An Understated Dominance

 The air around the pit seemed to freeze in an instant. Every gaze locked on the handsome man who had suddenly opened his eyes within the coffin. Hearts pounded wildly, as if about to burst from their chests. Those eyes were too deep, carrying the weight of millennia, steeped in desolation and cold killing intent. Just being stared at by them made a chill rise from the marrow. The next instant, something even more terrifying happened. The man’s body stirred slightly, and without warning, he floated out of the crystal coffin. As light as a feather, he slowly rose into the air, stopping half a zhang above the pit. Sunlight spilled over his white robe, outlining his tall, straight form. A faint aura of radiance surrounded him, as though a deity from legend had descended. Looking down upon the crowd below, his gaze was filled with indifference and disdain, as though watching a swarm of insignificant ants. Li Wenxing, Li Guanglong, and Li Juntang exchanged glances. In each other’s eyes,...

 Li Wenxing hesitated at Qian Jin’s words. A treasure that fell from the heavens—if they ignored it, wouldn’t that be too much of a pity? Even if this crystal coffin gave off an unsettling aura, it was worth taking the risk. Just as Li Wenxing was wavering, a commotion of footsteps suddenly came from the distance, accompanied by the crisp clatter of armor. “Who’s there?!” Li Wenxing spun around, hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his gaze fixed warily in the direction of the sound. Qian Jin and the soldiers immediately shifted into defensive stances, eyes sharp. A group of people quickly approached. At the front were none other than the Second Prince,  Li Guanglong , and the Third Prince,  Li Juntang . Behind them marched several dozen elite soldiers, all stern-faced and heavily armed. “Second Brother? Third Brother?” Seeing who it was, Li Wenxing was slightly startled, surprise flashing across his face. “Didn’t expect to find you here as well, Big Brother. What a coinc...

 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, ...