No wonder his cultivation speed was so swift; in just three hundred years, he had risen from an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple to become the foremost figure in the world at the Tribulation Crossing stage!

Feng Zikang was inwardly startled, his thoughts racing as he connected the dots.

This Trial Tower indeed possessed a miraculous effect for rapid cultivation, but the secrets it held were likely known only to the departed General Lu. Now that he was gone, everyone who knew the tower's mysteries remained trapped within.

If they could successfully pass through this Trial Tower, their advancement might be equally staggering.

Feng Zikang nodded slightly and smiled, "Since Senior Martial Brother Lu also entered this tower and left successfully, there is even less reason for us to be afraid."

His tone was light, yet it carried an indomitable spirit that stirred something deep within Luo Lianxin, awakening a surge of heroism.

Those of the present are not necessarily inferior to those of the past; if Senior Martial Brother Lu possessed such ability, it didn't mean Feng Zikang and Luo Lianxin couldn't achieve it!

She smiled faintly. "Senior Brother has such spirit. If that is the case, then let us charge into the deepest part of this white mist, shatter the core, and proceed to the next level?"

"Agreed!"

Their plan settled, the two chose the deepest recess of the white mist and plunged right in!

The Trial Tower concealed countless secrets; only by forging ahead bravely could they be revealed.

In the deepest part of the white mist, the pair felt a chill pierce their very bones, as if they were trapped in an ice grotto!

The breath they exhaled instantly crystallized into ice shards, tinkling softly as they fell to the ground. Had they not protected themselves with internal energy, they would have suffered frostbite within moments. Even with their peak Core Condensation cultivation, they shivered uncontrollably in the cold fog, their faces turning blue.

"So cold!"

Feng Zikang shook his body, unleashing the indestructible body protection divine ability. A golden light enveloped them both. While this divine radiance couldn't entirely block the frigid air, it offered a measure of resistance.

Luo Lianxin turned back and offered him a grateful smile. Though she wasn't afraid of the cold, Feng Zikang's considerate action warmed her heart.

Feng Zikang let out a puff of white vapor and said gravely, "Junior Sister, be careful. There must be something strange ahead..."

"No matter!" Luo Lianxin waved her hand, and several golden illusory figures shot forward. Though their movement was sluggish in the white mist, they pressed onward determinedly.

"Junior Sister's divine abilities are truly varied and profound; I admire them immensely!" Feng Zikang nodded, speaking from the heart. Luo Lianxin had cultivated since childhood, honed over long practice, mastering countless techniques—a stark contrast to his own focus on mastering one move to conquer all. In special circumstances, her versatility proved highly useful, a fact he had experienced firsthand years ago.

Luo Lianxin smiled lightly upon hearing the praise and was about to reply when several piercing shrieks echoed from ahead. Her body flickered, and her complexion paled. The host of golden illusions she had released were instantly shattered.

"There is something strange!"

Luo Lianxin let out a sharp cry, summoning her hands. Her Jade Sword flew out from beneath her feet, slicing toward the spot where the illusions had vanished.

"Roar!"

A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering bellow erupted. A gigantic white-furred ape swung its arms, scattering the white mist and revealing its massive form!

"Good heavens!"

Feng Zikang exclaimed, watching the white-furred ape swing its forearms, thick as small mountains, casually knocking Luo Lianxin's flying sword aside. He let out a light snort, unleashing a sword light like a streaming silk ribbon—his Star Extinction Overlord Sword Technique was activated.

"Junior Sister, what kind of monster is this?"

His attack relentless, he turned to ask Luo Lianxin. Being well-read, he hoped she might recognize the origin of this fierce, white-furred beast.

Luo Lianxin frowned. "Senior Brother, this might be the Primordial Beast, the Profound Ice White Ape. It carries intense cold; notice how the very air around it has frozen solid."

Feng Zikang looked closely and indeed saw that near the giant ape, the air stagnated, turning into scattered blue crystals that fluttered down—clearly indicating an absolute, bone-chilling cold.

"This Profound Ice White Ape is a born variant, extremely difficult to deal with. Senior Brother, be careful!"

With the surrounding air condensed by the Profound Ice White Ape's cold, blades and swords found little purchase, yet it possessed boundless strength, capable of tearing apart tigers and leopards barehanded. Fighting it was proving arduous.

"I see!" Feng Zikang nodded. "Since this ape is a Primordial Variant, perhaps this white mist is also its doing?"

"Precisely!"

Luo Lianxin confirmed, "Though the Profound Ice White Ape is powerful, it is inherently timid. Its innate divine ability allows it to set up a Five Elements Illusionary Array, compounded by the Netherworld Cold Qi within its body, making it virtually impossible for ordinary cultivators to find an exit in this mist. However, the Profound Ice White Ape has only ever existed in records; we've never seen a real one. I never expected to encounter such a marvel here in the Trial Tower..."

The Trial Tower held wonders beyond measure. Feng Zikang watched as his sword light, upon slightly approaching the Profound Ice White Ape, was repelled. Although the ape hadn't actively attacked, harming it proved incredibly difficult.

"The cold aura around this ape is quite troublesome..."

Feng Zikang opened his mouth and exhaled the Samadhi True Fire from his heart, intending to use fire to refine the ape. Luo Lianxin hurriedly stopped him.

"Senior Brother, no!"

Feng Zikang paused, about to withdraw the fire, but saw the Samadhi True Fire instantly congeal into ice the moment it neared the ape. A heavy blow struck Feng Zikang's chest; a sudden sweetness flooded his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. In that single exchange, he suffered internal injury.

"How potent!"

The cold around the Profound Ice White Ape could freeze even the Samadhi True Fire—it was truly terrifying. Feng Zikang dared not press his sword light too close, keeping it flickering at a distance. If his Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword were to freeze, he would suffer an immense loss for nothing.

Luo Lianxin's sword light flashed, engaging only on the outer perimeter. For a time, the two were utterly helpless against this single ape.

"Junior Sister, does this ape have any weakness? Fighting like this is not sustainable..."

Feng Zikang reined in his sword light, his figure evasive as he dodged the ape's ferocious lunges, his brow deeply furrowed. Fortunately, besides its powerful innate cold, the ape possessed no other formidable divine arts; it relied only on wildly flailing its claws. While those claws were razor-sharp—one strike could deeply fissure solid ground—its speed was limited. Relying on his sword light, Feng Zikang could manage to evade with relative ease. As long as he maintained some distance, even the extreme cold couldn't freeze him instantly.

Luo Lianxin's eyebrows knitted tightly, deep in thought.

"Ancient texts contain no records of the Profound Ice White Ape possessing the Netherworld Cold Qi that can freeze virtually everything. Even ordinary Spirit Beasts and those with great divine powers avoid provoking them. Furthermore, they favor hiding in dark places; even before the Primordial Chaos shattered, there were no records of them..."

"As for weaknesses..."

Luo Lianxin pondered for a long while, then suddenly her eyes brightened.

She clapped her hands together and laughed, "Senior Brother, perhaps we can try this method!"

Heh heh, Little White has a new book out: Sword Pride Reborn. I hope everyone will support it! This book will certainly exceed a million characters upon completion, so don't worry. Stable updates start today, and I aim to finish it before the end of the month! V