Chapter 1: The Serpent of the Spiral Devours the Wind and Snow

At that moment, a loud roar came from behind him. Pan Yan turned around and saw a giant white-haired ape charging at him, baring its teeth and claws. Its mouth was like a blood basin, its eyes like red lanterns, standing about 2 zhang tall, and as solid as a rock

The white ape, without hesitation, also jumped off the cliff. The serpent, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, had long been prepared and seized a branch in mid-air. The white ape let out a fierce roar, its massive body crashing against the mountain wall, instantly breaking its bones. With a crack, it howled mournfully, tumbling into the abyss of deep snow like a snowball.

Earlier, as the blizzard had somewhat eased, a horse-drawn carriage made its way through the snow against the wind, traversing the mountain path, followed closely by ten sturdy riders on horseback

Young Master Lu, named Lu Yangming, is the heir of the great nation of Louguo in the northern region. Lu Zhenying is his sister, and they share the same mother. Following the death of the king of Louguo, treacherous officials conspired with the nobles of Guoguo, intending to usurp the throne by supporting Lu Yangming's uncle, who had previously fled abroad. The people of the nation were in a state of panic, and the lives of the brother and sister were in jeopardy. Consequently, their mother delayed the situation for them, allowing the two to escape the city stealthily with the help of the guards, seeking out the renowned Zhang Qianfeng.

As he pondered more, he became increasingly confused, so he simply decided not to think too much. He had to focus on surviving first, going with the flow, and the other chaotic matters were of no concern to him at the moment

He walked barefoot on the snow, the cold piercing to the bone. Before long, he became numb from the freezing temperatures, yet he dared not linger and pressed on through gritted teeth. The heavy snow resembled a hungry giant serpent, striking at him from above. He dodged left and right, twisting and turning, seeking refuge from the storm, which also provided a slight warmth to his body

As he gazed in a daze at the white ape disappearing, he sighed in sorrow, feeling that the white ape had been swallowed by an invisible snow snake. He stood there in a daze, completely oblivious to himself, when suddenly there was a crack, a branch broke, and with a startled "Eh!" he too fell off the cliff.

Why does he pursue it when he does not even know whether this mirage is real or not

The young girl Lu Zhenying said, "Hello, big brother, are you feeling better?"

He is a prominent figure of the younger generation in the renowned Wanjian Sect, having gained fame in the present era. Several years ago, he had the opportunity to master two of the sect's ultimate skills, "Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Palm" and "Riding the Wind and Cloud Step." His martial arts prowess is so high that he is rarely matched by any adversary in the mortal realm. However, this world is filled with demons, monsters, and malevolent individuals from various paths, and relying solely on Zhang Qianfeng may not guarantee absolute safety.

Miss Lu appeared calm, yet her eyes reflected a hint of worry. With her red lips pressed together, she gazed into the distance, observing the blizzard that engulfed the land for thousands of miles. She spoke, "The enemy is fierce, much like this snow disaster; do they truly intend to drive my brother and me to a dead end?"

But why does he know that his name is Pan Yan, and why does he impersonate someone from the Tai family and report a false name

Zhang Qianfeng gazed at the snow-capped peaks, his mind in turmoil, and thought: "Although my martial arts have improved significantly over the years, having received my master's true teachings, if that Guo Wanghou truly mobilizes a large number of skilled fighters to pursue us, any slight misstep that injures either of them would lead to irreparable regret. When we arrive at Shebo City, will the city lord truly be willing to take in the two siblings? This person is known for his benevolence, righteousness, and martial prowess; if he cannot be trusted, who else can be?

Zhang Qianfeng felt a chill in his heart and thought: "Indeed, I have heard that the members of the Tai family have bloodlines close to that of demons, possess immense power, and are wealthier than feudal lords. Their blood relatives have eyes resembling those of snakes, which is quite terrifying. Is this person perhaps a master from the Tai family? With such a reputation, why would they ally with the countries of Chou and Guo?"

The young guard smiled and said: "With both young heroes being so understanding, there will surely come a day when they return to seek vengeance. However, as long as I, Wanxian Zhang Qianfeng, am here, no matter what means the enemy employs, I will ensure the safety of both of you."

