Crossing to Douqi Continent and walking sideways

At the moment of life and death when the ice cave was about to collapse completely, Xiao Muchen and his companions, with the determination and courage to burn their boats, used up the last bit of their remaining strength and fled from the hellish and terrifying place in a miserable state. They ran desperately in the endless snow-covered land, and the snow under their feet was deeply trampled into potholes of varying depths by their hurried and hurried steps. The cold wind was like a sharp blade, ruthlessly scraping on their faces that had long been numb from fatigue and pain, but at this moment, the biting cold could not slow down their pace of escape.

Only when their lungs felt like they were about to explode and their legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and they were sure that they were far away from the extremely dangerous area that could ruthlessly swallow them up again at any time, did they stop panting and exhausted.

"Finally out..." Lin Wan'er was like a deflated ball, sitting limply on the cold snow. She gasped for air, and every breath seemed so difficult and heavy. Her originally fair and delicate face was now bloodless, like a pale piece of paper, and her hair was messily stuck to her face, soaked by sweat and melted snow, tightly sticking to her skin. Her eyes, which were originally smart and bright, were now filled with exhaustion and relief for surviving the catastrophe. Her body seemed to have been drained of all its strength, and even moving a finger became extremely difficult.

Ye Feng and Ling Shuang were not in much better condition. Their bodies were shaky and they had to cling to each other to get the last bit of support, so they could barely stand. Ye Feng's clothes were tattered and almost turned into strips of cloth. His exposed skin was covered with crisscrossing scars of varying depths. Some were scratched by ice cubes as sharp as blades, slender and hideous; others were left in fierce fights with monsters, the wounds were deep enough to see the bones, blood and flesh blurred. Ling Shuang's hair was wet and stuck to his scalp, and it was hard to tell whether it was sweat or snow. His chest rose and fell violently, and every breath was accompanied by a heavy gasp, as if the bellows were being pulled with difficulty.

Xiao Muchen stood there, his legs trembling slightly, but he still tried to straighten his spine, looking solemnly at the vast snowfield in front of him, his heart was like a turbulent sea, full of emotion. From the moment they first stepped into this secret realm with trepidation and expectation, they seemed to be ruthlessly dragged into an endless nightmare full of unknowns and fears by an invisible hand. The huge, fanged, and ferocious monsters, every attack carries a fatal threat; the mysterious caves, full of dangers and countless unknown secrets, every step of exploration is full of thrills and variables; and the extremely cold ice caves that can instantly freeze people's souls, every second of stay is like wandering on the edge of life and death.

"But we all made it through." Although Xiao Muchen's voice was hoarse due to extreme fatigue and thirst, the determination and indomitable spirit contained in it was like a powerful force that penetrated the cold wind and reached everyone's ears clearly. His eyes slowly swept over each of his companions, his eyes filled with deep relief and undisguised praise. He himself was also covered in wounds, and the originally dazzling light on the Star Sword now seemed a little dim and weak, but his posture was still as straight as a pine tree, like a mountain that stood tall in a storm, giving people endless strength and courage.

When everyone heard his words, they nodded solemnly and firmly. Their eyes no longer had the ignorance, fear and confusion they had when they first entered the secret realm. Instead, they were filled with maturity, perseverance and courage that had been accumulated after going through countless hardships and countless life-and-death tests. The fear, confusion and pain that had once made them feel desperate and collapsed, at this moment, turned into the most solid barrier and the most powerful source of strength in their hearts.

After a short rest and adjustment, they took a short break and began to help each other and bandage each other's wounds. Although their movements seemed a little slow and clumsy due to extreme fatigue, their concern and seriousness did not diminish at all. They took out the only dry food and water from their few remaining bags and shared them carefully. Every bite of food and every drop of water seemed so precious. Although their bodies were still shrouded in fatigue and pain, their spirits were gradually recovering and cheering up.

Then, they dragged their heavy steps and began the difficult journey to find the exit from the secret realm. Along the way, they supported each other, and every step was full of hardship and uncertainty. Xiao Muchen walked at the front of the team, still tightly holding the Star Sword that had accompanied him through countless battles, and observing every move around him with sharp eyes and vigilance. Lin Wan'er followed closely behind him. Although her steps were weak and she seemed to fall at any time, she never relaxed the long sword in her hand. That was her belief and reliance. Ye Feng and Ling Shuang did not dare to slack off, and always maintained a high degree of vigilance, ready to deal with any sudden danger.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past without warning, instantly rolling up the snowflakes all over the sky, forming a white snow curtain that instantly blurred their vision.

