"Big brother, you’re here," Jiangg Feng called out, turning his head.

A man slowly emerged from the pitch-black stone cave. He was quite refined-looking; while not conventionally handsome, he had an enduring charm. His gaze burned as it fixed on Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye studied the man before him. ’His cultivation isn’t low,’ he thought. ’And judging by Jiangg Feng’s reaction, this must be Jiangg Tian of Yul Country.’

Jiangg Tian cupped his fist toward Wen Qingye and said, "My younger brother doesn’t know any better. I apologize to you on his behalf."

Wen Qingye’s eyebrow twitched as he glanced at Jiangg Feng. Seeing Jiangg Tian’s arrival, Jiangg Feng was filled with smug satisfaction. He shot Wen Qingye a look and snorted heavily, as if making a show of defiance.

Jiangg Tian heard the snort and couldn’t help but look back at his brother. When Jiangg Feng met his gaze, he quickly lowered his head.

Wen Qingye glanced at Jiangg Tian. ’This man’s cultivation is not to be underestimated. I’m only at the Refining Spirit Third Layer Heaven. If I were to fight him, I might not come out ahead. Besides, the Snow Lotus in this cave is what I want most right now.’

Wen Qingye nodded. "Very well. I will not pursue this matter any further."

Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Jiangg Feng’s eyes widened, a flash of venomous resentment passing through them.

Jiangg Tian laughed and said loudly, "HAHAHA! I don’t believe I’ve gotten your name, brother. I am Jiangg Tian of Yul Country."

Wen Qingye replied, "Wen Qingye, of the Celestial Martial Country."

Jiangg Tian made no mention of Wen Qingye having just killed several of his countrymen, acting as if it were completely irrelevant. This alone was enough to show that he was a deep and calculating person, far from ordinary.

Jiangg Tian shook his head with a smile. "To think the Celestial Martial Country has produced a figure such as Brother Wen this year, and I was completely unaware. I’ve been truly out of touch."

Wen Qingye laughed as well. "A nobody like me isn’t worth mentioning. How would Brother Jiangg have ever heard my name?"

Jiangg Tian waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "Let’s dispense with the pleasantries. Meeting here is a matter of fate. Brother Wen, you must be interested in the treasure within this cave, are you not?"

Wen Qingye retorted, "And you are not, Brother Jiangg?"

Jiangg Tian said slowly, "Since we’re both interested, we should pick up the pace. People from Heng Country and Lanyu Country have already gone in, arriving before my group from Yul Country."

"Lanyu Country?" Wen Qingye was slightly startled to hear the name.

Jiangg Tian’s brow furrowed slightly. "That’s right. It seems Brother Wen is also wary of Guann Xuan."

Guann Xuan. In the Sixteen Countries, the name was legendary. He had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, and his fame in Lanyu Country was so great that he was a household name.

Tales of Guann Xuan’s deeds circulated throughout the Sixteen Countries. Even the people of the Celestial Martial Country spoke of his stories with great relish, which was a testament to his prowess.

And rumor had it, Guann Xuan was considered one of the top three experts in the Sixteen Countries.

"Trying to snatch a treasure from under Guann Xuan’s nose is going to be difficult. In my opinion, if we team up, perhaps we can get a piece of the pie." Jiangg Tian looked at Wen Qingye, finally revealing his true purpose.

Wen Qingye nodded. Though confident, he was by no means arrogant. At his current cultivation level, he wasn’t certain he could defeat Guann Xuan. And it wasn’t just Guann Xuan; there were others from Lanyu Country, not to mention the people from Heng Country.

Seeing Wen Qingye’s nod, Jiangg Tian was delighted. "Let’s head inside quickly," he said. "If we delay any longer, the treasure will be carved up and gone."

The three of them walked deeper into the cave, with Wen Qingye on the left and the two brothers, Jiangg Tian and Jiangg Feng, on the right.

Heng Country’s power was considerable among the Sixteen Countries, ranking somewhere in the middle. Their most formidable expert was a woman named Zhangg Jing, whose cultivation was at the Refining Spirit Fifth Layer Heaven. She was not to be underestimated.

Jiangg Tian mused, "Guann Xuan’s cultivation is rumored to have reached the Refining Spirit Seventh Layer Heaven. In my opinion, we’ll need to join forces with Zhangg Jing if we want to have any chance of contending with him."

Wen Qingye kept his eyes fixed ahead and said nothing.

WHOOSH!

A sudden, fierce gust of wind swept past them, chilling them to the bone.

The three hurriedly gathered their Primordial Qi, forming a barrier in front of them as they pressed forward, step by step.

While struggling against the icy gale, Jiangg Feng yelled, "What is this wind? What in the world is happening up ahead?"

The surrounding gale intensified, and Jiangg Feng, in particular, found it increasingly difficult to cope.

Watching Wen Qingye’s nonchalant expression, Jiangg Tian couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of wariness. ’This man’s strength is not to be taken lightly. Even I’m finding this difficult, yet he seems completely unaffected.’ Jiangg Tian instinctively grew more guarded against him.

Their pace slowed to a crawl. After an unknown amount of time, the biting wind abruptly ceased.

Jiangg Feng let out a sharp hiss. His lips were purple, his face was pale, and his body began to tremble violently.

Wen Qingye frowned. "This is a cold tide, the result of constantly surging frigid energy. Don’t underestimate it. It can freeze and shatter Primordial Qi. You two need to be careful."

Jiangg Tian and Jiangg Feng both nodded.

The cold tide slowly encroached upon them. All three were suffering, especially Jiangg Feng. If Wen Qingye and Jiangg Tian weren’t blocking the worst of it from the front, he would have likely been devoured by it already.

A white light gradually appeared ahead. The cold tide solidified into wisps of white mist, becoming even more bone-chillingly cold.

After dozens more steps, the passage ahead suddenly opened into a wide space. The cold tide here had become tangible, flowing like a slow river of mist. Standing before it were seven or eight people from both Heng Country and Lanyu Country.

At the forefront stood a man and a woman. The man was handsome and dashing, with a heroic air about him and a tall, upright posture. The woman was beautiful and captivating, a true belle. The group seemed to sense the arrival of Wen Qingye, Jiangg Tian, and Jiangg Feng, and turned to look back.

"Guann Xuan? Zhangg Jing?" Jiangg Tian couldn’t help but frown upon seeing the man and woman leading the group.

Zhangg Jing glanced at Jiangg Tian and laughed charmingly. "Jiangg Tian of Yul Country. I’m surprised to see you in the Cold Forest, and that you found this cave as well."

Guann Xuan glanced at Jiangg Tian before his gaze immediately returned to the cold tide ahead, his eyes shining with excitement.

The people from Heng Country and Lanyu Country paid no mind to Wen Qingye. His cultivation was only at the Refining Spirit Third Layer Heaven. Of everyone present, only two were at that level: one from Heng Country, and Wen Qingye himself.

Naturally, Guann Xuan and Zhangg Jing wouldn’t pay much attention to someone at the Refining Spirit Third Layer Heaven.

Jiangg Tian smiled. "Indeed. This cave is very well hidden. It would be impossible for an ordinary person to find."

Zhangg Jing nodded, then shrugged. "But finding it is meaningless," she said with a helpless air.

"Oh? And why is that?" Jiangg Tian’s eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Zhangg Jing.

Zhangg Jing gestured with her chin toward the river of white mist ahead. "Do you really think you can get past this cold tide? We don’t even know what lies beyond it. Sometimes your life is more important, isn’t it?"