The lingering glow of the setting sun bathed the dense forest in late afternoon light. Yet, beneath the thick canopy, only scattered flecks of brightness pierced through the gaps in the leaves, leaving the woods cloaked in gloom.
Bai Yunfei forcefully suppressed his internal injuries. The last vestiges of his Soul Force flowed into his legs as he raced swiftly through the trees.
His face held a trace of relief at his narrow escape, mingled with the pain of his wounds. But most prominent was a deep, aching regret.
"The Frost Spike! My Frost Spike!!" Bai Yunfei roared internally, the thought consuming him as he ran. "Just... gone! My Frost Spike!!"
If he ranked his Soul Tools by fondness, the Frost Spike might even surpass the Flame Spear. Not only was it his first true 'spoils of war', but its incredibly practical additional effects were invaluable. Sometimes, Bai Yunfei even felt the lower Rare-tier Frost Spike was more useful than the lower Heritage-tier Flame Spear...
Recalling his numerous battles, the Frost Spike's contributions arguably outweighed those of the Flame Spear.
And now... the Frost Spike... was gone...
Bai Yunfei felt as though his heart was bleeding.
Run. Run. Run... Bai Yunfei didn't know how far he had fled. He pushed himself relentlessly until the very last drop of his Soul Force was exhausted, his final ounce of physical strength spent. Only then was he forced to stop.
He lifted his head, peering through the gaps in the leaves at the star-studded night sky. The chorus of nocturnal insects filled his ears, punctuated occasionally by the distant roar of some unknown beast.
"He shouldn't... be able to catch up now, at least for a while..." Bai Yunfei cast a weary glance behind him. "No more running. I can't run anymore. I'll rest here tonight. If, after fleeing like this, he still manages to track me down... then I'll just have to accept my fate."
He found a towering giant of a tree. Climbing onto a branch thicker than his waist, Bai Yunfei quickly scanned his surroundings. Confirming the absence of immediate dangers like venomous snakes or fierce beasts, he settled cross-legged onto the broad branch. Closing his eyes, he began circulating his Soul Force, focusing on recovery and healing his wounds.
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky when Bai Yunfei, who hadn't moved an inch all night, slowly opened his eyes.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the forest air, then exhaled slowly. Raising his right hand before him, he clenched his fist experimentally, flexed his arm, and then rubbed his left shoulder, a slight frown creasing his brow.
"Hah. Still not fully recovered. But fortunately, it's nothing critical. Another couple of days at most, and I should be healed."
Pulling some food from his spatial ring, he began to fill his empty stomach. As he ate, his mind revisited yesterday's battle.
"That tracking beast is dead. They shouldn't be able to find my location anymore. This forest is vast – searching for me here would be like finding a needle in a haystack. As long as I leave this area quickly and proceed with caution, avoiding blundering into enemy sightlines like I did this time... I should be safe."
"My combat experience is lacking. Technique application still isn't smooth enough. These shortcomings don't show when facing ordinary people or Soul Masters weaker than me... but against a stronger opponent, they get brutally exposed..."
"Cunning tricks aren't reliable either. They can backfire, letting the enemy turn them against me. I can't afford such arrogance anymore... My greatest advantage lies in strengthening equipment! It's the unexpected additional effects that should be my key to victory!"
"But now... those ordinary weapons, even enhanced, are too weak to seriously threaten powerful enemies. As for Soul Tools... only the Flame Spear and Goldthread Soul Armor remain. Ah... My Frost Spike! The Frost Spike..." Just thinking about it sent another pang of intense ache through him.
"Stronger! I need to be stronger!! Being hunted down like a whipped dog... it's all because I'm not strong enough! I need more Soul Force! Stronger equipment!" The humiliation curdled into a thick, burning rage, reigniting Bai Yunfei's boundless thirst for power within.
"The Artifact Refining Sect... the Artifact Refining Sect... Joining that sect means I can forge my own Soul Tools! Then, combined with my Equipment Enhancement Art..."
"Ugh... What am I thinking? My immediate priority is dealing with the present hardship: getting out of Qingyun Province!"
......
It took Bai Yunfei another full day to finally emerge from the dense forest. When he spotted the small village nestled just beyond the treeline, he nearly wept with relief: "Finally, someone I can ask for directions..."
Desperately needing proper rest, Bai Yunfei sought shelter in the village for the night. The farming folk always evoked a sense of warmth in him. They welcomed this stranger who had suddenly appeared in their remote hamlet with open hospitality. Learning he was injured, they even specially brewed a large bowl of medicinal concoction for him to drink...
Early the next morning, Bai Yunfei, feeling refreshed, bid farewell to these simple villagers. Following the direction they pointed towards the nearest city, he set off at a brisk pace.
Three days later, after traversing another small wooded area, Bai Yunfei finally saw a wide, well-traveled road unfold before him. People moved back and forth along it, including several groups resembling merchant caravans or armed escort parties, transporting large quantities of goods as they journeyed slowly onwards.
"This... this should be the main imperial highway. Following it should lead to a large city..." Bai Yunfei eyed the flow of travelers, a flicker of hesitation surfacing. "Big cities are chaotic mixes... Who knows if the Zhang family has a presence there? If I'm discovered again..."
He lowered his head, deep in thought for a moment, then shook it with a self-deprecating snort, muttering, "Afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind... I'll never leave Qingyun Province acting like that. Even Zhang Zhenshan himself couldn't capture me! If I truly run into his underlings... I'll just fight my way out!"
"Besides, last time was just bad luck. I can't possibly be that unfortunate every time, right?" Raising his head, Bai Yunfei spotted a merchant caravan of about ten people slowly approaching down the road. He nodded to himself decisively. "Alright, I'll blend in with that caravan. Once in the city, purchase what I need, get a proper night's rest, and leave immediately! Right... I absolutely must buy a detailed map. Then I won't keep getting lost..."
Decision made, Bai Yunfei walked towards the caravan. The merchants were easygoing; after a brief exchange, they agreed to let this ordinary-looking youth join their group. Bai Yunfei procured a straw hat, pulling it low over his brow. Keeping his head down, he helped push the laden carts as they slowly progressed down the highway...
By afternoon, the group arrived before towering city gates. Bai Yunfei, nestled within the caravan, slowly passed through the entrance and into the city.
Before entering, he lifted his gaze to the three large characters carved above the imposing gate:
Whitepeak City.
Unbeknownst to Bai Yunfei, Whitepeak City was the very heartland of the Frost Soul Sect's influence!
The Sect's headquarters lay nestled at the foot of Whitepeak Mountain itself – a mere two days' journey from this city!