Chapter 1198: The Apotheosis Platform Appears (Part One)
Previously, when facing Bai Yuanhua, the Demon Saint, Yang Haoran had maintained a faint smile on his face, appearing utterly calm, as if everything was under his control. But now, he displayed a look of profound shock, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
The Enforcement Hall Master did not understand Yang Haoran, so he didn't know what Yang Haoran's shocked expression signified. However, he knew Patriarch Bai Yuanhua very well. Although their Demon Saint Patriarch was prone to anger, he rarely showed such a shocked expression. Thus, seeing both Bai Yuanhua and Yang Haoran staring intently at the black hole in the sky, he knew this sudden change was definitely more serious and complex than he had imagined!
The Enforcement Hall Master did not understand Yang Haoran, but Bai Xue did. In fact, Bai Xue's understanding of Yang Haoran far surpassed the Enforcement Hall Master's understanding of Bai Yuanhua. Bai Xue knew that Yang Haoran rarely let his emotions show; a faint smile always graced his face, and his expression seldom changed. Whenever a significant change in his expression occurred, it was invariably due to a major event or a truly thorny problem.
An expression of shock had not been entirely absent from Yang Haoran's face before. Since Bai Xue had known him, she had seen him show shock, but she had never witnessed such profound astonishment from him. This was the first time she had ever seen it.
From this alone, Bai Xue immediately understood two things: one, Yang Haoran certainly knew what the black hole in the sky was, and two, the black hole in the sky was definitely more terrifying than she had imagined!
Just as Bai Xue was about to ask Yang Haoran what was going on, Yang Haoran began to murmur to himself.
"The sky shatters, the earth cracks, the Apotheosis Platform appears!"
These nine short words, spoken by Yang Haoran, carried both solemnity and shock, even a hint of uncontrollable excitement. Although he was muttering to himself and not intentionally amplifying his voice, his nine words still reached Bai Xue's ears.
Upon hearing Yang Haoran's nine words, Bai Xue froze. She instantly realized something, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face. Before she could recover from her shock, Yang Haoran suddenly turned to look at her, his expression serious and urgent as he spoke.
Yang Haoran's urgent warning roused Bai Xue from her stupor. Having already realized the nature of the black hole, she instantly understood why Yang Haoran wanted the four of them to leave immediately!
The shock in her heart caused Bai Xue's mind to momentarily short-circuit. After Yang Haoran's words fell, she immediately responded.
"What about you if we leave?"
Yang Haoran was left somewhat speechless by this, yet at the same time, a warmth bloomed in his heart. After all, in such a situation, Bai Xue's first thought wasn't to flee immediately, but to worry about his safety.
"My dear, this is just a phantom projection. Even if it's dispersed, it won't harm my true body. Hurry and take them away; it'll be trouble if you're late!"
Yang Haoran spoke urgently, and his words brought Bai Xue's short-circuited mind back to normal. She only then realized that the Yang Haoran before her was not the real Yang Haoran, but merely a phantom projection. Indeed, there was no need to worry about the safety of a phantom projection.
She wasn't truly foolish; her concern had simply clouded her judgment.
Recovering her composure, Bai Xue nodded heavily at Yang Haoran. She stopped wasting words with Yang Haoran and immediately gave the order. The aura of a generation's Demon King erupted at this moment.
"Jing Miao, leave with us. Luo Xue, act now!"
Jing Miao hesitated slightly, but still transformed into a streak of blood-red light and rushed into the protective barrier Bai Xue had set up. Her hesitation stemmed from the fact that Yang Haoran had also given her a means to escape from this place. She trusted Yang Haoran one hundred percent, so she believed the method Yang Haoran gave her would certainly allow her to escape. Moreover, the White Fox Clan currently had no intention of stopping them. Setting aside Bai Yuanhua's previous promise, just considering the current drastic changes, the White Fox Clan had neither the ability nor the inclination to intercept them.
Therefore, using the method Yang Haoran had left for her to escape from this place would certainly be no problem. The reason she ultimately didn't do so was because she perceived that Bai Xue was equally confident about escaping. Although her trust in Bai Xue was not as profound as her trust in Yang Haoran, she did not deny Bai Xue's abilities. Since Bai Xue was so confident, she must have prepared a fallback plan that would surely prove effective.
Even if, taking ten thousand steps back, Bai Xue's prepared fallback failed, the one Yang Haoran left her was still there. If such a situation truly arose, it wouldn't be too late for her to use the fallback Yang Haoran had given her then.
It was precisely because Jing Miao had considered this point that she hesitated for a moment, then still transformed into a streak of blood-red light and rushed into the barrier Bai Xue had set up.
