Chapter 49: You Actually Ran Off Without Me!
About a quarter of an hour later.
When the last wave of snow slowly slid down the slope, finally coming to a halt at the mountain’s foot, this icy plain at last regained a certain eerie tranquility.
The avalanche had ended.
The originally undulating terrain of the icy plain had been completely altered.
Countless ice pillars and hills were buried, only their scattered tips protruding.
As far as the eye could see, there was only a dead, silent white, as if that world-destroying catastrophe from moments ago had never happened.
But the resilience of life always reveals itself in the harshest of environments.
*Rustle, rustle————*
A certain snowdrift suddenly loosened. A Spirit Beast struggled out from the snow, shook off the powder, and hopped away in panic.
Further away, a massive ice plain mammoth arched its back out of the snow. Lucky, it was only half-buried. After struggling a few times, it freed itself, let out a long cry of survival, and quickly left with heavy steps.
More fortunate Spirit Beasts emerged from the snow one after another. Most were injured, some limping, others still adorned with icicles, but all desperately fled into the distance.
This area had temporarily become a forbidden zone for life, yet also a ’cafeteria’ for survivors.
Beneath a slope buried by snow, scattered rocks, and broken ice pillars, several slender, ice crystal-covered deer legs protruded from a snowdrift, twitching weakly.
It was an Ice-Horned Deer, which had failed to escape the avalanche and was buried alive.
Right at that moment, three small mounds suddenly bulged on the nearby snow surface.
*Crunch, crunch————*
Three small scorpions, their bodies entirely emerald green as if carved from jadeite, emerged from the snow.
They were less than half a meter long, their tail hooks crystal clear, emitting faint wisps of cold mist. They were one of the most common hunters in the Far North, the Ice Jade Scorpions.
The three little Ice Jade Scorpions shook the snow powder off their bodies, their small green eyes warily scanning their surroundings.
After confirming no danger, they quickly noticed the Ice-Horned Deer with only its legs showing not far away.
*Squeak!*
One Ice Jade Scorpion excitedly waved its front pincers, relaying information to its companions.
The other two also emitted cheerful chirps. The avalanche was terrifying, but it left behind quite a few ’spoils of war’!
This Ice-Horned Deer didn’t seem completely dead yet, making it the freshest ingredient!
The three little ones quickly crawled over and began digging away the snow around the Ice-Horned Deer’s exposed leg.
Their front pincers, though small, were extremely sharp, cutting through frozen snow like tofu. Soon, half of the Ice-Horned Deer’s body was excavated.
Just as they were about to enjoy this unexpected feast...
*Crack——!*
A crisp, heart-stopping cracking sound came from the hillside not far away.
One of the little Ice Jade Scorpions looked up.
It saw a thick icicle on the hillside, which had snagged a massive ice boulder weighing several tons during the avalanche. Now, it finally gave way under the weight, snapping at its base!
The unsupported ice boulder began to roll down the steep snowy slope!
Slow at first, but quickly accelerating, rolling faster and faster, crushing towards the spot where the three little Ice Jade Scorpions were!
*Squeak——!*
That little Ice Jade Scorpion suddenly yanked its nearby companion’s front pincer and dragged it sideways to flee!
The other Ice Jade Scorpion was focused on digging snow and was half a beat slow.
By the time it looked up, the huge ice boulder had already rolled to within less than ten meters of it!
A massive shadow enveloped it, and the grip of deathly fear seized it!
It froze.
Its small green eyes widened into perfect circles, its front pincers stiffened mid-air, its body immobilized by extreme terror.
It could only instinctively close its eyes, wrap its two front pincers around its head, and prepare to meet its fate of being crushed to dust.
However.
The anticipated excruciating pain and crushing sensation did not arrive.
The little Ice Jade Scorpion cautiously opened one eye.
Then, it saw a sight it would never forget for the rest of its life.
That massive ice boulder, capable of crushing it into powder, was now suspended less than a foot above its head!
And holding up this giant rock was a pair of human hands!
It was a human boy who looked only twelve or thirteen years old.
His long hair was somewhat disheveled from the recent violent movement, but his eyes shone with startling brilliance.
Even more peculiar, his arms were currently emitting a light interwoven with four colors.
Jiang Bai gritted his teeth, veins bulging.
The downward momentum of the ice boulder was too fierce. His feet were already deeply sunk into the snow, his knees slightly bent, clearly struggling immensely to support it.
He lowered his head and looked at the little Ice Jade Scorpion, which was stunned like a wooden chicken.
"What are you waiting for? Go!"
Only then did the little Ice Jade Scorpion snap out of its daze.
It looked at Jiang Bai, then at the boulder suspended overhead. Its green eyes filled with disbelief. *I—I was saved by a human?*
But it had no time to think further.
The instinct for survival drove it to quickly crawl away, chasing after the direction its two companions had fled.
As it crawled, it thought indignantly.
*Those two disloyal jerks! You actually ran off without me!*
*When I get back, I’m definitely telling the Clan Chief!*
Watching the little Ice Jade Scorpion leave safely, Jiang Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
And as his spirit relaxed, he suddenly felt the pressure on his arms—seemingly a bit lighter?
*Huh? No, not an illusion, it really is lighter!*
He instinctively reduced his strength slightly.
*Crack, crack, crack!!!*
A series of rapid cracking sounds suddenly came from within the ice boulder!
Immediately after, the entire surface of the massive ice boulder instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks!
"What?!"
*Boom—!!!*
The several-ton ice boulder shattered before his eyes, completely without warning!
Not breaking into several large pieces, but completely pulverizing into countless fist-sized ice chunks and finer powder, pouring down.
Ice dust filled the air.
Jiang Bai stood in place, somewhat dazed.
He looked down at his own hands, then at the pile of shattered ice at his feet. That ice boulder, solid as iron just moments ago, how did it suddenly—turn to dust?
Jiang Bai abruptly looked up.
The ice dust gradually dispersed. A petite figure had appeared beside him at some unknown time.
It was a girl who looked less than 1.6 meters tall, yet possessed a face exquisitely beautiful, almost not of this Mortal world.
Her fair, delicate skin resembled the finest mutton-fat jade. On each cheek were four emerald-green magic patterns, which, far from seeming eerie, instead added a touch of mysterious beauty.
Her ink-green hair was tied into two playful twin tails, cascading down her back.
She wore a well-tailored emerald-green long skirt, the hem reaching only her knees, revealing slender, fair calves.
She withdrew her hand and placed it on her hip.
A pair of golden pupils quietly watched Jiang Bai, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny, a hint of curiosity, and a hint of—aloof indifference.
Jiang Bai’s heart gave a heavy thump.
This appearance————
Ice Empress.
Jiang Bai’s mind raced, but on the surface, he maintained his composure.
He patted the ice powder off his body, then slightly cupped his hands towards the Ice Empress and said.
"Thank you, Senior, for your assistance."
The Ice Empress did not speak.
She looked Jiang Bai up and down, a flash of confusion passing through her golden pupils.
*A human, and one who looks only at the Spirit Ancestor level, why would he appear in the core region of the Far North?*
*That power fluctuation just now—four Dragon Clan auras? Interesting.*
More importantly, this human had just saved a youngling of her clan.