I Grind to Martial Saint

Of course, this also stemmed from Han Yuan’s supreme confidence in his own strength.

"We can leave now."

The One-Eyed Dragon nodded and said, "However, before we enter the mountain, there are a few things I must make clear."

"Go on," Han Yuan said softly.

The One-Eyed Dragon cleared his throat and said flatly, "I know you are all capable individuals, and you may have unruly personalities."

"When it comes to strength, I might not be a match for any one of you."

"But once we’re in Snow Dragon Mountain, I expect you all to follow my orders."

"I’m the only one who’s truly familiar with the conditions there."

"If any of you can’t accept that, you can leave now. I’ll even refund your deposit."

Clearly, he was establishing his authority within the group.

Entering Snow Dragon Mountain was an extremely dangerous affair in itself.

Especially now, with the Snow Dragon King on the verge of unleashing its fury.

No one knew what might happen.

If there were dissenting voices in the group, it could very well lead to the entire team’s annihilation.

No one spoke, clearly accepting the One-Eyed Dragon’s terms in silence.

The One-Eyed Dragon breathed an inward sigh of relief. "Looks like no one has any objections. In that case, let’s head into the mountain."

Upon hearing this, a subtle change flickered in everyone’s eyes as they began to move.

To be willing to enter the snowy mountain despite the risk of the Snow Dragon King’s wrath, each of them clearly had their own compelling reasons.

And every single one of them wanted to get through this place as quickly as possible.

The One-Eyed Dragon took the lead, a Small Compass in his hand.

The mountain path was easy enough to traverse at first.

It was quite steep and battered by a biting wind, but those who dared to cross the Snow Dragon Mountain Range were no ordinary people. It posed no challenge to them at all.

Before they knew it, they had been walking through Snow Dragon Mountain for a full day.

The sky was now growing dim.

"There’s a cave about three *li* up ahead."

"I’ve stashed some supplies there. We’ll rest there for a while."

The One-Eyed Dragon said softly, glancing at the nearby scenery.

Though it was nothing but an endless sea of snowy mountains to the eye, he had long since committed every detail of the terrain to memory.

Han Yuan and the others naturally had no objections.

The group continued onward.

Before long, they arrived at the very cave the One-Eyed Dragon had mentioned.

Inside the cave were some rations, bedrolls, and a large stack of dry firewood.

Soon,

a bonfire was lit.

However, they were all strangers and remained wary of one another. No one gathered around the bonfire; instead, they dispersed to different corners of the cave.

They didn’t touch the food in the cave, either, instead taking out their own provisions and eating casually.

All except for the emaciated monk.

He didn’t eat. He simply sat cross-legged on the ground, his fingers running over his Buddha Beads as he continuously chanted scriptures.

"Master, would you like something to eat?"

The One-Eyed Dragon offered him a roasted sweet potato.

"There is no need... Thank you, benefactor."

The monk politely declined.

"Alright then."

The One-Eyed Dragon didn’t press the matter.

A dead silence fell over the cave.

"Everyone, rest here for the night. I’ll wake you in the morning."

"Oh, and remember—do not go outside. No matter what you hear, be it a noise or some strange sound."

The One-Eyed Dragon suddenly added.

"Why is that?"

the young Scholar asked.

"It’s a taboo here on Snow Dragon Mountain... At night, this is no longer the world of the living. It becomes a world of the unnatural."

"Countless Resentful Souls of those who died on Snow Dragon Mountain appear, creating all sorts of eerie disturbances."

"If you go out, you might never come back."

the One-Eyed Dragon said softly.

His words sent a chill through everyone’s heart.

No one had imagined that, aside from the harsh weather, Snow Dragon Mountain had such a perilous side to it.

"So, are we truly safe in here?"

the young Scholar couldn’t help but ask.

"That’s right... Those Resentful Souls only wander the mountain. They won’t enter the caves."

"I can guarantee that. I’ve tested it countless times."

the One-Eyed Dragon assured them.

Only after hearing his assurance did the others begin to relax.

Late into the night, the members of the group leaned against the cave’s stone walls to rest.

Of course, no one was truly asleep; they were merely resting with their eyes closed.

They would be ready to react instantly should any emergency arise.

The night passed without incident.

Nothing strange occurred.

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The One-Eyed Dragon gathered his things and once again led Han Yuan and the others on their way.

The sun had just risen, its rays illuminating the distant snowy peaks and bathing them in a splendid golden light.

It was a truly breathtaking sight.

It made one marvel at the wonders of creation.

A smile touched the One-Eyed Dragon’s lips. "The wind and snow are lighter than yesterday... If we press on, we should be able to cross the Snow Dragon Mountain Range within a month."

This was a good sign. It meant the Snow Dragon King’s fury might not be as imminent as they feared.

The timing of the Snow Dragon King’s wrath was never fixed.

Even the most experienced guides could only make a rough guess based on their experience.

The One-Eyed Dragon, relying on his own vast experience, had estimated that the Snow Dragon King’s wrath was not imminent.

That was why he had dared to lead a group into Snow Dragon Mountain.

’Of course, he wasn’t one hundred percent certain. It was, in essence, a high-stakes gamble.’

’If he pulled this off, he’d have more money than he could spend in a lifetime.’

"Then let’s get moving."

the masked Swordsman said flatly.

"Right. We need to make good time."

The One-Eyed Dragon nodded.

In the days that followed, they ventured ever deeper into the Snow Dragon Mountain Range.

Thanks to the One-Eyed Dragon’s vast experience, they encountered almost no delays.