Jiang Lin's figure landed lightly back on the yak's back, and he sat down cross-legged as if he had never left.
Not a single drop of blood had stained his body; only the hem of his constant-temperature protective suit fluttered slightly in the wind.
The caravan was in dead silence.
Everyone—including Old Man Rekton—stared blankly at the golden figure, their throats feeling as if they were blocked by something.
Back at Ash Pass, Jiang Lin had displayed formidable frontal combat ability.
But this time, they had witnessed an almost artistic, ultimate mastery over the wind and movement techniques.
This was the enhancement that a limit-broken super-tier movement technique could bring to Jiang Lin!
Although he was facing a pack of 4th-rank demonic beasts that were only transcendent-tier, the fact that he could insta-kill them all in a near-instant spoke volumes.
His leisurely posture amidst the gale and dense attacks was more heart-stopping than pure violence.
"...Lord Matthew."
After a long while, Old Man Rekton spoke in a hoarse voice, the shock in his single eye still lingering.
"Are you... really not an assassin or something similar, but a paladin?
"Your movement technique... is a bit too exaggerated..."
He did not know how to describe it.
Before this, he had never seen anyone with such exquisite movement techniques.
At least based on his many years of experience as a low-level adventurer, Jiang Lin could hold his own in the outside world with this single skill alone.
Hearing this, Jiang Lin merely nodded calmly without saying a word.
Then, he took out the pale green crystals he had just collected from his spatial ring.
These crystals were about the size of a thumb and were shaped like regular rhombuses. Their surfaces were as smooth as mirrors, and inside were faint green, subtle air currents that flowed slowly like living things.
They were ice-cold to the touch and hard in texture, yet they carried a strange sense of lightness.
What caught Jiang Lin's attention most was that when these crystals appeared in his hand, the limit-broken 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 circuit inside his body actually throbbed slightly and spontaneously.
It was as if it had encountered a similar aura, producing a subtle resonance.
He tried to inject a sliver of magic essence into one of the crystals.
"Buzz—"
The pale green air current inside the crystal suddenly accelerated its flow, emitting visible ripples of extremely faint green light.
At the same time, Jiang Lin clearly felt his perception range expand slightly outward at that moment.
Originally, after learning 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】, he could clearly perceive all airflow movements within a fifty-meter radius.
Right now, that range had expanded to about fifty-five meters.
Furthermore, his affinity and resolution for wind-attribute elements had also seen a slight improvement.
It was as if what was contained in this crystal was highly concentrated and highly pure wind essence.
"Are those... wind-etched lizard wind cores?"
Old Man Rekton noticed the crystals in Jiang Lin's hand, a flash of realization crossing his single eye.
"Wind-etched lizards live year-round in environments with extremely dense and violent wind elements like Howling Wind Canyon, so these cores form inside their bodies.
"It is said that some experts who cultivate wind-attribute techniques or need to strengthen their wind element perception will buy these wind cores at high prices to aid their cultivation or refine special magic tools.
"However... it is the first time I have seen someone trigger a resonance just by holding it in their hand."
Jiang Lin nodded.
He continued to study the wind core.
It seemed he could use 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 to directly absorb it, though doing so likely would not produce the effect of permanently increasing his perception range.
Holding the wind core just now was like holding a signal booster.
The expansion of that five-meter range was the effect of this signal booster.
As for absorbing it, it should be able to slightly alter the characteristics of the magic essence in his body, making him more suited to use the 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 skill.
After all, normally, Jiang Lin had no way to directly absorb the cores of demonic beasts.
If he were to absorb them, they could only serve as temporary magic essence sources to be drawn upon during battle when his own magic essence was depleted.
So Jiang Lin did not know if this was due to the unique nature of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 being a former king-tier skill, or if it was because he had pushed the skill to its limit-broken state.
He shook his head, deciding not to think too much for now. Jiang Lin carefully put away the wind cores and looked toward the depths of the canyon.
The gale was still howling, and under the dim light, the rock walls on both sides looked like the fangs of a giant beast.
"Let's keep moving,"
He said calmly, as if the battle just now had been nothing more than a minor interlude on the journey.
"If we encounter more wind-etched lizards on the way... leave them to me."
The caravan set off again.
However, after that small interlude, Jiang Lin and the others did not encounter any more dangers.
Soon, Jiang Lin and the rest finally left Howling Wind Canyon.
