Chapter 315 Finally, the Spirit Fox is Obtained; Yellow Dew Leads the Way, White Face and Red Bow Appear, Fish Take the Bait.

Wen Caishang bid farewell to Fu Haoran and boarded the luxurious carriage. Her small, round face was delicate and smooth, like a steamed bun. Though petite, she was quite capable. With a sweet "Giddy up!", the carriage sped through the streets, leaving Cuizhu Residence behind. She asked innocently and curiously, "Madam, is that boy really his younger brother?"

Inside the carriage, Wen Caishang straightened her sleeves, neatly folded them in front of her knees, sat upright, and said softly, "Yes."

Xiao Tuan said, "Why don't we arrest him and use him as leverage?" Wen Caishang said, "Master Fu possesses great fortune and should act with propriety. Such ruthlessness is unbecoming. If he comes to our door to demand justice, it will be very difficult to deal with him."

Scholars possess a certain fortune. Fortune is the scale that weighs reason. If one is in the right, one will receive divine assistance. Fu Haoran was demoted, and his fortune was not as good as before, but his profound learning earned him respect. Wen Caishang, however, was unwilling to go to extremes.

Wen Caishang said, "I am eager to learn from you, and this is a rare opportunity. That's the truth." She then thought to herself, "Why capture him? I only need to know where he is, and he's in my grasp. That scoundrel may be cunning, but he values ​​loyalty. Otherwise, he wouldn't... Hmph. With my lifeline in my hands, let's see if he can still cause any trouble! Hmph!"

...

...

On the other hand...

Nestled in the Xuelong Mountains.

Gu Nianjun and Li Xian reached an agreement to cooperate, temporarily setting aside their past grievances. It was early morning, so they decided to travel together to hunt spirit foxes. The two walked side by side and exchanged names. Gu Nianjun frankly told Li Xian her real name, but Li Xian used the pseudonym 'Zhou Ping'an,' meaning 'complete and safe.'

The Snow Dragon Mountains are vast and boundless, with diverse terrain. Due to the year-round snow cover, the mountain's appearance and topography are obscured. Even those well-versed in feng shui find it difficult to discern the mountain range's contours. Naturally, the "Mountain Map" is extremely valuable. Thanks to Gu Nianjun's good fortune and Fu Haoran's blessings, He Wentian has bestowed upon it the Mountain Map, which has already been simplified.

Gu Nianjun examined the mountain map and learned that about ten or twenty miles away, there was a natural landform called "Beast Sacrifice Platform," where spirit foxes had been seen. He then suggested that they go to the Beast Sacrifice Platform to investigate.

Li Xian readily agreed, thinking to himself, "This woman is neither a bad person nor particularly kind. Moreover, she comes from a prestigious family and has very high standards. I cannot be careless when dealing with her. If this mountain map is useless to me, I should cut ties with her as soon as possible and avoid further entanglement. Even if it is useful, it should only be used for transactions."

Gu Nianjun, holding a mountain map, led the way from the front. Li Xian followed behind. They first emerged from the dense forest and turned eastward. After about fifteen or sixteen li, they saw a small stream flowing down from a high mountain.

Gu Nianjun ordered Li Xian to move several dozen feet away. She unfolded the mountain map again, comparing the terrain. After determining the direction and route, she waved and called to Li Xian. They went upstream along the stream, then circled and meandered for a while.

As noon approached, the wind and snow gradually subsided, the warm sun shone obliquely, and the weather was just right. Gu Nianjun was in a good mood, gazing at the snow scene and occasionally comparing it with a mountain painting.

The sacrificial altar sits atop a canyon where the snow has mysteriously melted, revealing brown earth across a vast, natural plateau. Gu Nianjun's forehead was damp with sweat. Though dressed lightly, she didn't feel the cold, but walking dozens of miles of mountain path inevitably caused her to perspire. Snowflakes drifted into her inner lining, making her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Upon arriving at the sacrificial altar, she said, "Let's search around. Someone once witnessed the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox here."

Li Xian looked around and pondered, "The terrain here is indeed special. If I were to search on my own, it would take me at least ten days to find it. This woman is definitely useful."

“I’ve had many unpleasant experiences with her in the past. But now I’m 'Zhou Ping’an,' and she has come to help me. There’s no need to bring past emotions here.”

He then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said sincerely, "Miss Gu, thank you!"

