Chapter 325: Ice Illusion Toads
Chapter 325: Ice Illusion Toads
Just after flying out less than thirty feet, suddenly, from the deep dark waters, countless blue-black ice arrows shot out simultaneously.
The ice arrows covered a vast area, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators who were flying were caught off guard. In their haste, they summoned black shields to protect themselves while dodging.
The power of the ice arrows exceeded everyone's imagination. Amid the constant clattering sounds, the surfaces of the third-grade defensive artifacts showed traces of blue-black marks.
"These ice arrows contain potent poison," Lu Chen said slowly.
With his sharp eyesight, he clearly saw wisps of black smoke rising from the shields.
Above the dark waters, the Foundation Establishment cultivator sensed something amiss. He maximized his spiritual power, paying no heed to the battered shield, and quickly returned to the group.
"What kind of demonic beasts are lurking in these waters?"
The cultivators gazed at the dark waters below. Despite the secret realm being just ahead, no one dared to take the risk of rushing to the front.
A short cultivator stepped out from the crowd and sprinkled countless silver powders over the waters.
After a few breaths, thousands upon thousands of toad shadows appeared in the waters below.
They were densely packed, occasionally breaking the surface.
The toads were a deep blue in color, with enormous bodies and several black lumps on their backs. The blue-black ice arrows were shot from these lumps.
"Let's give it a try," said a group of three, stepping forward. They unleashed a large amount of spiritual energy, forming a thick layer of protective aura around them as they flew swiftly above the dark waters, aiming to reach the desolate island.
In the waters, waves churned as ice arrows rained down from the toads' backs.
A faint black mist hung in the air, carrying a putrid stench.
The trio's spiritual energy shield flickered with rapid streams of light, constantly replenishing any weak spots that were about to break.
However, the sheer number of ice arrows, coupled with the corrosive nature of the black smoke, put their shields in a precarious situation.
The distance to the island was too far, and they lacked the confidence to make it across safely under such relentless assault, so they retreated as well.
"Most of them are second-grade demonic beasts, with a good number of third-grade ones mixed in," someone commented.
"But there are just too many of them. It's extremely challenging to reach the island unscathed."
After the two attempts, the group had a better understanding of the strength of the numerous toads in the dark waters.
If they didn't mind the losses, most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present could cross this watery obstacle, but the problem was that it was difficult to do so without any casualties.
The secret realm was right before their eyes, and if they exhausted their spiritual power and lost important artifacts here, their reduced strength might cause them to miss out on the treasures within.
For this reason, everyone hoped that someone would take the lead in breaking through the toad demonic beasts, minimizing their own losses.
The waters were extremely wide, and many cultivators walked along the periphery, hoping to find a suitable route.
Lu Chen and Shi Zhong moved together, bypassing the other cultivators to reach a relatively secluded spot.
"I wonder what these toads are all about," Shi Zhong speculated. "Their numbers are astonishing. Could it be that no cultivators have ever come to this secret realm before, allowing them to breed unchecked to this extent?"
Lu Chen remained silent. During one of their attempts to breach the deep blue toad's defenses, he quietly sprinkled beast scraps among them.
Because it was mixed with his gentle sword intent, neither Shi Zhong nor the others noticed this small action of his.
Among the countless toads in the water, even if they avoided Lu Chen's offerings, there were bound to be some that accidentally swallowed them. After completing this feeding process, Lu Chen gained detailed information about these creatures.
"It seems to be an ice-type demonic beast. According to the principle of the Five Elements, how about using fire-type spells for a strong assault? It might yield unexpected results."
As Lu Chen lowered his head, digesting the information that appeared in his mind, Zhou Bingyu suggested aloud.
"Absolutely not!"
He quickly spoke up to stop her.
Shi Zhong and the others looked at him, puzzled.
"I just remembered the origin of these toad demonic beasts. I recall reading about them in a book in the sect's library. They're called Ice Illusion Toads, and they contain deadly poison. Fire-type spells will only make things worse," Lu Chen explained.
"Then what should we do?" Shi Zhong asked, his face lighting up with expectation now that Lu Chen had revealed his knowledge of the beasts.
"A frontal assault is definitely not the answer, but there's a targeted method that can help us reduce spiritual power consumption and reach the island safely."
Lu Chen spoke softly, his lips barely moving as he transmitted his voice to the other two.
"Are you sure this will work, Lu?"
Zhou Bingyu furrowed her brows, looking perplexed.
Lu Chen's suggestion sounded bizarre—facing so many Ice Illusion Toads, he intended to slowly make their way through the deep, dark waters.
"It's worth a try. Who knows, it might work. We can tag along with the largest group and let them draw the toad's fire. If it doesn't work, we can always retreat safely," Lu Chen said.
The three glanced at each other and then rejoined the crowd.
After some discussion, the other Foundation Establishment cultivators decided to break through the encirclement of toad demonic beasts together.
Shi Zhong suggested that the three of them bring up the rear, and the others, eager to reach the desolate island as soon as possible, naturally had no objections.
Over ten cultivators flew into the air above the deep black waters, some summoning their most defensive artifacts or talismans, while others rode on flying artifacts, all racing through the sky at top speed.
In an instant, sharp whistling sounds filled the air as countless blue-black ice arrows shot towards them at lightning speed.
Lu Chen and his companions took out their defensive artifacts, which hovered around them as they flew nonchalantly at the back of the group.
The number of ice arrows targeting the three of them was significantly fewer than those aimed at the others.
The other Foundation Establishment cultivators sensed this through their spiritual awareness but didn't think much of it, assuming it was because Lu Chen's group was lagging behind.
Although the number of ice arrows targeting Lu Chen's group had decreased by more than half, their power was still not to be underestimated.
Among the three, Shi Zhong and Zhou Bingyu focused on blocking the ice arrows, while Lu Chen took on the task of detoxifying, dividing their tasks clearly.
As the poison carried an eerie spiritual power, Lu Chen took out a third-grade Purification Talisman and used it to neutralize the poison.
While the other Foundation Establishment cultivators rushed forward, stopping and starting, Lu Chen's group maintained a constant speed, drawing a steady stream of ice arrow attacks.
By the time they reached the desolate island, they were only slightly slower than most of the other cultivators, but they had conserved a significant amount of spiritual power.
This would prove advantageous in their subsequent actions.
Shi Zhong and Zhou Bingyu were well aware of this, and they both expressed their gratitude to Lu Chen.
"Who would've thought that Lu, with your background in spiritual herbs and beasts, would play such a crucial role in this situation? It just goes to show that every skill has its unique value," Shi Zhong said.
"I'm just fortunate to have come across records about these Ice Illusion Toads before. It's my pleasure to be of assistance to you both," Lu Chen replied with a smile.
The two had helped him before he entered the secret realm, so he was more than happy to return the favor.
(End of Chapter)
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