"CRACK!"

A bolt of lightning split the sky, startling Yi Feng.

This damned place—the weather changed in an instant.

As dark clouds gathered overhead, he had no time to dwell on his grudge against the bald-headed bandit. He could only press forward, heading toward the brightly lit valley in the distance.

Sprinting ahead, he soon entered the valley.

The storm clouds were left far behind, and the skies ahead were clear and bright.

Bathed in sunlight, Yi Feng’s mood improved slightly.

Refocusing, he searched for a path forward—and soon, luck struck.

Around a bend in the valley stood another ice fortress.

From a distance, it looked well-constructed, complete with doors and windows. Though made entirely of ice, it was surprisingly well-equipped.

In this frozen river valley, a fortress like this felt almost like something out of a fairy tale.

But standing beside it were a group of long-eared demonkin, their small figures skulking about.

It was a bit of a mood-killer.

Yi Feng, however, wasn’t bothered. Instead, his eyes lit up.

"Finally, some monsters."

Though these creatures looked fairly ordinary—neither particularly large nor fearsome—there were over a hundred of them, densely packed around the ice fortress.

Quantity over quality.

At the very least, it gave him something to fight. Today’s first victory was within reach!

After being robbed earlier, Yi Feng had grown more cautious.

He quietly scanned the surroundings, ensuring no other competitors lurked nearby.

Then, gripping his broadsword, he charged forward at full speed!

Yi Feng stormed the ice fortress, blade in hand.

The long-eared imps, none taller than him, panicked at the sudden human assault. Curses and furious shrieks filled the air as they brandished crude weapons.

But after witnessing Yi Feng carve through them like vegetables, their defiance turned into wails of despair.

The brutal human chased the tiny monsters, the scene both absurd and terrifying.

A chorus of howls later, the ground was littered with imp corpses.

Yi Feng sheathed his sword, feeling a slight sense of relief.

His experience had finally inched up—at least he hadn’t come back empty-handed.

But as he surveyed the scattered remains, his sense of accomplishment was muted. At best, it was a small consolation.

These creatures stood no taller than three feet.

Aside from their long ears, they were unremarkable, and their experience yield was mediocre—likely not high-ranking demons.

Recalling Zhong Limeng’s words, Yi Feng stroked his chin in thought.

"Hmm…"

"That bald bastard is probably her rival—stealing others’ prey like that. No way he’s a decent person."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. His impression of the old thief deepened.

Then he remembered Zhong Limeng’s earlier promise—her mention of collecting monster remains.

A decision formed in his mind, his gaze sharpening.

"That bald scoundrel is shameless. There’s no way she can compete with him."

"I should bring these corpses back. They’re small, but they must have some use. No way I’ll let that bandit outdo her!"

No sooner said than done. Yi Feng got to work.

The imps were easy to gather, requiring little effort—like picking cabbages. He collected every last scrap, not even leaving behind broken limbs.

Just as he finished storing his spoils and prepared to move on, a familiar voice echoed in the distance—ethereal and gentle.

"Everyone, nightfall approaches. Please return to our initial meeting point!"

Yi Feng blinked in surprise.

He hadn’t gone far, yet the day was nearly over.

With only a handful of imps to show for it and minimal experience gained, his luck had been terrible. The frustration gnawed at him.

But Zhong Limeng had called. He had no choice.

Marking this as another debt owed to the bald old man, he turned back the way he came.

---

At the crossroads of the Blood-Red Hills, $2hong Limeng and the others had all returned safely—except for Yi Feng.

Just as her worry began to mount, he emerged from the valley.

Relieved, Zhong Limeng gestured for him to sit and rest.

Then, with hopeful eyes, she addressed the group.

"Since everyone’s back, let’s tally our gains!"

Her words prompted a young disciple—Junior Brother Feng—to step forward with a smile.

His storage ring flashed, and over a dozen massive corpses materialized on the ice!

Gasps and praise erupted instantly.

"Junior Brother Feng, you’ve outdone yourself! Thirteen demons in such a short time!"

"Your cultivation must have improved greatly—congratulations!"

"See? Senior Sister Zhong Limeng’s strategy works!"

"With her planning and talents like Junior Brother Feng, we still have a chance!"

"Ah, you flatter me. It’s all thanks to Senior Sister Zhong Limeng’s brilliance. I dare not take credit."

The disciples exchanged admiration, their words laced with tactful praise for Zhong Limeng.

The once-gloomy atmosphere lightened considerably.