In the next moment, the view before the caravan opened up abruptly. A plain covered in thin snow stretched out ahead, and the silhouette of the Frost Kingdom's border watchtower was faintly visible in the distance.
The biting wind still whistled, but it no longer had that constricted, distorted, and sharp screeching sound from the canyon.
Old Man Rekton reined in his yak, exhaled a long puff of white mist, and turned to Jiang Lin with a cupped-fist salute:
"Lord Matthew, the territory of the Frost Kingdom is just ahead.
"Once we pass the checkpoint, Iron Rock Town is another half-day's journey. The Frost Wolf Caravan's escort mission ends here. If you wish to rest in Iron Rock Town or ask for directions to the Northern Ice Field, you can come into town with us."
Jiang Lin nodded slightly.
"Thank you for looking after me along the way, Leader Rekton."
Although he did not need much help, the other party's respect and thoughtfulness after learning of his strength had saved him quite a bit of trouble.
The caravan underwent a simple inspection at the checkpoint. Old Man Rekton was clearly familiar with the guards here; after a few pleasantries and handing over a document, they were smoothly allowed through.
Entering the Frost Kingdom, the scenery was different from the northern border of Saintas.
The ground here was covered with thicker permafrost and residual snow, vegetation was even sparser, and the air itself seemed to be filled with tiny ice crystals, making every breath feel piercingly cold.
Occasionally, low stone houses could be seen along the way, their roofs weighted down by heavy stones to prevent the wind from blowing them off. Thin gray smoke rose from the chimneys, showing signs of tenacious human presence.
At dusk, the silhouette of Iron Rock Town emerged on the horizon.
Calling it a town was an overstatement; it was more like a crude settlement developed around mineral veins and border trade.
Most of the houses were built from local blue-black stone, low and sturdy, with narrow and cluttered streets where the snow had been trampled into dirty, frozen mud.
But the human activity here was even more vibrant than at the North Wind Market outside Linfeng City—various adventurers, miners, and merchants moved about, along with nothern residents wearing thick furs with faces coarsened by the wind and frost.
The Frost Wolf Caravan skillfully drove into a walled freight yard in the east of the town.
Unloading goods, settling the animals, and handing over to the receivers... it was another period of busy activity.
Old Man Rekton specifically arranged a clean single room for Jiang Lin and invited him to dinner.
Dinner took place in the freight yard's dining hall, consisting of simple but hearty portions of stewed meat, black bread, and hot soup.
During the meal, Old Man Rekton asked:
"How do you plan to head to the Northern Ice Field next, Lord Matthew? If you need a guide or more detailed routes, I have some connections in Iron Rock Town."
The firewood in the fireplace crackled, painting the dining hall in a warm orange glow. The aroma of stewed meat mixed with the smell of leather and sweat, drifting slowly through the air.
On the road earlier, Jiang Lin had revealed his intention to go to the Northern Ice Field.
Old Man Rekton had originally intended to say something more, but thinking of Jiang Lin's strength that was enough to rival a 4th-rank, he did not try to dissuade him.
Jiang Lin put down his wooden bowl, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering firelight.
"I appreciate Leader Rekton's kindness. However, I already have a general plan for the route to the Northern Ice Field.
"I will likely head to a city with a long-distance teleportation array and then continue north.
"After reaching the northern border of the Frost Kingdom, I will continue further north into the Tundra Kingdom.
"Then I will find a way in the Tundra Kingdom to reach their border and enter the Northern Ice Field."
Hearing this, Old Man Rekton nodded.
"There is a tavern called 'Breath of Tundra' on the west side of town. It is a place where adventurers and guides who run the ice fields often gather. Information is most plentiful there, but it is a mixed bag, so you need to keep your wits about you.
"If you are looking for a northbound caravan, you can find one there.
"This Iron Rock Town is just an outer buffer for the Frost Kingdom.
"It is for scattered caravans like ours to rest, trade goods, and leave.
"If you truly want to enter their country, you will need to find one of those Frost Kingdom caravans with a permit."
Pausing for a moment, Old Man Rekton continued:
"Lord Matthew, the Northern Ice Field is fraught with danger; it is by no means an ordinary perilous place.
"I hope you take care on your journey."
Jiang Lin replied calmly:
"Thank you for the reminder, Leader Rekton. I will be fully prepared."
Night fell, and the cold wind of Iron Rock Town whistled through the gaps in the stone houses, making a low wailing sound.
Jiang Lin declined Old Man Rekton's offer to send someone to accompany him and left the freight yard alone, walking toward the west of the town.
