Just like Xue Qilin has declared, the ice bridge formed by the water dragon looks quite firm.
It has a total length of about 23 zhang, an average thickness of half of a person’s height at both ends, which then progressively increases until it reaches a thickness of three person’s height at the center. Xue Qilin specially designed it this way by taking its load-bearing performance into account.
On the other hand, since the ice bridge is made of ice, it is normal for it to be slippery. In order to prevent people from slipping and easily falling off the ice bridge. The width of the ice bridge is fairly impressive, and it is even a little arched upwards at the sides.
And all this was finished in just the blink of an eye.
Mouths agape, the struck dumb Merak Temple’s disciples stared at the ice bridge that emits specks of ice.
They must be really stupefied. Even when Qi Qiqi and Xia Xue walked on the ice bridge, and then jumped and stomped their feet on it in order to test the hardness on the ice bridge, none of them reacted.
On the other hand, Xue Qilin, with her arms crossed, glanced in the direction of the ice bridge.
“So, didn’t I say it’s going to be firm enough?!”
Her tone contains traces of smugness and elation.
Qi Qiqi, who had just hit the ice bridge twice with the scabbard, turned back and rolled her eyes, speechless.
“Okay, let’s go!”
With that, Qi Qiqi took the lead and walked towards the opposite side of the gorge.
The disciples finally snapped out of it, hurriedly picked up their luggage, and followed suit.
However, they stopped in front of the ice bridge, looking hesitant.
“What if I we fall down…” “I can’t fly…” “But Temple Master said it’s okay…”
Xue Qilin can hear such words.
This is not surprising.
Underneath this ice bridge built at the last moment lies an abyss 100 zhang deep. If you slip and fall down accidentally, you’ll fall to your death. Moreover, even though Qi Qiqi and Xue Qilin both guarantee the quality of the ice bridge, but they still have a trace of doubt in their mind.
Noticing this, Qi Qiqi, who has already walked to the middle of the ice bridge, turned to look at the people who are still hesitating.
However, she didn’t urge them.
… Unexpectedly, the first person to take the first step was actually Gong Tianqing.
She timidly walked on the ice bridge for several steps, then turned around and said, “It’s, it’s okay.”
Everyone exchanged looks.
Even Gong Tianqing, who is always timid, has set an example, so what else is there to be afraid of? Probably with this thought in mind, everyone finally found the courage to step on the ice bridge and head towards the other side of the gorge.
“Little Qing is unexpectedly reliable!”
Xue Qilin sighed. Shui Yun’er smiled and winked, saying, “Junior Disciple Sister Gong is a particularly reliable character in emergency situations.”
The two looked at each other and smiled, and then followed the rest of the team.
The ice bridge is not very long when it comes to martial practitioners.
At normal times, it wouldn’t take much time to cross this distance, it absolutely wouldn’t take a quarter of an hour. Looking back, it was uneasiness and fear that slowed down their pace.
Finally the team passed through the ice bridge safely. The ice bridge didn’t break, nor did anyone slip.
After crossing the gorge, Xue Qilin and them returned to the embrace of the forest again.
*
After a short walk, Qi Qiqi suddenly ordered the team to stop.
“Young Ancestor, come here.”
Qi Qiqi called Xue Qilin from a distance.
“What for?”
After Xue Qilin replied aloud, she saw Qi Qiqi beckon her and ask her to come over, as if she has something to discuss.
What happened? With this question in mind, Xue Qilin left the back of the team and followed Qi Qiqi to a corner.
“What’s wrong?”
Xue Qilin aimed a glance at Xia Xue standing beside Qi Qiqi, but got a wink in return. She choked and coughed several times.
What the hell? Why does Little Xue seem like she has become another person… does she have a brain fade…? Xue Qilin feels that there must be something wrong with Xia Xue.
Qi Qiqi didn’t give Xue Qilin time to think about it in depth.
She looked around while frowned and said, “We must first find a suitable place to establish a base.”
So it was to discuss this… Xue Qilin realized.
There are usually all kinds of dangers hidden in a dense woods. Who knows what may come out from between the dense trees. Clearly, it is not suitable for establishing a base.
However, except for the fairly sparse woods near the gorge, the rest of the woods are densely concentrated.
Although it is still early in the day, but who knows how long it will take to find a suitable place. So the sooner they start searching, the better. After all, the forest is several times more dangerous after nightfall than during daytime.
