C3 Snow Cloud Winged Tiger

Upon returning to the Half Wall Taoist Temple, Ding Yue took a healing pill. After resting for a couple of hours, he donned a black robe and concealed his face. Once inside the city, he made a beeline for Crossroads Street.

The Fragrant Medicine Pavilion was a bustling marketplace for buying and selling medicinal herbs.

In the time it took an incense stick to burn, Ding Yue left the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion and made his way to the Ming Hu Tower. At this hour, Master Zhu Six was likely enjoying his tea upstairs.

Clutching a substantial amount of Primal Stones, most of which he earned from selling cow gallbladders, and a portion gifted by Master Zhu Six, Ding Yue swiftly exited the city gates under a moonlit starry sky. But within moments, the sky darkened with clouds and a light rain began to fall.

"Spring rain is as precious as oil, a good omen indeed," Ding Yue declared with a laugh, quickening his steps.

The wind rattled the door as raindrops pattered against the window.

Ding Yue meticulously counted the Primal Stones scattered across the table.

"Thump, thump, thump." The sudden knocking startled him. He sprang to his feet, stashed the Primal Stones, and grabbed a dagger before leaping behind the door.

"Who's there?"

"Ding, it's me," came the familiar voice of Steamed Bun Zhang.

Ding Yue sniffed cautiously at the door crack before finally opening it.

There stood Steamed Bun Zhang, holding a jug of wine and a roasted chicken. He hopped onto the brick bed and sat cross-legged at the table. Ding Yue reluctantly took a seat opposite him, his gaze inquisitive.

Pointing at Ding Yue, Steamed Bun Zhang began, "Ding, you did well today."

Ding Yue's eyes widened in surprise. "Uncle Zhang, how did you know?"

"What kind of question is that? We're tasked with protecting you. If we can't keep track of your movements, how can we call ourselves protectors?" Steamed Bun Zhang gave Ding Yue a playful look and chuckled.

He then reached into his robe and carefully placed an antique dagger on the table, adding, "This is the Phoenix Blaze treasured dagger, a token from the Princess. It will prove invaluable in the God Discarding Continent. Guard it with your life."

Upon hearing the words, Ding Yue clasped the treasured blade in his palm. The blade radiated a gentle warmth, reminiscent of a mother's comforting hand.

Tucking the blade close, Ding Yue's throat tightened with emotion, and he wept silently, tears streaming down his face.

Even Steamed Bun Zhang couldn't help but feel his eyes well up. After a moment, he wiped away a tear and said, "Kid, fill 'em up. Let's have a good drink, just us men."

Outside, a cold wind howled and rain poured down. Inside, a warm camaraderie blazed.

Ding Yue woke up feeling as if his head were filled with lead, his entire body aching. His mouth was dry, his tongue parched, and his stomach bloated.

The sun was high in the sky, and the rain had cleared.

"Ding, are you there? Ding!" Qin Cheng's voice called from outside.

Sitting up and cradling his head in his hands, Ding Yue responded, "I'm here, Cheng Zi."

With a loud "clang," the door swung open, revealing Qin Cheng in the lead, followed by Zhu Baoyu.

Covering his nose, Qin Cheng remarked, "What a strong smell of alcohol. Who were you drinking with?"

"Uncle Zhang," Ding Yue replied.

"Steamed Bun Zhang, that tightwad actually shared a drink with you? Ha, that's truly astonishing," Qin Cheng said, his tone revealing a lack of fondness for Steamed Bun Zhang—a sentiment no doubt influenced by the man's usual theatrics with his wife.

"Enough chit-chat," Zhu Baoyu interjected, her brows knitted in impatience. "We'd better hurry, or we'll miss all the excitement."

Pulled from the Taoist temple, Ding Yue quickened his pace to walk alongside Qin Cheng and Zhu Baoyu. His curiosity piqued, he couldn't resist asking, "Where are we headed? What sort of spectacle takes place in the middle of nowhere?"

"The Fairy battling the Fellbeast," Zhu Baoyu replied with a backward glance and a smile.

Her cryptic response only deepened Ding Yue's bewilderment.

Before he could inquire further, Zhu Baoyu's voice continued, "My sister, Zhu Lingzhu. Don't tell me you've forgotten? She used to feed you when you were little."

Suddenly, the doors of memory flung open, and deep within his mind's eye, a pair of eyes as clear as a flowing mountain spring came into view.

Outside the Black Water Forest, a series of delicate shouts and tiger roars echoed in the distance. Ding Yue and his companions were invigorated by the sounds, quickly running up a nearby slope to get a better view of the battle.

Before them was a majestic beast, a Snow Cloud Winged Tiger, about four meters in length with wings spanning less than ten meters. Its body was adorned with white fur, accented by cloud-like patterns, a rare and intelligent member of the Winged Tiger Race. These creatures were known for their ability to speak human language and typically reached the third level of advancement within a century.

