The Land of Eternal Night

The mountain wind howled like the cries of ghosts, snapping tree branches and sweeping up snow from the ground, blending with the heavy snowfall from the sky. The world was shrouded in a vast expanse of white.

Qin Ming trudged alone through the storm, arriving at the base of the mountain where the patrolling group's campsite lay.

He decided to use the confiscated bow and arrows. Although he still regarded it as a "soft bow," it was far superior to the iron-banded bow he had used earlier.

The fierce wind and snow battered his face, forcing him to squint his eyes. He swapped his thicker winter clothing for lighter outerwear after donning his armor.

Burying the bow, arrows, and bundle he had brought with him in a snow pit, Qin Ming pressed a heavy stone on top of it for safekeeping before carrying four iron spears from the patrollers as he ascended the mountain.

As he climbed higher, the sound of his movements was swallowed by the storm. Soon, he was within tens of meters of the flat area he was aiming for.

If not for the blizzard, the golden mastiff—nearly the size of a tiger—would have already caught the scent of an intruder.

Even so, it seemed alert, its ears, streaked with golden patterns, twitching in response to its surroundings.

In one of the larger wooden cabins, the light of a fire flickered, and silhouettes of people could be seen through the window. Despite the bitter cold, they were drinking and feasting on steaming yak meat simmering in a copper pot over charcoal.

"The Fire Spring in the Blood Bamboo Forest is about to extinguish. This is the perfect time to deal with that spiritual creature. We need to make preparations ahead of time…"

The wind carried snippets of conversation. Qin Ming strained to listen. The patrollers seemed to be planning a hunt for some spiritual entity in the mountains as part of their efforts toward a second awakening.

But Qin Ming had no time to eavesdrop further. The golden mastiff had already emerged from its shelter, staring directly in his direction, and opened its mouth to let out a warning bark.

Qin Ming nocked an arrow and aimed through the cabin's window at the burliest figure. With a sharp twang, iron arrows shot like streaks of lightning through the night, puncturing the wooden cabin with deadly precision.

Muffled grunts came from within, followed by the sudden disappearance of all the shadows as they hit the ground. Moments later, the cabin's doors and windows burst open, and several figures rushed out, shielding themselves with tables and planks. They swiftly took cover behind trees and rocks, their sharp eyes scanning for the hidden assailant.

The golden mastiff roared ferociously, scattering the snow in front of it with its bellow. Its massive frame exploded with power as it charged toward Qin Ming's position.

Qin Ming ignored the mutated mastiff for now, directing his arrows solely at Fu Entao, the second awakened individual, as he deemed him the greatest threat. His focus wasn't on the ordinary patrollers; incapacitating Fu Entao would significantly tip the scales in his favor.

However, Fu Entao's specialized armor mitigated most of the damage. Only one arrow found its mark, barely penetrating half an inch into his body.

Fu Entao retaliated with a sweeping slash of his blade, cutting most of the incoming arrows mid-flight. Using trees for cover, he quickly closed the distance to Qin Ming, gauging his opponent's strength from the force of the arrows.

Though Qin Ming was undoubtedly powerful, the patrollers' hard bows couldn't handle his immense strength and eventually snapped under his pull.

The golden mastiff reached Qin Ming in a terrifying leap, its gaping maw emitting white mist as it revealed sharp fangs. Its roar reverberated through the forest.

Yet, just as its enormous body hung mid-air, it suddenly froze. A spear hurled with immense force pierced its skull, sending sprays of blood into the snow. The beast's fierce gaze dulled as its life faded in an instant.

There was no denying that this mutated mastiff was a formidable creature, capable of challenging awakened individuals. But Qin Ming ended it with a single, decisive throw of his spear.

With a thud, the mastiff's corpse crashed to the ground, five meters in front of Qin Ming.

From a distance, Feng Yian, another patroller, let out a heartbroken cry. "Goldie!"

Qin Ming's anger flared. To these people, the lives of villagers beyond the mountains mattered less than a vicious dog. His fury turned his movements swift and deadly.

Another spear flew from his hand, tearing through the storm with a menacing whistle as it hurtled toward Feng Yian. The burly patroller reacted with surprising agility, shifting his body and deflecting the spear with his broadsword. Sparks erupted from the collision, and his arm went numb from the impact.

He was astonished. What kind of monstrous strength could wield such power? The spear's trajectory altered slightly after the deflection, smashing into a wooden cabin door and shattering it on impact.

Meanwhile, Fu Entao was rapidly closing the gap, his tall figure tearing through the snow with a speed that seemed inhuman. But as he lunged toward Qin Ming, a trap unfolded—another spear flew toward the patroller trailing Fu Entao.

The unlucky man, caught off guard, was skewered by the spear. The force was so great that it pinned him to a tree, his blood painting the snow crimson.

The remaining patrollers hesitated, their spines chilled by the display of brutality.

Fu Entao didn't falter. He leapt forward, his massive blade cleaving through the air with a force that seemed capable of splitting mountains. But Qin Ming moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, dodging the strike and redirecting it with his spear, causing sparks to scatter in the night.

Their duel became a whirlwind of blade and spear, clashing violently amidst the storm.

The battle shifted deeper into the forest, where trees cracked and fell under the force of their strikes. Suddenly, from above, a mutated snow ape leapt down, aiming to ambush Qin Ming. But he was ready, and with a single strike, he split the beast in two, its blood staining the white snow.