Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1348: Hostile

Zhang Yi harbored a strong desire to breach the Nine-Story Demon Tower, eager to uncover any hidden treasures within its confines.

A demon tower so highly esteemed by the entirety of the Demon Kingdom was surely no ordinary structure.

However, as he attempted to gain entry, a startling realization dawned upon him: this place was not as straightforward as it seemed.

For reasons unknown, his special ability suddenly failed him, rendering him incapable of phasing through the demon tower to reach its interior.

"This sensation again!"

It was the exact same phenomenon Zhang Yi had encountered when he first tried to enter the Demon Kingdom Gate—some unknown force nullified his supernatural abilities.

Given that both the Demon Kingdom and the esoteric sect hailed from the same historical civilization, it was hardly surprising that they employed similar defensive measures.

Gazing upon the dark, ancient structure, its stone stained with blood from millennia gone by, Zhang Yi's heart seemed to grasp a profound truth.

The sacrifice of living beings had apparently served to erect a formidable barrier, designed to counteract the powers of superhumans.

His previous barrage of attacks had merely scuffed the outermost layer of the Nine-Story Demon Tower, leaving its core completely untouched.

At that moment, Zhang Yi could find no discernible entrance.

After a brief period of contemplation, he made a resolute decision: he would simply blast the demon tower apart!

No sooner had the thought formed than it was put into action!

Zhang Yi promptly drew his firearm, unleashing Thunderbolt from the sky directly at the apex of the demon tower. Immense Void Power coalesced behind him, channeling into the formidable sniper rifle.

Tendrils of black Void Power writhed around Thunderbolt like luminous serpents. Once fully charged, a brilliant beam of darkness shot forth, aimed squarely at the Nine-Story Demon Tower.

Moments later, the slender streak of black energy rapidly expanded, impacting the tower's spire with tremendous force!

"BOOM!!!"

The earth-shattering impact resonated throughout the entire ancient city. The ground surrounding the Nine-Story Demon Tower fractured, spreading cracks outward, and numerous structures crumbled and collapsed.

Holstering his weapon, Zhang Yi fixed his gaze upon the tower, confirming the efficacy of his assault.

He had successfully created an opening in the spire of the demon tower.

Without further delay, Zhang Yi prepared to make his entrance.

Yet, at that precise instant, a golden arrow, swift as lightning, streaked across the distant horizon, hurtling directly toward Zhang Yi!

The premonition granted by his [All Things Follow Traces] ability allowed Zhang Yi to narrowly evade the projectile.

He glanced back to see Gao Changkong, encased in glittering dark golden battle armor, standing upon a battlements and aiming a golden longbow in his direction.

"Well, well, quite efficient, aren't we?"

Zhang Yi scoffed, his immediate intention now shifting to entering the tower first and claiming any available treasures.

"No choice. If I delay any longer, I'll get nothing. Compared to that decrepit old man, I'm certain the Demon Kingdom's treasures hold far greater worth."

Gao Changkong responded with a smile, "Don't even think about slipping away! I know I can't stop you, but what about the others you brought?"

Gao Changkong gestured with his bow towards the individuals on the ground below, cautioning Zhang Yi against any rash actions.

If Zhang Yi were to depart at that moment, his companions could find themselves in grave peril.

Zhang Yi's eyes narrowed.

This individual remained as troublesome as ever.

"Heh, what do you take me for? An old comrade has arrived, and naturally, I must offer a proper welcome."

While engaging Gao Changkong, Zhang Yi issued instructions to Liang Yue and the others. "I'll keep this fellow occupied here. All of you, enter the demon tower and scout for any valuable items!"

Liang Yue and the rest were aware of their inability to intervene in a battle of Epsilon-level might, and thus, they did not hesitate.

Swiftly, they advanced towards the breach Zhang Yi had created in the tower.

But just as they were about to proceed, several figures clad in combat suits, strikingly similar in style to Gao Changkong's, emerged from another quadrant of the Nine-Story Demon Tower.

Upon sighting Liang Yue and his group, they promptly deactivated the visual cloaking feature of their tactical visors, rendering them transparent.

