novelraw Chapter 364: Number One on the Popularity Ranking—The Ice Witch!
Chapter 364: Number One on the Popularity Ranking—The Ice Witch!
And there's the shoe print on her face... Chen Qi mentally added.
However, this gaze doesn't seem quite right... Chen Qi's intuition made him instinctively take a step back.
In the cold wind, the Ice Witch's eyes held no sparkle, no vitality, like a cold statue.
No, to be precise, they carried a trace of killing intent, a doll-like killing intent...
The Ice Witch, draped in Chen Qi's hunter coat, stood expressionless.
Without uttering a word, her snow-white feet lightly touched the ground, and with each step she took, the ground beneath her instantly froze solid!
Then, the two witch relics on her chest rapidly shriveled, their energy completely drained in an instant.
Immediately after, she raised her palm toward Chen Qi, and an incredibly intricate magic circle rapidly formed!
"?"
Chen Qi's pupils abruptly contracted.Then, the Ice Witch tilted her head and murmured in a blurry voice:
"Fen?"
Her voice sounded like the sleep-talk of someone not fully awake.
"Fen???"
Chen Qi also tilted his head in confusion, mimicking the Ice Witch.
Ice Witch, what are you talking about? Do I look like a witch, or do I carry a witch's scent?
Sleepwalking? Not fully awake yet?
Chen Qi's mind raced rapidly.
The Ice Witch's current state suggested she hadn't completely awakened.
Yet even relying on instinct alone, she had killed the ice doll monster that attacked me.
The Ice Witch stared at Chen Qi for several seconds, then walked over to his side.
Then she suddenly reached for his waist!
Whoosh!
Somehow, the Daylight Lantern in Chen Qi's hand was now held by the Ice Witch.
The Ice Witch tilted her head, leaning close to Chen Qi's ear, and murmured:
"I have received your offering. I will ensure your child dies in the ocean's waves..."
"..."
White hair strands gently brushed against his nose... Chen Qi stood completely stunned, looking bewildered at the witch before him.
What is she talking about?
The first thing the Ice Witch did after awakening was actually snatch his precious Daylight Lantern!
Suddenly, the Ice Witch seemed to sense something, looking into the distance.
Whoosh!
Her toes lightly touched the ground, and like a phantom, she instantly vanished from Chen Qi's sight, leaving no trace of spiritual energy behind.
"..."
Chen Qi stared blankly in the direction where the Ice Witch had disappeared.
She just left like that?
Chen Qi scratched his head in confusion.
After all, he was the one who awakened the Ice Witch, yet she showed no acknowledgment and simply disappeared.
Chen Qi patted his head, calming himself down.
Currently, it seemed the Ice Witch was acting on some kind of instinct, some kind of dream state.
And just now, the not-fully-awakened Ice Witch detected some danger and left this place.
Whatever could attract the sleeping Ice Witch...
Has something happened to Fen?
Chen Qi picked up his lantern, looking in the direction the Ice Witch disappeared, feeling an ominous premonition.
Hopefully nothing bad happens... Chen Qi looked down at his thin clothes and silently walked toward the direction the Ice Witch had gone.
......
Witch's Coffin.
Fen held her lantern, running desperately through the endless darkness, while behind her, a three-headed ice wolf king covered in blood relentlessly pursued her!
"ROAR!"
The ice wolf king's three ferocious heads opened their bloody maws, biting toward Fen's small head!
Whoosh!
Flower Release. Blooming Bloodflower!
The moment it approached her, Fen abruptly raised her staff.
Countless blood flowers suddenly bloomed across the ice wolf king's body, its robust frame instantly aging like old tree bark before collapsing with a thunderous crash before her.
Ice Wolf King, defeated.
"Huff, huff..."
A drop of crimson hot blood dripped from Fen's neck.
"I wonder how Qi is doing?"
Fen took out bandages, wrapping her injured neck while fearfully scanning her surroundings.
The situation in the Witch's Coffin was far worse than she had imagined.
And for some reason, many dormant monsters within the massive Witch's Coffin had inexplicably become agitated.
"Could it be that Qi has already revived teacher?"
Fen made a bold prediction, a small yellow flower involuntarily sprouting from her head.
As long as her invincible teacher revived, everything would be fine!
Fen fantasized, when suddenly she whipped her head around to look behind her.
There, in the pitch blackness, a deep blue flame suddenly appeared.
The flame grew larger and larger, eventually transforming into a pair of beast-like bloodshot eyes that pierced through layers of darkness, striking directly at Fen's chest!
Whoosh!
The Azure Beast burst from the darkness like a meteor falling from the sky, charging toward Fen!
Terrible!
Fen gripped her staff with both hands, immediately defending against the Azure Beast's attack!
BOOM!
The Azure Beast had defeated Chen Qi's saint-level mercenary!
How is this possible!?
Fen's eyes flashed with disbelief.
The Azure Beast before her was covered in blood and tentacle juices, appearing like a demon freshly returned from hell, unstoppable!
