Paying no heed to the Shardturtle, the spiritual stag paced toward Matthias until it stood before him. It then turned, regarded him with eyes of pale blue, and shook its head as if beckoning him to follow.Astonishment and suspicion flashed through his eyes as he murmured, "Is this spiritual stag… actually trying to save me?" The thought seemed absurd, but with the Shardturtle eyeing them like a predator, Matthias had no choice. He could only lead the group toward the stag's direction.The Shardturtle watched their retreating figures. After a brief hesitation, it finally turned and sank into the murky water, disappearing from sight.The spiritual stag led Matthias, Neville, and the others on a halting trek across the vast snowy plain until they finally arrived at the entrance of a hidden cave. The opening was sealed by a thick layer of ice. The stag exhaled a breath of white mist onto the ice, which instantly melted away, revealing the cave's mouth.Inside, the air was warm lik

The cluster of igloos sprawled across the valley like a white honeycomb. Smoke from chimneys curled upward under the heavy gray sky.Matthias followed Barto into the Frostwarden Tribe's settlement. Guided by their host, the group navigated the bustling streets. The ice beneath their feet, polished to a mirror-like sheen by countless footsteps, reflected the gyrfalcon circling overhead. Yetis on either side of their path paused to salute, while children pressed against icy windows to peer out curiously. Their necks were adorned with unique necklaces of animal bone. Some were inlaid with turquoise, others wrapped in dark red resin."This is Frostfang Valley," Leopold said in a low voice. "The tribe has 8,300 yetis, divided into 12 hunting parties." He pointed toward a massive ice carving on a distant cliff. It was a three-eyed sculpture with glowing ice crystals embedded in its eye sockets. He continued, "The highest point is the crystalline citadel, their ritual site. The chieft

Matthias's eyes narrowed sharply, and he pressed his right hand against the hilt of his sword. His true energy instantly circulated within his body, and his breathing gradually became shallow.Neville and the soldiers immediately shifted into defensive stances. Their unsheathed longswords gleamed cold and sharp in the moonlight. The bitter wind howled through the tunnel's exit, driving sharp flakes of snow against their faces. It stung, but they ignored the discomfort.Barto's eyes were clear and alert, showing no hint of intoxication. Behind them, the yeti warriors stood in solemn silence, their ice crystal spears angled toward the ground. They had clearly been waiting for a long time."Leopold, how dare you betray the tribe!" one of the yeti warriors roared in their native tongue.Leopold's face turned ashen, and he instinctively took a step back. He knew the strength of these elite warriors well, and every one of them was a grandmaster martial artist. If a fight broke out, the

Everyone followed Leopold's gaze and saw a massive opening in the ice cliff ahead. The entrance was covered in thick layers of ice, yet a faint glow was visible from within."We're finally here," Matthias said. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he quickened his pace toward the cave.The others followed him to the entrance, which stood about 30 feet high and 20 feet wide. Inside was pitch black, with only distant light visible ahead.Leopold pulled a torch from his bag, lit it, and handed it to Matthias.Matthias took the torch and led the way into the passage. The tunnel was spacious with level ground, and glowing minerals embedded in the walls illuminated the passage.They walked slowly, their footsteps and breathing echoing in the silence. After walking for nearly an hour, the light ahead grew brighter, and they could faintly hear bird calls."We're almost there," Leopold said excitedly.A few minutes later, they finally emerged from the passage and were frozen in awe.Gon

Black thunder rolled through the lead-gray clouds as the Stormrider pitched like a leaf in the wind, tossed violently by the raging seas. Water mixed with shards of ice flooded the deck, whipped by the gale and striking the soldiers' armor with sharp cracks.Though Tristan was holding onto the mast, his tailored coat soaked through with seawater, he still stood tall. When he looked ahead at the island's outline growing clearer through the storm, his frown suddenly relaxed, and his gaze sharpened with newfound hope."Your Highness, it's Elysium Isle. We've arrived," Milton exclaimed excitedly.Even this shrewd elderly steward couldn't hide his elation. After their long voyage through three sea monster attacks and two occasions when they'd lost their way, the expedition had finally found the legendary island when all hope seemed lost.Elite soldiers rushed to the deck, staring at the distant land bathed in golden light. At last, they broke into the cheers they had held back for so lo