The young disciples of the Flying Sword Sect couldn't hide the grim expressions on their faces. The enemy Earth cultivators were still pursuing them from behind, while members of one of the most powerful sects in Zaguhan now stood right in front of them.
Three figures in long, light-blue robes embroidered with beautiful, intricate wave-like patterns rested on a fallen log. They exuded a refined and noble aura. But what drew the most attention was their condition: their garments were torn, bloodstains marked the fabric, and exhaustion was clear in their eyes.
"They're injured," murmured Xiao Mei, watching them closely.
Sitting in the middle was a young man with striking features, long yellow hair, delicate facial traits, and sharp eyes like blades of ice. Beside him sat a young girl with wavy hair, one of her arms roughly bandaged, and finally a slender man who was breathing heavily.
The three looked up and turned their faces toward them.
The yellow-haired youth scanned them from head to toe and then said, "You're from the Flying Sword Sect, aren't you? I'm surprised you made it this far." His voice carried a peculiar calmness that was pleasant to the ears, masking the sharpness of his words.
Before they could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps crunching the snow erupted. The four Earth disciples who had been chasing the Wind cultivators appeared, snorting like bulls, ready for a final charge.
The Water cultivator turned his face and saw the new group of people—tall and broad-bodied men. He looked at them with a slight frown, unable to recognize which sect they belonged to. However, seeing their frozen faces and the fear in their eyes, he assumed their origins must be ordinary.
"Come closer! Are you afraid of something?" he said with a half-smile that only enhanced his already charming appearance.
The Earth and Wind cultivators exchanged uneasy glances but silently agreed to postpone their quarrel.
The disciple from the Serene Lake Sect stood up and spoke:
"I believe we're all here for the same goal, but I regret to inform you that you won't be able to go much farther."
Both groups grew tense, cold sweat dripping down their backs. One of the Earth cultivators quickly stepped forward and said:
"Wait!"
Bowing slightly, he continued, "My name is Luong, of the Shan family. I believe a conflict between us is unnecessary. I recognize your sect's status and importance to our city. I'm aware that you are more deserving of that treasure than we are."
The Water cultivator nodded, "You're right. But I wasn't referring to us—I meant those who did this to us." He gestured to his and his companions' wounds. "You won't be able to get past them."
"You encountered danger along the way?" Tu Zhen, one of Luong's companions, asked, concerned.
"Something like that. I think introductions are in order." He raised his right arm and pointed to his companions. "These are my friends Fei Lin and Du Jiang, and I am Rui of the Yan family."
'The Fei, Du, and Yan families.' Hearing the names of such influential families stirred growing discomfort in the others.
"Like you, we came here seeking the magical herbs, but along the way, we crossed paths with another group. They called themselves the Three Blades of Bloody Steel. They declared that all the herbs belonged to them."
"Metal warriors? What sect do they belong to?" Xiao Mei asked. From that title, she could only associate them with powerful Metal cultivators—known for being among the strongest and hardest to defeat.
Mei recalled what she knew about them:
'Masters of offense and defense, their fists are like hammers and their bodies like shields.'
Yan Rui's face grew serious at her question.
It was his companion Fei Lin who responded, her thin, rosy lips curling in disdain. "No major sect. They're just commoners."
"Impossible!" exclaimed Luong. "You're saying mere commoners were able to defeat you? Members of one of Zaguhan's great sects? How is that possible?"
Du Jiang, the other member of the Serene Lake Sect, shrugged. "Maybe they were blessed at birth. They were much younger than us, yet fought with the strength of beasts. Our attacks barely scratched their skin. We've defeated many Metal cultivators before, but those boys… they were different."
A grimace twisted Luong's face. He refused to believe that those he considered lower than rats could dare overpower nobles. No matter how strong a commoner was, they should lower their head before those at the top of the city's hierarchy—this was common knowledge.
Those words brought a face to Xiao Mei's mind. She remembered Zhou Yue, her roommate. Born to a family of ordinary farmers, her talent had caught the attention of their sect's elders at a young age. Many now said she might be one of those rare geniuses who appeared once every thousand years.
"I sense there are grudges between you all," said Yan Rui, "but the truth is, none of us alone will be able to reach the prize while the triplets are still alive."
"What do you suggest?" Mei asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let us join forces. Wind, Earth, and Water against Metal. The only way to overcome them… is together. Let's fight this threat that defies the order and pride of Zaguhan's nobility."
***
Tristan was in a lower terrain, so the cold wasn't as intense as before. The sun shone at its highest point in the sky, bothering his eyes as always. Soon, he spotted a massive crevice between the mountains that he would need to cross to continue on his path. The place was somewhat narrow, but someone as small as him could pass through without any problems.
After a few minutes, he saw the other side. When he emerged from the crevice, something stood out on the horizon ahead of him—the tallest mountain in the region was getting closer. He could now see the path he needed to take to reach his goal. Just a few more hours, and he would uncover the secrets of that place.
As always, at the peak of that mountain, the mysterious white mist lingered. He stared at it for a while, watching carefully, as if it might transform into something at any moment.
Then, a sound from afar, rapidly approaching, pulled him out of his thoughts.
Tristan turned his face downward—something was climbing up!
And judging by the sound of the steps, it had to be something heavy. Without delay, he stepped back into the crevice. The sound was getting closer and closer. Tristan pressed his back against the wall, trying to hide his body among the rocks. Using his concealment skill to cover himself in Darkness, he left only a small part of his face exposed, just enough to try and spot the source of the noise.
A moment later, the light entering the crevice was blocked—a giant head appeared. Pink, wrinkled skin, a canine face with no fur.
'Damn it,' he cursed silently. 'That bastard again?' His first thought was that it might be the same beast that had tried to kill him some time ago.
Tristan watched the creature carefully, trying not to be detected.
The dog had its snout close to the ground, sniffing for something. Its breathing was loud, kicking up dust and sending nearby stones tumbling.
Out of the corner of his eye, he examined the creature and noticed strange line patterns on its skin. The lines were made up of scars, forming what appeared to be bizarre symbols—but he recognized them immediately.
'Runes!' Tristan thought. 'This thing… it must be one of the Marked.'
For a moment, he considered whether he could fight the creature. But he quickly discarded the idea. Even if it had a weak core like the centipede, their body types were vastly different. He knew he could be crushed with a single blow.
The creature lifted its head, and Tristan pressed himself even deeper into the rocky wall.