Gu Nianjun was pleased and said, "Now you know how to thank me. I didn't see you being so kind when you were chasing me away earlier." In her heart, she thought, "It's normal that I was wary of him when we were strangers. Now that we've exchanged names, his sincere thanks show that although he is proud, he is also reasonable."

He secretly observed her. A cold wind blew, causing Li Xian's long hair to flutter, the ends glistening with frost and dew, adding an unusual and elegant touch. Though her face was masked, concealing her features, she possessed an ethereal and otherworldly air.

She thought again, "I wonder if he will take off his mask once we get to know each other better. Although his clothes are simple, his figure and temperament... are very charming. Of all the outstanding talents I have seen, it seems... it seems that none of them are as good as him."

Li Xian asked, "What's wrong?"

Gu Nianjun's eyes flashed with a strange light, but she said calmly, "No, hurry up and catch the spirit fox!"

The two split up to search. Gu Nianjun, holding a map of the mountains, searched eastward, while Li Xian searched westward. Each walked several miles, searching for nearly half an hour. Suddenly, Li Xian turned back and patted Gu Nianjun on the shoulder. Gu Nianjun was puzzled.

Li Xian whispered, "Come with me." He took her hand and led her westward. Gu Nianjun's pretty face flushed slightly, and she quickly followed. When they reached a small hill, Li Xian gestured for them to lie down on the spot, then pointed into the distance.

Gu Nianjun exclaimed in surprise, "It's the Winter Demon and the Cold Stork!"

In the distance, two groups of snow beasts were locked in a fierce battle in the snow. The "Winter Demon" had the body of a wolf and the face of a tiger, with sharp fangs and a pure white body, with a blood sac hanging from its chest. The "Frost Stork" was much smaller, but ferocious in nature, with sharp and powerful claws.

Two groups of beasts, for reasons unknown, were fighting and killing each other. Normally, snow beasts are rare, but now they were found in large groups. This was truly a rare sight.

Li Xian had seen snow tigers, snow bears, snow leopards, snow apes, and other snow beasts. Although he didn't know their habits, they were generally similar to tigers, bears, leopards, and apes. His hunting experience was somewhat useful. But the snow beasts he saw now looked very different, and his experience was useless. So he asked directly, "What's the difference between these two snow beasts?"

Gu Nianjun was also seeing it for the first time, but the mountain map recorded it. The Winter Ghost is a strange beast; in snowy weather, its fur flutters as it runs, blending into the snow and appearing to disappear without a trace. Hence the name "Winter Ghost." The "Frost Stork" is fierce, capable of killing snow tigers and rivaling snow bears, but smaller, faster, and more difficult to hunt. It is a rare beast of the snow.

Gu Nianjun explained them one by one, and then said, "These two kinds of snow beasts are very rare. If you can hunt them, you will definitely become quite famous."

Li Xian said, "Whether one is famous or not, nothing is more real than money." Gu Nianjun said, "There is plenty of money, but things are not quite the same right now."

Li Xian asked, "What do you mean?"

Gu Nianjun said, "According to the mountain map, both the Winter Ghost and the Cold Stork are solitary creatures. But now they have formed a herd and are even fighting each other. This means that... an extremely powerful figure has emerged among the Winter Ghosts. An extremely powerful figure has also emerged among the Cold Storks. This is why they have integrated their respective herds and expanded their territories. If I am not mistaken, the two herds are in conflict over their territories, which has led to this bloody battle."

Li Xian said, "It's just like everyone else's."

Gu Nianjun said, "These king-like snow beasts are extremely powerful. Moreover, they are united. If we attract their siege, even if you and I join forces, we will encounter trouble." When she said the word "trouble," she seemed relaxed, as if she was confident and fearless. She deliberately emphasized the word to warn Li Xian.

She said again:

"The snow beasts are incredibly strong, their fur blending seamlessly into the snowscape. Even if we use our martial arts to attack them, we will inevitably be exhausted and we may be injured and bleed, or we may have to flee in a sorry state. Moreover, it is said that the winter demons' thunderous shouts can cause landslides and snowstorms, which would be even more troublesome."

Li Xian frowned, thinking, "Gu Nianjun's words are correct. Snow beasts are rare, but that's not my purpose for this trip. It's only noon now, so I might as well look for the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox." He then prepared to leave.

Gu Nianjun's eyes suddenly flashed, and she said, "But there is a way to hunt down the Winter Ghost King and the Frost Stork King without attracting an attack. If someone can shoot down both kings with one arrow, the rest of the snow beasts will be terrified and scattered, and will not dare to attack us."

