Chapter 44: The Inheritance of the Ice Heart Protection

In the center of the ice tomb, Kyle and the others were fully engaged in the ceremony of waking up the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan. As the ice layers melted rapidly, the condition of the Lingyao Clan survivors gradually improved. However, just as the ice layers were about to completely melt away, something abnormal suddenly occurred during the ceremony. A powerful and violent backlash force surged towards the main characters like a turbulent tide. The air instantly became bone-chillingly cold, and ice crystals flew wildly in the air.

Kyle was the first to bear the brunt and felt the terrifying power. Instinctively, he tried to resist with the stardust power, but the backlash force was too strong, and the stardust power was tottering under its impact. Seeing this, Elsa immediately cast her ice magic, attempting to merge with Kyle's stardust power to enhance their defense. However, the backlash force was still overwhelming and gradually approached everyone.

"No, this force is too strong. We can hardly hold on anymore!" Morgan shouted, his voice tinged with a trace of panic. Cavin also did his best to stabilize the surrounding energy fluctuations with magic, trying to reduce the impact of the backlash force, but with little effect.

Kyle gritted his teeth, with beads of sweat on his forehead, but his eyes revealed determination. "We can't give up. We must complete the ceremony and rescue the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan!" At this critical moment of life and death, various scenes of the previous battle with the Ice Spirit and the exploration of the ice tomb puzzle suddenly flashed through Kyle's mind. He remembered the Ice Spirit's protection of the ice tomb, which was a power stemming from loyalty and mission, unbreakable.

"Perhaps, I can find a way to break through from the Ice Spirit's guarding power." This thought flashed through Kyle's mind, but it was immediately followed by self-doubt. "But it's easier said than done. The stardust power and the cold energy have always been difficult to merge. Can I really do it?" However, looking at the approaching backlash force and his companions who were also struggling to hold on, Kyle forcefully suppressed these doubts. "Anyway, I have to give it a try. This is the only hope to rescue the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan."

He began to calm down, ignoring the external distractions, and focused on feeling the connection between himself and the surrounding cold energy. The cold energy raged around him, but it also seemed to be telling him something. Kyle closed his eyes tightly and immersed his consciousness in a cold world. He seemed to see the former glory of the Lingyao Clan and their unyielding spirit in the face of the disaster. In this illusory scene, he saw a guardian of the Lingyao Clan holding a weapon emitting the light of cold energy, guarding the clan members in a firm and fearless posture. The guardian exuded a special aura, which was the persistence in protection and the responsibility for the mission.

Kyle's heart was deeply touched by this aura. He tried to imitate the guardian's posture and combine his own stardust power with the cold energy. At first, this fusion was extremely difficult. The stardust power and the cold energy repelled each other, generating violent fluctuations in his body, causing him great pain. "This pain... it's almost tearing me apart." Kyle groaned inwardly, but he kept encouraging himself in his heart. "I can't give up. The surviving members of the Lingyao Clan are still waiting, and my companions are relying on me. Those guardians of the Lingyao Clan didn't flinch in the face of the disaster. How can I fall here?" So, he gritted his teeth and continuously adjusted the way of fusing the powers, trying again and again.

"Hold on, Kyle! You can definitely do it!" Elsa encouraged him from the side. She could feel that Kyle was making a difficult breakthrough. Morgan and Cavin were also trying their best to resist the backlash force, buying time for Kyle.

Finally, after repeated attempts, Kyle felt a wonderful change. The stardust power and the cold energy in his body gradually merged, forming a brand-new power. This power flowed through his body, making him feel an unprecedented strength and tranquility. Kyle's consciousness returned to reality, and he slowly opened his eyes, with a determined light shining in his eyes.

At this time, a layer of crystal-clear ice began to condense around Kyle's body. The ice layer continued to thicken and finally formed a huge ice shield, firmly protecting the main characters inside. The ice shield emitted a soft blue light, with mysterious runes flickering on it, which was the manifestation of the "Ice Heart Protection" skill.

"This is the power of the 'Ice Heart Protection'!" Kyle marveled in his heart. The powerful backlash force crashed into the ice shield, making a dull sound, but the ice shield remained motionless. Moreover, the ice shield began to absorb the cold energy in the backlash force and convert it into its own energy, making the light of the ice shield even more dazzling.

As the ice shield absorbed more and more cold energy, it began to produce a strange rebound effect. The backlash force, after hitting the ice shield, was rebounded and dispersed towards the depths of the ice tomb. Those rebounded energies triggered a series of vibrations in the ice tomb, and the originally chaotic cold energy fluctuations gradually stabilized.

