Inside a secluded cave, Snow Woman slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were like freshly melted snow, clear yet carrying a barely perceptible chill.
She gently lifted her gaze, piercing the gloom to study the mottled light and shadows on the cave wall, as though she could see through the barriers of time and space.
"The heavenly tribulation... is here!"
Her voice was as soft as the morning breeze brushing the pine tips.
Then her figure gradually turned insubstantial, and she drifted silently outside, making her leisurely way toward the snowy mountain's summit.
At the summit, bitter winds howled, and all things lay silent.
Only Snow Woman stood upon that expanse of white, becoming the loneliest, proudest sight between heaven and earth.
Her gaze pierced layer upon layer of clouds and mist, locking onto the sky where ominous signs churned.
There, thunder roared like ancient war drums, shaking every inch of space. Dark clouds massed, with lightning snaking through them.
Every flash foretold just how fierce the coming storm would be.
Boom, boom, boom!!!
The thunder grew ever more relentless, like the furious roars of a heavenly god, shaking hearts and souls alike.
Yet Snow Woman merely stood in silence, her eyes holding not a trace of fear, only a deep, unfathomable indifference.
Elsewhere, two men watched the scene before them like tigers eyeing their prey.
The Second Elder and Tang Hao.
At the sight, Tang Hao lowered his voice to a near whisper, but could not hide his excitement and greed.
"Second Elder, we've really struck gold! We've stumbled upon a hundred-thousand-year soul beast undergoing its tribulation!"
"Once she's endured it, she won't have even a tenth of her strength left. Then we'll ambush her and claim a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"It's a good thing you weren't