HLnovel Chapter 144 Victory in the first battle
Chapter 144 Victory in the first battle
Amidst the howling winds and pristine snow-covered mountains of Hanguang, the tense atmosphere was like a powder keg about to explode. Zhang Yifan moved with lightning speed, appearing instantly before the ice wolves like a ghost. His posture was upright, his black robe fluttering in the wind and snow, making him appear like a war god descending from the heavens, radiating a chilling and fierce aura.
At this moment, he gripped the longsword that had accompanied him through countless life-and-death battles. The blade trembled slightly, as if sensing its master's impending fierce attack and eager to unleash its power. Zhang Yifan's eyes blazed, locking onto the pack of hostile ice wolves before him. Without hesitation, he swung his arm, the longsword imbued with his immense spiritual power, tracing a perfect arc through the air. In an instant, an extremely sharp sword aura shot forth, like a dazzling white arc of light, sweeping towards the ice wolves with unstoppable force.
This sword energy was no ordinary sword energy. It contained the surging and powerful spiritual energy within Zhang Yifan's body, almost as if it had materialized. Wherever it passed, the air hissed as it was cut by the sharp sword energy. The biting cold wind was also swept up by this powerful force, forming a small storm. Snowflakes and ice shards flew wildly along the trajectory of the sword energy, like a sudden white hailstorm.
Although the ice wolves were native to the Frostlight Snow Mountain, cunning by nature and rich in combat experience, they couldn't help but feel fear in the face of this sudden, overwhelming sword energy. They reacted with lightning speed, leaping into the air with their agile bodies and innate nimbleness, attempting to dodge this deadly attack. In an instant, several ice wolves soared high into the air, their white fur gleaming coldly in the snow, their movements perfectly synchronized, like those of well-trained elite soldiers.
However, the sword energy was too fast and its range too wide. Even though the ice wolves tried their best to dodge, one of them still couldn't escape. With a soft "whoosh," the sword energy, like a sharp dagger, precisely sliced across the side of the ice wolf, instantly tearing its fur and leaving a deep wound. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing onto the pristine white snow, the crimson stains standing out starkly against the white backdrop.
The wounded ice wolf cried out in pain, raising its head and letting out a agonizing howl. The high-pitched, mournful sound, filled with agony and rage, echoed through the silent, empty snow-covered mountains, shattering the deathly stillness. This howl, like a battle horn, instantly ignited the fury in the hearts of the remaining ice wolves. Their already fierce eyes now burned with a raging fire of revenge as they furiously pounced on Zhang Yifan.
Knowing they were no match for Zhang Yifan in a one-on-one fight, the ice wolves decided to overwhelm him with their numbers. They spread out in a fan shape, trapping Zhang Yifan in the center and attempting to attack from all angles, leaving him defenseless. In an instant, the ice wolves' attacks were swift and fierce. Sharp claws emerged from their furry paws, gleaming coldly like a row of sharp steel blades; they also spewed out icy, bone-chilling breaths that quickly condensed into sharp ice spikes, raining down on Zhang Yifan.
Zhang Yifan remained calm and composed, his posture as steady as a mountain. Facing the tidal wave of attacks from the ice wolves, a confident smile played on his lips. His longsword, under his exquisite control, danced with impenetrable precision, its shadows overlapping like a blooming silver lotus, completely protecting him. Each clash between his sword and the ice wolves' icy spikes and claws produced a crisp, melodious sound, sparks flying, and ripples of spiritual energy spreading outwards.
In this fierce exchange, Zhang Yifan calmly dealt with the ice wolves' attacks while observing their every move. He discovered that although the ice wolves' attacks were ferocious, their coordination was not flawless, and occasionally their attack rhythms would falter. This was his opportunity. Zhang Yifan secretly plotted and decided to exploit this weakness to deliver a heavy blow to the ice wolves.
So he feigned exhaustion, staggering back a few steps, his longsword drooping slightly as if his spiritual energy was about to run out. Seeing this, the ice wolves thought they had an opportunity and their attack became even more ferocious. Two of the larger and fiercest ice wolves took the lead, seizing Zhang Yifan's "weakness," and pounced, attempting to capture him in one fell swoop.
Just as they were about to pounce on Zhang Yifan, a cunning glint flashed in his eyes, and his previously listless aura erupted like a volcano. He straightened up abruptly, his longsword gleaming brightly, and a sword aura far more powerful than before shot into the sky from the blade, like a white lightning bolt slicing through the heavens. This sword aura swept out, carrying a force powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, precisely slashing towards the two charging ice wolves.
The two ice wolves had no time to react before being struck by the sword energy. Two piercing howls echoed through the sky as their bodies, like fragile paper, were severed in half by the sword energy. Blood and entrails sprayed onto the snow like a torrential downpour, instantly staining large patches of pristine white snow red. This gruesome scene terrified the remaining ice wolves, their attack halting instantly, their eyes filled with deep fear.
Zhang Yifan seized the opportunity, wielding his longsword with ferocious power. Streams of sword energy crisscrossed, like sharp blades dancing wildly in the air, sweeping towards the remaining ice wolves. The ice wolves retreated in disarray, their encirclement quickly torn open, their formation utterly chaotic. At this moment, Zhang Yifan had completely seized the initiative, his momentum unstoppable, seemingly poised to annihilate all the ice wolves.
But the ice wolves were, after all, native inhabitants of the snow-capped mountains, possessing an inherent ferocity that refused to give up easily, even in dire straits. They suppressed their fear and pain, adjusting their frantic steps, attempting to reorganize an effective resistance. Some ice wolves retreated, exhaling icy breaths to slow Zhang Yifan's pursuit; others circled their wounded companions, adopting defensive postures, their fierce eyes still revealing a trace of resentment.
How could Zhang Yifan give them a chance to breathe? He moved with lightning speed, his feet nimble, instantly closing in on an ice wolf that was exhaling icy breath. The ice wolf's eyes widened in terror, and before it could react, Zhang Yifan's longsword, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, precisely pierced its throat. The ice wolf's body instantly stiffened, slowly collapsing to the ground, the light in its eyes gradually dimming.
As one ice wolf after another fell, the remaining wolves grew increasingly terrified, their resistance becoming ever weaker. Zhang Yifan, however, showed no mercy, his longsword flashing continuously, its sword energy crisscrossing, forcing the ice wolves into a corner with nowhere to escape. Finally, after another round of fierce attacks, the last ice wolf also fell to the snow, its blood staining the surrounding snow a dark red.
Zhang Yifan slowly sheathed his sword, letting out a long sigh, a relieved smile appearing on his usually stern face. His initial victory gave him more confidence for his future actions in the Frostlight Snow Mountain. However, he knew this was only the beginning; many more unknown dangers and challenges lurked within the snow mountain, waiting for him to overcome them one by one. He quickly treated his abrasions, adjusted his breathing, and prepared to continue deeper into the snow mountain to search for the traces of the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. Just then, a clear cry suddenly rang out from the sky. He instinctively looked up and saw an ice phoenix, its body radiating a ghostly blue light, appearing in the sky. The ice phoenix's eyes were cold and majestic, silently watching him. Zhang Yifan's heart tightened; he knew the real challenge had just begun.