Several days had passed since Lin Mu and his companions had completed the setup of their vast network of traps, alarms, teleportation and concealment formations.

The frozen silence of the glacial mountains stretched endlessly, the cold winds brushing across peaks that shimmered like ancient blades of ice. It was a place where even time seemed hesitant to move, where the air itself held its breath in anticipation.

Within the largest cavern of the Ice Drakes, the grand hall glowed faintly from the runes carved into its icy walls.

The light reflected off the crystalline surfaces, casting flickering shadows upon the faces of those gathered. Lin Mu, Daoist Chu, Monk Hushu, Cattaleya, Meng Bai, and the Elder Ice Drake were all seated around the enormous projection array floating in the center of the hall.

The projection was immense, nearly three hundred meters wide, depicting the entire glacial range in three dimensions.

Peaks, valleys, caverns, and hidden tunnels pulsed with faint threads of spiritual light. Four bright blue dots glowed steadily on the map, each marking a separate nest guarded by an Ice Drake of formidable strength, each one a Seventh Tribulation Stage Immortal.

These were the bait, the traps that would lure the Ephemera Sect into their doom.

At the center of the map, a deep blue dot pulsed rhythmically, signifying their own position in the main Ice Drake nest.

Smaller, differently colored dots also shimmered across the map: an orange one that moved swiftly near the northern ridges, marking Little Shrubby's position; a white one and a black one further east and south, showing where Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang had gone.

The three beasts maintained a constant patrol, searching for any trace of the sect's scent or energy.

The western side of the range, however, was guarded by Elyon himself. His presence was hidden within the shadow of the towering peaks that marked the border between the Darkhan Dynasty and the outer regions.

The great protective formation of the dynasty passed directly through there, acting as both a deterrent and a shield. Anyone entering from that direction would have to contend with the empire's alert systems, something even the Ephemera Sect would think twice about.

But Lin Mu knew better than to assume safety.

Teleportation arrays could bypass borders, and their enemy had already shown a mastery of spatial manipulation in their previous attack. That was precisely why Elyon had stationed himself there, using his darkness affinity to mask his presence completely, while his shadow seals stretched across miles of terrain to detect even the faintest ripple of energy.

Grand Elder Huo had done his part as well.

Through a mix of 'persuasion' and 'veiled' pressure, he had convinced the Imperial Court to cooperate. They now had a steady flow of information from the empire's border formations. If anything or anyone crossed into the Darkhan Dynasty, Lin Mu's group would know within moments.

And so they waited.

Three full days had gone by, and the group had not once allowed themselves rest. Their focus remained on the projection array, their senses stretched outward like taut strings. The atmosphere was heavy but controlled.

The only sounds in the hall were the low hum of spiritual energy and the faint, rhythmic breathing of the cultivators.

Meng Bai occasionally scribbled notes or calculations on a jade slip, his attention divided between the array and his curiosity about the runic system that powered it.

Daoist Chu maintained the main link with the teleportation formations scattered across the mountains, while Monk Hushu sat cross-legged, murmuring prayers that strengthened their protective barrier.

The Elder Ice Drake stood silently near the back of the hall, his massive presence like that of an ancient mountain in human form.

Even Lin Mu, with his usually calm demeanor, felt the strain of waiting. His gaze swept across the glowing map for what felt like the thousandth time. Every few minutes, he extended his sense outward through the link he shared with his beasts, checking for any disturbance.

The hours bled together until finally, a ripple brushed against his

consciousness.

A faint voice echoed in his mind. "Master... I smell them," came Little Shrubby's message, his tone low and alert.

Before Lin Mu could respond, another pair of voices followed in near unison. Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang's minds spoke together, their tones filled with a rare hint of tension. "We sense it too. The air carries traces of corrupted qi and faint traces of blood rituals similar to what we felt before."

Lin Mu's eyes snapped open, his expression sharpening. "They are here."

The others immediately looked up. Daoist Chu leaned forward, while the Elder's icy aura thickened, chilling the hall slightly.

"Where?" Elyon's voice echoed through a communication crystal from the

western range.

Lin Mu closed his eyes briefly, linking to all three of his beasts. "They're scattered. North, east, and south, exactly the directions we predicted. They're spreading their forces, searching for isolated nests."

A few heartbeats later, a faint vibration spread through the hall as Elyon's alarms flared to life. His voice came through again, sharper this time. "Confirmed. I've detected spatial distortions and their presence firmly. They've teleported into the range."

SHUA. SHUA. SHUA.

The array map in the center of the hall flickered, and suddenly, a cascade of red dots began appearing across it. The faint hum of spiritual energy grew louder as the formation registered each new presence. Within moments, dozens of red lights turned into hundreds.

Everyone stared at the projection.

"They are... many," Monk Hushu said quietly, his usual calm voice carrying a weight of disbelief.

Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. "Count them."

Daoist Chu activated a counting rune on the formation, and numbers began

flickering across its edge. The final count stabilized at nearly six hundred red dots. The scale of it was staggering.

Elyon's voice came again, calm but edged with grim amusement. "Six hundred enemies, possibly more. They're splitting into groups of fifty to sixty, sweeping the region systematically. This is far more than the last time."