[Chapter 5]
The forest gave way to an open cliffside, where the land split before the sky like a cracked canvas. From here, Castiel could finally see it—the vast Jade Frost Pavilion perched atop a range of azure mountains, glowing faintly under the moonlight. Or rather, burning.
Fires lit up the outer courtyards of the sect like dying stars, smoke trailing into the night sky. Faint echoes of battle drifted through the cold air—clashing blades, explosion-like roars, and desperate screams. The distant silhouette of cultivators fighting mid-air, defying gravity, danced above the peaks like a deadly ballet.
Castiel took a slow breath. "So… that's a real war."
Mu Qinglan narrowed her eyes. "That's not just war. That's an invasion. The Ice Blossom Sect must have made their move earlier than expected."
He frowned. "Didn't they have a peace treaty?"
She scoffed. "In the cultivation world, peace is a lie. Everyone's just waiting for the right time to betray you."
Main Quest Updated:
"Defend the Jade Frost Pavilion"
Objective: Assist the disciples and repel the Ice Blossom Sect
Bonus Rewards: Unknown
Difficulty: Very High
"I just leveled up," Castiel muttered. "I better get a good loot drop for this."
They hurried down a hidden mountain path that led toward the western entrance. Mu Qinglan moved like a ghost, her footwork silent and precise, her sword already glowing faint blue from spirit energy. Castiel followed closely, checking his status.
Castiel – Lv. 9
HP: 230/300
Qi Core: Stable
Active Skill: Flow Breaker Slash (CD: 12s)
Passive: Battle Instinct – Slightly increases reaction speed during life-threatening combat
He clenched his fists. It wasn't enough. He'd seen how fast enemies could kill—one mistake and it'd be game over. But instead of fear, something else burned in his chest. Excitement.
They reached a hidden slope overlooking the west gate. It was chaos.
Jade Frost disciples in pale blue robes fought desperately against enemies clad in white and silver—the Ice Blossom Sect. Most were evenly matched, but Castiel's eyes caught it instantly: the enemies had more numbers. And worse, their elders hadn't even joined the field yet.
"Where should we go?" he asked.
Mu Qinglan nodded toward the left flank. "The outer medicine hall is being overrun. If it falls, we lose the alchemists. And if we lose them, wounded disciples can't fight back."
Castiel nodded. "Then let's hold the line."
They charged down the hill. As they burst into the fray, a group of Ice Blossom disciples turned to intercept. The leader, a young man with a long jade staff, sneered. "Reinforcements? You sent a brat and a girl?"
Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to surrender now or after I break your legs?"
"Kill them!" he snarled.
Castiel's system lit up.
Mini-Boss Identified: Yu Long – Lv. 12 (Ice Blossom Sect Elite)
Elemental Affinity: Ice
Special Ability: Freezing Domain
Danger Level: Moderate
He raised his sword just as the enemy disciples surged toward them. The first enemy struck low with a curved blade, but Castiel parried it, twisting to disarm and deliver a heavy knee into the attacker's gut. The man flew back, winded.
Another lunged, slashing wildly. Castiel ducked, activated Flow Breaker Slash, and countered with a spiraling overhead strike that cracked the enemy's shoulder clean out of place.
"Two down," he muttered.
Mu Qinglan, meanwhile, was a storm of elegance. Her sword drew arcs of frost in the air, freezing limbs and slicing through defenses. She moved like water, fluid and deadly, never staying still long enough to be targeted.
Yu Long growled, slamming his staff into the ground.
Skill Activated: Freezing Domain
Area of Effect: 20 meters
Status Effect: Movement -30%, Frostbite accumulation
The air around them dropped instantly. Ice coated the ground, and Castiel felt his joints slow, his breath steaming in front of him.
Mu Qinglan grimaced. "He's trying to lock us down for a finisher!"
Castiel's screen flickered.
Tip: Opponent has Elemental Weakness – Fire
"Mu, cover me!" he shouted.
He opened his inventory.