Li Xian said indifferently, "I'm not interested. I don't think there will be any spirit foxes here. Let's look elsewhere."

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "I've always heard how amazing your archery is, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. Shooting down a flying arrow is enough to prove your archery skills are extraordinary, but it still lacks a certain charm. I need to find a way to get him to shoot some real snow beasts." She said, "You said you would teach me archery, and this is a great opportunity. If you leave like this, aren't you going back on your word?"

Li Xian frowned and asked, "What do you want to practice?" Gu Nianjun replied, "I haven't hunted any snow beasts yet. After you shoot down the Winter Ghost King and the Frost Stork King, and the rest of the beasts scatter, I will try to shoot down a snow beast. If I succeed, it will be considered that you have taught archery well and produced a great student. I will naturally help you even more."

"Let's talk about it later. The roads in this snowy mountain are difficult to travel. I offered to help you and I'm exhausted. Shouldn't you do something in return?"

Li Xian thought to himself, "This woman probably wants to hunt a snow beast so she can find companions to show off to. It's normal for noble ladies to like making friends; Sister Liuli also has quite a few friends in the martial arts world. Helping her won't hurt." He then said, "If you want to hunt a snow beast, what's so difficult about that?"

Gu Nianjun was delighted and was about to observe closely, eager to admire Li Xian's hunting prowess, but he didn't see Li Xian draw his bow. Li Xian said, "You draw your bow. You are the one to hunt down the Winter Ghost King and the Cold Stork King."

Gu Nianjun said, "If I use martial arts, it wouldn't be difficult to kill them. But to kill them purely with archery skills is far from possible." Li Xian said, "I will teach you; you just need to draw your bow."

Gu Nianjun, invigorated, readily agreed. He immediately drew his bow to its fullest extent, displaying remarkable heroism. Li Xian whistled, alerting the Winter Ghosts and Frost Storks to the commotion, and their fierce fighting ceased abruptly.

Li Xian rang out his "Thunderous Chest Drum," creating a deafening boom. Several snow beasts trembled and retreated several steps. But they were immediately attacked and mauled by the Winter Ghost King and the Frost Stork King. The two kings of the beasts felt challenged and let out a series of roars.

Gu Nianjun remained calm and fearless, though he was confident that his archery skills alone would not be enough to kill the beast. Suddenly, the Winter Demon King roared, and the herd of Winter Demon beasts charged forward with incredible speed. The Frost Stork King followed closely behind, emitting strange noises. The flock of Frost Storks had already arrived to attack.

Gu Nianjun seized the opportunity and fired three arrows at the Winter Ghost King. The speed was incredible. The Winter Ghost King dodged to the side, but still couldn't avoid all three arrows and was hit by two of them. However, his vitality was strong, and he showed no fear whatsoever.

Li Xian said, "This beast is used to acting arrogantly. If you add martial arts understanding to your archery skills and use your internal energy to assist, killing it would be easy. But it doesn't know its own mortality and still dares to attack."

Gu Nianjun said, "No matter how intelligent it is, it's still a beast. But Young Hero Zhou, I can't kill it by using only archery skills."

Li Xian said, "Draw the bow again, and I'll help you."

Gu Nianjun nocked the arrow and drew her bow, ready to release it. Li Xian placed his hand on the Silver Moon Bow. Gu Nianjun was slightly taken aback, suddenly feeling the arrow's momentum change inexplicably, suddenly becoming sharper and soaring to the sky. This inexplicable aura infected her heart, a feeling she could hardly understand, as if she were a precious sword that had been sheathed for over ten years, finally unsheathed. Overjoyed and excited, she had cultivated diligently for over ten years, waiting for this moment to shake the world.

Li Xian slightly adjusted the angle and said, "Shoot!" Gu Nianjun released the bowstring and fired, the arrow shooting out with a "whoosh." The Winter Ghost King and the Cold Stork King, though not lacking in intelligence, were suddenly startled. The two beasts fled in panic, letting out mournful howls and whimpers. In the end, they were just beasts; even if they had special abilities, they were still just beasts.

Killing the snow beast would not be difficult for the prodigies. They could simply use their martial arts to capture or kill it. However, using martial arts would inevitably make them appear flustered and desperate, revealing their poor archery skills and narrow-mindedness. Therefore, even though they returned empty-handed from last night's hunt, the prodigies were unwilling to use their martial arts in secret.

