When Lin Shuan left Myriad Frost City, the sky above was buried beneath layers of heavy, suffocating clouds.
The cold wind howled through the shattered streets, brushing past the burned rooftops that creaked and groaned like dying echoes of the past—
as if the city itself was whispering a final farewell.
Ash still lingered in the air.
Every step he took crunched softly against the frost-covered debris.
A rough, worn sword rested upon his shoulder.
It was uncomfortable… unrefined… nothing like the weapons once held within the Lin Clan.
But he did not adjust it.
Because within his chest, something far sharper existed—
A vow.
A vow colder than the frozen earth beneath his feet.
"Until I find those who destroyed my clan… until I erase them from existence…"
"I will not stop."
His eyes remained calm—yet beneath that calm, a storm slept.
Without looking back, Lin Shuan stepped forward…
toward the north.
Toward Frostveil City.
A place whispered about even in distant lands—
Unlike Myriad Frost City, its cold did not pierce the bones…
yet snow fell there endlessly, blanketing everything in silent white.
But that wasn't what drew people there.
Frostveil City held something far more dangerous than cold—
Information.
Secrets.
Truths people would kill to hide.
It was known by another name—
The City of Secrets.
One week later—
Seven days.
Seven nights.
Lin Shuan had not stopped.
His clothes were dusted with frost, his steps steady, his breathing controlled.
Not once had he shown fatigue.
Yet the world around him had changed.
The deeper he traveled, the more alive it felt.
At that moment—
Crunch… crunch… crunch…
Footsteps.
Multiple.
From behind.
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he slowed.
A group of hunters approached.
They wore thick fur coats, their faces roughened by wind and survival. Spears rested casually on their shoulders—but their grips were firm, experienced.
Behind them, dragged across the snowy ground—
A cage.
Inside it…
A half-dead white tiger.
Its once majestic fur was stained with blood, its breath weak, its body trembling—
Yet even in that broken state…
Its eyes still held ferocity.
Lin Shuan's gaze locked onto it instantly.
A strange feeling stirred within him.
"What kind of mystical beast… is this…?"
Before he could observe further, one of the hunters at the front noticed him.
A lone boy.
Traveling alone.
The man frowned slightly… then spoke in a rough but not unfriendly tone—
Hunter:
"Boy… heading to Frostveil City?"
Lin Shuan said nothing, but his silence was enough.
The hunter continued—
Hunter:
"Traveling alone out here is no small matter.
If you don't mind… you can walk with us."
Lin Shuan's eyes flickered.
Suspicion rose first.
Then logic.
The path ahead was dangerous.
After a brief pause—
He nodded.
They walked together.
At first, Lin Shuan remained silent, observing.
But as time passed… something unexpected happened.
The hunters laughed.
They joked.
They argued over trivial things.
They complained about their companion endlessly talking.
They were… normal.
Simple.
Human.
After a while, Lin Shuan realized—
These people weren't hiding anything.
A thought quietly surfaced in his mind—
"So… this is the outside world…"
"People can speak freely… laugh freely…"
"…and no one looks at me with fear."
For a brief moment—
Something inside him loosened.
Suddenly, one of the hunters slapped the cage proudly.
Hunter:
"Do you know what this is?"
Without waiting, he grinned—
Hunter:
"A Snow Fang White Tiger! Extremely rare!
We nearly died capturing this thing!"
Another hunter sighed, rubbing his forehead—
"Here he goes again…"
But the man ignored him completely.
Hunter:
"It's a Rank-2 mystical beast! Strong enough to tear apart most cultivators below the Energy Core Rank!"
Lin Shuan's eyes sharpened slightly.
Rank-2…
So even beasts followed the same hierarchy as humans.
He glanced again at the tiger.
Even in its dying state…
It still carried pride.
(In this universe, mystical beasts and birds have 12 ranks, equal to the 12 ranks of humans.)
Cultivation rank System:
[Luo Initiate Rank
Body Refiner Rank
Energy Core Rank
Meridian Tracer Rank
Soul Spark Rank
Form Shaper Rank
Immortal Seed Rank
Divine Cycle Emperor Rank
Heavenly Sage Rank
Cosmic Overlord Rank
Grand Soul Emperor Rank
Transcendent Being Rank.
"Every rank is divided into nine star-level stages."]
By the time their conversation faded into casual chatter—
A massive structure appeared ahead.
Frostveil City.
Towering gates rose like frozen giants, guarded by enormous pillars carved from deep blue stone. Across them, glowing rune inscriptions pulsed faintly—
Ancient.
Powerful.
Watching.
As they stepped inside—
Noise exploded around them.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Merchants shouting.
Metal clashing.
It was like entering a completely different world.
Crowds filled the streets, cultivators moved with purpose, traders displayed rare items openly—
yet beneath all of it…
There was tension.
Hidden.
Subtle.
As if every person carried secrets they dared not reveal.
After walking deeper into the city, the group stopped.
Before them stood a large establishment—
The Xuan Yun Sect.
A place known for wind and ice techniques.
Not the strongest force… but influential enough to control the entire city.
The hunters moved forward, handing over the Snow Fang White Tiger to a Merchant Company stationed nearby.
After inspection—
They were rewarded.
Rare medicinal resources.
Lin Shuan's gaze instinctively shifted toward them.
For a moment—
Memories surfaced.
The Lin Clan…
Similar medicines…
A life that no longer existed.
He said nothing.
But someone noticed.
A hunter—Shi Tian—stepped beside him.
Shi Tian:
"Friend… interested?"
Lin Shuan didn't respond immediately.
Shi Tian smiled slightly—
"You could join us. Hunt a few beasts… earn resources like these."
A pause.
Then—
Lin Shuan (quietly):
"No… I have somewhere I need to go."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Only distance.
Shi Tian scratched his head.
"Then at least tell me—where are you headed?"
Lin Shuan looked at him—
"I need a map."
Shi Tian blinked.
"A map? You don't have one?"
Lin Shuan shook his head.
For a moment, Shi Tian looked around… then leaned closer, lowering his voice—
"Listen… don't buy from the main merchants here."
"They'll rip you off."
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then where?"
Shi Tian pointed toward a narrow street in the distance—
"Not far from here… there's an old shop."
"Ancient place. Looks like it might collapse any moment."
"But the maps there… cheap."
He paused.
Then added, more quietly—
"And… strange."
Lin Shuan's gaze followed the direction.
Something about those words lingered.
Strange.
Without wasting time, Lin Shuan nodded.
"Thank you."
And then—
He walked away.
Alone once more.
Toward that narrow street.
Toward the unknown.
The snow fell silently.
The city whispered.
And somewhere… in that forgotten map shop—
A secret was waiting.