Kai and the caravan continued their journey, though now at a far more measured pace. There was no need to rush—they had reached Northend proper, and their goal had shifted from reaching the north to settling within it. Every passing mile was scrutinized, every potential site considered with care.

  The forest around them had only grown more immense the deeper they ventured. Towering trees, their trunks wider than houses, stretched toward the sky like ancient pillars of some forgotten civilization. Many now reached over eight hundred of feet tall, their canopies so dense they formed a near-impenetrable roof of leaves and branches. Sunlight filtered through in scattered golden beams, casting dappled patterns across the moss-covered ground.

  No wonder they call this the Land of Giants, Kai mused, craning his neck to take in the sheer scale of the forest. He wondered if the trees would continue growing even larger as they approached the northernmost reaches—if they might eventually surpass even the legendary sky-piercing trees spoken of in cultivation myths. Strangely, though, the wildlife didn’t seem to follow the same pattern. While the beasts of Northend were undoubtedly massive—like the monstrous boar Igni had brought down—they weren’t growing proportionally larger alongside the trees.

  Another peculiarity of Northend became more apparent the further they traveled—the increasing frequency of the mineral pillars. These jagged spires of iron, copper, and other metals thrust up from the earth like the spears of long-dead warriors, their surfaces rough and unrefined. Kai made careful mental notes of their locations, already envisioning future forges, tools, and construction projects. If they were to build a permanent home, having easy access to raw materials would be invaluable.

  Despite the strangeness of the land, the journey itself was almost leisurely compared to their previous breakneck pace. The spirit beasts carried their human companions with ease, their powerful strides eating up the miles without strain.

  Snow, in particular, seemed to relish his role as Kai’s primary mount. The great white wolf trotted along with a spring in his step, his tail wagging faintly as he carried Kai on his back. In fact, when it came time to move out each morning, the beastkin often engaged in playful—but fierce—competition to determine who would have the honor of carrying Kai. More often than not, Snow emerged victorious, whether through sheer dominance or simply because the other beasts knew better than to challenge him.

  As they traveled, Lulu and Gin—perched atop Igni’s broad back—drifted closer to Snow, falling into step beside Kai.

  "So," Lulu began, her fingers idly tracing patterns in Igni’s fur, "have you given any more thought to where exactly we’re settling?"

  Gin, who had been dozing against the tiger’s shoulder, cracked an eye open. "Yeah, I’d rather not wander around this giant forest forever."

  Kai glanced between them, then out at the endless expanse of towering trees. "We’ll know it when we see it," he said simply. "Somewhere defensible, near water, with access to resources. But not too close to any of those boiling lakes."

  “What about just settling in one of these massive trees? I bet you could carve out a pretty decent shelter within them.” Gin suggested.

  Gin's suggestion hung in the air for a moment as Kai studied the towering giants surrounding them. The idea of carving out a home within one of these colossal trees was tempting—there was certainly enough space, and the natural shelter would protect them from the elements. But practicality won out over whimsy.

  "It might work short-term," Kai admitted. "But hollowing out a living tree would only lead to rot over time. These aren’t spirit trees—they’re not saturated with qi to resist decay. Eventually, the wood would weaken, the structure would become unstable, and we’d be left with a crumbling home." He shook his head. "Better to fell one properly, season the wood, and build something that’ll last."

  Lulu arched a brow, surprised. "Huh. Sounds like you actually know a thing or two about construction."

  Kai shrugged, though there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Of course. When I was the stable master at the Ember Sword Sect, I wasn't given much resources. If I wanted a decent stable, I had to build it myself. And once I started, I just kept going—repairing fences, reinforcing structures, even helping with some of the sect’s outer buildings when they needed it." He gestured vaguely, as if the memories were etched in the air before him. "You pick things up when you have to."

  Chen Gong, who was nearby on Ning’s back listening, perked up at this revelation. "Fascinating," he murmured, already pulling out his ever-present manual—The Great Compendium of Master Kai’s Teachings—to jot down notes. "So you’re suggesting we harvest the timber and construct a permanent settlement from processed lumber rather than modifying living trees?"

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  "Exactly," Kai confirmed. "Seasoned wood is stronger, more stable, and won’t decay as quickly. And with trees this size, we’d have enough material to build not just a shelter, but an entire compound."

  Gin chimed in. "Sounds like a lot of work. You sure we can’t just… find a cave or something?"

  Lulu shot him a withering look. "Caves are damp, dark, and cold. I don’t want to live in that."

  "Yeah, but at least they’re pre-built," Gin grumbled.

