C22 I Can Do It Myself!

They soon reached Snow Mountain, and even before they got to the base, the temperature plummeted, and a chilly wind swept through.

Elder Changfeng turned to address the group, "Form your own teams. Once everyone's ready, we'll head out."

Upon hearing his instructions, the disciples quickly started teaming up, blatantly ignoring Han Yi as if he were invisible. It was clear they had no intention of including him.

Before long, the newly formed teams gathered before Elder Changfeng. Ye Qing, the messenger from the previous day, beamed at the elder, "We're all set, Elder. Shall we ascend the mountain now?"

"Yes, Elder. Shall we begin our climb?"

Elder Changfeng's eyes roved over the group, eventually landing on Han Yi with an expression of slight embarrassment. It made sense, though; who would willingly team up with someone of such low cultivation? It was hard to fault them.

Han Yi understood the unspoken message. He simply shook his head and declared, "No worries, I can manage on my own."

Without teammates to slow him down, he could operate more freely. After all, the sect was only after the Nine-petal Snow Lotus; everything else was fair game for him.

The first team was led by Ye Qing.

The second by Lin Mu.

The third by Xu Changming.

The fourth by Feng Huanlan.

They formed teams of three, leaving Han Yi as the odd one out.

With Han Yi's stance clear, Elder Changfeng had nothing more to say but to give a nod of agreement.

"Alright, let's set off."

With that, Elder Changfeng led the way, the disciples trailing close behind, leaving Han Yi standing alone.

Elder Changfeng looked back at Han Yi, his head shaking slightly, his face etched with disappointment. It was just as he had suspected; Yunxi's association with Han Yi seemed such a waste.

He couldn't fathom what was going through Yunxi's mind. With so many disciples in the sect, she had chosen a mere Spirit Apprentice Stage cultivator. Han Yi, feeling Elder Changfeng's gaze, remained silent.

He cast a glance at the snowy peaks ahead, noting that the winds here blew with a predictable timing. The gusts sent snowflakes scattering in all directions, not only bringing biting cold but also obscuring visibility. Searching for the Nine-petal Snow Lotus in such conditions seemed nearly impossible.

The storm would abate every half hour, pausing for a duration equal to its fury. To find the snow lotus in such a brief window was an improbable feat. Yet, the pattern suggested an underlying formation at play.

"Master, master, let me go check it out for you, let me help you find the snow lotus."

Huang Xiaohuang's voice emanated from the Contract Space, causing Han Yi to pause. Huang Xiaohuang was still quite young, and a fall into the snowy depths could mean he'd be lost forever. But surely, as a sacred beast, he wouldn't falter from such a setback?

"Master, Xiaohuang can handle it, please let me out!"

Encouraged by Huang Xiaohuang's eager voice, Han Yi wasted no more time and released him from the Contract Space. Once free, Huang Xiaohuang soared upward.

Changfeng caught sight of something yellow ascending and furrowed his brow, turning to Han Yi with a questioning look. Had he been mistaken? Why had a yellow object just taken flight? He had surveyed the surroundings and hadn't noticed any yellow bird. Could it be Han Yi's Contract Beast? Such a creature was unfamiliar to him.

As the expedition's leader, Changfeng felt it was his duty to offer a word of caution. He glanced back at the mountain and addressed Han Yi, "Someone's already making their way up. If you don't act fast, you'll be outpaced. Are you certain you want to wait?"

"Let's wait a bit longer," Han Yi replied.

Changfeng held his tongue. After all, his task was simply to escort Han Yi here; anything beyond that was not his concern.

He was aware of Feng Huo's opinion—if he deemed Han Yi inadequate, he would never allow Yunxi to pair with Han Yi, no matter the circumstances.

He wasn't concerned in the least.

Within the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Huang Xiaohuang swooped down, landing squarely on Han Yi's shoulder.

"Master, master, the Nine-petal Snow Lotus is right at the peak of the snow-capped mountain. There are other herbs next to it, but they're too hefty for Xiaohuang to carry down."

The summit of the snow mountain posed a real challenge.

Changfeng now saw the situation with clarity: this creature was indeed Han Yi's companion, a bona fide Contract Beast.

But then...

Changfeng stepped forward, approaching Han Yi, and eyed Huang Xiaohuang with a hint of curiosity. "What kind of Contract Beast is this? I've never seen one like it before."

"And has it started working before even reaching a month old?"

"You're the one who's not a month old yet. Your whole family isn't a month old! Who do you think you're talking to, old man? I am a noble Saint Beast, and you dare speak to me in such a manner..."

Upon hearing these words, Huang Xiaohuang became a flurry of feathers, chirping incessantly as it fluttered in the air.

Since it wasn't Changfeng's Contract Beast, to him, the sounds were indistinguishable from any other bird's chirping—he couldn't understand a word.

Huang Xiaohuang's fiery temper sparked Changfeng's interest.

He turned to Han Yi with a grin, "I must say, your Contract Beast has quite the spirit. I like it. You head up the mountain; I'll keep an eye on this one."

Before Han Yi could respond, Changfeng snatched Huang Xiaohuang, gripping it as though he could crush the bird with the slightest pressure.

Seeing Huang Xiaohuang's lackluster combat ability left Han Yi internally shaking his head.

Yet, he wasn't worried about Changfeng making off with the Contract Beast.

The master-servant bond was unbreakable unless he chose to sever it.

Besides, as an elder of the Azure Mist Sect, Changfeng wouldn't harm a mere bird.

With that settled, Han Yi wasted no more time and vaulted upwards.

Harnessing his spiritual energy, he continued to climb upwards. The mountain's slick surface, however, significantly slowed his progress. Han Yi raised his hand to strike at the snow-covered slope, aiming to carve out a notch to secure his footing. But before his hand even grazed the surface, a powerful suction force from the mountain drew him inside.

He had barely entered the mountain when a piercing scream exploded in his ears. The relentless howling seemed intent on bursting his eardrums. Left with no alternative, Han Yi lifted his hands to cover his ears, attempting to block out the cacophony. Yet, the effort proved futile as the volume only intensified.

In response, Han Yi channeled his spiritual energy to create a protective shield around himself, effectively muting the noise. With the sound barrier in place, he could finally take in his surroundings.

The interior was a stark contrast to the outside world—a vast cavern glistening with points of light that resembled crystals. A large ice pond lay a short distance ahead, and beyond it, an ice column stretched up to the mountain's peak. Beyond these features, there was nothing more.

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