Chapter 005: Wild Beasts

Even though Mo Li’s sharp gaze carried an intangible pressure that bore down on him, and though his entire body was drenched in sweat from tension, nothing could suppress the cheer in Lin Zhan’s heart. This was his first time witnessing a duel between cultivators, and his exhilaration was in celebration of such a perilous spectacle.

“Country bumpkin, you really have no sense of the world. I seriously doubt you’re actually from the Qin family!” Qin Qingxuan rose gracefully, dusted off her clothes, and pouted in Lin Zhan’s direction.

After all, in this cultivation world, daily duels between cultivators and hunting beasts in the wild were everyday occurrences—hardly worth a second glance.

“My lady, I’m not a member of the Qin family to begin with! I wish I could leave early and escape with my life,” Lin Zhan muttered helplessly, his eyes full of innocent grievance as he quietly packed up his belongings, ready to continue on the road.

Regarding the aerial duel just now, Lian Ming offered a timely explanation: “Mo Li, the chief disciple of the Cold Snow Sect, is said to have reached the peak of the Human Stage—he’s one of the most outstanding young talents of this generation. The defeated Yang Kai, a rising star of the Ice Shadow Sect, is still half a step from that pinnacle. To have escaped safely from Mo Li’s grasp is no small feat…”

Lin Zhan’s interest was piqued. “So, are there levels above the Human Stage? Are there even more powerful experts?”

Lian Ming glanced at Lin Zhan’s face—perhaps the recent stirring battle had put him in unusually good spirits, for instead of his usual impatience, he actually answered. “Of course. The Human Stage is just the first step in cultivation; it’s divided into early, middle, and late phases. Above that, there’s the Yellow Stage—those stronger than Mo Li. Such individuals are the pillars of any sect. Some spend centuries trying to break through without success…”

As a dozen or so battered Qin soldiers gathered around, Lian Ming waved them off. “Enough. Besides the Third Miss, none of you would reach the Human Stage even if you trained for decades, let alone anything higher. Don’t get ahead of yourselves—let’s keep moving!”

Fang Daguang clapped Lin Zhan’s shoulder and strode resolutely onward.

“Centuries? I’m sorry, but I doubt I’ll live that long…” Lin Zhan shook his head and hurried after them.

This place was far too dangerous; better to stay close for safety.

As for the Human Stage and such, Lin Zhan wasn’t worried at all. If a person couldn’t even reach the Human Stage, then coming here would have been a waste.

Ah well, since he hadn’t fallen into a beauty’s bath, he’d better pray to survive a few more chapters and at least live an interesting life—then he’d consider himself lucky.

The group slipped into the forest, trudging through knee-deep snow. The severe drain on their stamina left everyone silent.

It seemed the sky would never darken. Lin Zhan had already noticed that in this world, there was no sunlight or blue sky—only endless snow and ice, a silver-white world where day could hardly be distinguished from night.

The pangs of hunger began to gnaw at him.

“A short break!” Lian Ming, taking command from Qin Qingxuan, gave the order. The party stopped in a small clearing.

Do these people even need to eat or drink? Water was no problem; the world was blanketed in snow. But what about food? If they didn’t need to eat, what was he supposed to do?

Lin Zhan sat down, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, his stomach rumbling more fiercely by the moment.

He watched as Qin Qingxuan and Lian Ming sat on a fallen log, aloof from worldly concerns, daintily pounding their knees with small fists, while the other soldiers set down their weapons and brushed ice shards from their armor…

“Here, try some flying rabbit meat, smoked and dried—my mother’s recipe. Eating fasting pills all day must have ruined your appetite.”

Abruptly, a large chunk of blackened meat appeared before his eyes, the aroma of fat instantly making his mouth water.

Meat! Real meat!

Lin Zhan accepted the chunk, tears welling up in his eyes. Without so much as hugging Fang Daguang’s thigh in thanks, he tore off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, devouring it ravenously.

Delicious! It tasted like dried wild yak from the northern grasslands, the kind Old Six used to bring from home at the beginning of term.

Flying rabbit meat? Was this the flesh of a wild beast? It must be incredibly nourishing!

Before long, only half remained. Glancing furtively around, Lin Zhan stashed the rest in his shirt—one had to be prepared for lean times; who knew when he’d next have meat?

He then noticed that his companions were also eating, washing down their food with melted snow.

From a small porcelain bottle, they poured out black pills—could these be fasting pills? Could those really sate hunger?

Lin Zhan recalled several bottles in his own pack, taken from the dead soldiers.

Perfect—so they did eat. That made things feel a bit more normal.

Chewing on a chunk of ice, Lin Zhan’s mood instantly brightened.

He had food and drink—life wasn’t at its darkest just yet.

Suddenly!

A soldier on watch, who had just turned to smile back, was snatched away by a force in a heartbeat. Behind several thick trees came the grisly crunch of flesh and bone.

Danger struck without warning. Their brief respite was shattered in an instant.

“Battle formation! Protect the young miss!” Lian Ming’s voice broke, his previously effortless composure gone, replaced by tense vigilance.

Lin Zhan was dragged by Fang Daguang into the defensive formation, his spear trembling in his hands.

The soldier’s screams caught him off guard, just as his spirits had lifted.

What kind of creature could so savagely drag away a living person and devour them on the spot?

Qin Qingxuan broke free from the protective circle, shouting angrily, “Lian Ming, you don’t need to protect me! If you do, we’re all doomed. I can fight, and I refuse to be a burden. Only by fighting together can we overcome the wild beasts that appear without warning!”

The sword in her hand gleamed with a chilling light, a faint red aura flickering around it.

Lian Ming was overjoyed at the sight. “Qingxuan, when did you learn to unleash a three-inch sword glow?”

“Strange, I’m not sure myself—it just happened suddenly.” A blush spread across Qin Qingxuan’s face.

To be able to emit sword energy meant she could harm ordinary wild beasts—giving them a real chance in the coming battle.

Lian Ming, evidently playing strategist as well, quickly reorganized the formation from defense to offense.

Lin Zhan was positioned behind Fang Daguang, the youngest in the group.

Suddenly, the trees shook violently, and a severed head was tossed out. The soldier’s eyes were still wide, his face frozen in a mysterious smile.

Then, squeezing out from between the trunks came an enormous, bloated creature, boasting a pair of shaggy wings. It finally revealed itself before them.

“Flying rabbit!” someone shrieked.

Staring at its two massive fangs, its lantern-sized blood-red eyes, extended wings, and slashing claws, Lin Zhan could not, for the life of him, associate this monstrous beast with the adorable image of a bunny.

Had he just eaten the meat of this creature?

He felt his stomach lurch.