"The hordes seem to be doing well." The griffin looked at the chaos around and chuckled.

"That leaves us."

'Chain lightning'

The griffin summoned lightning bolts and started merging the bolts into one which caused the bolt to transform into the shape of a serpent.

Go! The lightning serpent hurled toward Zhou Tai.

'Earth Wall'

Zhou Tai created an earth wall that effectively stopped the lightning serpent for some time. But, the wall started melting shortly.

"It may be able to withstand the lightning. But, can it withstand the heat generated by it?" The griffin mocked Zhou Tai.

Zhou Tai abandoned the wall and made a hasty retreat. However, the attack had burned his left arm. So, he used 'recovery' to heal his injuries.

But, the griffin attacked before he could fully recover.

'Chain Lightning'

The griffin lunged the lightning bolts at him instead of trying to merge them.

'Earth Wall'

Zhou Tai summoned an earth wall again successfully blocking the attack. But, it created a blind spot.

"Playing time's over now."

'Flicker'

The griffin appeared behind Zhou Tai exploiting the blindspot.

'Air Cutter'

It slashed his back causing severe injury.

Argh!

Zhou Tai's back was bloodied due to the attack. He retreated but before he could take a break he felt someone behind him.

'Air Cutter'

The griffin attacked his back again, causing the wounds to deepen.

Blarghhh!

Zhou Tai threw up blood. He withdrew again. But, the beast repeated the same attack. The wounds kept piling-causing him to reach his limit.

"So, it didn't use full power before." Zhou Tai let out a bitter smile. He withdrew again, and the griffin pursued him again.

'Ice Domain'

Zhou Tai knew the griffin would repeat the same attack. So, created a domain to create some distance.

"What a joke."

The griffin scoffed at the domain and created its domain causing both to clash.

Zhou Tai knew he was running out of time.

"If I'm going down, I'm taking you too."

'Ice Torrent'

Zhou Tai's body temperature started dropping rapidly. Soon, his body froze creating a sculpture. But, the freezing didn't stop.

His body acted like a magnet and gathered ice crystals around it. Soon, a spiky ball about a size of a house had formed with Zhou's body in the center.

"Not good"

Griffin felt the chilly aura coming out of the ball. Even it felt threatened by it.

'Flic.....'

Booooooooom!

An explosion occurred before the griffin could escape. The explosion released massive icicles omnidirectionally within a radius of a kilometer.

'Ice Mountain'

The griffin materialized a mountain for defense. But, it was to no avail. The icicle broke the mountain easily and landed in its body.

Shrieeeeeek!

The griffin cried in pain.

One of its majestic wings was missing, an icicle was lunged in its stomach spreading an icy aura inside.

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The griffin tried to extract the icicle. But, the effort failed. The icicle had lunged deeper than it had expected.

"Where's that damned human?"

It observed the surroundings searching for the sign of Zhou Tai. But, it couldn't find it anywhere.

The griffin called one of the henchmen.

"Go, wipe out all the humans. Leave none alive." The enraged griffin gave an order.

The henchmen bowed in response.

Soon, a bloodbath began. The beasts grew more violent than before-killing every human they saw. The desperate cries of humans resounded for the whole night.

The human corpses were scattered everywhere, the roads were dyed with blood. Not a single soul was left in the 'Frost' sect.

Only, a few lucky ones had managed to survive because they fled earlier.

The doomsday clock had started for the humans.

***

Sigh!

"Finally, some peace."

"Have you cleared the entire sect?" The griffin questioned one of the henchmen.

The henchmen nodded vigorously in response.

"Very well. Now, we'll return to the forest. I can't wait to inform the supreme one of our victory."

The griffin gave an order for all beasts to retreat.

***

Spring Sect.

Grim woke up early as usual, and made his way to the arena hoping to teach some lessons to Tang Ling.

However, the tournament didn't start even after everyone had gathered. Instead, a shocking announcement was made.

[Thank you everyone for gathering in the arena. However, the tournament has been canceled.

We just received news from the 'Martial Alliance' that the 'Frost' sect has been wiped clean. The alliance is investigating about it. So, the alliance has ordered us to stay alert.

But, it would be unfair for the participants to cancel the tournament at this stage without any compensation. So, we have decided to give rewards according to the previous arrangement. But, the participants within the top ten ranks will receive the same reward.

