The Huangfu Clan was originally a wealthy family residing in Anding County, Dui Country. For generations, they have been guarding the borders for the Three Constellation Immortal Palace, serving as noble border county guards. However, Huangfu Yi was born in the North Pole. Not only had he never returned to his hometown in Anding, but this was also his first time setting foot in the Central Plains.

This was likely because an ancestor of his family reached the Divinity Transformation Realm, specifically the notable General of Western Expedition, Huangfu Weiming, who was famous for helping the court sweep through the Western Regions with outstanding military achievements.

Huangfu Yi naturally grew up hearing Lord Ming's stories. His family taught him to regard Lord Ming as a role model, aspiring to become a pillar of the state, someone solid and useful to the Three Constellations and the nation. Even the Kan people and Gen Kingdom people in the village praised Lord Ming's integrity, honesty, and unwavering conscience.

Unfortunately, the name 'San Ming' grew too legendary, reaching the heavens and provoking the envy and resentment of the Three Constellations' officials. As the Huangfu family did not belong to the Capital Immortal Valve, and with two previous members defecting to the Divine Sect, the Huangfu family was implicated, suppressed, and forcefully relocated to the Nine Borders, in fear that Duke Weiming's influence would become too great to manage.

Consequently, Huangfu Yi's branch was dispatched to the frontier at Beiting. Sixty years ago, they barely survived a Demon Tide, finding refuge in the Immortal Relics, reportedly a village where a Sword Immortal once drank, protected by the Immortal's Sword Array.

Huangfu Yi spent sixteen years in Jiuquan Village, practicing his family's Gang Fist to build strength while observing the Yao Guang Sword Immortal's Sword Array.

Although he only learned some family Inner Strength techniques, enough to assist his breathing and power, he gleaned the essence of the Yao Guang Sword Technique from watching the Sword Array over time. Hunting demon creatures with the elders since childhood, he helped bring back spoils for the villagers, leading a fulfilling life.

Though the Huangfu family could not claim the status of the Four Generations and Three Ministers, they maintained an awareness of the broader world. The family's elders constantly spoke of returning to the Central Plains, never slackening in their teachings, ensuring their offspring wouldn't grow up ignorant.

Thus, despite never visiting the Central Plains, Huangfu Yi had a foundational understanding of the Twelve Countries' world through indirect education.

However, Huangfu Yi felt that being cut off from the Central Plains, living secluded in the snowy mountains, wasn't a bad thing, even if returning to the court seemed impossible at the moment.

After all, the Central Plains were already chaotic.

While the perilous Northern Land with its demons, bandits, and dangers loomed, the villagers who fled to Jiuquan Village, regardless of origin, united for survival, supported year after year by the Sword Immortal's protection.

Yet, crossing the pass into the city and seeing dozens or hundreds, unsure if they were refugees or bandits, hanged and left as dry corpses on the city gates, the remains of bodies chewed by wild dogs or starving people, and the discarded, withered infant bones in the ditches, Huangfu Yi's initial excitement turned to heaviness.

What was the point of returning to such a world?

If given a choice, hiding away in the North Land seemed preferable.

But there was no choice.

The Blood Demon grew stronger each day, the Blood Sea spread further. Even before it reached Jiuquan Village, it was clear that the Yao Guang Sword Immortal's decades of protection couldn't stem the tide of the Blood Pool.

The demonic forces of the Northern Land clearly weren't repulsed by the Sword Array. Otherwise, how could Huangfu Yi, single-handed and alone, traverse the Icefield, cross the Yin Mountain, and reach Lingwu for aid?

Indeed, Huangfu Yi made the arduous journey alone. Few men remained to defend the village. As the legitimate descendant of the Huangfu Clan, the most talented and capable of his generation in Jiuquan Village, and the only one possessing the Immortal Sword Collection, the responsibility of slaying demons, seeking aid, and protecting the family naturally fell on his shoulders.

Southward, southward, to the Central Plains, to the Nine Yin Mountain, to find that Sword Immortal, to invite him to slay demons and return home.

"Who goes there! What is your purpose?"

Seeing the tall, imposing youth in armor stained with blood, carrying a bow on his back, unlike the emaciated refugees, the guards at Lingwu Pass became wary.

"I am... Bai Yi, a hunter."

Huangfu Yi, remembering the instructions of the Emei Daoist, adopted the Gen Kingdom accent learned from the villagers and displayed a freshly skinned wolf pelt.

The guards, able to discern from a glance and the pungent smell, recognized it as a freshly slain demon, and seeing the youth's steady demeanor and impressive physique, dared not provoke him further, letting him into the city with a grumble.

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