Dawn crept across the Great White Mountain, its weak light struggling to pierce the ancient canopy above. The spiritual essence hung thin in the air—precious threads of power that cultivators and beasts alike fought to claim. Between the towering pines, shadows shifted like hungry things, dancing away from the pale fingers of morning light that managed to breach the dense branches overhead.
The mountain's silence shattered as three figures burst through the underbrush, their movements a deadly dance of pursuit. Ahead, something large crashed through the frost-covered branches, its desperate flight sending showers of ice crystals raining down like broken stars. Li Hua's keen eyes caught glimpses of crystalline fur and gleaming claws—their prey was far more dangerous than the usual beasts that roamed these lower reaches of the mountain.