And due to such unusual circumstances, the disciples within the top twenty can either choose to enroll at the sect's academy or return to their academy.]

Soon, the reward distribution started.

Disciples within the top 100 were rewarded a year's worth of liquid Qi

Disciples within the top 50 were rewarded three year's worth of liquid Qi

Disciples within the top 20 were rewarded five years' worth of liquid Qi and enrollment in the sect's academy.

Disciples within the top 10 were rewarded seven years' worth of liquid Qi, enrollment in the sect's academy, and an entry-evolution-grade treasure.

***

Most of the disciples within the top twenty chose to enroll at the academy including Yuan Chang. However, Grim decided to return to the 'Faith' academy.

Grim chose a thunder wood as the entry-evolution grade treasure. Now, he had the material to complete the glaive, enough liquid Qi, his system, and broken abilities. The only thing he lacked was time. So, he decided to the return to 'Faith' academy instead.

He approached Yuan Chang.

"I'll be looking forward to your progress the next time we meet, senior brother Chang."

Yuan Chang replied. "Me too, junior brother Grim."

Afterward, he went to his master and announced his decision to return to the "Faith" academy.

Lou Xiang and others were taken aback by his decision. But, they chose to comply with it.

Zhu Yi controlled the platform after everyone boarded it. It would take them a month to return.

Meanwhile, everyone was trying to befriend Grim, he had become a center of attraction.

***

Frost Sect.

The investigators from the 'Martial Alliance' appeared at the scene after two days.

They were greeted with ruined buildings, corpses, and red roads.

Sigh!

A middle-aged man with white hair and a dual sword in the back commented. "What a tragedy."

The man gave an order. "Look for any survivors."

"Yes, Chief."

All the investigators replied in unison and began their search for survivors.

***

A few hours later.

"No survivors, chief."

All the investigators reported the same outcome.

"Those beasts."

The chief punched a wall, the wall turned to dust in an instant.

The chief ordered again. "Go search for the clues."

***

The chief approached the center of the sect.

There, he came across a frozen field with a radius of a kilometer filled with large icicles.

He went to the center where the aura was strongest. It was enough to send chills down his spine.

He knew the man behind the outcome.

"Zhou Tai. Just how strong was the beast to force you to take such steps?" The chief muttered himself.

Suddenly, one of the investigators came.

"Chief, we have found the traces of the beasts."

"Very Well. Guide me."

The investigator-led the chief to the location.

He arrived in front of a dense forest. The left and right sides of the forest were untouched. But the middle was bulldozed, making an artificial path.

"Let's go and investigate the trail."

Chief took the rest of the investigators and followed the trail.

***

A day later.

The chief and the investigators were still following the trail. They were halfway through the trail.

Now, the chief had a clear idea of where the trail went.

The chief ordered. "Let's return. It's not safe to advance further."

"But we haven't even reached the end of the trail, chief." One of the investigators said

The chief replied. "I have a rough idea of where it leads to, and trust me we don't want to go there."

"Let's return. I'll report to the Alliance leader."

***

The forbidden forest.

The griffin and the horde arrived at the plain three days later. It was the place where everything started.

The griffin's condition had worsened as the icy aura from the icicle spread even further. Its only hope was the supreme being it praised.

"Everyone can scatter now. I'll go and report to the supreme one."

The griffin advanced into the inner region and arrived in front of the cave an hour later.

***

The massive silhouette was lying inside the cave.

The griffin didn't want to disturb its sleep so he waited.

The silhouette woke up after a week and came out of the cave.

"Oh, Supreme one. I have arrived after completing the mission you trusted us with." The griffin kneeled in front of it.

The silhouette glanced at the griffin and saw the pathetic state it was in.

"You were injured by someone weaker than you?" The silhouette sent the message telepathically.

"It was because of my negligence. Please forgive me, supreme one." The griffin begged.

"If it weren't for your strength. I would have turned you into dust." The silhouette snorted.

"Now, take that icicle out."

"Yes, supreme one."

The griffin extracted the icicle forcefully. Soon after, it was assaulted by unbearable pain and blood loss.

'Resurgence'

The injuries started healing. But, the icy aura and the pain remained.

"Expel the icy aura yourself, and the pain will be a reminder of your negligence."

"Thank you for showing mercy, supreme one."

The griffin returned.

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