An Understated Dominance

 The group moved slowly along the edge of the beach, the pebbles underfoot crunching with each step. Li Wenxing walked at the very front, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, eyes sweeping the surrounding plants with constant vigilance. After the scare from the man-eating flowers, nobody dared relax. Even their breathing grew quieter, each man fearful of alerting whatever hidden danger lay on the island. Qian Jin stayed at Li Wenxing’s side, holding a branch and using it to push aside obstructing vines. His gaunt fingers brushed the vine surfaces as he worked, his expression wary. “Your Highness, the vegetation here is even denser than before, and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. Besides the scent of plants, there’s a faint, elusive chill in the air,” Qian Jin said quietly. “Uncle Qian, what do you make of it?” Li Wenxing asked softly. “I can’t say for sure,” Qian Jin replied, shaking his head. “Only that things on this island feel abnormal. An ordinary Immor...

 “Rumble—” Black thunder churned within the leaden clouds. The  Longxiang  rocked violently in the raging waves, like a lone leaf in the wind. Water pooled on the deck, mixed with shards of ice, and was whipped into the air by fierce gusts, striking the soldiers’ armor with sharp crackling sounds. Li Wenxing  gripped the mast. His brocade robe was long since soaked through, yet he still stood tall, back straight. Ahead, the silhouette of an island gradually emerged. His furrowed brow suddenly eased, and a blazing light burst in his eyes. “Your Highness! It’s Penglai Island—we’ve arrived!” said his steward Qian Jin, his voice trembling with excitement. This usually shrewd and composed old retainer could not contain his joy. Their voyage had faced three sea monster attacks and twice lost its way, yet at last, on the brink of despair, they had found the legendary Immortal Island. Elite soldiers crowded the deck, staring at the land bathed in glowing light, and broke int...

“Second brother, you must be joking. If I had a clue, how could I just run into you here by chance?” Li Juntang smiled, then changed the subject: “But the brothers behind you, second brother, though they look weary, their eyes are bright. Could it be you’ve stumbled upon something good?” As he spoke, his gaze carefully studied Li Guanglong, trying to spot something unusual. Yet Li Guanglong’s expression remained calm as always. He said indifferently: “Along the way, it was nothing but wind, frost, rain, and snow—nearly cost us our lives. What good fortune could there be?” “Wind, frost, rain, and snow?” Li Juntang raised his brows slightly, puzzled: “Second brother, Penglai Island does have its dangers, but my journey has been all sunshine and flowers. Where did you encounter any storms?” “I don’t know the details myself. Most likely it was one of those pocket realms written about in the old books. If not for stumbling upon an exit by chance, I wouldn’t have been able to reach this area...

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, and saw on the ice cliff ahead a massive cave entrance. The opening was covered with a thick layer of ice, yet faint light could be seen flickering from within. “We’ve finally arrived!” A gleam of joy flashed in Li Guanglong’s eyes as he quickened his pace toward the entrance. The group followed Li Guanglong to the cave. The mouth was about thirty feet high and twenty feet wide, dark inside except for the dim glow ahead. Murong Xue pulled a fire striker from his robes, lit it, and handed it to Li Guanglong. Li Guanglong took the flame and stepped into the passage first. The tunnel was spacious, its floor smooth. Crystals embedded in the walls glowed faintly, illuminating the way. The group advanced slowly, their footsteps and breathing the only sounds. After about half an hour, the glow ahead grew stronger, and faint birdsong could be heard. “We’re close!” Murong Xue cried out in excitement. Soon, they emerged from the passage. The moment th...

The howling wind carried snowflakes sharp as gravel, lashing against Li Guanglong’s face. He clutched the arm of the soldier beside him, his knuckles whitening from the strain. His black battle robe was already soaked through with snow, the icy fabric plastered to his skin, and the chill seeped into his bones through every pore. Looking up, he could barely make out the faint outlines of his companions in the white blur. The soldier who had been swept away earlier by the gale hadn’t even managed a cry for help before vanishing completely into the storm, leaving behind only faint traces quickly buried by snow. “This way!” Murong Xue’s voice was broken to pieces by the gale. He pulled a fur bundle from his chest --- a gift from Batu --- clutching it tight while his other hand groped for a protruding ice rock. “There’s an ice cave here! We can take shelter for now!” Relief surged through Li Guanglong. He quickly called for the surviving soldiers to follow. Supporting each other, ...

Li Guanglong’s pupils shrank sharply, his right hand clamping down on the hilt of his sword, true energy instantly coursing through his body, even his breathing unconsciously slowed. Wan Chong and a group of soldiers also immediately assumed defensive stances, the cold gleam of drawn sabers flashing under the moonlight. From the sealed exit, the icy wind carried snow pellets that stung their faces, but no one paid attention to the pain. There was no trace of drunkenness in Batu’s eyes, only clarity. Behind him, the snowman warriors all stood solemnly, crystal spears slanted toward the ground—obviously they had been waiting here for some time. “Murong Xue, how dare you betray the tribe!” one snowman warrior roared in the tribal tongue. Murong Xue’s face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively took a step back. He knew well the strength of these snowman elites—each one was a Grandmaster-level expert. Once they made a move, the consequences would be disastrous. Li Guanglong kept his eye...

Li Guanglong’s fingers gently stroked the ornate box, the chill of its silken surface seeping into his fingertips, yet it could not mask the damp sweat pooling in his palm. He glanced at Murong Xue, who was locked in a drinking contest with Batu. Murong was tilting back his head, draining a large bowl of amber-colored liquor. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and in the corner of his eye he cast a fleeting glance toward the copper kettle in the corner of the igloo. That was where they had hidden the prepared knockout drug --- brewed from a poisonous herb of the icefields that gave off a sweet aroma. Once mixed into strong liquor, it was nearly impossible to detect. “Leader Batu truly has a mighty capacity for drink!” Murong Xue slammed his empty bowl down on the table, sending ice shards scattering. “This ‘ice-burn’ liquor cuts like a blade. Ordinary men collapse after three bowls, yet you remain unshaken. Truly worthy of being called the eagle of the snowfields!” Batu r...