And in his hand, he held a tentacle merchant's leg.
The next instant, the Azure Beast was already before Fen, his massive hand gripping her head.
"Oh no..."
Fen's eyes showed shock - her strength and agility were far inferior to Chen Qi's.
In this state, the Azure Beast closing in on her was like approaching a slow turtle!
The Azure Beast's burning giant hand tightened, grabbing her like a rabbit and violently smashing her against the ground!
Once! Twice! Three times! Four times!
Each strike carried power comparable to a Blade affinity legendary heavy blow!
BOOM!
Finally, the Azure Beast threw Fen like a shot put, hurling her violently away!
BOOM!
"!!!"
Blood burst from Fen's mouth, nose, ears, and eyes!
This single blow had directly penetrated her internal organs!
Her green Flower Witch dress was instantly stained crimson with her own blood.
"Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Fen couldn't stop crying, wailing, her tears mixing with blood as the sensation of centipedes devouring her entire body rapidly spread from her organs throughout her body!
It hurts! It hurts so much! I want to die! I want to die!
Fen realized the Azure Beast wanted to torture her.
As a legend from the previous era, the Azure Beast's power was far beyond what she could resist!
Through painful, hoarse gasps, she gritted her teeth and said:
"Flower Release. Life Borrowing."
Out of desperation, the Flower Witch consumed her own life essence to replenish her broken body!
Life essence was the most crucial part of a transcendent's soul, marking the scale of life.
As long as transcendents possessed this energy, they maintained the possibility of regeneration!
Therefore, the cost of this technique was extremely severe.
Life Borrowing was essentially trading one's own lifespan for power.
Fen, with her body suffering from comprehensive fractures, gripped her staff, her vision completely blood-red as she stared at the Azure Beast before her.
She never imagined the Azure Beast could enter the Witch's Coffin while maintaining such powerful mobility!
The Azure Beast, his entire body burning, roared in a beastly voice:
"Answer me! Where is that hunter!"
"Otherwise, I'll make you experience a hundred times more pain!"
The Azure Beast roared like a wild beast, all trace of reason gone from his eyes, as if he sensed some terrifying presence!
He's looking for Qi's location... Fen remained silent, forcing out a smile:
"I don't understand wild dog language!"
"The prey is barking!"
The next instant, the Azure Beast charged again.
Fen violently spun her body, biting her lip until it bled, holding her staff horizontally before her chest, preparing to release Flower Release. Blooming Bloodflower!
After reaching the legendary rank, plus days of practice, combined with the Flower Witch's relics, Fen's Flower Release was now powerful enough to confront saints!
The only regret was that the more powerful the Flower Release, the more lifespan it consumed...
And this was already her third Release - her spiritual energy was nearing its limit!
Fen conservatively estimated that if she originally could have lived to sixty, she had now consumed at least thirty years of life.
Meaning she could now live at most until thirty.
But it didn't matter anymore... Fen charged forward.
Having come this far, something like lifespan was already external!
However, the Azure Beast's speed was too fast!
Like a polar bear tormenting its prey, the Azure Beast pressed Fen's head against a coffin, then raised his hammer-like fist.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph..."
Fen's body began convulsing instinctively.
Yet in the beast's eyes, the pleas of children and young girls only made its fists strike more viciously!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Azure Beast's fists struck Fen's face blow after blow!
Against absolute power, all Fen could do was buy time!
Instantly, Fen's pale face deformed, dented inward, her blood-stained teeth shattered, relying solely on Life Borrowing to sustain herself!
It hurts! It hurts so much! I want to die! Save me! Save me! Stop hitting me!
No, no, I can't give up... Fen endured the pain, nearly vomiting her internal organs.
Truthfully, she should have experienced this pain long ago.
Only under Chen Qi's protection was this Fen's first time feeling such excruciating pain!
Right now, Qi is searching for teacher's location!
I absolutely cannot fall here! Fen bit her tongue, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Flower Release. Blo..."
Just as Fen prepared to consume another twenty years of lifespan to fight the Azure Beast to the death, a slender, gentle finger was placed on her blood-stained lips.
White hair strands, like morning sunlight, gently fell upon Fen's face.
"Teacher..."
Fen looked up excitedly at the white-haired, red-eyed witch before her.
Qi, he did it!
But her teacher's gaze...
This look meant teacher hadn't fully awakened yet...
And why was her teacher wearing Chen Qi's clothes and holding Chen Qi's lantern... Fen's blood-stained eyes showed a flash of surprise.
Unfortunately, she no longer had any strength left to speak.
The moment her teacher appeared, Fen instantly felt completely drained, her entire being like someone holding a rock sinking into the ocean, her consciousness fading bit by bit.
Even more shocked than Fen was the frenzied Azure Beast!
"Still too late..."
The Azure Beast ignited once more.
His purpose in coming here was to prevent the Ice Witch's resurrection!
And now, the vile Ice Witch stood before him!
However... the Azure Beast's lips curled slightly.