On both sides of the narrow streets, hanging oil lamps swayed in the wind, casting wavering shadows.
The snow on the road had been trampled into black, frozen mud, and his boots made a crisp crunching sound as he stepped on it.
Occasionally, pedestrians wrapped in thick furs hurried past, their cautious gazes sweeping over Jiang Lin before quickly shifting away.
Iron Rock Town was not large, and Jiang Lin soon found the tavern named "Breath of Tundra."
It was a two-story stone building, slightly taller than the surrounding houses, with thick smoke rising from the chimney and a murky yellow light shining through the windows.
Even before he pushed open the door, the clamor of voices, the smell of cheap ale, and the aroma of roasted meat mixed with warmth came rushing out.
Jiang Lin pushed open the heavy wooden door, and a wave of noisy sound instantly washed over him.
The interior of the tavern was more spacious than it looked from the outside, but it was also more crowded.
The rough log tables were packed with all sorts of people—adventurers in worn leather armor, miners with frostbite on their faces, merchants wrapped in thick furs, and several northern men who looked like local residents.
They were either laughing loudly, talking in low voices, or drinking with their heads down.
In a corner, a scarred bard was plucking an old lute, singing an ancient song about auroras and ice dragons.
Jiang Lin's appearance drew some attention.
His striking blond hair and golden eyes, his clean and tidy constant-temperature protective suit, and the glossy-furred black cat on his shoulder formed a sharp contrast with the wind-beaten and roughly dressed crowd in the tavern.
A few gazes lingered on him for a moment, filled with scrutiny and curiosity, but they quickly looked away.
They knew their limits and understood not to casually provoke someone who did not look simple.
Jiang Lin walked to the bar, where a middle-aged bartender was wiping a wooden cup.
The bartender looked up, his eyes scanning Jiang Lin's face, his voice raspy:
"A new face? What are you drinking?"
"Hot honey wine." Jiang Lin placed a silver coin on the bar. "Also, I am looking for some information."
The bartender put away the silver coin, turned around to ladle a cup of steaming liquid from a barrel behind him, and pushed it over.
"Asking for directions? Looking for a guide? Or looking for work?"
"I am looking for a northbound caravan," Jiang Lin said as he took the cup, not drinking immediately. "One that can take me into the Frost Kingdom."
"Not an adventurer from the Frost Kingdom?"
Jiang Lin nodded.
"That's right."
"By yourself?"
Jiang Lin nodded again.
"Then that's easy to handle. Go look at those tables over there and see if any caravan is willing to take you."
As the bartender spoke, he pointed toward a corner of the tavern.
Several long tables were pushed together there, with over a dozen people sitting around them.
They wore uniform gray-blue thick fur coats with decorations made of animal teeth sewn onto the cuffs and collars. Maps, ledgers, and empty wooden cups were scattered on the table.
An old man with white hair and a deep frostbite scar on his left cheek sat at the head of the table, looking down at a roll of parchment maps with a deep frown.
Jiang Lin walked over with his wine cup and stopped three steps away from the table.
"Pardon me."
His voice was not loud, but it was clearly audible in the noisy tavern.
Everyone at the table looked up. Their gazes fell on him in unison—his young face, golden eyes, overly clean attire, and the Little Black on his shoulder who remained energetic even in the cold environment.
"From Saintas?"
A brawny man sitting to the right of the old man was the first to speak. He had a full beard, a raspy voice, and a gaze filled with undisguised scrutiny.
"Yes," Jiang Lin nodded. "I am looking for a caravan that can take me into the interior of the Frost Kingdom."
Jiang Lin calmly faced the scrutiny of the Frost Kingdom caravan members. The old man at the head of the table put down the parchment map, his gaze sweeping over the Little Black on his shoulder and that conspicuous constant-temperature protective suit like an ice blade.
"A traveler from Saintas, why are you heading deep into the Frost Kingdom?"
"Is that something you need to concern yourselves with?"
Jiang Lin countered.
"Five gold coins,"
The old man quoted a price.
"Three silver coins, otherwise I'll take my leave."
Jiang Lin was somewhat speechless.
Did these guys really take him for a sucker to be fleeced?
The road ahead would be much easier to travel compared to before.
Furthermore, the journey was only four or five days.
There was no way the price could be five gold coins.
"Ten silver coins, that's the lowest price, and you are not allowed to cause us any trouble."
Jiang Lin finally nodded and agreed.
Rate on N.U.
