At a certain point Han Yu crossed a mountainous region called the Hollow Spine Range.
The mountains there resembled gigantic rib bones protruding from the earth similar to the sect. Violent winds constantly scread through the stone valleys, creating eerie whistling noises that sounded like human cries.
That region had forced Han Yu to travel carefully.
The Hollow Spine Range was infamous for spirit beasts that hunted through sound.
Several tis he sensed creatures following him beneath the cliffs while remaining hidden underground.
He avoided confrontation whenever possible.
Though avoidance eventually stopped being an option.
The second month of travel beca far more dangerous.
Han Yu entered territories where even Nascent Soul realm cultivators rarely ventured alone. Entire regions were occupied by powerful beasts that treated humans as prey. One particularly troubleso incident almost forced Han Yu to reveal more strength than he wished.
It happened near the Thunderbone Forest.
The forest itself was strange beyond belief. Every tree there possessed tallic bark and emitted faint electrical currents naturally. Storm clouds permanently hovered overhead and lightning struck the forest constantly day and night.
Han Yu originally intended only to pass around the outer region.
But then...
He accidentally encountered a tiger beast.
At first he thought little of it.
The beast was enormous, standing over six ters tall with silver fur covered in black lightning shaped stripes. Its eyes glowed with pale blue light and every breath it exhaled released sparks.
A Dao Shell realm beast.
Dangerous, certainly.
But Han Yu had no intention of fighting it.
Yet the mont the beast noticed him...
It imdiately began chasing him like a mad creature.
Han Yu still did not understand why.
Chitterfang had already scouted the surrounding territory beforehand and confird there were no scent markings anywhere nearby. The tiger should not have considered the region part of its territory.
Yet it pursued him relentlessly.
The beast roared continuously while crashing through the forest behind him like a living catastrophe. Entire sections of tallic trees exploded apart under its claws.
Han Yu attempted escaping several tis only for the tiger to continue tracking him stubbornly.
At one point he finally turned around in annoyance and unleashed the Freezing Abyss Glacial Art directly.
Vast cold Qi exploded outward instantly.
The tiger froze solid within a gigantic pillar of ice.
Han Yu imdiately fled.
Less than two minutes later...
The tiger shattered the ice apart with brute force and resud chasing him.
Han Yu nearly cursed aloud.
He froze it again.
And again.
And again.
Each ti the beast broke free faster.
Eventually Han Yu realized the creature might actually enjoy fighting against the freezing energy sohow. Every ti it escaped, its lightning aura seed stronger than before. By the sixth attempt Han Yu stopped trying entirely and simply fled at full speed.
Thankfully the beast eventually abandoned pursuit after several hundred kiloters.
Though Han Yu still had no idea what had offended it.
Chitterfang’s explanation afterward had only made the situation worse.
"Perhaps it wanted to mate with you," the rat suggested seriously.
Han Yu almost threw the creature into a river.
Thankfully not every region proved hostile.
He also encountered surprisingly normal places throughout the journey.
There were bustling trade cities where cultivators from various backgrounds exchanged resources openly. Remote mountain villages where ordinary mortals lived peaceful lives isolated from larger conflicts.
Fishing settlents built beside black lakes filled with glowing spirit fish.
One town he passed through specialized entirely in brewing dicinal wines. The streets slled constantly of fernted herbs and spirit fruits. Even ordinary taverns sold drinks capable of nourishing cultivators.
Han Yu actually rested there briefly for a couple days.
Not because he needed rest physically.
But because the place felt strangely peaceful.
It reminded him faintly of simpler days before the Blood Continent.
Still...
The journey continued.
And eventually, after nearly three exhausting months...
Han Yu finally reached the northeastern frontier.
The sight stunned even him slightly.
The region was unlike anything he had seen before.
To the north stretched a frozen world of endless snow and ice. Massive glaciers reflected pale blue light beneath cloudy skies while freezing winds scread across white plains.
To the south...
Dense tropical forests flourished wildly.
Gigantic trees rose toward the skies while humid mist drifted between thick vegetation. Strange colorful birds flew overhead and distant beast cries echoed constantly.
The transition between the two regions made absolutely no sense.
There was almost no gradual change.
One side burned with tropical heat.
The other froze beneath eternal winter.
And sohow both environnts existed practically beside each other.
Han Yu could imdiately understand why the region was considered dangerous.
Such chaotic environntal imbalance naturally created countless strange beasts and phenona.
After observing the region briefly from the skies, Han Yu headed toward his first destination.
Tropic Snow Town.
According to Daoist Snake Face’s reports, the town had served as his primary investigation base while researching the mysterious frozen corpse incidents for Lady Rot Rose.
Han Yu had already communicated with the man several tis through the special token Lady Rot Rose provided. The information Daoist Snake Face shared proved surprisingly detailed.
Though even he had failed to uncover the truth fully.
Han Yu changed clothes before approaching the town.
His usual robes associated too strongly with the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect. Revealing his identity openly here felt foolish considering the unknown dangers involved. Instead he wore plain dark cultivator robes suitable for wandering rogue cultivators.
Even his aura changed subtly.
He suppressed his cultivation deliberately to the Peak Core Condensation realm.
Strong enough to discourage casual trouble.
Weak enough to avoid drawing excessive attention.
A perfect middle ground.
He landed several kiloters away before proceeding on foot.
The town itself slowly ca into view.
"Tropic Snow Town..." Han Yu muttered quietly.
The settlent sat near the edge of the frozen northern territory. In the distance enormous snowy mountains towered beneath dark skies while warm jungle winds blew from the southern forests simultaneously.
The climate felt deeply unnatural.
Even the air carried strange duality.
Cold currents mixed with tropical humidity.
Snowflakes occasionally drifted down before lting instantly upon touching warm ground.
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