou Hong into the scorching tunnel.
Long Ziyang, Li Yuhua, and the others formed up at the entrance, praying for their Sect Master and senior brothers, hoping they could successfully deal with the Fire Dragon Beast!
…
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Waves of hot wind blew from ahead, making Li Qingyang and the others quite uncomfortable. They could only raise their Fortified Iron Shields to block it.
Jun Changxiao, who possessed the Exquisite Flame, was fine—he actually felt quite comfortable.
Lu Qianqian was also unaffected; her ice-type nature could dissolve the heat waves.
The tunnel was about two hundred meters long. As they went deeper, the temperature grew higher and higher.
Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel.
Li Qingyang and the others felt as if they were standing before a furnace, their entire bodies drenched in sweat.
Ye Xingchen and Zhou Hong were fine—one could resist using the Taixuan True Scripture, the other could resist with sword force.
Of course.
They knew that if they got too close to the Fire Dragon Beast, they definitely wouldn’t be able to bear it.
After stopping at the end, Jun Changxiao looked into the valley.
Within his field of vision was a crimson-red expanse of earth with only scattered glowing-red stones—not a single tree.
Li Qingyang said, “Sect Master, those are Fire Dragon Stones—high-grade fire-type ore!”
Jun Changxiao didn’t care about the ore. He locked his gaze on the deepest part and caught sight of the Fire Dragon Beast, which resembled a small mountain.
Although the creature was lying down resting with flames wreathing its body, he could still tell from its shape that this damn thing wasn’t a dragon—it was a dinosaur!
“Dinosaurs are dragons too,” the System said.
“…”
The Fire Dragon Beast did indeed resemble Earth’s extinct dinosaurs in shape. Judging from its thick, long tail, it more closely resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
But its skin was fiery red, and flames wreathed from its tail all the way up its spine.
Without a doubt.
It was much more impressive than a Tyrannosaurus Rex!
If he could make this his contracted beast and ride it out, would he still worry about staying single?
Jun Changxiao asked, “Are you all ready?”
“Ready.”
Everyone answered in low voices.
Before entering, Sect Master Jun had already arranged the tactics.
If they alerted the Fire Dragon Beast, Xiao Zuiji would draw first aggro. If that didn’t work, Su Xiaomo and Li Fei would supplement with second aggro.
Once aggro was stabilized, Lu Qianqian would find an opportunity to ice-seal it, then Ye Xingchen and Zhou Hong would attack. They only had three to four breaths—they had to strike a fatal blow!
“Let’s go.”
Jun Changxiao waved his hand and stepped onto the intensely hot ground, proceeding cautiously for—
Cautiously my ass!
As soon as they entered the valley and stepped into the Fire Dragon Beast’s territory, the big creature’s eyelids twitched and it suddenly opened its eyes.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Its mountain-like body gradually rose to four or five zhang tall. While its form resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex, shrouded in scorching flames, it appeared extremely terrifying!
“ROAR—”
The Fire Dragon Beast opened its gaping maw and roared furiously at Jun Changxiao and the others. Rolling heat waves howled toward them.
“Buzz!”
Xiao Zuiji stood at the very front, activating his Defensive Barrier to withstand the scorching wind waves, then charged forward with his shield raised against the heat!
Swish! Swish!
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei split left and right.
“ROAR!”
The Fire Dragon Beast roared again, then gathered flames in its mouth, forming a cannonball that it spat out!
BOOM!
It struck the Defensive Barrier!
The powerful impact forced Xiao Zuiji back five or six steps, instantly consuming a quarter of the crystal core’s energy!
As the main tank, the crystal core embedded in his Fortified Iron Shield was a full rank higher, yet withstanding the Fire Dragon Beast’s most casual strike consumed so much energy—this was simply unwinnable!
“Get its back turned!” Jun Changxiao shouted.
“Swish!”
Xiao Zuiji, carrying his Fortified Iron Shield, circled around to the side on the scorching ground.
The Fire Dragon Beast kept its lock on him, turning its body as well.
Lu Qianqian circled to the other side, arriving right behind the big creature. Just as she was about to condense ice-type spiritual energy to execute the Nine-Fold Ice Sealing Palm, she saw it spit out another scorching fire bullet.
This one was faster and stronger than before!
Limited by the scorching environment, Xiao Zuiji’s speed was already half a beat slower. He couldn’t dodge at all and could only grit his teeth and take it head-on with his Defensive Barrier!
“BOOM—”
The powerful flame cannonball struck the Defensive Barrier hard, rapidly consuming half the remaining energy!
That wasn’t the important part. The important part was that carrying several hundred thousand jin of force, it sent Xiao Zuiji flying and smashing hard into the scorching cliff wall.
“Bwah!”
As he fell, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Junior Brother Xiao!”
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei cried out in alarm.
“ROAR!”
The Fire Dragon Beast roared furiously, turned its head, and directly spewed out a wave of fire.
Yes, a wave of fire!
And it was fan-shaped!
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei, who could have relied on their speed to maneuver around it for a while, suddenly had their positions blocked and couldn’t dodge at all. They could only activate their Defensive Barriers to block.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The fire wave gushed forth, and the temperature instantly soared.
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei, holding up their Defensive Barriers, each moved toward opposite sides until they finally escaped the spray zone with difficulty—but their energy was completely exhausted!
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
Just then, several crescent-shaped streaks of flowing light flew in from the side!
Boom! Boom!
The streaks of light struck directly on the Fire Dragon Beast’s forehead!
Though they caused no substantial damage, they successfully drew aggro, making it turn its head.
Xiao Zuiji staggered over, raising his shield once more. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he grinned and said, “Big bug, your target is me!”
“ROAR—”
The Fire Dragon Beast, successfully taunted by him, roared furiously and charged forward with earth-shaking steps. Its body suddenly spun, and its flaming tail swept viciously across.
The sweep was fast and covered a wide range!
“Dodge!” Jun Changxiao roared.
Xiao Zuiji couldn’t dodge.
And from the start, he’d never planned to!
“STOMP!”
One foot stamped hard on the ground. Muscles and veins bulging, channeling all the power in his body into the Fortified Iron Shield, Xiao Zuiji’s eyes flashed with determination!
Sect Master.
Senior brothers.
With this broken body.
I will bear the thunderous force for you all!