The group continued onward, Little Shrubby padding softly over the thick snow, his fiery paws melting small patches of ice with every step.

He even intensified his body heat, and released more of his aura. The warmth radiating from him kept their immediate area livable, though the cold still bit at their skin through the edges.

They all knew they could not go directly to the Ice Drakes' nest.

The location was known to some scholars and sect archives, but arriving there unannounced would be taken as a provocation. And provoking a race

descended from True Dragons was the last thing they needed.

Lin Mu raised his hand. "We'll move along the main path and make our presence known," he said. "The Ice Drakes will sense us quickly enough. We must let them come to us."

The others nodded.

Daoist Chu and Monk Hushu straightened their postures, preparing to regulate their Qi. Cattaleya smirked and rolled her shoulders, releasing a faint ripple of aura that distorted the air around her.

Elyon's amber gold eyes flickered faintly as his own presence spread, while Meng Bai, though nervous, followed suit by steadying his breath and letting out his own spirit sense.

Lin Mu released his aura last. It rippled outward like an ocean wave, vast and calm yet carrying immense weight. The snowflakes in the air paused mid-fall, as if even nature itself hesitated in acknowledgment.

The air became heavy. For several moments, there was only silence.

Then, the world trembled.

Growl

A low, resonating growl echoed through the frozen cliffs, followed by a wave of raw pressure that shook the snow off the trees. The ground beneath them vibrated, and a gust of icy wind swept through the range.

"They've noticed us," Lin Mu said quietly.

From the cliffs ahead, snow cascaded downward like a white waterfall. Three immense figures emerged through the haze, each one large enough to rival a mansion in size. Their bodies gleamed like carved crystal under the weak sunlight.

Meng Bai's eyes widened in awe. "By the heavens... those are the Ice Drakes..." TREMBLE

The first of them descended onto the snowy plateau with a deep, rumbling sound that made the ground quake.

Its body was over fifty meters long, muscular and lithe, with four thick limbs that ended in claws as sharp as forged steel. Its scales were a blend of frosted white and deep blue, shifting shades as it moved, giving it the illusion of being made from living ice.

A pair of curved horns rose from its head, shaped like crescents that caught the light and scattered it into a rainbow of reflections. Its eyes glowed a piercing cyan, filled with intelligence and caution. The beast's long tail swayed slowly behind it, leaving deep furrows in the snow.

The second Ice Drake, slightly smaller but broader in the chest, exhaled a plume of mist that froze into tiny ice crystals midair. The frost that clung to its jaws and neck made it look like it wore an icy beard.

The third was the leanest, but its horns were the longest and most ornate, branching slightly at the ends. The scales along its spine glowed faintly, as if they held veins of frozen lightning within them.

Cattaleya whistled under her breath. "They're... majestic," she murmured. "And imposing."

Monk Hushu bowed slightly, pressing his palms together in greeting. "To witness the descendants of dragons is indeed a blessing."

Elyon's tail twitched nervously. "A blessing that might eat us if we breathe wrong," he muttered under his breath.

Daoist Chu gave a slow nod. "Maintain respect. The Ice Drakes are proud beings. One misstep and they might take it as offense."

Lin Mu stepped forward calmly. His expression was steady, his aura firm yet not oppressive.

"Let them come," he said softly. "We came to speak, not to fight."

As if in response, the lead Ice Drake lowered its head slightly, its cyan eyes narrowing as it studied them. Frost spread outward from its claws, the snow hissing and solidifying into glittering ice. Its tail coiled behind it, the movement fluid and deliberate.

The second and third Ice Drakes stopped a short distance behind, forming a loose triangle around the group. The air was so cold now that even Little Shrubby's fiery mane flickered erratically.

For a moment, the two sides faced each other in utter silence; humans and beasts, warmth and frost, two ancient forces meeting in the heart of winter. Meng Bai swallowed nervously, feeling the sheer pressure of the Ice Drakes' presence pressing down on his spirit. "M-master," he whispered, "are... are they angry?"

Lin Mu's gaze stayed locked on the lead drake. "Not yet," he said quietly. "But they will want to know why we are here. So prepare yourselves."

Lin Mu observed the three Ice Drakes, trying to estimate their cultivaiton bases. Just from the aura they were releasing, he could tell they were strong. He couldn't probe them direclty though, as that could be considered an offense so he had to be a bit more careful.

With his experiences, he soon figured out that the Three Ice Drakes were all at the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm. Of course, being drakes, their power was beyond any normal beast or cultivator at the same stage.

Lin Mu reckoned even if a hundred Fifth tribulation Stage Immortals fought them, they might not necessarily win.

The lead Ice Drake opened its mouth slowly, releasing a deep, resonant voice that echoed through the glacial valley. Much to Meng bai's surprise its words were not roars but speech: clear, heavy, and filled with power.

"Humans... what brings you into the realm of the Frostborn?"

Lin Mu met its gaze, his tone steady as he bowed slightly in return. "We come seeking the truth and to warn you of those who threaten it."

The wind howled between them, carrying the sound of snow shifting and distant ice cracking. The meeting between man and dragon's blood had begun.