The clue suggested that the ice cave they were searching for was likely hidden near the peak. They had agreed earlier that once they reached the top, they would split up to search for the cave, maximizing their use of the time. They nodded at each other and then separated.
Luo Yan glanced up at the timer hovering above them. He had been avoiding looking at it since the game began, and he was sure the rest of the team felt the same. Focusing too much on the countdown would only make them anxious and negatively impact their actions, which would be counterproductive.
But it's hard not to do that now. Especially since they were already on the third checkpoint.
Looking at the time above, Luo Yan wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or worried. Over 30 minutes had already passed since the match began, which meant they had just over 20 minutes left to reach the final checkpoint.
They didn't have time to waste searching the entire mountain for the cave. Thankfully, the clue specifically indicated that the cave was near the peak. But that didn't mean they could relax. Some members of team Mozu were likely still on their trail, and if they let their guard down, it could lead to disaster if they were suddenly ambushed without warning.
Luo Yan lifted the binoculars to his eyes and carefully scanned each spot Shen Ji Yun passed by. His gaze swept over every ridge and crevice, searching for any sign of the cave entrance. He tracked Shen Ji Yun's path closely, studying every icy ledge and shadowed nook, determined not to miss a single detail that might reveal the hidden entrance they were looking for.
But there was no luck. He couldn't spot any hint of a cave entrance.
Luo Yan studied the five openings. Was it just a coincidence that there were exactly five—matching the number of players allowed on a team during a match? He didn't think so. It felt like the game was deliberately pushing them to split up. But with the time limit, they didn't really have a choice in the matter.
Shen Ji Yun seemed to have the same thought and said, "Let's split up. Once you find the clue, send a message on the team channel. If Eclipse or Dusk find it, send a message telepathically to Yan Yan and me right away."
No one disagreed with the plan. They decided to enter the openings from left to right, following the same order they had used in the tunnel. Su Yuqi went into the leftmost opening, followed by Luo Yan in the next opening, then Shen Ji Yun, Eclipse, and finally, Dusk entered the rightmost opening.
As Luo Yan stepped into the second opening, he pulled a glowing pearl from his inventory to light his path. The path ahead was narrow, with walls of ice on either side. The ground was uneven, covered in patches of frost. Small icicles hung from the ceiling, occasionally dripping cold water onto his shoulders.
The path seemed to stretch endlessly as he ran, the light from the glowing pearl flickering off the icy walls. Just as he thought the tunnel might never end, the surrounding ice cracked with a sharp, echoing sound. Suddenly, figures burst out from the walls, their forms shimmering and jagged, emerging in a shower of ice and snow. They loomed in front of him, their massive shapes blocking his path.
One of the figures lunged at Luo Yan, swinging a heavy arm made of ice. He quickly crossed his twin daggers in front of him, blocking the attack, but he had to let go of the glowing pearl to use both hands. The force of the impact pushed him back a step, but he held his ground. He shifted his weight and pushed back, using the momentum to drive his sword forward, aiming for the creature's chest.
As his dagger struck, he noticed the creature's body was solid ice, cracking slightly where he hit. The jagged, crystalline texture and the way they moved made him realize these were most likely ice golems, formed from the surrounding walls.