Yi Feng rose to his feet, taking in the sight of the enormous demon corpses.

Each was over ten feet tall, with jagged fangs and vicious claws—far more intimidating than his own tiny haul.

A single glance was enough to impress him. This Junior Brother Feng was no ordinary disciple.

One by one, the others displayed their spoils.

The ice soon bore an array of monstrous remains—all massive, including a ghastly silver-white skeleton.

Exclamations of awe filled the air, and Elder Song flicked his sleeve.

Nearly thirty enormous demon corpses appeared, elevating the excitement to new heights!

Joy radiated through the group, faces alight with renewed hope.

All eyes turned to Zhong Limeng.

Her expression was serene, her confident smile a sight to behold.

With a graceful motion, her storage ring shimmered.

A burst of golden light exploded across the ice, revealing thirty-four demon corpses—igniting the crowd!

"My heavens!"

"Thirty-four! That’s almost as many as Elder Song!"

"Not just that—that long-faced fiend is from a powerful demon clan! Its worth equals ten ordinary demons!"

"Senior Sister Zhong Limeng never disappoints!"

"Compared to her, we’re truly lacking!"

Amid the fervent praise, excitement blazed in every pair of eyes.

The disciples spoke with reverence, and Elder Song stroked his beard, pleased.

The despair they’d carried had transformed into exhilaration. For the first time in a while, confidence flickered in their hearts.

Zhong Limeng’s eyes gleamed with hope as she encouraged them.

"You’re too kind. I merely had good fortune. But if we stand united, we still have hope in the disciple selection!"

Spirits lifted, the group nodded fervently.

Even Yi Feng, watching silently, felt a swell of admiration.

These people were incredible.

Each had returned with impressive trophies—monsters far larger and fiercer than his own. And Zhong Limeng? She’d outdone them all.

This was a battle of titans.

Compared to them, his own meager haul was almost embarrassing. Better to stay quiet than risk ridicule.

But as the saying goes—fear summons the very thing you dread.

Just as Yi Feng hoped to slip by unnoticed, Zhong Limeng turned to him with a smile.

"Brother Yi Feng, I wonder where you've been? If you've gained anything, please don't hesitate to share it. I will surely repay your kindness generously in the future."

The gentle words hung in the air as all eyes turned toward him with warmth.

Everyone knew Yi Feng came from humble origins, yet his willingness to take risks and lend a hand had already earned him their respect. No matter how meager his gains might be, his noble spirit would be honored. Even if he returned empty-handed, no one would hold it against him.

But under the collective gaze, Yi Feng found himself in an awkward predicament.

"Well..."

"I did manage to get a little something."

Growing increasingly embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and forced a smile.

"It's just... what I got is small and ordinary. A few of them put together still wouldn’t match the size of even one of the demon corpses you all collected. They might not meet your standards... It’s really quite embarrassing..."

As soon as he spoke, the group responded with the expected encouraging smiles.

Zhong Limeng nodded graciously and offered a gentle reassurance.

"It’s alright. The fact that you came to help is more than enough for me to be grateful. Whatever you’ve gathered must have come with great effort. Even if it’s just one demon beast, your noble heart will forever be remembered by this humble girl!"

Others chimed in one after another, all voicing kind and supportive words.

Amid the harmonious atmosphere, the elderly Song Xugu was deeply moved.

In a world where most chased fame and fortune, and vanity knew no bounds, it was rare to find those who stood by each other in hardship. Rarer still were those who extended a helping hand to strangers.

Gazing at the flustered Yi Feng, Song Xugu spoke with calm encouragement.

"Brother Yi Feng, there’s no need to belittle yourself."

"In all my years, I’ve seldom met a righteous and passionate young man like you. We’re all here to assist Miss Zhong Limeng—how could there be any distinction of rank among us?"

Seeing even the elder offer words of comfort, Yi Feng could only nod helplessly.

"Alright then... You can take a look and see if they meet the mark."

With that, a faint glow flickered from his storage ring.

The icy ground before them was briefly illuminated, the area covered appearing rather small—just as Yi Feng had implied, his haul seemed unremarkable.

But when the light faded, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

"Huh?"

Zhong Limeng’s clear pupils dilated with disbelief and astonishment.

Before them on the ice lay a staggering sight—over a hundred demon corpses, a dark mass so numerous it was almost terrifying. Though their size was indeed smaller, the sheer quantity nearly matched the combined spoils of everyone present.

The entire group fell into stunned silence, their faces etched with amazement.