Chapter Thirty-Seven: You're Not From Around Here, Are You?

Desert City. In a guesthouse room, a woman of exceptional beauty, who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties, sat gracefully at a table. Every gesture and smile of hers carried an enchanting allure, and her crimson dress only accentuated her well-proportioned figure.

Standing in the room were four others, all of whom looked to be around thirty. They stood in a neat row, their demeanor respectful, and their eyes reflected both deep admiration and carefully concealed affection as they gazed at the woman.

“Our young lady has already entered the desert. Their destination should be the Far South. Our mission is to retrieve the young lady and bring her back to the family. Do you understand?” The woman in red spoke, her voice as melodious as an oriole’s song, yet laced with authority.

“Yes!” the four responded, dropping to one knee in earnest deference.

The woman in red nodded, continuing, “Don’t underestimate the young lady simply because she is at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment. She carries the Frostmark Sword, and in an instant her power surpasses any one of you. Moreover, I’ve heard in Tianxuan City that a young man is accompanying her. Though only at the third level of Foundation Establishment, he killed a cultivator at the first level of Nascent Soul. With such strength, his background is certainly formidable. We only need to bring back the young lady. If he interferes, restrain him, but under no circumstances are you to harm him.”

The four firmly committed her words to memory. They were assassins trained by the Li family—destined either to kill or be killed—so they approached everyone with utmost caution.

“Leave agents behind in Desert City. This is the only route they’ll take to leave. We depart now—enter the desert,” the woman commanded as she stood.

“Yes, Fourth Elder!”

With that, the five transformed into streaks of light, vanishing from the room.

...

Chen Xiang and Li Qiner had flown on their swords for two days before finally glimpsing a stretch of white.

“Huh? Why are there so many cultivators?” Chen Xiang noticed numerous figures flying toward the Far South from all directions.

Li Qiner was equally puzzled. This place should rarely see visitors, and she hadn’t anticipated such a scene.

Chen Xiang stopped a man passing by on his sword. “Fellow cultivator, wait a moment! May I ask, where are you all rushing off to in such a hurry?”

The man eyed him warily before replying, “Brother, you must be from out of town?”

So what if I am? Chen Xiang forced a smile. “Yes, I’m not from around here.”

Hearing this, the man relaxed. “Alright then, brother. Ask whatever you wish—since you’re a visitor, it’s my duty to answer.”

Chen Xiang nearly wanted to slap him. Wasn’t that what he’d just asked?

He repeated, “So, where exactly are you all headed?”

“Brother, you really don’t know? You must be from far away! Right now, the Snowhidden Sect is holding its once-in-a-decade disciple recruitment trial. Everyone’s rushing to register. Ah, I must be off—registration awaits! Farewell, perhaps we’ll meet again!”

With that, the man soared away on his sword toward the snowy expanse.

Chen Xiang barely restrained his urge to explode. So what if I’m from out of town?

“The Snowhidden Sect is recruiting disciples? What kind of sect would build its headquarters in a godforsaken place like this? Qiner, have you heard of the Snowhidden Sect?” he asked.

Li Qiner nodded, pondering before she replied slowly, “The Snowhidden Sect is rather mysterious. It’s been established for over five thousand years. While not widely renowned in the Southern Wing Kingdom, it’s held in high regard among the more powerful sects. Rumor has it their ancestor is in the Transforming Infant stage, but that’s all I know.”

Chen Xiang clicked his tongue. Transforming Infant stage! Aside from that encounter with Jiang Tianyi, he’d never met anyone at such a level—he hadn’t even met a Soul Formation cultivator.

“Well, their recruitment has nothing to do with us. Let’s hurry and find the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow,” he said.

“Alright.” Li Qiner’s voice was soft, and she felt a warmth in her heart at how much Chen Xiang cared about the Cold Marrow.

The two of them continued flying, veering slightly off the main path.

The Far South was not only cold—it was also home to many ice-type demon beasts with fiercely territorial instincts. Any beast able to survive in such a harsh environment was far stronger than average.

Upon entering the Far South, the temperature dropped drastically. Even Chen Xiang, blessed with an Extreme Ice Spiritual Root, found it difficult to endure. Li Qiner was only slightly better off, but in the biting wind, her body still visibly trembled.

Yet in this place, Li Qiner clearly sensed her Heavenly Yin Vein stirring restlessly, as if merging with the surrounding glaciers, ready to be summoned at will. Her power increased by at least twenty percent, a benefit of being in an environment attuned to her constitution.

The icy wind whipped up snow, blanketing both Chen Xiang and Li Qiner in white.

“Qiner… look at us now—we’ve gone white-haired together already!” Chen Xiang joked.

A blush tinged Li Qiner’s cheeks; she looked slightly embarrassed. Together? I’m wearing a conical hat!

“Here, take this warming pill,” Li Qiner said, producing a bottle of pills from her storage pouch.

Chen Xiang glanced at them and shook his head. “No need—I have something even better. Let me show you.”

He was at his limit and ready to unveil his trump card.

“System, exchange for two Northeastern military coats!” Chen Xiang commanded inwardly.

“Ding—Northeastern military coat exchanged successfully. Cost: 100 reputation points.”

“Ding—Northeastern military coat exchanged successfully. Cost: 100 reputation points.”

Chen Xiang immediately put one on. This was not just a military coat—it was a magic garment that resized itself to fit the wearer’s body perfectly.

In an instant, the chill vanished, replaced by comforting warmth. Only now did Chen Xiang truly understand why this style of coat was so popular. Wearing it, he suddenly felt several years older.

Li Qiner eyed him strangely. This coat… was truly something else.

“Qiner, here, try this on,” Chen Xiang said cheerfully, finally warm. He handed her the other coat—he’d long been curious to see how she’d look in it.

Li Qiner hesitated, not because she disliked the coat, but because she wondered if it could come in white. After all, she’d worn white for more than ten years—even her undergarments were white.

In the end, she didn’t refuse his kindness. Other than her parents, Chen Xiang was the only friend she could truly talk to.

As soon as she put on the coat, a wave of warmth swept through her, shutting out the cold completely. She was amazed—this coat was truly magical!

Chen Xiang stared at her in disbelief. Damn it, this was so unfair! Why did he look a little sleazy in it, while Qiner still looked full-figured and flawless?

Chen Xiang shoved his hands into his sleeves and hunched down.

In this world so cold and indifferent, only a military coat could offer a sliver of warmth.

“To be continued…”