C18 Sleeping Lotus of Snow Country

The girl in white materialized behind Yeh Yulin, still spotless as if she were a celestial being. Her recent attack seemed to have had no effect on her. She examined her hand with a look of surprise and remarked, "Your body is incredibly tough."

Yeh Yulin lacked even the strength to stand, staring blankly at the girl in white.

What was this all about?

Next to this girl, who appeared to be his age, he felt like nothing more than a child.

And this woman, with her infuriating expression of wonder at her own lack of injury, was driving him mad.

After scrutinizing Yeh Yulin thoroughly, the girl in white finally broke the silence. She eyed Yeh Yulin and inquired, "Hey, are you going to take part in the Ten-hero War next month?"

Before Yeh Yulin could muster a reply, she continued with a cold smirk, "If you are, I'll spare you for now. We can have our battle during the Ten-hero War. If not, I'll finish you off right here!"

Yeh Yulin's mouth twitched as he glared at the girl in white. It took a moment before he could force out a single word through clenched teeth: "Yes!"

Who wouldn't choose life over death? The recent attack had sparked a glimmer of inspiration in him, like a ray of hope amidst the ruins.

And he was determined to seize that faint hope.

"Good!" The girl in white nodded approvingly. "One month should be ample time for you to multiply your strength. Don't let me down when it comes."

"What?" Yeh Yulin was taken aback. He himself lacked such confidence; he had merely stumbled upon a fragment of hope, yet this woman was making bold claims about his potential.

The girl in white furrowed her brow, her impatience evident. "Though I'm not sure why, you're too reckless. Your Intent Transforming Stage indicates a High Level realm, superior even to Attribute Awakening. But in the fight just now, you failed to capitalize on its benefits, as if you had forgotten it even existed."

Yeh Yulin maintained an impassive facade, but internally he squirmed with embarrassment. His thirst for power was overwhelming, always teetering between hope and fear, terrified that his newfound strength might be nothing but an illusion.

"I won't hold back next time!" The girl in white left him with those parting words before vanishing: "My name is Yeh Yingran."

Yeh Yulin stood dumbfounded, and after a long, troubled pause, he muttered, "The tenth seat of the Ten Great Heroes, the Sleeping Lotus of Snow Country. No wonder she's so formidable. Turns out she's that freak?"

Yeh Yulin, who typically paid little attention to his family affairs, was nonetheless familiar with the name of the Sleeping Lotus of Snow Country. Those who spoke of her did so with tones of admiration, regret, appreciation, and fear. And, of course, there was no shortage of jealousy and envy.

The admiration stemmed from her exceptional talent. The regret was tied to her ranking as only the tenth seat. During the Ten-hero War, she had faced off against the current first seat and suffered a defeat. Had that not happened, her strength would undoubtedly surpass her current standing. Furthermore, she was the youngest among the Ten Great Heroes, a full three years junior to the next youngest. At this stage of rapid power growth, a single year could turn the tide, let alone three.

Appreciation for her was also linked to her name. Originally called Ye Yinglan, she later changed it to Yeh Yingran in her quest to master the essence of ice.

Fear, on the other hand, was inspired by her mercurial and unpredictable nature, which could only be described as 'wicked'.

Yeh Yulin had never expected to encounter such an eccentric individual so soon into his journey. It was no wonder he had found her power astonishing. He had come face to face with the youngest and most talented genius of the No-falling Night Clan, who had claimed a spot among the Ten Great Heroes five years prior, and her prowess had only grown since then.

Yet, even though Yeh Yingran was older than Yeh Yulin, the difference in their ages was slight compared to the vast gulf between their abilities. It was clear to him that he needed to redouble his efforts.

Yeh Yulin gazed at his hand, intently reliving the sensation of that axe strike. The Sleeping Lotus of Snow Country had spared him because of that very axe. Clearly, even the most gifted woman of the Yeh Family's current generation had been taken aback by it.

The worth of that axe exceeded that of a High Level Devil Beast Egg.

