The gray-robed priest sneered at Ye Chenfeng's calm demeanor. "What? You still think you can resist?"
With three general-level cursed beasts and his own mid-level magic, victory seemed certain. But Ye Chenfeng, eyes sharp, crouched low. "The distance is just enough," he muttered. It was fifty meters—enough time for the beasts to charge in little over a second, matching the time he needed to strike back. Sensing this, the gray-robed priest ordered the cursed beasts to spread out, flanking Ye Chenfeng and surrounding him with a calculated menace.
The Fiery Fist's attack was powerful but limited in scope, and the beasts' agility gave them an advantage to evade. If Ye Chenfeng hesitated or miscalculated, he'd be shredded by their claws. This ambush had been perfectly timed, and the gray-robed priest's eyes glistened with satisfaction as he watched Ye Chenfeng's struggle.
"Hahaha! The famed Pearl Emperor, taken down by a nobody like me! Look at you now—glorious no more!" His laughter rang cruelly, only to falter when Ye Chenfeng's eyes flashed with defiance.
"Me, lose? You're delusional, you coward," Ye Chenfeng shot back, his voice dripping with contempt.
The priest's grin faltered, replaced by a scowl. The audacity! This worm dared to defy him? He'd make Ye Chenfeng grovel. "This is your last chance! Hand over the Holy Spring, join the Black Church, and your future will be assured."
Ye Chenfeng smirked, disdain sharpening his words. "What? Still nursing on your mother's milk? Run back and cry to her, you miserable coward! The Holy Spring is with me—if you dare, come and take it!" His taunt seared through the air.
"Insufferable!" The priest's fury exploded as he commanded the beasts forward. Their savage snarls echoed as they lunged, claws poised to rip Ye Chenfeng apart.
The priest savored the moment. In his past, he had been an ordinary citizen in Magic City, always overshadowed by aristocratic mages breaking through to mid-level status. His rage had festered until he found power through a mysterious benefactor who promised him greatness, whispering of cursed beasts and dark ascensions. He craved more—more power, more validation, and the Holy Spring was his key.
His memories snapped away as an unexpected chill swept over the battlefield. Ice cracked underfoot as Ye Chenfeng summoned his power. The ground shimmered as frost erupted, consuming the area in an instant—Ice Creeper, Level 4. Fueled by the might of his ice spirit seed, the spell spread rapidly, forming a frozen landscape.
The priest's eyes widened as crystal snowflakes filled the air, transforming the ground into a merciless expanse of ice. The cursed beasts faltered mid-charge, their movements trapped as ice surged up their limbs. The temperature plummeted, swallowing all warmth and life. The battlefield turned from lush terrain to an arctic wasteland, and it had happened in the blink of an eye.
With the ice spirit seed multiplying his power nearly threefold, Ye Chenfeng had harnessed a strength bordering on the limits of magic. His effective range had expanded beyond that of a basic mage, challenging even intermediate magicians.
For the first time, fear cracked through the priest's triumph. He had underestimated Ye Chenfeng's true prowess. The field of battle, once his victory stage, now belonged to his opponent.