Chapter 331: Entering the Snow Mountains

The next morning at dawn.

The Flower Sect's troops had already gathered in the inn's main hall.

When Yuan Yao and her senior brothers and sisters strolled down the stairs, she saw that all the young disciples in the hall were dressed in splendid floral-patterned garments, like a hundred blossoms in full bloom, dazzling to the eyes.

Cang Li's mouth twitched slightly.

Yuan Yao couldn't help but exclaim that they were truly dressed in breathtaking beauty.

However, what concerned them more was that the aura emanating from these Flower Sect disciples was above the Golden Core Realm.

It seems that the First Sect of the Eighth Continent is indeed formidable.

They dispatched twenty elite disciples.

Hua Chengyan today still wore a purple robe, a white-furred cloak draped over him, his features androgynous, with a faint smile at the slightly thick corners of his lips.

"Everyone, are you ready?" Hua Chengyan asked.

Song Yan nodded.

Hua Chengyan said, "We will now set out for the Heaven Snow Mountain Range."

Song Yan and the six others raised no objections.

Then they stepped out of the inn.

As Yuan Yao took a step out of the inn, she felt as if someone behind her was watching her.

She turned to look back, only to see a figure quickly hide behind other Flower Sect disciples.

Yuan Yao furrowed her brows, feeling a slight unease.

"What's wrong?" Xue Jin saw her halt and turned to ask.

Yuan Yao withdrew her gaze, shook her head, and kept pace with Xue Jin and the others.

At this time in Snow City, the temperature was gradually rising; the sky no longer drifted pure white snowflakes, yet the cold still permeated the air.

They headed toward the Heaven Snow Mountain Range.

The news of their departure for the Heaven Snow Mountain Range quickly reached Nie Bai's ears; he immediately assembled his troops, leading only a few of the Nie family's most outstanding elite disciples to silently trail behind the Flower Sect's party.

Moreover, teams from several other powerful forces on the Eighth Continent also independently chose to covertly follow the Flower Sect.

The Flower Sect's Grand Elder's expression tightened slightly, and he whispered, "Young Master, there are several groups trailing us from behind."

"Let them follow," Hua Chengyan said lightly.

After leaving Snow City, they boarded a spirit boat and set sail toward the Heaven Snow Mountain Range.

From afar, the Heaven Snow Mountain Range stretched for a thousand li, its peaks perpetually snow‑capped, silver‑white like ancient, unmelted ice jade.

Where the cliffs were steep, icicles hung down; fierce winds swept snow foam across the ridges. Mid‑mountain, clouds and mist swirled, and exposed dark‑green rocks jutted out abruptly.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the spirit boat reached the edge of the Heaven Snow Mountain Range.

The group disembarked from the spirit boat.

They felt the surrounding air was as sharp as ice shards, the breath entering their lungs tingling with pain.

Everyone simultaneously covertly employed spiritual energy to fend off the cold.

Yuan Yao looked up; before her was an almost endless white expanse.

"Let's go," Hua Chengyan said with a smile.

As they entered the Heaven Snow Mountain Range, other factions' teams also arrived, following the Flower Sect's party at a moderate distance.

"Cold?" Xiao Lingwei reached out and squeezed Yuan Yao's slightly chilled hand.

Yuan Yao shook her head.

She wore a cold‑resistant magical robe and did not feel cold now; however, when she breathed, the chill entered her body through her airway.

"I'll hold you," Xiao Lingwei tightened her grip on her hand.

"Alright!" Yuan Yao returned the grip.

Song Yan and the others also paid attention to the two of them.

"The snow is truly deep!" Cang Li exclaimed.

The ground was covered with snow up to the calves, and each step produced a 'creak' sound.

Their deep footprints were left upon the snow.

Cang Li exhaled a breath of warm air, "How long will it take to reach our destination?"

Hua Chengyan replied, "Brother Cang, if our journey proceeds smoothly, it will take about half a month."

"Round‑trip will be several days," Cang Li sighed.

Hua Chengyan smiled, "Indeed."

After walking for more than two hours, the party finally bypassed several snow‑capped peaks and arrived at a low valley where the cold was even stronger.

At that moment, pure white snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

The wind also grew stronger.

Xue Jin squinted slightly, "Look at this weather; a heavy snowfall is likely to follow."

Song Yan said to Hua Chengyan, "We need to find a place to shelter from the wind and snow."

Hua Chengyan evidently hesitated.

Jiu Shu sneered, "The snow may not be heavy; if we have to stop every time we encounter a storm, how long will it take to reach the destination?"

He turned to Hua Chengyan, "Young Master, I think we should press on. Moreover, this mere wind and snow is nothing to us."

Ying Wuji said calmly, "I fear the Heaven Snow Mountain Range holds not only wind and snow threats, but also... snow beasts."

Upon hearing that, Hua Chengyan couldn't help but glance at Ying Wuji.

"Brother Ying, you seem to know something about the Heaven Snow Mountain Range?"

Ying Wuji said, "I inquired with locals in Snow City about the Heaven Snow Mountain Range. Within it are not only powerful, well‑camouflaged, cunning snow beasts, but also extremely dangerous traps."

Hua Chengyan laughed, "I didn't expect Ying Dao You to even know about the trap."

At this moment, Cang Li clasped both hands, smiling, "Young Master Hua, Young Master Hua, you haven't been entirely frank with us. However, we indeed didn't ask you clearly; it was our oversight, you needn't worry about it."

Hua Chengyan's face showed shame, apologetically said, "I've been a bit busy these days, so I couldn't tell you the specifics of the Heaven Snow Mountain Range."

Cang Li sighed, "Young Master Hua, please don't let such trivial matters weigh on you."

Hua Chengyan nodded, "Alright."

After a brief pause, Hua Chengyan announced loudly, "Let's find a place to rest first; after this snowstorm eases a bit, we'll continue traveling."

Except for Jiu Shu, who had a slight objection, everyone else had no dissent.

So they kept moving and finally found a fairly decent resting spot. There stood a towering mountain that faced away from the wind, providing them a wind‑sheltered harbor.

Many Hua Sect disciples sat down on the spot.

Soon they saw Song Yan pulling out several chairs from the storage space, letting his junior brothers and sisters sit.

Hua Chengyan saw this scene, his eyebrows slightly lifted.

Suddenly, the gale howled, mixed with snowflakes, wildly slamming against the mountain.

The snow grew heavier, almost covering them on the ground.

The Grand Elder of the Hua Sect formed a barrier, keeping the snowstorm out.

Yuan Yao shook off the snowflakes from herself, then brushed the snow off Xiao Lingwei's shoulder.

Cang Li clasped his hands again, his expression serious, asking, "Jiu Shu, do you think we can still make the journey?"

Jiu Shu's face darkened.

He retorted stubbornly, "If it were only me, I could certainly keep going."

Cang Li smiled, "In that case, why don't you go ahead first, Jiu Shu?"

Jiu Shu sneered.

"Kid, are you targeting me?!"

Cang Li raised a finger and waved it, "No, it's that you can't stand us."