The tide of battle shifted in an instant.
The gray-robed priest glared in disbelief. This was yet another instance of elementary magic? He had been so close to victory. Feeling his lower body stiffen, he withdrew quickly from the reach of Ye Chenfeng's ice vines. His intermediate-level water magic proved useless against this power. Fortunately for him, the black beast had reached the level of a general, boasting intelligence on par with humans.
As Ye Chenfeng unleashed wave after wave of ice vines, the cursed beast halted and swung its bladed limbs to break the ice. Though they knew it was perilous, the beasts hadn't anticipated the ice being so dense.
After creating six layers of ice vines, Ye Chenfeng began forming star tracks. The first, the second—one by one, 49 stars shimmered in the magical nebula, interweaving to create an intricate star formation. He stepped onto the star map, a massive magic circle etching itself onto the frozen battlefield. The already frigid air grew even colder.
Before the cursed beasts could react, the ground ruptured, and dozens of thick black ice chains erupted upward. Ye Chenfeng's expression was imperious, frost crystallizing in the air around him as he directed the chains. The first cursed beast was pierced through the heart by the jagged, icy spearheads at the tips of the chains, collapsing mid-sneer.
The second beast turned, stunned at how swiftly its companion had fallen, only to feel its chest split open as ice crystals threaded through its flesh. The third beast, now fully aware of the deadly threat, waved its steel claws frantically, slicing through several chains and roaring in defiance. This resistance surprised Ye Chenfeng.
"My Ice Soul, Ice Lock are equivalent to level-three ice magic, empowered by 2.9 times the spirit seed," he thought. Despite the cursed beast's efforts, escape was impossible. The ice fog created by his vines surrounded it, closing in from all directions.
On ice, speed is meaningless. The faster you try to move, the more you slip. Cornered, the last beast could only stand its ground.
The battlefield became a chilling scene of triumph. Ice chains, glistening and cold, coiled around Ye Chenfeng, who stood like a god among mortals. The corpses of the cursed beasts hung suspended, lifeless trophies in his frozen web.
"I told you—you're trash," Ye Chenfeng spat, ignoring the gray-robed priest who shivered, nearly paralyzed by the cold.
Level 4 ice creepers were unmatched in speed, especially without magical shoes to escape their reach. Not everyone in the Black Church could be as formidable as Yu Ang. Most were ordinary men, adept at scheming but weak in direct combat. Real experience? Most feared it. If any of them did, they'd be exposed as Black Church members the moment they improved too quickly. Mo Fan had faced that accusation before, so what made the priest think he was exempt? The priest likely recognized this vulnerability, creating the black beast to compensate.
Even without spirit seeds, level-2 ice magic could freeze a beginner wizard into an ice sculpture within seconds. A mid-level wizard would be affected too. Yet, this priest hadn't defended himself against Ye Chenfeng's level-4 ice magic multiplied by 2.9. And he hadn't run?
"Pathetic," Ye Chenfeng muttered. "You really think putting all your hopes on that beast was wise?"
The priest stammered, "If not for your ice magic countering my water—"
"Shut up!" Ye Chenfeng lashed out, driving a chain through the man's body.
A joke indeed. Without any spiritual seeds, the priest was easy prey. Ye Chenfeng could have overwhelmed him with fire magic if needed but chose the more energy-efficient path. His frustration with the Black Church's meddling burned brightly.
The battlefield quieted as students from Mingzhu Academy, drawn by the commotion, finally noticed the powerful magic and strewn corpses. Some stared at the frozen ground in shock, recalling their own near encounters with Ye Chenfeng's wrath.
"Any healers here? heal me!" Ye Chenfeng shouted, uncoiling the chains. Onlookers whispered in awe and dread, recognizing the warrior who had felled three formidable demons and a mage in rapid succession.