Chapter 16: The Destruction Mountains

Night.

In the Snow Eagle Territory, inside the Snow Rock Castle's study.

Dongbo Xueying sat behind his desk, while Zong Ling and Tong San sat casually nearby.

"Xueying, why did you call us here?" Tong San asked, puzzled.

"Today, I went to see the Grand Magus. He agreed to take Qingshi as a personal disciple but set two conditions—either a payment of fifty thousand gold coins or the heart of the Silver Moon Wolf King. As long as we meet one of these demands, Qingshi can become his apprentice," Dongbo Xueying explained.

"Fifty thousand gold coins?" Tong San's eyes widened. "That's daylight robbery! Your uncle Zong and I, along with your father and mother, risked our lives countless times back in the day, yet we never managed to accumulate that kind of wealth. It was only because of an unexpected windfall when your mother was pregnant that your father could buy a noble title and claim the Snow Eagle Territory! And now, this Grand Magus dares to demand fifty thousand gold coins just like that?"

That amount was outrageous. Even a Meteor Knight would struggle to gather such a fortune in their lifetime.

Dongbo Xueying's parents had been among the lucky few adventurers who survived long enough to build a future. Adventuring meant braving deadly places, and many never made it out alive. His parents had been among the rare survivors who not only lived but earned enough to secure a noble title and land. That was also why, despite the wealth of the Snow Eagle Territory, the nobles of Yishui City never dared to covet it—because true adventurers were fearless warriors, unafraid of death.

"The Silver Moon Wolf King's heart is even harder to obtain," Zong Ling frowned. "If it were just a lone Tier-4 magical beast, with Xueying's current strength and our assistance, we'd have a fair chance of taking it down. But the problem is, the Silver Moon Wolf King commands an entire pack. Fighting off a wolf pack is far more terrifying than facing the Wolf King alone."

The Wolf King itself was not the greatest threat—the true horror lay in the overwhelming numbers of the pack.

That was why, despite being a Tier-4 magical beast, the Silver Moon Wolf King's corpse was valued on par with a Tier-5 magical beast.

"I plan to enter the Destruction Mountain Range," Dongbo Xueying declared.

"You must not—"

"That's too reckless!"

Both Tong San and Zong Ling were alarmed.

The Destruction Mountain Range was the largest mountain range in the world, spanning across four provinces. It was teeming with magical beasts, some even reaching the level of transcendent beings. For generations, the human empire had failed to eradicate this threat entirely. The imperial military had permanently stationed forces along the mountain range's borders, frequently launching large-scale extermination campaigns just to cull the lower-tier magical beasts spilling into human territories.

This was why Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 magical beast meat was relatively cheap in the market—because the military regularly culled them in great numbers. But once a beast reached Tier-4, its value skyrocketed. Unlike the lower tiers, which soldiers could hunt en masse, Tier-4 magical beasts required elite warriors to take down.

"Even the army only dares to clear the outermost three thousand miles in large-scale operations," Zong Ling added urgently. "Even Silver Moon Knights and Titled Knights avoid venturing deeper. The deeper you go, the higher the chances of encountering truly terrifying magical beasts!"

"That's right, Xueying," Tong San said. "Even when we used to go adventuring with your father, we never considered delving into the Destruction Mountain Range! You might be aiming for a Tier-4 beast, but what if you stumble upon a Tier-5 or even a Tier-6? You'd be dead before you could react!"

They were both deeply concerned.

The Destruction Mountain Range was the ultimate den of humanity's greatest enemy—magical beasts. Entering it was as good as gambling with one's life.

"You haven't let me finish," Dongbo Xueying smiled. "I do plan to enter the Destruction Mountain Range, but only the outermost three thousand miles. And hunting magical beasts isn't my main goal—I'm going after the Scimitar Alliance!"

"The Scimitar Alliance?"

Both Zong Ling and Tong San's eyes lit up.

The outermost three thousand miles of the Destruction Mountain Range had been frequently purged by the military, forcing the stronger magical beasts to retreat further inside. As a result, only large numbers of low-tier beasts remained there. The military and these beasts constantly clashed, with wave after wave of low-tier magical creatures surging in to replace those culled. This battleground had claimed countless human soldiers, but it had also forged many powerful warriors.

"The Scimitar Alliance… Those bandits hide in the Destruction Mountain Range, but they don't dare go too deep either. They stick to the outer three thousand miles," Zong Ling nodded thoughtfully. "Their leader, Gaibin, is a Meteor Knight. He's been pillaging and plundering for years—he must have quite the stash of treasures. Their entire stronghold must be loaded with wealth. But attacking them won't be easy."

"Our enemy is in the light, and we are in the dark. Uncle Zong, how do you think I compare to Gaibin?" Dongbo Xueying asked.