The Ice Spirit witnessed all this from the side, with surprise and relief in its eyes. "I didn't expect that you actually grasped the mystery of the 'Ice Heart Protection'. This is the inheritance of the Lingyao Clan's guarding power. Only those with the belief in protection can master it."

Kyle looked at the Ice Spirit and said firmly, "We truly want to rescue the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan. This belief in protection has supported me in learning this skill."

Under the protection of the "Ice Heart Protection" skill, the ceremony was able to continue. Kyle released the stardust power with all his might again and perfectly merged it with the cold energy guided by Elsa. The powerful force once again acted on the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan. The remaining ice layers on their bodies melted rapidly and finally completely disappeared.

The surviving members of the Lingyao Clan slowly opened their eyes, with confusion and gratitude in their eyes. Kyle and the others stepped forward and told them what had happened. The surviving members of the Lingyao Clan were extremely grateful for Kyle and the others' life-saving grace. They all expressed their willingness to tell everyone the secrets about the cold energy that they knew and help them complete the next adventure.

"Thank you, brave adventurers. If it weren't for you, we might never have awakened from the ice seal," an elderly surviving member of the Lingyao Clan said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Kyle smiled and said, "This is what we should do. We came here to obtain the cold energy and also hope to help restore peace to this star domain."

Morgan walked up to a young surviving member of the Lingyao Clan, with a bright smile on his face, but beneath this smile, there were complex emotions hidden. As a descendant of the Lingyao Clan, seeing his clan members regain their lives at this moment, his heart was filled with joy, and his eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red. But when he thought of the hardships his clan members had suffered, being imprisoned here for a long time, their bodies being weak, and the once glorious Lingyao Clan having fallen to such a state, sadness and indignation welled up in his heart. "Hey, brother! Finally, we've rescued you guys." Morgan tried to make his voice sound relaxed. "How do you feel after being trapped in the ice for so long?" The young surviving member of the Lingyao Clan still had a hint of confusion in his eyes. Looking at Morgan, he said gratefully, "Thank you so much. When I was in the ice, it felt like time had stopped. Now, being able to regain my freedom is like a dream." Morgan scratched his head, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and smiled in response, "Haha, it's not a dream! From now on, we'll protect this star domain together." But after saying this, Morgan's smile gradually faded, and a sense of entanglement suddenly welled up in his heart. These newly awakened clan members were so weak and in urgent need of someone to take care of and guide them. As a member of the Lingyao Clan, he should stay and help them. But Kyle and the others had given him so much support during the adventure, and everyone had already become partners who shared weal and woe. At this moment, it was really hard for him to part with them.

During the communication with the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan, Kyle found that their understanding of the cold energy was extremely profound. They told Kyle that the cold energy was not just a simple power but an existence that balanced with the stardust power. Only by mastering the balance between the cold energy and the stardust power could one truly control the power of this star domain.

"To obtain the cold energy, you must go to the core area of the cold energy. There is an ancient cold energy altar there. Only through a specific ceremony can you draw the cold energy. But the altar is surrounded by powerful defense mechanisms, and it's very dangerous," a surviving member of the Lingyao Clan reminded.

After hearing this, although Kyle and the others were worried, their determination remained unshaken. In the ice tomb, Kyle not only successfully rescued the surviving members of the Lingyao Clan but also learned the "Ice Heart Protection" skill, which filled him with confidence for the next adventure.

Before leaving the ice tomb, Kyle used the "Ice Heart Protection" skill again, feeling the powerful defense brought by this power. The ice shield shimmered beside him, as if telling the oath of protection. He knew that in the future adventures, the "Ice Heart Protection" would become a powerful guarantee for them to face difficulties and dangers.

At this time, Morgan walked up to Kyle, looking a bit hesitant. "Kyle, I... I'm a bit torn. These newly awakened surviving members of the Lingyao Clan are too weak. They need someone to take care of them. As a member of the Lingyao Clan, I want to stay and help them. But I also can't bear to part with everyone. We've been through so much together on this journey, and I really don't want to leave you guys." Kyle looked at Morgan, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Morgan, I understand how you feel. These are your clan members, and you have the responsibility to take care of them. But you're also an indispensable member of our team. Whatever decision you make, we'll support you. If you stay, when your clan members recover, we can still fight side by side; if you continue the adventure with us, after we complete the mission, we can come back and help them together." After hearing this, Morgan felt even more mixed emotions. He looked at the weak surviving members of the Lingyao Clan and then at his companions who had fought side by side with him, and for a moment, he was caught in a difficult choice...