A biting wind swept across the lands, carrying with it a gritty sand that coated any passing travelers. These were the northwestern plains. It was now midwinter, and yet, no snow had fallen. It was a dry place, filled with yellow earth and bare hills. Occasionally, dried leaves would flutter drearily off barren trees, accompanied by the desolate caws of crows and ravens.

Li He cleared his throat and then spit; before the spittle could even reach the ground, it was frozen.

“The weather here is horrific,” he said. “Sand everywhere. Your spit even freezes as soon as it leaves your mouth. Without strong energy arts, you’d probably freeze if you stayed out in the open. How do people survive the winters here?” 

One of the other freshman students opened his mouth to reply, only to have it filled with sand, causing him to devolve into a fit of coughing and cursing.

Yang Qi was there in the team of five.

They had accepted the mission to eliminate vampire brigands, all in the hopes of earning some merit points.

There were other groups who had accepted the mission as well, but were acting...