Snow fell across a vast, white world.
The Mang Mountain range stretched for a hundred li. As far as the eye could see, the world was cloaked in silver, like a great snow dragon lying in repose—magnificent and vast.
The wind was biting cold, a time when both man and beast should have vanished from sight.
But at this moment, a crowd had gathered at the foot of Mang Mountain.
Nearly all of them carried bows and arrows. They were subtly divided into three groups—the Three Great Noble Families of Anxing City: the Li, the Qin, and the Zhang.
The Three Great Noble Families, each led by their Clan Leader and Elders, had come to Mang Mountain for the annual hunt.
"Heh, Patriarch Li, it's been a while. You really got the better of us last time at the Four Seas Pavilion."
Qin Hai said with a smile, clasping his hands in a salute toward Li Heyu.
"I only have all of you to thank for holding back. Otherwise, how could the Wind and Rain Sword Technique have possibly fallen into my hands?"
Li Heyu's words were polite, but he couldn't hide the smug satisfaction in his eyes, which made Qin Hai's heart burn with resentment.
'A Profound-Level Lower-Class Martial Skill!'
"Haha, Li, don't play modest after getting such a prize. If I hadn't been in seclusion last time, I would have definitely fought you for it."
Just then, the Zhang Family Patriarch, the thick-browed and large-eyed Zhang Feng, walked over.
"Patriarch Zhang, it seems you've broken through to the Profound Origin Ninth Grade. Congratulations," Li Heyu said, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
The three of them—Zhang Feng, Qin Hai, and Li Heyu—had all been at the Profound Origin Eighth Grade. But now, Zhang Feng had taken the lead and broken through to the Ninth Grade, putting him a step above the other two.
"Just a bit of luck," Zhang Feng said with a smile.
The three Clan Leaders chatted peacefully on the surface for a while longer.
Meanwhile, Qin Ya stood within the Qin Family's ranks, though he kept to himself in a corner. He didn't speak to anyone, appearing to be a bit of a loner.
But that was hardly surprising. He was extremely unpopular in the Qin Family; aside from Qin Yuxiang, not a single person was on good terms with him.
Although he wasn't speaking to anyone, most of the Qin Family members were watching him.
"Hey, look, isn't that Qin Ya? What's he doing at the Mang Mountain hunt? Does he have a death wish?"
"Heh, he's not the same piece of trash he used to be. It's not that big a deal for him to join the Mang Mountain hunt."
"This hunt is no simple matter. He's truly overestimating his abilities, daring to participate just because he's gained a little strength."
The three great families were already keeping a close eye on one another. Seeing the Qin Family disciples all discussing Qin Ya, the other two families couldn't help but look over with curiosity.
There stood a solitary figure, straight as a spear, silent and aloof. Standing in the snow, he seemed to merge with the world around him, possessing an extraordinary air.
'This person is definitely extraordinary!'
This was the first impression the other two families had of Qin Ya.
'When did the Qin Family produce such a figure?'
Seeing this, Qin Yuncheng, who was standing not far away, snorted coldly, inwardly furious that Qin Ya was stealing the spotlight.
"Qin Ya, I never thought you'd actually come to the Mang Mountain hunt. Don't go getting yourself killed in the jaws of a Fierce Beast later."
Qin Yuncheng walked over, Quiver in hand, and sneered.
Qin Ya's eyelids twitched. He glanced at him, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
'So he's broken through to the Profound Origin Realm,' he thought.
But he didn't pay it much mind. With his current Cultivation at the Human Element Seventh Grade, plus the two Martial Skills Carefree Travel and Overlapping Waves Seventh Layer, he was more than capable of fighting, and even surpassing, someone in the Profound Origin Realm.
"Worry about yourself," Qin Ya said flatly.
Seeing his completely unconcerned expression, Qin Yuncheng's anger flared. 'You're just a good-for-nothing, what right do you have to steal my spotlight?'
"Qin Ya, you'd better be careful once we're inside Mang Mountain."
A vicious look flashed across Qin Yuncheng's face before he turned and left.