"Everyone be careful!" Xiao Muchen loudly reminded his companions behind him, his voice full of tension and worry.

They immediately stopped and quickly stood back to back, forming a tight defensive circle, waiting for the strong wind to pass. The wind was raging, and the cold snowflakes kept whipping their faces and bodies, bringing bursts of stinging pain. But they gritted their teeth, silently endured, and stood tightly together, not daring to relax at all.

After a long time, when the momentum of the strong wind gradually weakened and the raging snowflakes finally subsided, they opened their eyes again and continued to move forward cautiously.

Finally, after a long and arduous journey, a portal with a soft and warm light appeared in front of them. The light seemed so bright and so tempting in this icy, cold and dark environment, as if it was a call from heaven.

"That should be the exit!" Ye Feng shouted excitedly, his voice trembling with excitement. His eyes lit up instantly, as if he saw the dawn in the darkness, full of hope and expectation.

When everyone heard his shout, their spirits lifted. Their originally heavy and slow steps instantly accelerated, and they could not wait to rush towards the portal that symbolized hope and freedom. Every step was filled with eagerness and desire, and they wished they could immediately pass through the portal and return to the familiar and safe world.

As they walked into the portal with great excitement and trepidation, a strong and dazzling light suddenly burst out, completely enveloping them. They felt as if their bodies were tightly pulled and twisted by a powerful and mysterious force, and the scene before them became blurred and bizarre. The colorful lights intertwined like gorgeous fireworks, making them dizzy and almost losing their sense of direction.

Xiao Muchen tried hard to stay awake. He held his companions' hands tightly, fearing that someone would get lost in this strange and chaotic transmission process. He had only one firm belief in his heart: he must take everyone away safely.

After an unknown amount of time, perhaps a moment, perhaps a century, when the dazzling light gradually faded, they finally found themselves successfully returning to the familiar outside world. The warm and gentle sunlight sprinkled on them like a loving mother's caress, bringing long-lost comfort and warmth. The breeze blew gently, bringing bursts of fresh floral fragrance, which was the smell they were once very familiar with but missed so much in the secret realm.

"We are back!" Lin Wan'er's voice trembled with excitement, tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. She stared at the familiar mountains, land, green trees and blue sky, feeling the long-lost tranquility and security, her heart filled with emotion and joy. She once thought that she would never be able to return to this beautiful world, and she had thought in countless desperate moments that her life would end in that dark secret realm, but at this moment, everything seemed so precious and beautiful.

Xiao Muchen took a deep breath, fully feeling the fresh air outside. The air with the fragrance of soil, flowers and grass instantly made him feel comfortable and happy. "This trip to the secret realm has made us all grow a lot." His voice was full of emotion and expectations for the future, and his eyes were full of determination and confidence. They may have been immature, timid, or confused in the past, but after this life-and-death test, they have been reborn and become stronger, braver and more mature warriors.

They smiled at each other, and that smile contained too many emotions that could not be expressed in words. There was the relief and letting go of the difficult times in the past, the deep gratitude for each other's loyalty at the critical moment of life and death, and the beautiful expectation of hope and vision for the future. It was a friendship that became more firm and profound after going through the baptism of wind and rain.

Then, they packed their bags and set off on their return journey. The road under their feet was solid and flat, which formed a sharp and strong contrast with the rugged, trap-filled and dangerous road in the secret realm. Along the way, they talked enthusiastically about their experiences in the secret realm and shared their insights and gains with each other.

"That giant python was so terrifying. If it weren't for Xiao Muchen's Phantom God Dark Flame, we would have had a hard time defeating it." Ye Feng recalled the thrilling battle, and a trace of fear still lingered in his eyes. The huge body, sharp fangs and deadly venom were still vivid in his mind, making him shudder.

"And that mysterious cave, the runes and seals inside, I wonder what secrets are hidden." Ling Shuang frowned and fell into deep thought. Those ancient and mysterious runes and powerful seals seemed to be telling them a long and mysterious story, which filled him with curiosity and desire to explore.

"But it is these challenges that make us stronger." Lin Wan'er said with a smile, her eyes shining with confidence and determination. She may have retreated and been afraid in the face of difficulties in the past, but now she has learned to face them bravely and to grow and rise in adversity.

Their figures gradually walked away, leaving behind a long shadow full of hope and courage in the afterglow of the setting sun. They knew that this secret experience was just a small episode in their life, and there would be more challenges and opportunities waiting for them in the future. But they were no longer afraid, and no longer retreated, because they already had enough courage, wisdom and strength to bravely face all unknown difficulties and dangers, and to create their own glory and legend.