Among the accompanying guards, one person stepped forward, tall and imposing, carrying a precious sword, with a face like a jade crown, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, seemingly around twenty years old. He said: "Miss Lu, Young Master Lu, the Shebo City is just twenty miles down the mountain. There is no need for us to be anxious; let us rest here for the night, and we will surely arrive by tomorrow morning"

The person who fell from the cliff was indeed Pan Yan. Upon seeing so many people, he was momentarily at a loss for words and suddenly exclaimed, "Do you have anything to eat"

Lu Yangming suddenly recalled something and asked, "Is this elder brother from the Tai family? No wonder his behavior is so peculiar; it truly lives up to its reputation"

Pan Yan had eaten twenty frozen buns, feeling listless and drowsy. He said, "Thank you, thank you for saving my life. I have no way to repay you." After he was full, his figure gradually widened, resembling an ordinary person, and his eyes became clear and spirited, making him surprisingly handsome and elegant. However, this person occasionally appeared lazy and at times dazed, leaving others feeling uncertain.

He seemed to remember that this beast in the clouds was called a Shun.

He suddenly glanced outside the mountain and vaguely saw a shimmering white dragon, seemingly a hundred feet long, gracefully soaring through the air

Countless mountains are interconnected, stretching far to the horizon, resembling a gluttonous snake that devours the mountains

The white dragon swung its head and, by chance, cast a glance at him. The dragon's roar echoed through the mountains, akin to a tsunami, leaving the serpent in shock. Although filled with fear, it still pursued the white dragon.

While running halfway, he tripped over something and fell, becoming dizzy and disoriented. Cursing his bad luck, he noticed that it was a frozen, stiff corpse.

Someone presented a frozen, hard bun, which was then roasted over the fire. However, the hungry man, driven by his intense hunger, reached out, grabbed it, and stuffed it into his mouth, devouring one after another without chewing, truly resembling a famished serpent. The onlookers noticed his eyes gleaming with a strange light, resembling those of a venomous snake, and they were all secretly alarmed, gripping their weapons tightly.

Young Master Lu said: "Sister, please do not speak such discouraging words. Everyone has accompanied us to this point, loyal and hardworking; your words will surely sadden them greatly."

A howling sound came from the sky, resembling the roar of a dragon. There are many accounts among the people of having witnessed a divine dragon, and most citizens of various countries believe it to be true. However, Miss Lu was restless and had no mind to discern the truth.

Zhang Qianfeng thought to himself: "What a strange matter this is, I must first save this person." The true energy in his palm surged, powerful and ready to be unleashed. He pressed down on the person's abdomen, and his internal strength flowed vigorously from the dantian throughout his entire body. This "Ascension Across Worlds" internal force, once released, truly had remarkable effects. The person let out a muffled groan and exhaled a breath of turbid air, gradually regaining consciousness.

Young Master Lu smiled and said, "Bring him some food."

Pan Yan was also unclear about who he was, but upon recalling the Tai family's tomb on the mountain, he had a thought and said: "Indeed, I am a distant relative of the Tai family, my surname is Tai and my given name is Yi. However, my martial arts skills are lacking and I am not well-known, and I owe my life to this young master and the benefactors present." In his haste, he could not come up with a proper name, so he casually mentioned the character "Yi." After all, the world is chaotic and filled with oddities, so this title of Tai Yi could hardly be considered unusual.

Pan Yan suddenly turned and ran wildly, while the white-haired monkey swung a punch downwards. Pan Yan, agile in body, rolled to the side just in time, causing the white monkey to strike the snow, sending up a cloud of snow dust. Seizing the opportunity, Pan Yan thrust his sword forward, striking the monkey squarely in the left hip. He felt a sense of pride in his heart and pushed the sword in forcefully, but he could not move it even half an inch; the skin of this monkey was surprisingly thick.

Zhang Qianfeng is a man of righteousness. In the past, he had a deep friendship with the monarch of the neighboring country. When faced with this situation, how could he not take action? Without a second thought, he set off with the two siblings, traveling thousands of miles to Shebo City. The lord of Shebo City has always maintained a good relationship with the former monarch of the neighboring country, so it is certain that he would be willing to provide shelter. With his protection, the siblings would have no further worries. Along the way, he encountered assassins from the neighboring country, facing perilous challenges at every step, with danger lurking everywhere. At this moment, he saw a coiled serpent; observing its strange demeanor, he stepped forward to stand in front of the siblings.

