The First Steps

The cold wind howled as we left the encampment, the familiar sight of the Frost Thorn Tribe quickly fading into the distance. Feng Tao led the way, his pace steady and unyielding, while I followed a few steps behind, trying to keep up with the long strides of the cultivator. My heart was heavy with the weight of leaving home, but there was also a flicker of excitement buried beneath the unease. I had never ventured far from the tribe, and now I was being thrust into a world that I had only heard of in stories.

We soon entered Frostwood, the dense, frozen forest that bordered our tribe's encampment. The trees were ancient, their trunks thick and gnarled, covered in frost that glittered in the faint light. The branches above were heavy with snow, forming a canopy that blocked out much of the sky. The air here was even colder, the silence profound, broken only by the occasional creak of ice or the distant call of a nightbird.

For hours, we walked in silence. Feng Tao didn't speak, his eyes constantly scanning the terrain as if expecting danger at every turn. His presence was imposing, a constant reminder of the power he wielded. I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts crossed his mind, whether he was simply leading me to the Coldwind Clan, or if there was something more that he hadn't yet revealed.

As we moved deeper into the forest, the path became more difficult to navigate. The ground was uneven, covered in thick roots and hidden patches of ice. The shadows between the trees seemed to shift and move, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. The stories of Frostwood's dangers played in my mind—tales of lost travelers, of spirits that haunted the trees, and of creatures that lurked in the shadows.

Suddenly, Feng Tao stopped, his hand raised in a silent command for me to do the same. I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I strained to listen. The silence was broken by a faint rustling, a sound too deliberate to be the wind.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement—quick, darting shapes that blended almost seamlessly with the snow and ice. Feng Tao's gaze sharpened as he watched the shadows approach. A low growl echoed through the forest, followed by the appearance of three small creatures, each about the size of a wolf. Their bodies were covered in thick, white fur that bristled in the cold, and their eyes glowed with a faint, eerie light.

The creatures moved with a predatory grace, circling us slowly, their growls deepening as they closed in. Their long, sinewy tails lashed behind them, tipped with sharp, barbed stingers that dripped with venom. I recognized them from the tales told by the elders—these were Frost Vipers, a species native to the Northern Wastes. Despite their appearance, they weren't true snakes; their legs were muscular and clawed, giving them the ability to move swiftly across the frozen terrain. They were known for their speed and their venom, which could paralyze even the largest prey in seconds.

The Frost Vipers hissed, revealing rows of needle-like teeth, and one of them lunged forward, jaws wide. But before it could get close, Feng Tao flicked his wrist, and a wave of icy energy surged forward, crashing into the creature with devastating force. The Frost Viper didn't even have time to react. It was frozen solid mid-air, its body encased in a thick layer of ice before it shattered into a thousand glittering pieces.

The other two hesitated, their instincts telling them to flee, but they were too slow. Feng Tao raised his hand, and with a simple gesture, the remaining Frost Vipers were struck by sharp, crystalline shards that materialized from the very air around them. The creatures were torn apart, their bodies collapsing lifelessly into the snow.

I stood there, stunned by the ease with which Feng Tao had dispatched the creatures. These were beasts that the tribe had learned to avoid at all costs, yet he had destroyed them with little more than a flick of his wrist. It was a stark reminder of the vast gulf between the power of a cultivator and that of a mere mortal.

"Let's keep moving," Feng Tao said, his tone as unruffled as if he had simply swatted away a fly. He resumed his pace without a second thought, leaving the remains of the Frost Vipers behind us. I hurried to catch up, my mind racing with the realization of how much I still had to learn.

As the day wore on, the forest grew darker, the thick canopy overhead blocking out the last of the daylight. The cold intensified, biting deeper with each passing hour. Finally, as the first stars began to appear in the small patches of sky visible through the branches, Feng Tao halted in a small clearing.

"We'll camp here for the night," he said, surveying the area. The trees formed a natural barrier against the wind, and the ground was relatively flat—a good spot to rest.

Feng Tao wasted no time in setting up camp. He gestured with his hands, and the air around us seemed to ripple as he summoned a series of glowing symbols into the air. The symbols floated for a moment before sinking into the ground, and the snow began to melt away, revealing dry earth beneath. The temperature within the circle of symbols rose slightly, enough to keep the worst of the cold at bay. He then produced a small, shimmering orb from within his robes, which floated up and hovered above the camp, casting a soft, warm light that illuminated the area.

I watched in awe as he performed these tasks with effortless grace, the spells he cast so far beyond anything I could comprehend. For him, this was routine, but for me, it was like witnessing the impossible made real.

"Sit," Feng Tao said, nodding towards a spot by the light orb. I did as he instructed, sitting cross-legged on the ground, still feeling the warmth of the earth despite the cold air outside the protective barrier.

Feng Tao took a seat opposite me, his expression unreadable in the soft glow. For a long moment, he said nothing, simply studying me with those piercing eyes. I shifted slightly under his gaze, unsure of what to say or do.

"Do you understand why I've brought you with me?" Feng Tao finally asked, his voice low and measured.

I hesitated, unsure of the right answer. "Because… I showed potential?" I ventured, repeating what he had said earlier.

He nodded slowly, but there was something in his eyes that made me think there was more to it than that. "Potential, yes. But potential is only part of it. There are many with potential, Jinlong. What matters is how you choose to use it."

I nodded, though I wasn't sure I fully understood. Feng Tao leaned back slightly, his gaze turning towards the darkened forest around us. "The world is vast, far beyond what you can imagine. The Northern Wastes, the Coldwind Clan, even your tribe—they are just small pieces of a much larger puzzle. To truly grasp your potential, you must be willing to leave behind what you know and embrace the unknown."

His words resonated with me, stirring something deep within. The idea of leaving everything behind was daunting, but at the same time, there was a strange allure to it—a chance to become something more than what I was.

"Why me?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. "Why did you choose me?"

Feng Tao's gaze returned to mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—perhaps understanding or even empathy. "Because you were born under a star that marked you for something greater," he said, his tone almost contemplative. "Whether you realize it or not, you are already on a path that few can walk. I simply intend to guide you along the way."

I didn't know how to respond to that. The idea that my destiny had been decided by the star I was born under was both comforting and terrifying. But there was no denying the truth in Feng Tao's words. My life had already changed the moment I left the tribe. There was no going back now.

We sat in silence for a while longer, the only sounds being the faint crackle of the protective barrier and the distant rustling of the trees. Despite the warmth of the camp, I felt a chill run through me—not from the cold, but from the realization of the journey that lay ahead.

Eventually, Feng Tao rose to his feet. "Rest," he said. "We have a long way to go, and you'll need your strength."

I nodded, lying down on the makeshift bedroll he had prepared. The ground was surprisingly comfortable, and the warmth from the earth lulled me into a sense of security. As I closed my eyes, I heard Feng Tao's voice one last time.

"Remember, Jinlong. Power is a tool, not a burden. Use it well, and the world will open before you."

With those words echoing in my mind, I drifted off to sleep, the night deepening around us, and the mysteries of the path ahead waiting to be unveiled.