The Winter Demon King was the first to be shot down. The flying arrow pierced his heart and disappeared into his flesh, but its momentum did not stop, carrying his body away.

He then accurately struck the Frost Stork King, impaling both beasts on the arrow. Seeing their leaders dead, the remaining snow beasts scattered and vanished in an instant. Gu Nianjun was overjoyed; this arrow had been incredibly satisfying, beyond words. His admiration and respect for Li Xian grew even stronger.

Gu Nianjun asked, "Young Master Zhou, how...how did you do that?" Li Xian laughed and said, "That's extremely strange. It was clearly you who shot it, so why are you asking me how I did it?"

Gu Nianjun raised an eyebrow and said, "Nianjun is self-aware. With your archery skills alone, you might be able to hit the target, but it would be difficult to kill, let alone pierce two targets with one arrow. When you touched the bow, I felt that everything was different. But I can't quite put my finger on how. Good young hero, please explain."

Li Xian said, "This is spirit and will. When spirit and will merge into the arrow, one is naturally invincible, and archery skills become extraordinary." Gu Nianjun asked, "How does one merge spirit and will into the arrow?"

Li Xian said, "It's hard for me to explain; you'll have to figure it out yourself. If you have another chance, try to understand it slowly, and you might be able to figure it out. If you can't, there's nothing I can do to help. Archery is indeed quite mysterious."

Gu Nianjun asked respectfully, "Young Master Zhou, how did you develop such archery skills? Is there a secret? Or did you have a master to guide you?" Li Xian replied, "I practiced haphazardly, and my skills are hardly up to par. Perhaps my archery is better than my peers. If there is a secret, it is simply that I practiced diligently every day and let things take their natural course, which led to my current level of skill."

Upon hearing the words "let nature take its course," Gu Nianjun knew that Li Xian's archery talent was astonishingly extraordinary. She admired him even more, and felt a slight pity that she hadn't witnessed him shoot an arrow. She continued, "But as far as I know, even with perfect archery skills, imbuing each arrow with spirit is extremely difficult. It depends on the circumstances, mindset, and even more so on luck and the times… You… sigh! You!"

As Gu Nianjun was speaking, Li Xian had already walked towards the Winter Ghost King and the Cold Stork King. Gu Nianjun stomped her feet in frustration, gritted her teeth, and glared angrily at Li Xian. When had she ever been treated with such contempt? But she felt even more helpless, her emotions already swayed, and she could only follow him in small steps.

"Young hero has been too neglectful to me this week. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care. But he... he is indeed different from others. Oh well, I'll just have to tolerate him."

The Winter Demon King and the Frost Stork King were both dead; their blood was pale blue, with a fishy yet fragrant scent. Li Xian, confirming the two snow beasts were dead, asked, "How much are these two beasts worth?"

Gu Nianjun said, "I have over a thousand taels, but the Snow Beast King is quite rare and much more valuable." Li Xian said, "I'll take six, you take four. I want six hundred taels." Gu Nianjun said, "Alright, if you don't mind, I can help you sell it."

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat: "That would be perfect. I have no power, no influence, and no connections, so I'm always pressured to lower the price. Gu Nianjun has quite a few connections; she can even get her hands on a mountain map. With her help, it would be truly beneficial." He nodded and said, "Thank you very much. But I must mention one thing: when Miss Gu sells the snow beasts, it would be best if you didn't mention..."

I had intended to say not to mention him, but halfway through the sentence, I suddenly thought that while snow beasts are precious, they are merely exotic wild animals. Their difficulty in killing stems from the terrain of the snow-capped mountains. They are neither rare treasures nor earthly gems. Killing them purely with archery skills would indeed be considered "impressive." However, while hunting them would be challenging, even first-realm or second-realm martial artists, or hunters who meticulously prepare and set traps, would all be capable of killing them. To say not to mention my name now would seem like protesting too much. Treating such a trivial matter as a matter of great importance would make me appear as if I possessed extraordinary abilities.

He chuckled to himself and didn't dwell on the past.

Gu Nianjun's eyes flickered as she stored the bodies of the Winter Ghost King and the Frost Stork King into her shrinking pouch. The two searched for the Spirit Fox again, but found no clues at the Beast Sacrifice Platform. As dusk approached, they returned together.

We said goodbye a few miles outside the city gate, promising to meet again the next day.