Pan Yan opened his eyes and realized he was lying in the snow, covered by it, struggling to breathe. He shouted loudly, hurriedly pushing through the snowdrift, his hands and feet flailing as he rolled and crawled out.

Amidst the mountains, a fierce snowstorm rages, with snowflakes cascading down like a torrent. The heavens and earth are shrouded in a gray veil, with deep accumulations of snow covering everything. All things are cloaked in a silver attire, the trees are withered, and a thousand miles are blanketed in a pristine white.

The world is perilous, and Zhang Qianfeng has encountered many ghosts and monsters throughout his life. This strange person, who fell alongside the giant ape, is certainly not an ordinary individual; it is highly likely that he is a demon sent by the new king of the neighboring country.

At this moment, a rustling sound of wind was heard, and a person descended from the sky. They landed on the belly of the giant beast, absorbed the impact, rolled on the ground, turned over, and lay down, unconscious. The crowd saw that this person had a gaunt face and disheveled hair, and they could not tell whether the person was dead or alive, which left everyone greatly astonished

Seeing the fierce wind and heavy snow, the coachman found it truly difficult to proceed. After discussing a few words with the passengers, he stopped the carriage and sought a cave to take shelter from the storm

He hid for a while and jokingly scolded, "What am I hiding from? There are no snakes at all."

The guards were all brave and loyal, and upon hearing the words, they were alarmed and hurriedly spoke to comfort one another. Miss Lu and Master Lu were extremely respectful and courteous, bowing in a circle, and sitting together with everyone, making a fire to keep warm, showing not the slightest hint of a host's demeanor

Miss Lu Yingying performed a courteous gesture and said: "Thanks to the noble assistance of the immortal, I can naturally rest easy. However, the immortal and all the heroes have traveled a long distance, enduring hardships and difficulties, and now they are braving the wind and snow. I, Lu Zhenying, feel quite guilty about this."

Pan Yan remembered that he had crawled out of the tomb, and he also recalled being so frightened that he lost his soul. He grabbed a long robe from the ground and draped it over himself before fleeing in panic. However, after crawling a few steps, he fainted again, unable to remember why he had been buried in the tomb.

With courage, he turned back, pushed open the stone door of the tomb, and saw many spirit tablets displayed. Noticing that all these spirit tablets bore the surname Tai, he jotted down a few at random, not knowing what he was recording them for

The monkey swung its hand back, and the snake quickly retracted its body, dodging and weaving. Although it did not run as fast as the white monkey, it excelled in cleverness, acting only after careful planning, and remained completely unflustered, leading the white monkey towards the cliff. It shouted, "Come on, chase me, you brainless beast." Then it leaped into the air.

He shouted, "Hey, wait, wait."

He stared in astonishment for a moment, then let out a cheer as he stripped the clothing from the corpse and put it on. It was a tiger skin coat, cotton trousers, and a felt hat, all of which were the attire of a hunter. He picked up the bow, drew the sword, tidied himself up, and felt a surge of warmth, overwhelmed with joy.

Miss Lu immediately realized and said, "What my younger brother said is absolutely correct; it was I who misspoke. Everyone, please do not take offense."

He was wearing a tattered robe, and despite being in the snow, there was still a faint smell of decay. Looking back, he could vaguely see a tomb.

A young girl and a child got off the vehicle. Both were dressed in mink coats, adorned with luxurious and dazzling accessories, indicating they were not from an ordinary family. The girl was seventeen years old, with an exceptionally pure and beautiful appearance, while the child, aged ten, was also remarkably handsome. However, both had snow-white skin, emerald green eyes, and hair the color of fire, making their looks quite unique.

He was frowning and lost in thought when suddenly he heard a rumbling sound from the mountain. Zhang Qianfeng looked up and saw a giant white-haired ape rolling down. With a loud bang, the ground shook and the mountain trembled as it landed on the path. The white ape let out a terrible scream, and surprisingly, it was not dead yet.

All the guards, upon seeing this giant beast, could not help but roar in anger. Zhang Qianfeng drew his sword and stood ready, preparing for battle.