Under Bai Xue's control, the protective barrier she had set up had no effect whatsoever on the blood-red light Jing Miao had transformed into. The blood-red light pierced through the barrier effortlessly, without any hindrance, entering its interior.
As Jing Miao transformed into a streak of blood-red light and rushed into the barrier, a powerful surge of energy immediately erupted from Luo Xue's body. The moment Jing Miao's body, transformed into blood-red light, entered the barrier, Luo Xue quickly formed a hand seal with both hands, followed by a low cry from her lips.
"Disperse!"
As the word "Disperse" rang out, the four of them—Luo Xue and the others—instantly turned into snowflakes within the barrier and vanished. Even the protective barrier Bai Xue had released dissipated with their disappearance, as if the four of them had never even been there.
The four of them were able to achieve this naturally thanks to Luo Xue, the snow demon's, special ability. As a snow demon, Luo Xue was like a fish in water in places with snow. While not invincible, her power would be significantly enhanced, and she would also gain some special abilities. The escape technique she just employed was one of her special abilities.
And this special ability of Luo Xue's was the fallback escape plan Bai Xue had prepared for this trip. Before coming to Snow Fox Mountain, Bai Xue couldn't be sure if the trip would go smoothly. For safety's sake, after some consideration, she decided to bring Luo Xue. She knew that Luo Xue possessed some special abilities in specific environments. She had also heard from Bai Jiumeng that Snow Fox Mountain was covered in thick snow year-round, so she knew that bringing Luo Xue on this trip would only bring benefits, not harm.
As for why she had prepared an escape plan in advance, it was because she didn't believe she had the ability to sweep through the entire White Fox Clan. Once a conflict truly broke out with the White Fox Clan, fleeing would be their only option. Without preparing an escape method beforehand, it would certainly not do.
The departure of Bai Xue and the three others met with no hindrance whatsoever. Leaving aside whether the White Fox Clan even had the ability to successfully intercept Luo Xue's special technique, even if they did, they were in no mood to interfere now. Because in the current circumstances, they simply had no mind to concern themselves with Bai Xue and her companions.
As Yang Haoran urged Bai Xue and the others to leave quickly, Bai Yuanhua also spoke anxiously to the members of the White Fox Clan.
"All clan members, heed my order: leave Snow Fox Mountain immediately! Quick! !"
The White Fox Clan members present had never seen their patriarch so flustered. These clan members had already harbored a strong premonition of ill omen in their hearts. Now, hearing Bai Yuanhua's anxious commands, that ominous feeling in their hearts grew even stronger!
Although they didn't know what was truly happening, one thing was perfectly clear in their minds: if they didn't leave this place quickly, they would surely lose their lives here forever.
Some White Fox clan members were already filled with fear, and had entertained the thought of escaping even before Bai Yuanhua gave the order. But because Patriarch Bai Yuanhua had not given the command, even with such thoughts, they dared not actually act on them.
Now that Bai Yuanhua had ordered them to leave this place quickly, the clan members who had intended to flee showed not the slightest hesitation. They all dashed down the mountain at top speed, without a single glance back.
There were also some White Fox clan members who had not considered fleeing before Bai Yuanhua spoke. But as Bai Yuanhua gave the order, and they witnessed other clan members madly scrambling down the mountain for their lives, they naturally cast aside their reservations. They too chose to escape Snow Fox Mountain.
Of course, not all White Fox clan members chose to flee Snow Fox Mountain; some still remained. These were Bai Yuanhua's trusted confidantes and also masters of the White Fox Clan. Though their hearts were filled with doubt and fear, their own patriarch had not left this place. How could subordinates abandon their post and flee? Even if they were unwilling, they could only grit their teeth and endure.
Among these White Fox clan members, the Enforcement Hall Master was conspicuously present.
"You don't need to worry about me. Quickly take the clan members away from Snow Fox Mountain. Without you to maintain order, the escape of the other clan members will surely be a mess. Once you've chosen a temporary refuge, report back to me immediately via a Communication Talisman!"
Upon hearing Bai Yuanhua's words, the Enforcement Hall Master and the other White Fox Clan masters exchanged glances. Not a single one of them wasted another word; they all shot down the mountain, because they absolutely had to follow Bai Yuanhua's orders to take care of the other White Fox Clan members and find a temporary place to settle.
In just a short while, the once crowded summit of Snow Fox Mountain became utterly deserted. Aside from Bai Yuanhua, the patriarch of the White Fox Clan, only Yang Haoran's phantom projection remained.
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"Divine Emissary Yang, you say. . . you say this isn't the prelude to the Apotheosis Platform's imminent appearance?"
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