The snow tiger roared, frost exploding outward in a storm. Shards of ice rained down, each one sharp enough to pierce steel. Nathan twisted aside, dodging several, though a few grazed his arms and shoulders, leaving thin crimson lines. For the rest, he raised his fists, silver qi blazing, and invoked Silver Strike (2). His blow detonated with a metallic crack, shattering the falling shards into mist that hissed as it dispersed.

  But the beast was already upon him. It lunged with terrifying speed, its massive paw surging forward like an avalanche. Nathan tried to evade, but the tiger’s snow?cloaked palm slammed into his chest with bone?splintering force. The impact hurled him a dozen feet across the frozen ground, blood spraying from his lips as he struck the stone hard enough to leave cracks.

  The beast lunged to finish him, but Mateo blurred forward with Gale Step (1). His jade?like leg bones glowed, wind qi bending around him in a cyclone. He struck the tiger’s paw with Tempest Kick (3), a thunderous impact that deflected its claws before they could crush Nathan. In the same motion, he seized Nathan and darted back out of reach, snow whipping in his wake.

  The tiger snarled, determined to end Nathan, and unleashed a barrage of frost attacks. Ice spears and frozen gales screamed through the air. Uriel intercepted with Cinder Step (1), his body flickering like embers, and hurled Flame Burst (2). The frost smothered his fire almost instantly, steam exploding outward, yet without it, Nathan and Mateo would have been shredded by ice. Uriel followed with Blazing Slash (3), a white flaming blade materializing in his hand. He slashed at the beast, sparks and frost colliding in a shower of light, forcing it to halt its advance.

  Nathan and Mateo took the opportunity to attack together—Mateo’s speed and wind qi weaving feints and distractions, Nathan’s fists bathed in silver qi hammering forward. But the beast unleashed a blizzard storm, a howling vortex that forced all three back, snow and ice battering their bodies. And despite burning a lot of qi and energy from the attack just now, it still mustered the strength to target Nathan once more, but Mateo, despite being exhausted from burning qi to use his abilities to their full extent, darted in and out with Cyclone Sweep (4), his strikes destabilizing the beast’s footing. Still, the tiger’s resilience held firm. Uriel had painstakingly and forcefully unleashed three consecutive Blazing Slashes, each strike ringing like a bell of fire, to keep its claws from completely crushing Nathan. Even so, Nathan suffered damage from the shockwaves, his ribs burning from a near?miss, pain lancing through his chest.

  The tiger unleashed a wave of condensed frost qi, a crushing blast that hurled Uriel and Mateo back mid?charge. Blood spilled from their mouths as they skidded across the frozen ground, their bodies trembling from the impact.

  It advanced to finish Nathan when figures staggered into the clearing. The cultivators who had fought earlier rose again, bloodied but unbroken. Their eyes burned with defiance, qi flaring despite their wounds.

  “Together!” one of the fourth?stage experts shouted, lightning crackling along his blade like a storm given form.

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  Their intervention shifted the tide. Flame waves, earthen shields, and lightning arcs joined the fray, forcing the tiger to divide its focus. The beast snarled, its frost storms scattering to meet the new pressure, the battlefield erupting into chaos.

  Now the rhythm changed. Mateo, using what’s left of his qi, darted in with Hurricane Dash (5), slamming into the beast’s flank with a gale?driven strike, then followed with Sky Rend (6), a downward kick that sliced into its frost armor, leaving a shallow crack. Uriel drew on all his qi to unleash Solar Flare (5), blinding the beast with a burst of white flame so bright it seared the snow, then unleashed Dragon’s Breath (6), a torrent of fire that struck where Mateo had weakened the armor, deepening the wound. The fourth?stage experts pressed hard, their blades piercing shallow wounds into the beast’s hide, sparks and blood spraying into the storm.

  The tiger roared, burning its reserved qi to summon its ultimate technique. Frost qi condensed into a colossal claw of ice, descending like a mountain. The ground trembled, the air froze, and despair pressed down like a suffocating weight. Everyone suffered a crushing internal blow, their blood freezing in their veins, qi faltering under the pressure.

  Though severely weakened, the tiger seized the moment. Its claw pressed down on Nathan’s chest, ribs cracking, forcing blood from his mouth in a violent spray. Lowering its head, it prepared to bite him apart, fangs glinting like frozen blades.

  Nathan’s eyes blazed. With the last of his strength, he raised two fingers; silver qi condensed into a single point sharp enough to pierce heaven. He invoked his sixth technique—Silver Finger Purge.

  The strike pierced not only flesh but also soul. The snow tiger shrieked, its spirit core shattering under the blow. Frost qi scattered in a storm of light, its body convulsed, and at last it collapsed, dissolving into motes of silver and frost that drifted into the night.

  Uriel, despite being exhausted, rushed over to Nathan, who was coughing up blood. He fumbled in his storage pouch and pulled out a healing pill. “Here, eat this.”

  Nathan obeyed, swallowing the pill weakly.

  “You idiot,” Uriel muttered, voice trembling. “Why did you have to get involved?”

  Nathan reached a hand toward Uriel’s worried face and smiled. “Don’t worry, little brother… I’ll be alright. I’m just—” His words broke off as his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

  “You idiot,” Uriel cursed again, gripping his brother’s hand tightly. Mateo, lying on the ground breathless, turned his gaze toward Nathan. A strange heaviness filled him—regret, worry, and something unspoken. He said nothing, but the sight of Nathan’s condition gnawed at him.

  The other cultivators looked toward the three youths, astonished. Not only were they young, but their cultivation realm defied the norm. Whispers spread among them: these were heaven?defying geniuses.

  One of the group, a woman, stepped forward. She bowed slightly to Uriel. “Little junior brother, this sister’s name is Linda. I just want to thank you for helping us deal with that spirit beast.”

  “If you want to thank someone, then thank my big brother,” Uriel replied firmly.

  Linda hesitated, then said softly, “Junior Brother, if you don’t mind, I can offer you a top?grade spirit pill to help speed your big brother’s recovery. I also have pills prepared for you… and for the halfling.

  “You dare call my little brother a halfling?” Uriel snapped, his voice sharp and cutting. He would not normally react this way, but Nathan cherished Mateo—half?spirit beast or not. And with Nathan lying unconscious, Uriel had assumed responsibility for protecting him. That meant no one would be allowed to slander him with insults or slurs.

  Linda’s eyes widened. “I apologize, little brother.”

  “It’s alright,” Uriel cut her off, his tone still cold. “Let’s just find somewhere safe before more beasts appear.”

  Linda nodded quickly, and together they gathered the wounded and left the scene.