While Hua Qiang's children were playing to their hearts' content on the snowfield, deep within the snowfield a hundred li away stood a vast valley containing a naturally formed, enormous ring-shaped fortress.
Over a thousand snow monsters lived there.
Even the shortest of these snow monsters stood nearly two meters tall, while the tallest reached four or five meters. Their bodies were covered in snow-white fur, as though clad in a layer of ice-forged armor, and each one radiated a ferocious, overwhelming aura.
At that moment, a snow monster charged in from outside, ran into the council hall, and reported to the Snow Monster King seated upon the throne.
"Your Majesty, a huge iron lump has arrived outside, and a group of humans came down from it.
"They are currently invading our territory as they please. Please make a decision soon, Your Majesty!"
The Snow Monster King's eyes, as large as bronze bells, widened sharply. Then it looked toward a snow monster three zhang tall on its left and said, "General Lu, lead a vanguard and capture those humans. We'll improve our meals today!"
"Yes!"
Lu Sefu led two hundred snow monsters and rushed out.
The biting north wind swept snow foam through the air, weaving a vast white net across the snowfield.
Hua Qiang's children trod through snow that reached past their ankles, their clear laughter piercing even the cold wind.
Hua Xiaoyao was using pale golden spiritual power condensed at his fingertips to draw a golden eagle spreading its wings upon the snow. Ice-crystal fragments fell onto the tips of his ink-black hair, yet did not dampen even the hem of his clothes.
Hua Sijun, meanwhile, chased after a snow fox. Her bell-like laughter scattered across the snowfield, while the red ribbon tied in her hair swayed with