Chapter 264: The Snow Leopard's Lair, The Rock Sheep on the Cliff

The vibe in the live-stream room shifted once again.

Ning Fei sat back down by the rock that shielded him from the wind to rest, and the snow leopard laid down right at his feet.

The newly arrived viewers were absolutely astounded when they saw this scene.

"What's up with that leopard?" someone asked.

"It's Ning Guan master's newly tamed pet, obviously."

"Is he really that hardcore? Didn't he just climb the snow mountain today? How did he tame a snow leopard so fast?"

"Who knows."

At that moment, Ning Fei stroked the snow leopard and explained to the viewers, "Snow leopards are similar in size to normal leopards, but their fur is incredibly thick. Even in the freezing temperatures of a snow mountain, they don't feel cold at all."

"Take a look at its paws."

Ning Fei picked up one of the snow leopard's front paws and wiggled it in front of the camera.

"A snow leopard's paws are broad and covered in fur. This not only minimizes heat loss but also distributes their body weight over the snow, keeping them from sinking too deeply into soft drifts."

"Finally, snow leopards have one major defining feature."

"Their tails are extremely long—almost as long as their bodies—and covered in dense, fluffy fur with distinct patterns."

"Mountain terrain is quite complex, so a long tail helps them maintain balance while also keeping them warm."

"Right, it's worth mentioning that the snow leopard's title is the king of the snow mountains, just as the tiger is the king of the forest and the lion is the king of the Grassland."

"It is also a king."

Ning Fei's explanation was vivid and engaging. Looking at the snow leopard lying on the ground, the viewers no longer felt any fear; instead, they thought it looked rather goofy and adorable.

This was also Ning Fei's first time interacting with a snow leopard from such a close distance.

Its fur felt incredibly soft and comfortable to the touch.

Meanwhile, the viewer count in Ning Fei's Live-stream Room reached a new record high.

Taming a snow leopard at the peak of a snowy region—an impossible feat for ordinary people—was happening for real right on the stream.

More and more people flooded in after hearing the news.

He was now the undisputed top streamer on Douniao.

"In Kung Fu Panda, the main villain was a snow leopard named Da Long, though the English translation calls him Tai Lung. I prefer the name Da Long."

"I actually quite liked that character."

"He trained so painstakingly in kung fu for years, working until his hands and feet went numb, only to lose to the phrase 'destiny' in the end."

"Of course, it also came down to his temperament. He really did fall short compared to the protagonist, A Bao."

Looking at the snow leopard in front of him, Ning Fei recalled the story from the movie.

He loved things with Huaxia elements. Even though Kung Fu Panda was a foreign film, the Huaxia elements in it were faithfully recreated.

"So, I'll just call you Da Long."

Ning Fei decided.

Hearing the name he chose, the viewers didn't even have the energy to roast him.

Having eaten and drank his fill, Ning Fei hoisted his backpack and continued his journey forward.

Unlike before, however, he was now followed by a snow leopard.

After walking a few steps, Ning Fei came to a halt once again.

He pointed at a small white flower on the ground and said to the viewers, "It's a snow lotus!"

"Snow lotuses grow in rock crevices and stone cliffs near the snowline of high mountains. They are highly valuable and are considered a Class II state-protected plant."

Hearing Ning Fei's words, the viewers immediately looked closer.

On the snow-covered ground, there was a patch where the snow had melted, revealing two small white flowers. One had already bloomed, while the other was still a bud.

To encounter a blooming flower on such a towering snow mountain truly made one marvel at the wonders of nature.

Ning Fei simply admired the snow lotus quietly for a moment, not intending to do anything else with it.

Seeing his reaction, the snow leopard curiously rubbed its face against the snow lotus and gave it a sniff. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, it quickly lost interest.

The viewers found this display highly amusing.

A snow leopard sniffing a snow lotus was not a common sight.

"It's amazing. When the snow leopard was getting ready to pounce down the mountain earlier, I thought it looked so domineering and terrifying."

"So how did it turn into such a goofball the moment it started following Ning Guan master?"

One viewer couldn't help but ask.

"That's totally normal. A lot of people have the same personality. They act aloof and quiet around strangers, but get super lively and won't shut up when they're hanging out with close friends."

"Makes sense."

"The snow leopard completely trusts Ning Guan master now."

"How in the world did he do it?"

"That immortal physique is no joke. It just feels like Ning Guan master has an immense attraction to these fierce beasts."