The young woman engaged in combat with the Cloud Tiger was in the prime of her youth, leaping through the air with a sword in each hand. Her features bore a resemblance to those of Zhu Lingzhu, though her brows were marked by a fierce intensity, and her expression was as cold as an ice sculpture. Clad in flowing white garments with two silver swords dancing around her, she resembled an ethereal fairy.

Their fierce battle sent chills through the air, causing the temperature to drop suddenly and leaving a layer of frost on the nearby foliage. Zhu Lingzhu, naturally attuned to the ice attribute of the Water element, was well-matched against the Snow Cloud Winged Tiger, which also possessed an affinity for ice.

These tigers, upon birth, were cast into the frigid waters of the Great Snow Mountain's cold pond by their elders. Only about twenty to thirty percent survived this ordeal, but those who did could reach the third level in a century. If Zhu Lingzhu could indeed tame a Snow Cloud Winged Tiger as her mount, her power would soar to new heights.

Ding Yue, however, was perplexed. The Snow Cloud Winged Tigers were native to the Great Snow Mountain in the northwestern part of the southern territory, while the Black Water Forest lay in the northeastern region. The two locations were separated by tens of thousands of miles. How, then, did this Cloud Tiger end up here?

"Hey, have you been scared witless?" A sudden voice jolted Ding Yue from his reverie.

He nodded woodenly as Zhu Baocao's voice reached his ears once more, "The truly formidable one is right over there! Young Master Wan Jianming, the son of the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect and a Foundation Building cultivator, has descended the mountain for training. He will be overseeing the recruitment of disciples in Setting Sun City himself."

Ding Yue's gaze shifted. Outside the battlefield, under a tree, sat a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with the handsome features of a jade statue.

Ding Yue couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "The disciples of the great sects are all so refined and striking. First, there was Luo Bin, and now another young sect master appears. Going out for training, they have a Foundation Building cultivator to protect those in the Transcending realm, and behind them, an ancestor of the Zhu family, a Golden Core Sage. And me? I only have a master who's rarely around."

At that moment, Wan Jiansheng stood up, his lips barely moving as he said, "Little Junior Sister, do you need my assistance? It's getting late."

Zhu Lingzhu appeared not to hear him, but the pair of silver swords she wielded became even more aggressive.

The Snow Cloud Winged Tiger, shrouded in a white fog, darted and dodged, toppling trees and splitting rocks without losing ground.

Wan Jiansheng wasn't upset by Zhu Lingzhu's demeanor; he simply smiled, shook his head, and then, with a furrowed brow, turned to peer into the dense forest.

In just a few moments, a winged tiger about ten meters long swooped in. Ding Yue tensed up, his heart sank, and he forced a smile.

"Still, it's fortunate that Young Master Wan is here to confront it."

As he pondered, Zhu Baocao, beside him, leapt up, pointing at the Winged Tiger King in the air, and exclaimed with excitement, "Here comes another huge flying tiger! It would be so impressive to have it as my mount."

Ding Yue bit his tongue and smacked his forehead in frustration.

Peering through his fingers, he saw Zhu Baocao's eyes twinkling, her cheeks flushed, and her chest heaving beneath her tight clothing, which was enough to make anyone's face flush with heat.

She continued to call out, "Lingzhu, use your real skills. Let's tame them; one for each of us sisters. I want the larger one that came later."

Ding Yue's headache grew. He massaged his temples and inwardly grumbled, "Foolish Baocao, all beauty and no brains! Such a silly child."

Turning his head, he saw Qin Cheng standing frozen like a statue. He sighed inwardly and offered a silent prayer for him.

At that moment, Wan Jiansheng touched his forehead and gave Zhu Baoguai a distant eye roll, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. He glanced at Zhu Lingzhu, whose pretty face was cold and whose entire being radiated a fierce killing intent. He thought to himself with a quiet sigh, "They really are sisters, though I have my doubts."

The Wing Tiger King hovered in midair, beating its wings. Its eyes, as big as fists, fiercely fixed on the group of young humans before it.

After a moment, it bared its teeth and roared, "Human brats, today you all shall perish." With a powerful flap of its wings, it dove towards Zhu Lingzhu, who was engaged in battle.

Ding Yue's heart leapt, and he clenched his fists. Then, chuckling at himself, he thought, "There's a young master from a major sect right here; no need for me to go all out."

Wan Jiansheng tapped his waist, and a long spear materialized, hurtling toward the Wing Tiger King's forehead.

He flipped his hand, and a large, round hammer appeared in his grasp. His lips moved as he bellowed, "Kill!"

The hammer struck the tiger's back. Immediately after, he extended his other hand, and a hexagonal shield materialized in front of him.

The Wing Tiger King's pupils contracted as it dodged the incoming spear. Opening its mouth, it spat out a square hammer, which collided with a clang against Wan Jiansheng's hammer. Wan Jiansheng staggered back a few steps, while the Wing Tiger King shifted sideways by half a yard.