  Kai ignored him, already envisioning the possibilities. "We’ll need to find the right tree—one that’s sturdy but not so massive that felling it becomes impossible. Then we’ll need to process the wood properly, design a structure that can withstand Northend’s weather…" His voice trailed off as he mentally catalogued the steps.

  The idea of building something permanent—something theirs—sent a quiet thrill through him. It was more than just survival now. It was about creating a foundation, a place where they could thrive rather than just endure.

  Lulu watched him for a long moment, then smirked. "Never took you for a carpenter, Kai."

  "There’s a lot you don’t know about me," he replied, though there was no bite to it.

  Snow, sensing his master’s mood, let out a soft whuff and nudged Kai’s hand with his muzzle, offering his affection.

  Kai scratched behind the wolf’s ears absently. "First, we find the right spot. Then—"

  Kai's fingers paused mid-scratch behind Snow's ears as the words died on his lips. The caravan had just emerged into a small clearing when the impossible structure came into view—jutting from the earth like a spear thrust skyward by some ancient god.

  It resembled the mineral pillars they'd seen before, but this was no mere deposit of ore. This was a monolith—a sheer-faced, perfectly vertical mountain that stretched so high its peak vanished into some low-hanging clouds. The base sprawled wide enough that it would take half a day to walk its circumference, yet it tapered with impossible precision as it ascended, forming a shape so unnaturally geometric it seemed carved rather than formed by nature.

  For a long moment, no one spoke. The entire caravan had frozen in place, even the spirit beasts going still as they stared up at the impossible formation.

  Gin was the first to break the silence, his voice uncharacteristically hushed. "Well. Even the mineral pillars are getting giant now."

  Zhang Liao shook his head, his young face alight with recognition. "That's not a mineral pillar," he said softly. "That's a Tower Mountain. The elders spoke of them—they only appear near the northernmost reaches of Northend." He pointed beyond the monolith, toward where the land sloped upward into distant, snow-capped peaks barely visible through the mist. "It means we're close to the edge of Northend. Beyond those mountains lies the Frostlands."

  Kai dismounted from Snow, his boots sinking slightly into the damp earth as he approached the base of the towering structure. Up close, the scale was even more overwhelming—the rock face was smooth in some places, jagged in others, as if it had been shaped by forces beyond mere erosion.

  "This changes things," Kai murmured.

  If Zhang Liao was right, then they had nearly reached the northern boundary of Northend. The Frostlands beyond were said to be an endless expanse of ice and howling winds—a true wasteland where nothing grew and no sane traveler ventured. Which meant...

  "We're standing at the edge of habitable land," Lulu said, voicing his thoughts as she joined him, Soma tucked under one arm. "If we're going to settle, it should be here—not so far north that we're fighting blizzards year-round."

  Kai nodded slowly.

  Kai studied the towering monolith, his eyes tracing its jagged edges as they disappeared into the mist. "Let me scout the area first," he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "From the top of that thing, I can scan the whole landscape—might even find us the perfect place to settle."

  Gin blinked. "You’re going to climb it? That’s—"

  Before he could finish, Kai whistled sharply and thrust his arm out. A shadow passed overhead, and with a rush of wind, Fenglei, the Thunder Eagle, descended in a flash of silver-blue feathers. The spirit beast landed gracefully on Kai’s outstretched forearm, talons gripping with just enough pressure to avoid piercing flesh. Its golden eyes gleamed with intelligence as it let out a low, rumbling kree of acknowledgment.

  Kai scratched the bird’s neck affectionately. "Think you can get me up there, old friend?"

  Fenglei tilted its head, as if considering the request—then let out a sharp, affirmative "Swaak!" before clamping down firmly on Kai’s arm.

  One powerful beat of its wings, and Kai’s feet left the ground.

  For a moment, it looked almost comical—the beast, big for a bird, was still dwarfed by Kai’s frame. Yet spirit beasts defied ordinary limits, and Fenglei’s strength was no exception. With each thunderous flap, they ascended higher, Kai’s cloak whipping behind him as the earth shrank beneath them.

  Below, his three disciples gaped in awe, their faces a mix of admiration and disbelief. Even Gin was amazed.

  Lulu, however, merely crossed her arms and sighed, shaking her head as if this were the most mundane thing in the world.

  As Kai rose higher, the wind grew sharper. The monolith’s surface, which had seemed smooth from below, now revealed itself to be etched with strange, weathered markings—lines too precise to be natural, grooves that might have once been carvings.

  Was this thing really shaped by nature?

  Fenglei let out another cry, pulling Kai from his thoughts. The peak was near.

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