Several hours pass in the safety of the tree and roots, and the two rest against each other, snuggling up for warmth and, quite likely, what they perceive as their final opportunity in this life to share a moment like this. Ever since they have cultivated together, their affection for each other has exceeded that of respectful admiration and become something different.

The sword force is not the only problem in this place; the cold itself is filled with the same kind of sword qi, and it is enough to pierce deeply into their bodies and chill them to the core. This is not a figurative core either, but an observable effect it has on inhibiting the operation of their foundation and gold core.

The cold itself is suppressing their cultivation, similar to that so-called Immortal Slaying Formation at the core of the forest where I obtained not one, but two parasites.

By now, their inner energy has managed to stem their heavy bleeding, and even knit some of their more superficial wounds. If it were not for the few drops of blood they obtained from me, they would likely already be dead. Though it is too soon to rejoice, and they know this as well.

If anything, their impending death has only been delayed.

Cut to pieces by the atmosphere outside their shelter, or freezing to death, the result will be the same.

As for practicing [Empty Moon Prana] inside my Inner World, they no longer have such concerns of luxury.

“What do we do?” Wu Yulan whispers into my owner’s neck, the words more than likely not a genuine question, but merely an opportunity to warm my owner’s colder body with her companion’s warm breath.

A dark outline had begun to appear beneath my owner’s eyelids, and her lips had begun to turn slightly blue. She has lost a considerable amount of blood already — not life-threatening, but enough to inhibit her ability to keep her body warm.

Still, she is a proud sword cultivator through and through, so when she replies, she speaks in an even and unhurried tone. “The sword force is weaker closer to the ground. Flying is impossible, but we may be able to walk out of the valley.”

Wu Yulan ponders my owner’s words and nods. “Can you move? You were seriously injured.”

Lan Xiaohui shakes her head. “In a few hours, maybe.”

Though Wu Yulan phrases it as a matter of injury, the true problem is how much energy they have both exhausted to defend themselves from the wind and snow. In just those few minutes, they had exhausted more than half of their energy and stamina. Repairing their wounds has exhausted half of what remained.

“Are you scared?” Lan Xiaohui asks, after a period of silence.

Wu Yulan sniffs, thinks about the question, and then shakes her head. “I am not scared,” she says. “It seems hopeless, but, this place is not so bad.”

Lan Xiaohui cracks a smile at her companion’s words and nods in agreement. “If we could have sustained fewer injuries, this place would be great for cultivating the sword.”

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Wu Yulan nods. “Yes. If we were better prepared, I would probably feel happy and excited.”

At this, Lan Xiaohui squeezes Wu Yulan’s hand and smiles. “When I woke up in that forest, I truly had nothing,” she says. “I was ready to give up. It was even more hopeless back then than it is now.”

Wu Yulan slightly raises her head to stare at Lan Xiaohui’s face.

“It was probably because I was so driven by revenge, but I pushed forward and overcame obstacle after obstacle. I got very lucky several times, otherwise, I likely would’ve died,” my owner says. “This is the same as back then. We have to push forward, Yulan. We have to survive, no matter what.”

Wu Yulan’s eyelids close halfway then she nods. “You are right, Xuelian,” she says. “Even if it is hopeless, we have to keep trying.”

Lan Xiaohui smiles, raises a hand to press it into Wu Yulan’s cheek, and then presses her forehead to her companion’s. “We will survive,” she murmurs.

Wu Yulan’s bright smile is genuine and affectionate.

At that moment, the tree behind them makes a sound like a sword cutting through a piece of paper, and the entire upper half of the trunk shoots off into the air and then falls several dozen steps away from them.

At the last moment, each one of them rolls on the ground, in a different direction, as the lower half of the tree splits vertically, and a large trench is dug into the ground by an invisible force.

Had they moved even half a second later, they would both be dead.

When they look up, they see a white fox, with six black-tipped fluffy tails. Its gold eyes are luminous and it exudes a sword force easily comparable to that majestic power in the atmosphere.

A six-tailed fox. Even I know that foxes like this have a number of tails that match their rank, with one minor exception. A fourth-rank fox — meaning Core Formation — will develop four tails, however, at the peak of Core Formation, it will develop a fifth tail. This is a breakpoint in their physical cultivation. A six-tailed fox is a Nascent Soul cultivator, with a body that is even more advanced.

For a moment, their hearts are still. Not fearless. Merely empty. Within my Inner World, they have met quite a number of foxes, but none of them had more than four tails. However, even the foxes at the peak of Core Formation, within my Inner World, only had four tails — meaning that their physical cultivation had not yet reached a breakthrough. It is quite possible, then, that this fox is two realms more powerful than anything they have fought.

And if that were not enough, the next action of the fox comes like a sword that pierces their hearts.

The fox’s tails straighten, forming a formation of sorts, and its head raises as it howls.

The color drains from the world as black and white particles begin to rise from the six tails, forming several glimmering globes that disperse into the air, surrounding the two.

Then the globes collapse into multiple swords constructed entirely out of sword energy and an even heavier suppression descends on the two.

Their eyes widen at this, and while they are trying to come to terms with this absurdity, I open my [World Eater] talent as far as I can and begin absorbing the Qi in the area, even as it damages my internal system. Through our shared connection of having cultivated together before, I manage to optimize both their spiritual vessels and even share some of this Qi.

“Fight,” I urge them.

“Sword Law…” Lan Xiaohui murmurs, staring at the fox as if she is seeing a ghost. “Sword Domain…”

Wu Yulan is rendered completely speechless. She had never even heard of a demonic beast that could comprehend Sword Law.

Weren’t they special, and so-called geniuses, for managing a simple glimpse at Sword Law, in the Foundation Establishment?

“Avoid distractions,” I tell them, urging them once more. “Fight or die.”

This time, they heed my words and their minds return to reality — or accept what they are seeing as reality.

Simultaneously, they draw their weapons and assume a fighting stance.

Wu Yulan is in much better shape than Lan Xiaohui, so she steps slightly forward to draw the attention of the demonic beast.

However, her expression says it all.

The situation couldn’t be more hopeless.