"I admit it, I'm jealous."

With a leopard joining him on his mountain climb, Ning Fei found himself in excellent spirits.

As they ventured further, the mountain path gradually became more rugged, covered in jagged rocks.

More often than not, Ning Fei had to physically scale the obstacles to advance.

The viewers noticed that even though the snow leopard looked rather chubby, it was exceptionally agile when climbing.

It was a nimble fatty.

"The terrain in high-altitude snowy regions is generally quite complex."

"What's more, rock sheep and ibexes are a snow leopard's primary food source."

"Because of that, they've naturally mastered the ability to scale steep walls."

Ning Fei explained.

"It just so happens that it's getting late, and I need to find a place to settle down."

"The nights here are freezing. An ordinary person wouldn't be able to handle it at all."

Ning Fei then exchanged a few sounds with the snow leopard, and it proceeded to lead the way forward.

"Snow leopards are generally solitary and only live in pairs during mating season. They typically have fixed lairs."

"Their dens are usually situated in rock caves, crevices among boulders, or in the shrubbery beneath rocks. Often, they won't abandon a lair for many years."

"Da Long's home should be nearby."

"Tonight, I'll crash at Da Long's place for the night, or set up my tent right next to it."

Hearing Ning Fei's words, the viewers gave him mental thumbs-ups.

He was truly a badass.

Going on an outdoor expedition in a snow mountain and casually crashing at the home of a snow leopard, the king of the snow mountains.

Is this what a Daoist cultivator is capable of?

"I want to spend a night at a snow leopard's house too." one viewer couldn't help but say.

"Snow Leopard: 'No way, I'm already too full to eat another bite today.'" someone immediately replied.

Everyone burst into laughter upon seeing those bullet comments.

It didn't take long for Da Long and Ning Fei to arrive at a steep cliff.

Da Long's den was a Mountain Cave located beneath the cliff face.

This Mountain Cave was exceptionally well-situated. The entrance was relatively high up, requiring a leap from a protruding rock to reach. This prevented winter snow from piling inside and kept the interior dry.

Da Long leaped up to the entrance and looked back at Ning Fei, gesturing for him to follow.

Ning Fei nimbly bounded up after it.

The Mountain Cave was quite large. Ning Fei peered inside and saw that it was about three meters deep.

Because it was sheltered from the wind, the interior felt very warm.

"Not a bad environment,"

Ning Fei commented.

However, he didn't actually intend to sleep inside the cave. Instead, he dropped down to a flat spot just below it, swept away the snow, and pitched his tent.

To be completely honest, even though he knew the Animal Friendship Card would make the creature fond of him, Ning Fei wasn't quite bold enough to risk it.

If he actually snuggled up with a snow leopard in a cave for the night, he might close his eyes and never get the chance to open them again.

It was always better to be careful. At the very least, a tent provided a layer of protection and an early warning system.

There was absolutely no wind here, making it feel significantly warmer.

Ning Fei tossed his backpack into the tent and decided to take a walk around the cliff.

After walking for a bit and rounding the rock face, his eyes lit up.

"Look over there, it's a herd of rock sheep!"

Hearing his voice, the viewers all looked over.

Right in front of Ning Fei, on a sheer cliff face with a nearly 70-degree incline, seven or eight sheep were standing sideways at a dizzying height, grazing on the dried weeds growing out of the stone.

The cliff looked incredibly perilous. The footholds were barely a foot wide. If an ordinary person were up there, they wouldn't even be able to stand with their feet side-by-side; they'd have to place one foot directly in front of the other.

Yet, on such a treacherous cliff, the flock of rock sheep hopped about lightly, completely unbothered.

"Those are rock sheep!"

"Wild rock sheep!"

"Ning Guan master's stream is truly amazing. I can't believe we get to see such magical animals!"

"And this is a live-stream! Normally, only high-budget television documentaries capture scenes like this."

"Every single minute is a treat."

"So incredible!"

Watching the rock sheep, Ning Fei's mood soared even higher.

The survival methods of these creatures were truly unique.

He could only conclude that nature's craftsmanship was uncanny; absolutely anything could exist.

To be fair, a cliff like this was exceptionally well-suited for practicing light kung fu. Using it here would look straight out of a martial arts movie.

However, Ning Fei just watched and had no intention of actually going up.

Showing off was one thing, but risking his life just to look cool was more than a little insane.