"You're far stronger than him," Zong Ling admitted. "I can last a while against him in a fight, but if I faced you at full strength, I wouldn't stand a chance."

Under normal circumstances, Dongbo Xueying was already at the peak of the Meteor Knight level.

When he unleashed his full power, his strength even reached the level of a Silver Moon Knight.

His spear techniques were nearly at the level of a true master, and his mastery of combat energy was taught by the 'Frost Knight' Gu Yuanhan himself.

"Your only weakness is your lack of real combat experience," Zong Ling pointed out. "You've executed criminals in our territory, but you haven't fought in enough life-and-death battles. Sparring with us isn't the same as true combat."

"I understand. That's why this trip to the Destruction Mountain Range will be a great training opportunity. As I search for the Scimitar Alliance's hideout, I'll inevitably encounter magical beasts along the way and sharpen my skills," Dongbo Xueying said.

"Finding their base won't be easy."

Zong Ling looked worried. "And in the process, you'll have to face countless magical beasts… There's even a small chance you might run into something much stronger."

The outer three thousand miles was rarely home to transcendent-tier beasts or Tier-6 creatures. But Tier-4 and Tier-5 beasts still roamed there occasionally. When the army launched purges, these stronger beasts retreated—but for a lone adventurer, they could be deadly.

"My luck shouldn't be that bad," Dongbo Xueying reassured him. "Besides, my spear techniques are well-suited for defense—I can protect myself."

"Also, if I don't go into the Destruction Mountain Range… how else can I earn fifty thousand gold coins?" he sighed.

A Meteor Knight could work as a guest guardian for a noble family, earning a safe income—but even then, it would only be about three to five thousand gold coins a year. Making tens of thousands required immense risk.

"Fine," Zong Ling conceded. "I'll go with you. I've been to the outer three thousand miles several times before."

"You've been there?" Dongbo Xueying was surprised.

"Yes. After your parents bought the Snow Eagle Territory, I spent some time training alone. I pushed myself hard, hoping to break through to the Meteor level," Zong Ling admitted. As a member of the Serpentfolk royal lineage, he had his own pride and ambitions.

"Listen to your uncle Zong out there. Don't be reckless," Tong San warned.

Five Days Later

At dawn, Dongbo Xueying and Zong Ling led a hundred soldiers as they departed.

The castle's drawbridge had long been lowered.

"Brother, come back soon!" Qingshi shouted from the mountaintop, with Tong San standing beside him.

"Qingshi, be good and listen to Uncle Tong," Dongbo Xueying called back from the distance.

"I will!"

Qingshi nodded heavily, but his heart was reluctant.

He had never been apart from his brother for too long before. This time, his brother was leaving for at least ten days, possibly more.

Little did he know, Dongbo Xueying was risking his life to earn the 'tuition' for his future.

That Evening

Dongbo Xueying and his cavalry unit traveled swiftly, covering over 900 li by dusk and reaching the edge of the Destruction Mountain Range.

The cavalry began setting up camp and preparing meals.

They began setting up the cooking pots and preparing the meal.

"Old Yang."

Zong Ling and Dongbo Xueying were speaking with a burly man with a full beard. His name was Yang Cheng, an Earth Knight who had sworn allegiance to the Dongbo family. He was also the captain of this hundred-man squad.

Zong Ling said, "Tomorrow morning, the Lord and I will enter the mountain range. I'm leaving things here in your hands."

"Lord Zong Ling, Lord Xueying, rest assured. I will handle everything properly," Yang Cheng promised, though his voice carried a hint of worry. "Lord Xueying, you must be extremely careful. Back when I served in the army, we often conducted sweeps on the outskirts of the Destruction Mountain Range. But that was with a large military force—we never ventured out alone. Even then, the sheer numbers of magical beasts charging at us, completely unafraid of death… Out of every ten brothers who joined the army with me, only three or four made it out alive. The rest all perished in the Destruction Mountain Range."

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

The Destruction Mountain Range was indeed a forbidden zone. Only the military and desperate bandits dared to enter its outskirts. As for those who ventured deeper… they were few and far between.

The Next Morning

At dawn, as the first light of day broke through the horizon, Dongbo Xueying—carrying his weapon case on his back—and Zong Ling silently set out on foot into the Destruction Mountain Range.

In these treacherous lands, riding a horse was impractical. The terrain was rugged, and even the slightest noise could attract dangerous magical beasts.

"Lord Xueying, please be careful," Captain Yang Cheng and the other soldiers watched anxiously as the young lord in black and the silver-haired serpent-man disappeared into the depths of the forest, their figures swallowed by the shadows of the Destruction Mountain Range.

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