Gu Nianjun watched Li Xian depart, then returned to Cuizhu Residence, her heart filled with joy, a smile playing on her lips. She went straight to the inner courtyard to greet Fu Haoran. He Wentian, Zhou Shijie, and Li Xiaofan were all there, each engrossed in a book.

Zhou Shijie asked, "Nianjun, where have you been? You missed out on a treat today." Gu Nianjun didn't care and casually asked, "What treat?" Li Xiaofan said, "Madam Wang came here this morning. She is very knowledgeable. She appreciated Master's paintings and spoke very well. We all learned a lot. That Madam Wang is amazing. Even Master praised her for her vast knowledge."

He Wentian asked with a smile, "Yes, Miss Gu, you seem to be in a good mood. How was your day?"

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "The harvest is ordinary and not worth mentioning. Nianjun, you shall take your leave now. After a day's journey through the mountains, I need to go and wash up. Please excuse me." He then turned and left.

Zhou Shijie found it very strange: "According to Nianjun's personality, she should have asked about the painting and its appreciation. Why is she acting so strangely today?" Li Xiaofan said: "I see that Sister Gu's face is flushed with embarrassment, just like when I found some silver."

He Wentian chuckled and said, "Miss Gu is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and her talent is considerable. Finding silver doesn't make you this happy. Perhaps you've found a husband, but that's still uncertain." Zhou Shijie's mind was wandering, and he couldn't let it go, but he had nowhere to ask, so he could only keep it to himself.

Gu Nianjun returned to her bedroom, took off her boots and collared shirt... and soaked herself in warm water, instantly feeling relaxed. Suddenly remembering something, she got up to get her bow, splashing warm water along the way and leaving a trail of footprints. She drew the bowstring empty, recalling the feeling she had just experienced.

That exhilarating, soaring feeling could never be relived. She sighed softly, put the bow away, and returned to the bathtub to wash. But that scene lingered in her heart.

At that time, the ancestors of the Great Wu Dynasty started as archers and shot their way to a prosperous dynasty. Great Wu valued both martial arts and literature, and also "arrows". All aristocratic families had winter and spring hunting activities.

Archery is not only a skill for killing enemies, but also a skill for practicing etiquette and music.

Gu Nianjun had no desire to bathe or shower. After changing her clothes, she immediately went out. Zhou Shijie was already waiting at the side door. Upon seeing Gu Nianjun, he immediately went over and asked, "Nianjun, it's already dark. Where are you going?"

Gu Nianjun said, "I have other important matters to attend to." Zhou Shijie said, "I'll accompany you." Gu Nianjun said, "Whatever you say."

He headed straight for the "Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion" in Flying Dragon City. The pavilion was fourteen zhang tall, with a tiger's head hanging above the plaque. The Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion housed all sorts of rare and exotic beasts and specialized in businesses related to "beasts." Gu Nianjun was quite knowledgeable and had an outstanding demeanor, so he was quickly received by a manager.

They led us to a tea room.

Gu Nianjun took out the bodies of the "Winter Ghost King" and the "Frost Stork King," explained his purpose, and offered money in exchange. Zhou Shijie, who was watching from the side, was greatly surprised to see the two exotic snow beasts. He already knew that Gu Nianjun had gone hunting, but he did not expect her to be able to hunt snow beasts, and he was full of doubts. The steward examined the beast bodies and made "tsk tsk tsk" sounds of admiration.

The steward said, "This young lady has exceptional archery skills. I haven't seen such skill in a long time."

Gu Nianjun said, "It's nothing to mention. Please just exchange the money for me according to the rules of your establishment."

The manager was extremely respectful and said, "Of course, of course. Our establishment has a rule that ordinary snow beasts, unless they are extremely large, can be exchanged for a little over 150 taels of silver. These two snow beasts are kings, which is very rare, so the price will be several times higher, and they can be exchanged for about 1,100 taels of silver."

“I observe that both of these snow beasts were killed by the same arrow, pierced through the heart. If they are judged by martial arts skills and killed purely by archery, we can exchange them for an additional two hundred taels of silver.”

Gu Nianjun raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Why are there two hundred taels of silver for no reason?"

The steward chuckled, “After the snow beast dies, it needs to be skinned and its organs removed by our Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion… taking out all the useful parts of its body, and then processed and refined using secret methods… into various commercial products for sale. Some martial artists, in order to kill the snow beast, often incorporate the essence and evolution of martial arts into their arrows. Some even fight the snow beast directly.”

