With Jun Jixue’s command, our forces merged and advanced forward in a fan formation.

　　Before we had gone far, we spotted a flagpole standing in the snow. The sentry that Jun Jixue’s side had lost was tied to it, hands bound behind his back.

　　At a simultaneous gesture from Jun Jixue and me, both sides halted.

　　I was about to go forward to assess the situation when Jun Jixue stopped me. "Feisha, go take a look!"

　　Jun Jixue, watching Feisha cautiously approach the corpse, said to me, "Brother Li, you are also a leader. A chief does not need to do everything personally. Otherwise, what are all those subordinates for?"

　　I laughed, "Brother Jun, after achieving victory, what do people enjoy most? It is the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from fighting and winning."

　　"You may enjoy commanding vast armies, while I enjoy the feeling of fighting against my opponents. That is..."

　　Before I could finish, a loud crash came from the distance. The previously smooth, mirror-like snow suddenly swelled upwards into huge snowdrifts, as if something was trying to break out of the snowfield.

　　While everyone was on full alert, Feisha continued to move forward step by step.

　　Without Jun Jixue's order, he dared not stop.

　　It wasn't until Jun Jixue issued a stern command, "Everyone, form ranks to meet the enemy!" that Feisha retreated and stood back in his own formation.

　　At that moment, a square temple broke through the snow layer and stood in the mountains, blocking our path. Chunks of snow surged out of the temple gate, with some remaining inside.

　　A few seconds later, the temple gate, half-blocked by snow, was completely exposed before us.

　　From my perspective, the black stone temple was not large, but the half of the gate blocked by the snowdrift looked exceptionally deep in the darkness. It seemed like the temple was connected to the entrance of the underworld.

　　Someone seemed to be hiding behind the snowdrift, which was only about a meter high, waiting to guide those who entered the temple.

　　Just as I was staring intently at the temple, I heard a crisp crack above it. When I looked up, the person hanging on the flagpole had snapped the rope and fallen from the sky.

　　When the person landed on the upper edge of the temple gate with both feet, he split neatly in half from the brow, like a shattered glass. The two halves of his corpse slid down the sides of the gate and onto the ground.

　　The guards raised their crossbows simultaneously, pointing them at both sides of the gate. The corpses on the ground struggled to stand up.

　　"Release the arrows!"

　　"Don't move!"

　　Feisha and I shouted in unison.

　　The Two Realm Hall Iron Guards stopped their bowstrings in time, but Jun Jixue's guards fired a volley of arrows, shooting down the half of the corpse that had stood up on the left side of the gate.

　　Before the guards could fire a second volley, Jun Jixue said calmly, "Stop!"

　　The guards all lowered their arrows but kept a close watch on the corpses' movements.

　　"Well-trained, obeying orders without question! And only obeying the orders of one person. Truly a hegemon among heroes." Old Liu was praising Jun Jixue, but he was also indirectly criticizing me, telling me to learn from Jun Jixue.

　　I simply pretended not to hear anything and looked at the half of the corpse standing on the ground.

　　The half of the corpse hopped on its knee towards its other half, dragging the corpse riddled with arrows to its feet.

　　The two halves of the corpse merged in my sight, walking like a living person to a place a few steps away from us, bowing and making a gesture of invitation: "The temple invites you in."

　　As I looked at his seemingly smiling face, Old Liu gently raised his fan to block me and said, "All Iron Guards, retreat. Lin Xian and Lin Zhao will take the first temple."

　　The half of the corpse with arrows sticking out of it limped into the temple. The Lin Zhao siblings exchanged glances, then stood up at the same time and followed the corpse into the temple gate. As soon as their figures stepped into the doorway, they disappeared into the darkness.

　　I was about to ask Old Liu what was going on when the temple collapsed and sank into the ground.

　　I was immediately shocked: "Where are Lin Zhao and the others?"

　　Old Liu said in a deep voice, "The nine temples are like nine stars aligned. Someone must hold the temples back so you and Head Ye can attack the main temple. Lin Zhao and his sister are more than capable of holding back the first temple."

　　Old Liu said solemnly, "My lord, from now on, the people of Two Realm Hall will pave the way for you. Whenever we encounter a temple, we will go down and fight. You and Head Ye must enter the main temple as quickly as possible."

　　"Once the main temple is destroyed, we will all be saved."

　　"The faster you are, the safer we will be."

　　"Do not stop to help us fight along the way. Every moment you delay, we are in greater danger!"

　　"You..." I was so angry with Old Liu that I was fuming. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

　　Old Liu said helplessly, "I only just saw the truth. The people on the snow mountain are probably waiting for you!"

　　I looked up at the snow mountain and said, "Two Realm Hall, prepare to ascend the mountain!"

　　I turned back to Jun Jixue and clasped my fist in a salute. "Brother Jun, thank you this time. When I return from the snow mountain, we will drink together again."

　　Jun Jixue laughed, "Brother Li, are you looking down on me, Jun Jixue?"

　　Before I could speak, Jun Jixue waved his hand and said, "The Sixteen Sky Fiends Riders, prepare to depart! Help my brother to slay the gods on the snow mountain!"

　　"Yes!" The Sixteen Sky Fiends Riders responded in unison.