"Time to head back," Yeh Yulin declared, scooping up the Devil Beast Egg and turning to retrace his steps. He was determined to go back and thoroughly recapture the feeling of that axe strike.

And despite a tinge of resignation, a faint smile crept onto his face as he looked at the Devil Beast Egg in his hand.

This must be the biggest catch of them all!

"You're incredibly resilient. You didn't even break from that hard fall."

"Thud thud thud!"

Suddenly, a series of rapid footsteps approached, and soon, several figures emerged before Yeh Yulin.

Yeh Yulin's instincts kicked in, and he became alert, his gaze shifting to the newcomers, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Standing before Yeh Yulin were none other than Yeh Haishan and his companions.

Yeh Haishan and his group were equally taken aback. They had been pursuing Yeh Yulin into the No-falling Forest, but Yeh Yulin was notoriously inept. Even his previous victory over Yeh Haishan, leaving him gravely injured, hadn't altered their low opinion of him.

They had pondered that battle thoroughly, realizing it was filled with too many flukes. Yeh Yulin's actual combat ability wasn't as formidable as they had imagined.

So, while they never voiced it, they were convinced he had met his end in the jaws of a Devil Beast.

But what they hadn't anticipated...

The teenagers exchanged glances, each reading the shock in the others' eyes. It was clear that Yeh Yulin had been in a fight; the large axe in his hand was undeniable evidence.

Moreover, to wield the axe in such a manner suggested a fierce struggle.

"Heh, hehehe!" Yeh Haishan was the first to regain his composure, his laugh twisted as he stared at Yeh Yulin with a gaze that bordered on insane fury. "At last, I've found you!"

"Ah!"

Out of nowhere, one of the youths let out a piercing scream, cutting off Yeh Haishan mid-sentence.

His eyes were fixed on the Devil Beast Egg in Yeh Yulin's grasp, his voice quivering as he exclaimed, "This nobody, his hand, he's holding a... High-Level Devil Beast Egg!"

"What?" The revelation threw the group into disarray, their eyes greedily fixed on Yeh Yulin, as if they were ready to devour him on the spot.

Yeh Haishan was no different.

Their overwhelming greed blinded them to the malevolent smirk that had crept onto Yeh Yulin's lips.

"Yeh Haishan, what do you think you're doing?" Yeh Yulin asked icily.

"Hmph, what does it look like? I'm here to finish you off!" Yeh Haishan retorted with a vicious sneer, though his eyes kept darting back to the Devil Beast Egg in Yeh Yulin's hand.

Driven by a vengeful heart, Yeh Haishan had his rescuers use a Secret Technique to heal him. Although he recovered swiftly, the cost was steep. The most obvious issue was money; his family's financial support for the next decade would vanish.

Without funds, he couldn't purchase the necessary resources for his cultivation, which would severely impact his progress.

Then there were his eyes.

Though they had been shattered, the Yeh Family's Secret Technique had restored them. The new eyes, however, were somewhat inferior to the originals. Still, with enough money, further improvements were possible.

Money – that was the crux of it all!

Yeh Haishan was desperately in need of cash.

So when he laid eyes on the Devil Beast Egg in Yeh Yulin's grasp, his gaze intensified.

Yeh Yulin couldn't fathom the thoughts of Yeh Haishan and the others, but he recognized their craving for the Devil Beast Egg. This suited him just fine. He was already in a highly volatile state and itching for a confrontation.

"I am a direct heir of our clan, and you, a mere collateral member, dare to threaten my life?" Yeh Yulin scoffed at Yeh Haishan's challenge.

"You think I won't?" Yeh Haishan sneered and lunged at Yeh Yulin.

But he was thwarted.

"What do you think you're doing?" Yeh Haishan demanded, glaring at Yeh Nianhuo and the others with a mix of anger and resignation in his eyes.

It seemed they had an unspoken agreement, stepping in to block him simultaneously.

The likelihood of him monopolizing the Devil Beast Egg was looking slim indeed.