Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 266 Return to reality

The woman wasn't much better off. Her entire body was practically crushed into the snow, only her head barely able to rise. Her hair lay in a mess, tangled with the whiteness of the snow. Tears welled in her eyes, a physiological reaction to the pain and cold, but she tried hard to hold them back, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of her senior.

Time seemed frozen on this icy plain, each second passing by incomparably long. The man's eyes revealed a complex mixture of determination and pain. He struggled to open his mouth and spoke to Youlan in a low, hoarse voice, "Youlan, we must persevere. We must not give up. This is only a temporary predicament. As long as we get through this, there will be hope." His mouth twitched slightly, trying to force a comforting smile, but it looked strange under the distortion of pain.

Youlan's lips had turned purple from the cold, and she responded with a slight tremor: "Senior Brother Su Yu, I know. But the suppression is too strong, I feel like I can't hold on any longer." Her voice was very soft, like the sound of snowflakes falling, full of helplessness.

Su Yu felt a pang of pain in his heart when he heard Youlan's words. He knew the pain his junior sister was feeling at the moment, but he had to give her hope. He took a deep breath, and even though it made his chest feel even worse, he said firmly, "Youlan, you have to trust our Master. He is a man of great power, and he must have been able to predict our current situation. If he knew we were in trouble, he would definitely come to save us. Moreover, since Master sent us to rescue Lin Feng, he would definitely not let us fall into despair."

After hearing Su Yu's words, Youlan's eyes flickered with hope. She nodded slightly and said, "Brother, you're right. Master is so powerful, he will definitely come to save us. Let's hold on a little longer, we must hold on." Her eyes were filled with renewed fighting spirit. Although her body was still in excruciating pain, her spirit was lifted.

As time went by, they remained pinned to the ground, motionless. Su Yu's mind flashed back to his past training sessions. The days he spent learning martial arts with his master, the moments he'd overcome difficulties, all became his motivation to persevere. He silently said to himself, "I can't fall. I still have to protect Youlan and complete the mission my master has assigned me."

Youlan was thinking about Lin Feng. She didn't know what Lin Feng's current situation was. She thought to herself, "Lin Feng, you must be safe. We're here to save you, but you must be strong and get through this." Her eyes revealed a hint of worry, not just because of the mission, but also because of the special feelings she felt for Lin Feng deep in her heart.

Just as their will was gradually wearing away in pain, suddenly, Su Yu's eyes widened, and he shouted in surprise: "Youlan, do you feel it? The suppressing force seems to be getting weaker." His voice was full of excitement, which was the excitement of seeing hope in despair.

Youlan also noticed this change, and her eyes instantly filled with surprise. She quickly responded, "Brother, I feel it! It's really getting smaller. We have hope." Her expression became excited, and her eyes, which had been dulled by pain, once glowed with brilliance.

The pressure was indeed slowly fading, like a gradually loosening clamp. Su Yu and You Lan gritted their teeth and began to try to stand up with all their might. Su Yu's muscles were tense, his arms and legs as hard as steel. He struggled to hold himself up, every inch of his muscle trembling, revealing the immense pressure he was under.

Youlan was not to be outdone. She supported herself on the ground with both hands, using all her strength to try to lift herself up. Sweat beads appeared on her forehead again, and these beads quickly condensed into ice beads in the cold air, hanging on her eyebrows and eyelashes, making her look like an ice beauty.

Finally, they managed to stand up with all their might. Su Yu stood up straight, breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently. His eyes were filled with relief at having survived the ordeal. He looked at Youlan and saw that her eyes were filled with the same emotion.

The two exchanged glances, seeing determination, relief, and mutual trust in each other's eyes. Then, almost simultaneously, they looked up at Lin Feng, who was frozen on top of the icicle.

At this moment, the ice that froze Lin Feng began to crack little by little. Those cracks were like thin silk threads, spreading across the surface of the ice. Su Yu frowned, his eyes fixed on the ice, his eyes full of curiosity and anticipation. He whispered to Youlan, "Youlan, look. The ice on Lin Feng has changed. It seems like something has happened to him. These ice blocks look like they will break at any moment."

Youlan stared at the ice unblinkingly, her hands unconsciously clenched. With a look of intense concentration, she replied, "Brother, Lin Feng must be going through some kind of transformation. I hope he's safe and well and can successfully break through." Her eyes were filled with worry and anticipation, and she silently prayed for Lin Feng in her heart.

The two men stood there quietly, their eyes fixed on Lin Feng, who was standing atop the icicle. The surrounding pressure was gradually dissipating, but they were oblivious, their entire attention focused on Lin Feng. The ice and snow surrounding the icicle shimmered in the sunlight, and small ice cubes began to break off, falling to the ground with a crisp, ticking sound, like a cold symphony.

As time went by, the ice that froze Lin Feng became covered with cracks. These cracks grew larger and larger, becoming more numerous and numerous, like a shattered spider web. Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the ice that froze Lin Feng exploded like explosives. Ice fragments flew in all directions, gleaming in the sunlight like countless dazzling diamonds in the air.

Lin Feng stood atop the icicle, his fists clenched. His eyes were cold and deep, as if imbued with boundless power. He raised his head slightly, sensing the changes around him. He could clearly feel his body brimming with strength, and all the injuries from the battle had surprisingly healed. His cultivation had also vastly improved, reaching the realm of a Half-Step Grandmaster, a mere step away from Grandmaster status. Furthermore, his physical strength had also greatly increased, and he felt like a solid fortress, capable of withstanding any powerful attack.