Item Used: Lesser Fire Spirit Orb
Effect: Temporary flame enhancement on next physical attack
His sword blazed with red-orange flame, steam hissing off the blade as it met the freezing mist.
Yu Long's eyes widened. "That's—!"
"Too late," Castiel said, lunging forward.
He drove his flaming sword into the icy staff mid-swing. The explosion of fire and ice knocked both of them backward, but the fire won out—Yu Long's robes caught flame, and he rolled on the ground screaming.
Castiel didn't stop. He ran forward, dodged a desperate counterattack, and kicked the staff out of the man's hand. One final downward strike knocked Yu Long unconscious.
Mini-Boss Defeated: Yu Long
EXP: +900
Loot Acquired: Ice Spirit Token ×1, Jade Blossom Technique Scroll ×1
Level Up!
New Level: 10
Attribute Points +5
He stood over the collapsed enemies, panting.
"Clear," he said.
Mu Qinglan gave him a small nod. "Not bad for a gamer."
He smirked. "Not bad for a princess."
Suddenly, an explosion shook the ground. From the inner courtyard, a massive beam of icy blue light shot skyward, twisting into a lotus-shaped cloud.
Mu Qinglan's face went pale. "That's… Sect Master Bing Yue's ultimate technique."
"What does that mean?"
She turned to him with urgency. "It means their core disciples have entered the battle. And they won't show mercy."
Castiel's grip tightened on his sword.
Then I won't either.
-------------------------------------------------------
The explosion had been more than just visual—it sent ripples through the ground, a warning that the true stage of battle had begun. Ice spread from the inner courtyard like creeping death, curling over stone pathways, freezing trees, and snuffing out torches. A biting wind followed it, carrying with it the overwhelming spiritual pressure of someone far beyond the level of the outer disciples.
Alert: Major Boss Battle Detected
Name: Shui Han'er – Core Disciple of Ice Blossom Sect
Cultivation Level: Core Formation – Mid Stage
Elemental Affinity: Pure Ice
Difficulty: EXTREME
Suggested Strategy: Evade or stall until support arrives.
Castiel stared at the alert. "Stall? They want me to stall that?!"
Mu Qinglan gritted her teeth, drawing closer. "Shui Han'er is one of the top ten young elites in the eastern continent. If she's here… they're not just raiding us. They're trying to eliminate Jade Frost Pavilion."
A scream echoed through the air as a protective barrier in the distance shattered like glass. Cultivators on both sides paused briefly, their instincts screaming that something beyond them had stepped into the field.
From the smoke and frost walked a woman clad in white robes that sparkled like morning frost. Her long black hair was pinned with an ice lotus hairpiece, and her eyes were a calm, pale blue—emotionless and terrifying.
Shui Han'er.
Behind her, a team of elite disciples followed, their cultivation levels high and coordinated like a small army. Wherever she walked, the ground frosted beneath her feet.
"Disperse," she said coldly, voice echoing with an unnatural resonance. "This war ends tonight."
Mu Qinglan's breath caught. "She's using her domain. That's her field!"
Warning: Shui Han'er has activated Ice Lotus Domain
Debuff: All fire and neutral-element techniques weakened
Visibility: Reduced
Escape Routes: Limited
Without hesitation, Castiel turned to Mu Qinglan. "If we fight her head-on, we die."
"You noticed?" she snapped. "We need to stall until the Pavilion Elders arrive."
As the domain enveloped the courtyard, Castiel triggered his Battle Instinct passive and dropped into a defensive stance. He wasn't going to charge into death—but he wasn't going to run either.
Shui Han'er looked at them. Her gaze lingered on Castiel for a second longer than expected.
"You're not from this continent," she said.
Castiel blinked. "Huh?"
"I can sense it. Your Qi is… unstable. Foreign." She tilted her head slightly. "Interesting."
Without warning, she struck. A sharp beam of ice launched toward him, spinning like a razor drill.
Flow Breaker Slash!