'Then you'd best be careful of me, too.'
When it came to threats, Qin Ya's policy was always total annihilation.
"In the month of deep winter, the Mang Mountain hunt. I hope all you young talents will take good care of yourselves. I now declare that the hunt begins!"
"The hunt begins!"
"The hunt begins!"
With the three Clan Leaders' command, the young disciples of each family surged into the mountain range one after another.
Among them, Qin Yuncheng's True Essence flared. With a powerful push from his feet, he kicked up a blizzard of wind and snow and dashed into Mang Mountain, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
"The Profound Origin Realm!!"
Seeing this, the members of the other families felt their pupils shrink.
"Patriarch Qin, it seems that while Yuncheng's Talent may not compare to Yun Long's, it is still extraordinary. To break through to the Profound Origin Realm at such a young age..."
Li Heyu stared intently at Qin Hai, a hint of apprehension in his eyes.
The Qin Family had two great geniuses, Qin Yunlong and Qin Yuncheng. Qin Yunlong had broken through to the Profound Origin Realm two years ago and became a disciple at the Yunxiao Empire's foremost institution, Mingxin Academy. And now, Qin Yuncheng had also reached the Profound Origin Realm.
This couldn't help but stir a sense of crisis in the other two families.
If this continued, it wouldn't be long before Anxing City belonged to the Qin Family.
"Haha, the boy is making me proud on his own."
Qin Hai let out a hearty laugh. His greatest source of pride was having fathered his two sons, Qin Yunlong and Qin Yuncheng.
"Indeed. I wonder how many people will die at Qin Yuncheng's hands during this Mang Mountain hunt," Zhang Feng remarked with a dark sigh.
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere froze. A murderous chill seemed to settle over the snow-filled sky, a cold that seeped into the bones and froze the heart.
"Hmph!"
* * *
Dressed in a black martial artist's uniform and carrying a bow and arrows, Qin Ya walked alone through the vast, white world. The biting wind and snow seemed to have no effect on him.
'Hm?'
He suddenly stopped. Before him was a series of tracks. Judging by their shape, they belonged to a common Fierce Beast in Mang Mountain—the Snow Wolf.
"My luck is pretty good. I just got here and I've already found a Snow Wolf."
Qin Ya smiled faintly. Snow Wolves weren't particularly strong among Fierce Beasts, roughly equivalent to a Human Element Third Grade Martial Artist, but their pelts fetched a high price.
At least three hundred Silver Coins.
Of course, to Qin Ya, who was carrying a fortune of several hundred thousand, a mere three hundred Silver Coins was nothing. But the purpose of this trip was to temper himself.
Since he'd run into a Snow Wolf, he naturally had to go take a look.
Qin Ya followed the tracks, noticing that they were growing denser and all heading in the same direction.
'Looks like I've found a pack of Snow Wolves,' Qin Ya thought, a sharp glint in his eyes.
Where there's a pack, there must be a Wolf King. This Snow Wolf King would be much stronger than an ordinary Snow Wolf, equivalent to at least a Human Element Eighth Grade Martial Artist. Combined with the pack, even a Martial Artist at the Profound Origin Realm would have a headache dealing with them.
"Interesting. A perfect chance to test my skills." Qin Ya smiled faintly and continued to follow. Since this was for tempering, something too easy would be boring.
On a patch of snowy ground, a pack of white Snow Wolves was gathered, warily surveying their surroundings. Among them, one wolf was particularly eye-catching.
This Snow Wolf was more than twice the size of the others. It was surrounded by the pack like the moon amidst the stars. Its fur was also brighter, and more importantly, its pale yellow eyes held an intelligence the other wolves lacked, as if it were sentient.
It was the Snow Wolf King, leader of its pack!
Suddenly, the Snow Wolves all stood up, their fur bristling. They stared toward a spot in the woods, letting out low growls, their eyes full of vigilance.
"A Fierce Beast is a Fierce Beast, after all. That keen sense is something no ordinary Martial Artist can compare to." From the woods, a figure slowly emerged.