In the critical moment, Luo Feng immediately shrank his body down to just a few centimeters in length, narrowly evading the attack.
He had no intention of entering the Fire Dragon's body while small and then enlarging himself to burst it open from within. The Purple Flame inside the dragon's body was something Luo Feng couldn't withstand at all. Even fighting outside, his body already bore multiple burns. Entering its belly wouldn't burst the dragon—it might just give it indigestion.
Luo Feng quickly restored his original size and pulled the Heaven Splitting Axe free from the dragon's body. The spectators, who had been holding their breaths, nearly thought Luo Feng was about to be devoured whole. When they saw him reappear, they collectively exhaled in relief.
Luo Feng stared warily at the Fire Dragon before him. Its strength was overwhelming. At present, he stood no chance against it—unless his Mystic Ice Blade was ready. But forging the blade would take at least another hour, even with all the Time Accelerators he'd obtained from Zhang San and the others.
Strictly speaking, he didn't need to kill the dragon. Delaying it until Tang Xuewei completed her Inheritance would suffice. Yet even that seemed daunting. Luo Feng's lips twisted bitterly, but he clenched his teeth and pressed on.
He still hadn't unleashed the full power of his Extreme Cold Ice Armor. If he was willing to sacrifice more lifespan, he could keep fighting. Gripping the Heaven Splitting Axe, Luo Feng charged at the dragon once more.
Ten minutes later, over a dozen new gashes marked the Fire Dragon's body. Luo Feng, meanwhile, was battered and bleeding—and thirty years of his lifespan had been consumed. At this rate, he'd die from exhaustion before the dragon could finish him.
With an enraged roar, the Fire Dragon's flames turned entirely purple as its speed skyrocketed. It lunged at Luo Feng, who couldn't react in time—only seeing a purple blur streaking toward him. A single bite now would mean certain death.
Inside the Snow God Temple, Tang Xuewei's heart suddenly raced with sharp pain. Though she couldn't see the battle, her Talent allowed her to sense Luo Feng's mortal peril. As white light began emanating from her increasingly translucent body, the Snow Goddess within her gasped in realization, her gaze turning toward Snow Country's sky. "Could this be...?"
At this moment, Luo Feng's mind went blank, and he could only instinctively raise the Heaven Splitting Axe to block.
Just as the Purple Flame Fire Dragon closed within three meters of Luo Feng.
The intense heat from the flames was already scorching Luo Feng's body.
His flesh felt as though it was melting.
A loud bang echoed.
The Purple Flame Fire Dragon's body suddenly froze in place.
But it wasn't the sound of the dragon striking Luo Feng.
Instead, a Mystic Ice Blade radiating an aura of Frost Ice had appeared before him.
The temperature in the air plummeted instantly.
Countless snowflakes began drifting down from the sky.
Seeing the Mystic Ice Blade materialize ahead of time, Luo Feng was stunned, but he had no time to question its sudden appearance.
The Extreme Cold Ice Armor covering his body activated at full power.
In this state, every second consumed a year of Luo Feng's lifespan.
In an instant, Luo Feng appeared before the Mystic Ice Blade, gripping it tightly. The moment he did, a wave of ice and snow expanded outward with him as the epicenter.
Raising the Mystic Ice Blade high, he swung it toward the Purple Flame Fire Dragon, now dangerously close.
The moment the blade made contact with the Purple Flame, the fire was instantly extinguished.
The Mystic Ice Blade struck the Fire Dragon's head directly.
From the point of impact, frost rapidly spread across the dragon's body.
Within moments.
The entire Purple Flame Fire Dragon was completely frozen.
Transformed into an Ice Sculpture.
Then, it plummeted from the sky.
With a deafening crash.
The dragon's frozen body shattered upon impact with the ground.
Before Luo Feng could even feel relief, his expression suddenly darkened as he remembered something. He immediately flew toward the Snow God Temple.
The Mystic Ice Blade had manifested prematurely, allowing him to slay the Fire Dragon in an instant.
There was only one explanation for these changes.
Tang Xuewei had activated her Talent to ensure Luo Feng's victory over the Purple Flame Fire Dragon.
Because the Mystic Ice Blade's power had been unnaturally amplified, and the Fire Dragon had inexplicably failed to evade his attack at the critical moment.
When Luo Feng arrived at the Snow God Temple, before he could even speak, the temple's doors swung open.
Inside, Tang Xuewei lay naked on the icy floor.
Her body had grown faint, almost translucent.
"Tang Xuewei!"
Luo Feng rushed to her side, scooping her up into his arms.
"I told you not to use your Talent! Why didn't you listen?
Where is the Snow Goddess?
Can she fix this?"
Seeing Luo Feng, Tang Xuewei managed a weak but contented smile. "You're safe... that's all that matters.
Don't worry about me.
My life... in exchange for yours... it's worth it.
Now, you have the information about Tang Xueying.
After I'm gone... go find her.
I..."
Luo Feng cut her off, his voice thick with worry. "Stop talking. I'll find a way to save you.
Here, eat this Sapience Fruit now."
"I've already taken one before... it won't work again. Don't waste it on me."
"Just eat it!"
Luo Feng then shouted, "Where is the Snow Goddess? Why isn't she here now?
If anything happens to Tang Xuewei, I swear I won't let her off!"
At that moment, Tang Xuewei's expression shifted, and she spoke in a different tone. "I am the Snow Goddess now. When I passed on the Inheritance to Tang Xuewei, our souls merged.
Her life force is nearly depleted.
She has... at most an hour left.
After that... she will vanish completely."
And I will be the same.
She had just drained a portion of Luo Feng's vitality as well.
Most importantly, I could have left Tang Xuewei's body at any time before.
But because of what just happened, I can no longer leave Tang Xuewei's body and can only wait to die with her.