Castiel ducked, used the skill to redirect the beam into a nearby wall, shattering it. Ice exploded outward, cutting his shoulder open in a thin line. Blood steamed in the cold air.
He activated a health potion instantly.
Mu Qinglan dashed toward Shui Han'er, sword infused with wind essence, and unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes. Shui Han'er parried with one hand, her movements so precise they barely seemed real. On the final clash, she extended her other hand and sent a blast of frozen mist straight into Mu Qinglan's chest, throwing her across the courtyard.
"Mu!" Castiel shouted.
She groaned but stayed conscious. "I'm fine! Just—keep her busy!"
Right.
"Alright, ice queen," Castiel muttered. "Let's play."
He threw out one of his newly acquired loot—Flame Trap Rune. It activated instantly, surrounding Shui Han'er with sudden bursts of fire pillars.
Effect: Flame Cage Activated
Duration: 5 seconds
Damage Over Time Applied
Shui Han'er's calm expression twitched. "You dare—"
He used the moment to rush in, striking with everything he had. His blade flashed, and he landed three hits—none critical, but enough to make her step back.
For a moment, it looked like he could hold her off.
Then the domain tightened.
Status: Qi Flow Slowed – 25% Movement Penalty
Passive Skill Unlocked: Grit (Temporary) – Reduced movement penalty in hostile zones
"Don't fail me now…" he growled.
Shui Han'er raised her hands. Snow gathered into a massive lotus above her, its petals sharp as blades.
"This is the end," she said softly. "Frost Lotus Annihilation."
Mu Qinglan's eyes widened. "Castiel—run!"
But Castiel didn't move. He didn't want to. His instincts screamed that if he turned his back, it was over.
He stood his ground. "No."
He took out the Zhang Flame Token, another rare loot he hadn't tested yet.
Item: Zhang Flame Token
One-time use
Summons: Spirit Flame Guardian (30 seconds)
Cooldown: N/A
He activated it.
A burst of crimson fire engulfed the area. The cold was pushed back, the domain shook—and a fiery humanoid spirit burst from the token, roaring with ancient rage.
Shui Han'er's lotus faltered.
"Impossible—" she hissed.
The Flame Guardian charged, slamming into her just before she could launch the attack. It didn't kill her, but it forced her backward, disrupting her casting.
Mu Qinglan rushed in from the side, sword coated in spinning wind essence. "Gale Pierce!"
She slashed across Shui Han'er's arm, finally drawing blood.
The core disciple stepped back, face no longer calm. "So you two really aren't ordinary."
Castiel pointed his sword at her. "Nah. We're just really annoyed."
Quest Update: Hold Line – 60 seconds remaining until Jade Frost Elders arrive
They had to survive one more minute.
Shui Han'er exhaled slowly. "Then survive this."
She slammed both palms on the ground.
Ice cracked open into spikes, rising in unpredictable patterns. Wind howled. Snow fell sideways. The courtyard became a storm made real.
Castiel ducked, rolled, slashed, parried—every movement instinctual now, his reflexes blending with his gamer mind. He didn't try to win. He tried to survive.
Then, with a thunderous boom—the elders arrived.
A wave of golden Qi exploded across the battlefield as three figures descended from the skies, their spiritual energy smashing into Shui Han'er's domain like divine punishment.
"ENOUGH!" an elder's voice roared.
The domain shattered.
Shui Han'er stepped back, blood on her lips, face unreadable.
"We will meet again," she said softly, and vanished in a flurry of snowflakes.
Quest Complete: Defend the Jade Frost Pavilion
Reward: Level Up!
New Level: 11
Skill Unlock: Counterstrike
Bonus Item: Core Disciple Recommendation Token
Castiel dropped to his knees, panting.
Mu Qinglan sat beside him, equally breathless. "You still alive?"
"Barely," he said with a weak laugh. "Next time, you stall the boss."
She smiled faintly. "You did good."
He looked up at the sky, smoke rising from the ruined courtyard. His body hurt, but his heart was calm.
This was just the beginning.