Chapter 271: Chapter 270: Good Dog

Zhu Ge spent the night in the inn, meditating.

The Dongba Scroll was spread across the entire table, with "Tiger’s Roar in the Snowy Mountains" hung in the most conspicuous spot.

Moonlight spilled in through the window, landing on the White Tiger in the painting. The beast seemed to come alive, roaring toward the heavens as the wind and snow of the mountain peak threatened to burst from the paper.

Zhu Ge sat cross-legged at the table, his gaze drifting over each painting. The understanding that ’skill approaches the Dao’ deepened within him.

Ordinary people could spend a lifetime honing a single skill and still only touch the threshold of the "Dao."

So what about Cultivators?

Cultivators possessed power and lifespans far exceeding those of ordinary people, yet they were often blinded by their own strength, forgetting the true essence of cultivation.

He thought back on his own Martial Dao path.

It had begun in Jianshan Village, a path of constant battle. From the Fungus God to the Raincoat Fisherman, from the Sword and Axe Mantis to the Hongmi Immortal, every step had been a desperate struggle, and with every step, he had grown stronger.

’But what is my "Dao"?’

"Dawn has broken."

He rolled up the scroll and stood up.

The sky in the east had turned the color of a fish’s belly. A new day had begun.

After breakfast, Zhu Ge left Lijiang City with Liu Jianjian, Zhu Sisi, and True Monarch Minmian, continuing their journey north.

The carriage passed through the city gates and proceeded along the main road.

In the distance, the silhouette of Yulong Snow Mountain was bathed in a golden morning light. The snow on its peak, which never melted, glittered in the sun.

The main road was flanked by rolling mountain ranges covered in pine and fir trees. Occasionally, a few mountain eagles would soar through the sky, letting out sharp cries.

"Master, where are we headed next?" Liu Jianjian asked, riding Mazhu alongside the carriage. She idly jingled a silver bracelet on her wrist, looking bored.

"Shujiang," Zhu Ge said. "Once we’re past Yulong Snow Mountain, we’ll be close to Shujiang’s borders."

"Is there anything fun to do in Shujiang?" Liu Jianjian asked curiously.

"I don’t know. I’ve never been either," Zhu Ge replied, shaking his head.

Liu Jianjian pouted and went back to jingling her bracelet.

Inside the carriage, True Monarch Minmian, buried under a quilt, mumbled indistinctly, "Shujiang... spicy... hot pot... rabbit heads..."

It was impossible to tell if he was talking in his sleep or genuinely reminiscing.

After the carriage had traveled for about two hours, the road gradually grew rougher.

The mountains on either side grew taller, and the mist in the valleys thickened.

A damp chill filled the air, mixed with the scent of pine resin and earth.

Zhu Ge lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside.

Far in the distance, on the slopes of Yulong Snow Mountain, a cluster of black dots was moving.

’Not birds, not clouds... Are those Demon Beasts?’

"We’ve got a situation," Zhu Ge said, raising an eyebrow.

Mazhu halted, and Liu Jianjian pulled back on her reins, looking up at the black dots.

The black dots grew closer and larger, their shapes gradually becoming clear.

It was a pack of giant, pure-white wolves!

Each of these giant wolves was the size of a calf, covered in thick white fur that blended in with the snowy mountain.

They sprinted along the mountainside, their four paws kicking up flurries of snow.

The lead wolf was twice the size of the others, with a shoulder height of over six feet. Its pair of eerie blue eyes, like two wisps of ghost fire, stared coldly at the carriage on the road.

"Third Realm," Zhu Ge murmured, narrowing his eyes. "They’ve got some nerve."

"Master, it’s Snow Wolves!" Liu Jianjian’s voice was laced with excitement. "Snow Wolf pelts are valuable! They can be made into high-grade, Spirit Level cold-resistant Spiritual Clothing!"

"What do you need to be afraid of the cold for?" Zhu Ge chuckled and leaped down from his horse.

The pack of Snow Wolves drew closer. The leader let out a long howl, and the pack immediately fanned out, surrounding the carriage.

They moved with practiced coordination, clearly seasoned hunters.

Seeing Zhu Ge dismount to handle it himself, Liu Jianjian immediately rode Mazhu to the side of the road.