“Then we may have to split up.”
Xia Xue, who seldom gets serious, stopped playing with her hair and said with a stern expression.
“This place is too big. If we continue to stay together, we might not be able to find a suitable location by tomorrow.”
Xia Xue’s argument is obviously sound.
When everyone moves together, in addition to paying attention to the way forward, you also have to pay attention that no one wanders off. However, if Merak Temple’s people split up into several small teams, not only will it become more suitable to move in the dense woods due to the significant improvement in mobility, but it will also increase the scope of search.
Crossing her arms, Xue Qilin nodded repeatedly.
“Splitting up is indeed better.”
However, in the face of such an appropriate proposal, Qi Qiqi hesitated. She seems to have other considerations.
Xue Qilin showed a puzzled expression when she saw this and couldn’t help asking, “Little Seven, do you disagree? I think Little Xue’s proposal is quite reasonable.”
“Senior Sister Xia’s suggestion is good… I also know that this is the most efficient way. But… if we really act separately, our combat power will also become dispersed… am I right?”
Hearing Qi Qiqi’s rhetorical question, Xue Qilin and Xia Xue glanced at each other. Finally, Xia Xue answered.
“That’s right.”
“Little Seven, are you worried that after the team splits up, we won’t be able to deal with dangers?”
Blinking her eyes, Xue Qilin expressed her guess.
Qi Qiqi immediately nodded and said, “Mhm, that’s the case.”
“Then lets split into two teams!”
Thinking that Qi Qiqi’s worry is justified, Xue Qilin wrinkled her nose and suggested.
“It’ll be more efficient. Besides, we intended to divide into two teams to begin with.”
“No…” Qi Qiqi shook her head firmly, “The situation is different now. How do I put it? We didn’t anticipate that Martial Demon Realm would become so strange. Therefore, I don’t dare to split up the team casually.”
Xia Xue peered at Qi Qiqi’s expression while playing with her hair.
“Little Sister Temple Master, are you still apprehensive due to the sudden disappearance of the martial demons…”
Xia Xue suddenly stopped talking and glanced deep into the forest. She then carried on in a joking tone, “Ai, it can’t be said that they disappeared, we just haven’t met them.”
As if she lost her strength, Qi Qiqi leaned on the trunk behind her, propped herself up on her knees, and sighed.
Probably fearing that the disciples would see Qi Qiqi lose her bearing, Xia Xue consciously stood in front of her and at the same time pulled Xue Qilin to stand beside her. The two of them formed a screen shielding Qi Qiqi’s figure from everyone’s eyes.
“I’m really worried about this strange occurrence…”
Qi Qiqi said while holding her forehead. She looks distressed and tired.
In the face of the unknown, strange situation, it is indeed not a good idea to rashly disperse the fighting power.
But what should we do then? Maintain the status quo? Xue Qilin poked a bun on her head. She doesn’t have a good idea to resolve this dilemma.
“Ahhh – how vexing.”
Qi Qiqi squatted down, hugged her head, and stuck her hands into her hair, messing it up. Seeing her reaction, Xue Qilin smiled bitterly and scratched her face.
At this time, Xia Xue looked in the the direction they came from.
“There is still an open space on the edge of the gorge. If we really can’t find a suitable place, we can just choose it.”
“Mhm…”
Qi Qiqi uttered while propping herself up, “I guess we have no other choice… But let’s look some more first. After all, if we stay next to the gorge, it can be said that we’ll have our backs to the wall. It’s not a good choice… It’ll be troublesome is we are surrounded by martial demons. Being forced to stay at the gorge is the worst case scenario.”
“Isn’t there still me?”
“What if the Heaven Demon you spoke of comes? Can you deal with her? I have to consider the worst case scenario.”
“That might really be a little troublesome…”
Xue Qilin replied in an indistinct tone. Since she has never fought Xi He, she doesn’t know how strong the other party is. She naturally doesn’t dare to assert that she can best the other party. What’s more, they are both Heaven Realm masters. Once they start fighting, it won’t be over in a short time. Many things can happen during that time.
But anyway, to think so much ahead just to establish a base, it’s really hard on Little Seven… Xue Qilin feels that she cannot be so thorough. While admiring her, she feels ashamed that she is of no help to Qi Qiqi, who specially called her over for consultation.
