Wandering Swordsman |

The four embarked on a journey across the frozen volcano.

The cold wind was like a knife, cutting painfully on my face.

Hua Tianyou walked at the front, his steps light and his breathing steady, with even a hint of nostalgia on his face—this chill, compared to the frozen snowfields that separated the far west, was like a gentle spring breeze.

Albert, however, had turned pale and his lips trembled slightly.

Although the faceless one did not show his face, his steps became noticeably heavier, and a slight trembling sound came from under his cloak.

Shen Mo observed this and quietly circulated his inner energy, gently pressing his hands against the backs of the two people. A warm, spring-like inner energy slowly flowed in, dispelling the chill.

"Mr. Shen... thank you." Albert looked at Shen Mo gratefully.

Shen Mo shook his head: "No need for thanks. However, the frozen volcano ahead is likely even more dangerous than here, with its extreme heat and cold."

In the distance, the frozen volcano gradually comes into view.

It stands silently on the frozen continent, like a sleeping giant.

At the foot of the mountain, a bizarre scene unfolds: on one side, a glacier that has remained frozen for millennia, gleaming like a sapphire under the blinding sunlight, reflecting a chilling light; on the other, a scalding hot spring, steaming with white mist, forming a natural boundary between yin and yang. Between the hot spring and the glacier, there seems to be an invisible boundary, one side extreme cold, the other extreme heat; the two most extreme forces in the world meet here, yet coexist peacefully.

Meanwhile, on the mountainside, a dozen or so figures were climbing the frozen volcano. Although they were far away and appeared as blurry black dots, their movement toward the summit confirmed that they were people.

"My lord! Look! There are people on the mountainside!" A sharp glint flashed in Hua Tianyou's eyes, his voice trembling slightly with excitement as he pointed to the distant mountainside, "It must be Lord Wudi and his men!"

Shen Mo narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, piercing through the distant mist. He nodded slightly, his voice low but carrying an undeniable determination: "Speed ​​up, we need to catch up with them as soon as possible."

......

At this moment, Invincible Duke and his party were rapidly advancing towards the summit of the frozen volcano. Unbeknownst to them, a group of people were pursuing them.

"Your Grace," Knight Commander Thorne strode to Duke Wudi's side, his voice tinged with barely perceptible tension, "all the intelligence about Xuanyuan Ling points to the summit of that frozen volcano. We'll be there soon."

Odin, the Invincible Lord, suddenly stopped, then quickened his pace. His hands, which had been wielding a sword for years, trembled slightly, his knuckles white from the force, as if he were about to crush the air. He looked up at the distant volcano summit, his eyes flashing with an almost fanatical light, as if he could already see the "Heavenly Demon Divine Skill" that Hua Shenyong had been searching for so desperately.

He ignored the knights following behind him and sped forward like an arrow.

Each step landed on the ice, producing a crisp cracking sound, as if racing against time.

His breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently, yet he remained oblivious. His silver armor reflected a blinding light in the sunlight, a stark contrast to his current anxious state of mind.

Thorne hurried to catch up, a hint of worry in his voice: "Your Grace, the mountain path is steep, please slow down!"

Without turning his head, the Invincible Duke left only the words: "After searching for so long, it may be right before my eyes now. I can't wait any longer!"

He quickened his pace, each step sinking deeper into the ice, the surface cracking softly beneath his feet. His imposing frame traced a rapid path across the icy plain, like a wild horse galloping towards the summit of the volcano.

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were particularly deep in the sunlight, marks of time and ambition, but now they were even more pronounced due to his excitement.

The mountain wind howled, whipping his silver cloak into a fluttering sound. An indescribable excitement surged within him, as if he had already touched that legendary secret manual.

......

Four hours later, the summit of the frozen volcano was almost within reach.

However, at this moment, the sweltering heat distorted the air, turning the entire mountaintop into a hellish furnace.

The scalding air rushed towards us like a living thing, instantly evaporating the frost on the armor and even giving the rock surface a dark red glow.

"Cough cough... This heat..." A knight staggered, leaning against the rock wall, sweat mixed with ash sliding down his forehead. "Lord Thorne, I really can't hold on any longer..."

Thorne wiped the bloodstains from between his brows and glanced at the dozen or so knights around him.

These men, already exhausted, were now tormented by the hellish heat, staggering from side to side. He strode quickly to the Duke, his voice hoarse yet still authoritative: "Your Grace, I suggest the remaining knights descend the mountain first."

Odin's fingers trembled slightly as he gripped his sword, and sweat trickled down the seams of his armor, condensing into glistening droplets on his chainmail.

He gritted his teeth, staring ahead, his Adam's apple bobbing twice: "Fine! Let them...go to the shore and meet up with Allen."

Thorne immediately turned around, his voice booming like a bell: "All knights, heed my command! Except for myself and Lord Odin, all other knights, descend the mountain immediately! Remember, return via the same route, and make sure you reach the shore safely to rendezvous with the Vice-Commander!"

"But sir..." a knight struggled to speak, his eyes bloodshot and filled with resentment, as if victory was just around the corner if he held on a little longer.

"Execute the order!" Thorne's scabbard slammed heavily against the rock wall, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's. "If you don't evacuate in time, you'll all lose your lives in this volcano!"

At Thorne's command, the surviving knights staggered away with a sigh of relief.

Every step they took felt like walking on hot coals; the skin beneath their armor was scorched red by the heat, and some even tore open their collars to reveal their sweat-soaked chests.

Meanwhile, on a forest path halfway up the mountain, Shen Mo and his group of four were hurrying along, holding their breath. Hua Tianyou's cloak billowed in the hot wind, making a loud rustling sound. "My lord, someone is coming this way!"

Before the words were even finished, the footsteps of the twelve knights broke the silence of the forest.

The lead knight, seeing other people on the road, immediately became alert, drew his sword, and blocked the way: "Halt! Who are you! What are you doing on the Frozen Continent!"

Albert stepped forward, the seven-star emblem gleaming coldly in the sunlight. His movements were elegant and composed, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips: "Are you knights under the command of the Invincible Duke?"

"Seven Stars?" The knight commander's sword trembled slightly, a trace of blood appearing beneath his bronze mask. "But we've received orders that no one is allowed to approach the volcano without authorization. Not even Seven Stars."

Albert suddenly smiled. He then immediately lunged forward, his speed almost imperceptible. The leading knight, before he could react, was stunned by a chop to the neck, his sword clattering to the ground. The remaining eleven knights, realizing the danger, drew their swords and launched a coordinated attack.

"You're asking for death!" one of the knights roared, swinging his sword down, but the blade was deflected the moment it touched Albert's clothes. He casually flicked his scabbard, striking the man precisely at his wrist meridian. The man screamed and fell to his knees, his sword slipping from his hand.

"Heavenly Demon Lord, go and help! Finish this quickly!" Shen Mo's voice was as icy as ice. "Oh, and leave one person behind to find out why the Invincible Lord came here."