"CRUNCH, CRUNCH..." Zhu Sisi poked her head out from Liu Jianjian’s shoulder. She watched the pack of Snow Wolves not with fear, but with curiosity, munching on a mulberry leaf as she enjoyed the show.

"So noisy..." True Monarch Minmian poked his head out from under the quilt, glanced outside, then burrowed back in and went back to sleep.

The lead wolf stopped about a hundred feet from Zhu Ge. Its eerie blue eyes were fixed on him as a low growl rumbled in its throat.

"Human Race, this is our territory," the giant wolf spoke, its voice deep and hoarse. "Get lost, and I’ll spare your life."

"Territory?" Zhu Ge didn’t move.

He sized up the giant wolf. Mid-Essence Devouring Realm of the Third Realm. Its body was suffused with dense Demon Qi, and its fur was as white as satin. It was indeed a rare beast.

’I might as well let Liu Jianjian tame it.’

However, just as Zhu Ge was observing it, the Snow Wolf made its move.

Though the Snow Wolf had told Zhu Ge to retreat, its true intention was a sneak attack.

"AWOOOO!!"

The Snow Wolf kicked off the ground, its massive body lunging toward Zhu Ge like a bolt of white lightning.

Its sharp claws glinted with a cold light as it opened its cavernous mouth, revealing menacing fangs.

"Once I eat you, I can devour even more essence!" the Snow Wolf’s eyes were filled with greed.

"As expected," Zhu Ge said, shaking his head.

He didn’t retreat. Instead, he drew the Purgatory Star Rod from his waist. A brilliant silver-red light flared as he smashed it forward.

"CLANG—"

The rod and claws collided, sending sparks flying.

The giant wolf was knocked back several steps, but Zhu Ge didn’t move an inch.

A flicker of caution appeared in the giant wolf’s eyes. It hadn’t expected this member of the Human Race to be able to take its strike head-on.

"Again!"

Zhu Ge spoke softly, then took the initiative to attack.

He activated his Incense Lighting Body Technique, his figure becoming like smoke and mist as he rushed toward the giant wolf.

The Purgatory Star Rod spun in his hand as he brought it smashing down toward the giant wolf’s flank.

The giant wolf twisted aside to dodge, swiping a claw at Zhu Ge’s chest.

Zhu Ge neither dodged nor evaded, taking the blow directly.

"SHIIING—"

His robes were torn, revealing faint golden dragon scales on his skin that absorbed eighty percent of the force from the wolf’s claw.

The remaining twenty percent of the force only left a few shallow white marks on his chest, not even breaking the skin.

Seeing this, the giant wolf’s eyes widened. "You... You’re a Demon Beast?"

"I..." Just as Zhu Ge was about to answer, the giant wolf seized the opportunity to charge again.

"Sneak attacks are useless," Zhu Ge said, shaking his head. With incredible speed, he smashed the rod down on the giant wolf’s head.

"CLANG—"

This time, the giant wolf was left dizzy and dazed, stumbling backward.

Zhu Ge pressed his advantage, striking again and again, each blow landing squarely on the giant wolf’s head.

Although the giant wolf had tough skin and thick flesh, it couldn’t withstand such a beating.

It tried to counterattack, but Zhu Ge was too fast and his Body Technique too nimble. It couldn’t land a single hit.

At that moment, the surrounding Snow Wolves seemed to receive a command and suddenly swarmed forward, pouncing on Zhu Ge.

Instead of retreating, Zhu Ge advanced. He swept the Purgatory Star Rod horizontally, sending three Snow Wolves flying with a single strike.

His speed was astonishing. He weaved through the wolf pack, the afterimages of his rod a blur, with each strike landing precisely on a Snow Wolf’s vital point.

In just a few minutes, all dozen or so Snow Wolves were on the ground, whimpering endlessly.

"This isn’t the Second Realm, this is a hidden Third Realm! And a Body Refining Martial Artist of the Human Race!" Fear finally appeared in the giant wolf’s eyes.

"You’re surprisingly well-informed. You even know about Body Refinement," Zhu Ge chuckled as he continued to suppress the pack of Snow Wolves.

But when the alpha wolf turned to flee, how could Zhu Ge give it the chance?

"Good doggy. Stay."

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