"If this situation occurs..."

The steward glanced at the maid beside him. The maid understood and brought over a large wooden box. The steward opened the box, inside which was a roll of snow beast fur. However, the fur was yellowish and not clean and white at all.

The steward said, "This snow beast was shot and killed by a martial artist. But when this martial artist shot the arrow, he used the essence of the 'Ten Thousand Withering Palm'. After the snow beast was shot and killed, its internal organs failed and its skin and blood dried up. Only its fur was barely usable, and this fur was yellowish, slightly fishy, ​​and of very low quality. All of this is the residual effect of the 'Ten Thousand Withering Palm'."

"And then there's this snow tiger. The snow tiger is valuable not only for its fur but also for its tough bones. However, it was struck by the 'Bone-Crushing and Muscle-Severing Palm,' first killed by martial arts, and then killed by arrows to make it look like it was shot. The fur is still usable, but the tiger bones are all shattered. These are all losses. Therefore, if it were killed purely by archery, it would be much simpler for my Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion to deal with the snow beast. We would rather pay more money."

Gu Nianjun said knowingly, "Then let's go test it. These two snow beasts were indeed killed purely with archery."

The steward ordered his men to carry the two snow beasts deeper into the area. About half an hour later, they hurried back, their eyes filled with even greater admiration. They presented the 1,500 taels of silver truthfully.

The manager said respectfully, "This heroine's archery skills are exceptionally high, truly astonishing and admirable. If you catch any beasts in the future, please come to the Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion again!"

Gu Nianjun replied truthfully, "This arrow was made with the help of a friend of mine. Hmm... if I catch any beasts in the future, I'll come back to you."

The steward said, "Miss, could your friend be this..." He turned to look at Zhou Shijie.

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "It's not him, him..." Her beautiful eyes sparkled. Zhou Shijie felt indignant, seeing Gu Nianjun's eyes light up with pride and joy when she mentioned that "friend," a sight rarely seen elsewhere.

...

...

In the following days, Li Xian and Gu Nianjun collaborated on fox hunting, venturing in and out of the Snow Dragon Mountains together. Zhou Shijie tried several times to secretly follow them, but Gu Nianjun's martial arts were far superior to his, and her lightness skill was several levels better. He wanted to follow, but was unable to keep up.

The Snow Mountain Spirit Fox gradually made its way through the area, and clues began to emerge. The Snow Mountain Spirit Fox is a creature of utmost purity; its blood, unpolluted, can heal wounds and regenerate flesh and bone. Every part of it is a treasure. Only by killing it with an arrow can this characteristic be preserved. This type of fox is attracted to things of utmost purity.

Those with a 'perfect appearance' have a higher chance of encountering a snow mountain fox.

Li Xian then exhaled pure qi, activating the Pure Qi Robe to envelop his body. His entire being became utterly pure and clean, flawless and translucent, like a fairy in the mist. Gu Nianjun, witnessing this skill, was even more impressed and admiring, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Her mind was entirely focused on hunting foxes, and she had repeatedly declined invitations to the various gatherings of prodigies.

Every time Li Xian and Gu Nianjun returned to the city, they never returned empty-handed; they would always hunt several snow beasts, which Gu Nianjun would then exchange for money. The proceeds were split 60/40. As Li Xian's wealth increased, he and Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the other three moved to a better inn.

And so it went, back and forth.

With the increase in snow beasts in the city, rumors began to circulate about the Myriad Beasts Pavilion. A highly skilled young archer arrived in Flying Dragon City, and at the same time, whispers began to circulate among the five major sword sects. Somehow, the fair-faced, red-bowed youth became famous throughout Flying Dragon City.

Wen Caishang smiled upon hearing this, certain that the person was Li Xian. She had already set her sights on Li Xiaofan and was confident of victory. Although she was furious at Li Xian's betrayal, seeing him display such brilliance filled her with immense pride. Therefore, she only paid attention to the rumors about the white-faced man with the red bow and did not set out to capture him.

The seventh day has arrived in the blink of an eye.

That day, Li Xian exhaled pure breath, his body becoming pristine. Indeed, deep within a snow-capped mountain, he lured the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox to reveal itself. Li Xian's archery skills were extraordinary; he shot and killed the spirit fox on the spot. As he grasped the Snow Mountain Spirit Fox, his joy was indescribable, for the precious Yellow Essence was already before him.

(End of this chapter)