The Ice Witch before him only had the weak spiritual energy field of saint-level! Far from her peak!
The Ice Witch before him was so feeble.
"ROAR!"
The Azure Beast's flames exploded again as he charged toward the Ice Witch.
Whoosh!
The Ice Witch gently waved her arm, and a brilliant ice-blue light burst from her fingertips.
The light rapidly condensed in the air, forming a massive ice crystal sword that emitted bone-chilling cold, pointing directly at the roaring Azure Beast!
Whoosh!
In that instant, the two became like two streams of light, engaging in combat, stirring up wave after wave of explosive thunder in this dark place!
The battle between two saint-level beings instantly agitated the deathly silent Witch's Coffin.
"This is teacher's power..."
Fen watched her teacher's fighting figure and sat down.
She suddenly felt the heavy weight on her shoulders finally lighten.
Her consciousness grew fuzzy again, bit by bit.
The journey through the Great Sea Coffin had long exhausted her stamina - she had merely been pushing through.
Moments later, Chen Qi, following the Ice Witch's trail, silently walked up behind Fen.
Chen Qi asked:
"Fen, your teacher has awakened, but not completely, and her mind doesn't seem quite clear..."
Chen Qi looked toward the two fighting in the distance, then lowered his head to look at Fen, asking:
"Are you okay? Do you need help?"
Fen's injuries were more severe than Chen Qi had anticipated.
Covered in blood, Fen tugged at Chen Qi's collar, pulling him firmly to her side:
"Qi, let me absorb some spiritual energy."
"As for my teacher, she's always been like this, prone to sleepwalking, but don't worry, she'll wake up soon."
"She'll wake up soon..."
"But I need to sleep first..."
Fen looked at her teacher fighting in the distance, then wearily closed her eyes, her small head silently resting on Chen Qi's shoulder.
Chen Qi had intended to talk more with Fen.
However, Fen leaning against his shoulder had already closed her heavy eyes.
Fen fell into slumber, dreaming of her and Qi traveling the world with the water spirits, piloting the ghost ship.
"Fen..."
Chen Qi turned his head, looking at Fen on his shoulder, feeling a burden lift from his heart.
"You've worked hard..."
Chen Qi patted Fen's head, looking into the distance.
There, the Ice Witch's body showed ice crystals gradually melting away during the battle.
Chen Qi's mind couldn't help but recall various forum memories about the Ice Witch.
After being resurrected by the Flower Witch, the Ice Witch had always been the focus of the Witch Sea.
On the forums, the Ice Witch had countless nicknames: Great Teacher, Gluttony Witch, Sleepwalking Witch, Great Nun, Witch Daddy, Ice Lord, Killing Machine, Ice Saint...
White hair and red eyes with super special attack, absolutely powerful strength, witch-like beauty.
As the most orthodox witch, after her resurrection, she became the focus among focuses, directly surpassing Fen to become number one on the Witch Sea popularity chart.
Her popularity was so high it even exceeded protagonists and major antagonists from other major story arcs.
Additionally, the Ice Witch could teach many players powerful Releases and distribute numerous skill cards!
Beyond that, the Ice Witch also held the position of Saintess - any player could receive powerful blessings by confessing their sins to the Ice Witch.
As long as they hadn't killed excessively, even Nancy from the Twin Pillars of the Imperial Capital who attacked octopuses in the Goldenfinch Kingdom, Burry who got excited over mechas, Moonstone City nobles who used water spirits to wipe their bottoms - all could receive the Ice Witch's forgiveness!
The Ice Witch cleansed people's sins.
Establishing divine monasteries, book ship fleets, disaster shelters, serving as Disaster Messenger, taking over the Ice Demon Pirates...
Single-handedly, she directly raised the overall level of transcendents in the Witch Sea!
After recovering her power, the Ice Witch alone confronted the mutated pirate generals of the Blackfin Crew.
One could say the Ice Witch's resurrection meant the beginning of an entirely new era!
And I am the one who opened this era... Chen Qi thought silently to himself.
The Ice Witch once wrote a prophecy: whoever could awaken her during the great disaster would receive her highest reward.
The former Cup Witch, under the Ice Witch's reward, obtained witch relics, witch profession cards, saint-level forbidden weapons, becoming an ancient legend of the Witch Sea!
I wonder what reward the Ice Witch will give me? Chen Qi watched the Ice Witch fighting in the distance, feeling inexplicably excited.
After all, without him, the Ice Witch's resurrection would have been delayed by at least two months.
During the battle with the Azure Beast, the Ice Witch's consciousness gradually recovered bit by bit, and her cold red eyes gradually showed vitality.
Chen Qi and the Ice Witch's gazes briefly met.
The Ice Witch looked at Chen Qi, and at Fen leaning on Chen Qi's shoulder.
Wait... Chen Qi took a deep breath.
For some reason, he felt the Ice Witch's gaze toward him seemed somewhat sharp, surprised.
And carrying a trace of inexplicable fear...