In that instant, Liang Yue and the others recognized their identities.

These were none other than the members of the Reincarnation Squad, whom Gao Changkong had led away previously.

Their numbers were diminished compared to before, suggesting that over the past two years, they had endured significant trials, and some may have tragically fallen in combat.

However, with Gao Changkong's unique abilities, given sufficient time, he could fully unlock the latent potential within his chosen few.

Having been away from the Huaxu Kingdom for more than two years, he had grown immensely powerful, and his subordinates had followed suit.

Leading this contingent was Gao Changkong's girlfriend and second-in-command, Gu Man.

To her left stood the former shapeshifter who had once deceived everyone, known as [Chameleon] Chen Xiaozheng.

Positioned to Gu Man's right was another young man, distinguished by his striking white hair and a roguish grin.

Most captivating were his deft hand movements. His right hand was continuously engaged in manipulating a set of polyhedral dice, each crafted from luminous, jade-like material and intricately etched with arcane symbols.

Ten dice flowed seamlessly between his fingers, a mesmerizing display of skill that left onlookers in awe.

Old You and Liang Yue were unable to identify the newcomer, surmising they weren't part of the original Reincarnation Squad but had joined at a later stage.

The sight of these individuals stirred a sense of unease within Fatty Xu.

Within their own ranks, the truly formidable combatants were Liang Yue and Hua Hua; he and Old You were comparatively less potent.

However, the three adversaries presented did not appear easy to overcome.

Gu Man, directing her gaze towards Liang Yue and Old You positioned opposite her, inquired with a gentle smile, "What is our course of action? Shall we engage in combat right here?"

Liang Yue's eyebrows arched sharply. "If you seek conflict, I shall gladly provide it!"

Gu Man slowly inclined her head. "That would be unwise, as it would allow a third party to reap rewards from our dispute."

Not long after her declaration, from another direction, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table under his command made their appearance.

Their combat suits were a shade of deep blue, akin to near-black darkness, catching only a subtle dark blue sheen when struck by light.

Observing the convergence of all parties, Zhang Yi couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked,

"Did you manage to subdue that aged Epsilon so swiftly?"

Upon the mention of the Epsilon, Lancelot emitted an exasperated, drawn-out sigh.

"Damn it! A complete waste of our endeavors!"

"That old fellow was already on his last legs, his vital Qi severely depleted. We thought it would be a lucrative encounter, only to emerge with nothing!"

The Watcher, an ancient and decrepit figure, had already relinquished his position as Grand Priest, resigned to await his demise by the Sea of Blood.

Following his death, he was destined to sink into the Sea of Blood, becoming one of the countless spectral entities that roamed its depths.

He had mustered a final, brief surge of power before his end, but it was fleeting, and he was quickly dispatched by the two of them.

Yet, his body, frail as a candle flame in the wind, how much potent origin energy could it possibly retain?

The meager quantity of origin energy within him held a power equivalent only to a high-level Delta superhuman.

For both Gao Changkong and Lancelot, this outcome was nothing more than a hollow victory.

It was precisely for this reason that the two had hastened their arrival, fearing Zhang Yi might claim all the advantages for himself.

Now, the three factions stood in opposition, each hesitant to initiate the first move.

The reason for this apprehension was the potential for the one who struck first to face a combined assault from the other two factions.

Zhang Yi's gaze fell upon Gao Changkong, and recalling their shared history, a degree of worry surfaced regarding a potential alliance between Gao Changkong and Lancelot.

Consequently, he proposed, "Gao Changkong, we both hail from the Huaxu Kingdom, fellow countrymen from Jiangnan. How about we join forces to deal with them initially?"

Upon hearing this proposal, the Knights of the Round Table regarded Gao Changkong with wary eyes, some instinctively letting their hands rest upon the swords clasped at their waists.

In response to Zhang Yi's overture, Gao Changkong let out a sudden, sharp laugh.

Fixing his gaze upon Zhang Yi, he inquired with a faint tone, "Do you recall the precise reason I departed from the Jiangnan Region in the first place?"