The white-haired girl blinked slowly at Liang Feng. Her silver eyes shimmered faintly under the dim light, and her voice was soft, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
"You… saved me." she murmured.
Liang Feng scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Y-yeah! You were bleeding pretty badly. What happened? And… who are you?"
The girl looked down, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"My name is Bai Xue. I was once a guardian spirit of Mount Bai. But I was betrayed. The other spirits… they've changed. Corrupted by darkness."
Liang Feng's eyes widened. "Wait… so the village legend about the guardian spirits of Mount Bai is real?"
Bai Xue nodded slowly.
"And you're one of them?"
"Yes."
Liang Feng took a deep breath and sat down. "I always thought that was just a bedtime story. Spirits coexisting with humans, protecting the mountain…"
"It was the truth… once." Bai Xue said. "But now, everything is falling apart. A dark force has infiltrated the spirit realm. Many of us have turned savage. I tried to stop them… and for that, I was hunted."
She looked at him sharply. "But you… you're not an ordinary human either."
Liang Feng froze. "What do you mean?"
"Yesterday, when you touched me, a light emerged from your body. That was the Spirit Emperor's Mark. The Mark of the Sky Dragon Warrior, said to have vanished centuries ago. Legends claim he will return when the world falls into chaos."
Liang Feng laughed nervously. "Me? A Spirit Emperor? I can't even chop wood properly."
Bai Xue didn't laugh. "That mark didn't appear by chance."
Before Liang Feng could respond, the room turned cold. The window creaked open on its own. A frigid wind blew in, carrying with it eerie whispers, like distant cries of the dead.
Liang Feng stood up immediately. "What… is that?"
Bai Xue's expression hardened. She sat up straight, her ears twitching, her fox tail flicking sharply.
"They're coming."
"Who?"
"The Spirit Hunters. They've found me. And now… they know you're hiding me."
The sky suddenly darkened, though it was still morning. Huge shadows soared above the rooftops, gliding silently.
Like giant birds… but wingless.
Liang Feng clenched his fists. He still didn't fully believe in spirits and legends of emperors, but one thing was clear, something terrifying was drawing near.
Outside, the village was silent. Too silent.
Liang Feng peeked through the window. Villagers stood frozen, eyes glued to the sky. Then, a dark figure descended from above. No wings. No sound. Just… falling, as though gravity had no claim on it.
The figure wore a black mask shaped like a raven's beak.
Bai Xue shuddered. "That's one of them." she whispered. "A Shadow Raven. Servant of the Spirit Hunters."
"What do they want?"
"To capture me… or kill me."
"And me?"
She met his gaze. "You bear the Spirit Emperor's Mark. They won't let you live."
Liang Feng stood at the doorway of his house, watching as three dark figures floated above the village. Their robes rippled, faces concealed by metallic masks shaped like beast skulls.
"They really are Spirit Hunters?"
"They hunt spirits like me." Bai Xue said. "They capture and seal us, then sell us to dark sects or spirit markets. They don't care if we're good or evil. To them, we're just power to be harvested."
One of the figures floated down, landing softly before Liang Feng's house. The air grew heavy, its aura cold as a grave.
"Guardian of Mount Bai." the figure rasped, voice like grinding earth. "You've crossed the line. Surrender… or be destroyed."
Liang Feng stepped in front of Bai Xue. "Wait! She's injured. She doesn't want to fight. Can't you—"
The hunter raised a hand. A dark blue orb formed, transforming into a spear of pure energy.
ZRAAANG!!
The spear shot toward Liang Feng.
His body moved on instinct. His hand touched the talisman at his waist, and the dragon mark on his arm flared gold. A shield of light formed in front of him.
BOOM!!
The explosion shook the ground, throwing debris and dust into the air. Liang Feng staggered back, gasping, his right arm throbbing.
"What… was that?" he muttered, staring at his trembling hand.
The hunter recoiled. "Impossible… the Spirit Emperor's Seal?!"
Two more hunters descended. One wielded a spirit whip, the other twin swords glowing ominously.
Bai Xue stepped in front of Liang Feng. "We have to go! You're not ready!"
"But the village—"
"We can't protect anyone if we die here."
Liang Feng looked toward the town square, where children cowered and the elderly fled in panic.
"I can't just leave them…"
Bai Xue stared at him. "Then I'll fight with you."
White light enveloped her body. Her silver hair shimmered, her tail blazed. Energy crackled in the air.
"I'll lend you my power. But only for one strike."
Liang Feng nodded. "One strike is enough."
Their auras merged silver white and gold flaring together. A spear formed in the air, born of spirit and dragon fire.
The hunters stepped back. The pressure was overwhelming.
"Get ready…" Liang Feng whispered.
With a single motion—
"Heavenly Art—First Sky Movement: Spirit Dragon Spear!!"
The spear soared into the sky, then curved downward like a comet.
BOOOMMM!!!
A massive explosion tore through the ground. The spirit whip shattered. The twin swords broke. One hunter was blasted away, mask crushed.
Liang Feng collapsed to his knees. Breathing heavily, his body felt like lead.
Bai Xue supported him. "For a human… you're extraordinary."
Liang Feng chuckled weakly. "Didn't you say I wasn't fully human…"
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Bai Xue's face changed. She stood, trembling. "No… not him…"
Liang Feng looked up. A new figure flew from the north. Cloaked in gray, wielding a bone flute. The sky dimmed as he approached.
"Who is that?" Liang Feng asked.
"He's not from any sect." Bai Xue replied. "He's… a Soul Cleanser. He doesn't just seal spirits… he erases their souls entirely."
The two remaining hunters immediately backed away, bowing from atop the trees. They remained still.
Liang Feng tried to stand. His body refused.
Bai Xue drew a protective circle with her blood. "We have to leave, Now."
"But—"
"Even your Emperor's Seal isn't enough to stop him. If he sees you… everything ends."