His eyes flickered as he kept his gaze locked on Wan Jiansheng. Turning to the Snowcloud Wing Tiger that had retreated to his side, he asked with concern, "Young Master Xuefeng, are you hurt?"

The Snowcloud Wing Tiger, known as Xuefeng, shook its head and responded, "No harm done. If it weren't for my caution against that meddling lad in green, I would have already captured that icy beauty."

Xuefeng's eyes were filled with infatuation as he gazed at Zhu Lingzhu, his face full of longing.

"Tiger King, this Wan fellow is from a prestigious sect. You just need to keep him busy for me. Once I've captured the beauty, I'll make sure to repay you handsomely when we return to the Great Snow Mountain."

Upon hearing the request, the Tiger King's spirit was invigorated, and he slightly bowed his frame. "Young Master Snowy Peak, you are too kind. As fellow members of the Tiger Clan and with you being an esteemed guest of the Demon King, especially within the Black Water Region, it is only right that I fulfill your wish."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Just hold him off; that's all I ask. Human cultivators wield powerful magical treasures, and these sect disciples are armed to the teeth with Treasured Weapons."

Once Snowy Peak had finished issuing his instructions, he folded his wings and descended to the ground, his form shimmering as he did so.

He shrank his body to resemble that of an ordinary tiger. A dense fog enveloped him as he swiftly charged at Zhu Lingzhu, taunting with a chuckle, "Little beauty, let's see how I capture you."

Zhu Lingzhu tilted her chin up and snorted disdainfully, not bothering to reply. Her fingers danced, and her twin swords, gleaming with icy ferocity, thrust into the mist.

Meanwhile, the Tiger King was already locked in combat with Wan Jiansheng in the sky.

Ding Yue's gaze swept over the two battlefields, his heart heavy with concern. "Snowy Peak, the Tiger Demon, has a cunning plan. He's aware of Wan Jiansheng's prowess and has feigned weakness to deceive the enemy, biding his time for reinforcements. Now he's revealing his true strength."

Ding Yue clenched his fists, resolving, "If Lingzhu is in danger, I must disregard my master's warnings and intervene." This resolute thought flickered through his mind.

The aerial clash was, without doubt, fiercer than the terrestrial skirmish.

Lately, Hu Li had been feeling quite frustrated. The Demon King had secluded himself, instructing the four Evil Lords to protect the Black Water Region. To his dismay, a second-level flame wolf from the Blazing Wolf Clan had vanished.

Then, he encountered a human youth who had bested a green bull with his bare fists. Impressed by the youth's exceptional martial skills, he had intended to capture him and claim his techniques for himself. However, his plans were thwarted by an intervention from an outer sect deacon of the Heavenly Feathers Sect, leaving his ambitions unfulfilled.

The day before, a member of the Wing Tiger Clan, one of the two sacred sites, the Great Snow Mountain, and a direct descendant of the Snow Cloud Wing Tiger Clan, Snowy Peak, had arrived in the Black Water Region. He delivered an invitation to the Demon King for the Snow Cloud Wing Tiger Clan's ancient ancestor's six-thousandth birthday celebration, a century hence. His aim was to ingratiate himself with Snowy Peak during this visit.

Unexpectedly, Xue Feng, despite his intelligence, harbored a reckless desire to taste human flesh. He stealthily made his way to the outskirts of the Black Water Forest, where he chanced upon Wan Jiansheng and Zhu Lingzhu.

Hu Li, drenched in sweat, feared that if he had arrived even a moment later, Xue Feng might have been harmed. He knew that even if the Demon King forgave him, he could not withstand the wrath of the Great Snow Mountain—facing a fate worse than death. The thought alone made Hu Li tremble.

Determined, he engaged Wan Jiansheng in a fierce battle.

Xue Feng clearly understood Hu Li's intentions and reiterated his plan, "Evil Lord, just keep this man busy, and watch how I subdue this wretched girl."

With that, Xue Feng rolled on the ground, his claws digging into the earth as he lay prone. The mist swirling around him was drawn into his body like water being absorbed.

In a sudden movement, he stretched out, unleashing a thunderous roar to the heavens. A pearl, the size of a date, emerged from his forehead.

The air around them turned sharply cold. Ding Yue shivered and quickly circulated his Origin Energy throughout his body.

Moments later, he glanced to the side and saw that both the pearl and Qin Cheng were encased in ice. Without hesitation, he pried open their purple lips and administered pills to ward off the cold and stimulate blood flow.

After carrying them to safety, and seeing that they had recovered, he told them to head straight back to the city, while he himself dashed back to the battlefield.

Zhu Lingzhu, innocent and unaware, now recognized the gravity of the situation. Exchanging a look with Qin Cheng, they took each other's hands and hurried back to Sunset City.