As the month of Frost descended, a cold current surged from the Sea of Mists, sweeping across the entire Rhine-Lons continent. Frozen earth and solid ice could be seen everywhere among the mountains, rivers, and streams, and all living things withered.

In the face of such bitter cold, even the water elementals, who usually feared no chill, were unwilling to wander by the shores of the Elemental Tides Lake at this moment. Though they were elemental beings, they still harbored a fear of extreme cold.

At such a time, the only ones still roaming the wilds were mostly adventurers—or, to use another term—the players of the Rhine-Lons continent.

Late at night, due to the cold current from the Sea of Mists, even the roads of the Crimson Dragon Empire were covered with a layer of frost.

In the western part of the Dragon Empire, on a field ablaze with fiery red, the deep crimson flame-wheat swayed in the cold wind. From afar, it looked like a sea of fire dancing in the freezing cold, enchanting and strange.

In the sky, large, feather-like snowflakes drifted down, covering the flame-wheat fields. It was as if moths were flying into the flames, instantly melting into snowmelt, seeping into the earth, nourishing these unique plants of the Dragon Empire.

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

A sound came from within the flame-wheat field. Immediately after, a linear wave of wheat surged through the fiery field, racing from one end to the other, accompanied by frantic, shrill cries.

Moments later, a group of golden animals burst out, and by the fiery glow of the flame-wheat, their forms could be clearly seen.

These animals first brought to mind weasels, but their bodies were undoubtedly much larger—bigger even than the fierce dire wolves.

Players who often mingled in the Burning Wilds knew this creature well: the Scorching Sun Weaselwolf, a ferocious, pack-hunting beast of the Burning Wilds, fond of eating flame-iron ore. Its golden fur could naturally ignite, making it extremely lethal.

The pelt of the Scorching Sun Weaselwolf was a favorite material of master leatherworkers. However, hunting one was no easy feat; at least a mid-tier professional was needed for such a task. But if faced with a whole pack of Scorching Sun Weaselwolves...

Yet, the current scene was strange. This pack of Scorching Sun Weaselwolves seemed to be fleeing from something terrifying, running for their lives in a panic.

Just then, at the other end of the flame-wheat field, not far ahead of the pack, a figure in a slightly tattered black mage robe drifted out from the shadows.

At once, the pack of Scorching Sun Weaselwolves skidded to a halt, whimpering. Clearly, the one who had been chasing them was this person before them.

It was a female mage.

With delicate features and a calm expression, she held a silver staff in her slender hand. Judging by the sheen of her equipment, it was at most level 30-something gear. In fact, this was the case: among the players currently active on the Rhine-Lons continent, the highest level did not exceed 35. This was news just released by the closed beta server not long ago.

Yet, as she gazed at the pack of Scorching Sun Weaselwolves, the female mage showed not a trace of panic. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she murmured softly, “Come, my lovely wolfies. I only need five more [Scorching Sun Wolf Pelts] to craft a fine pair of leather gloves. If I can’t finish them tonight, Ethan Foster will nag me to death. Be good and hand over five pelts, won’t you?”

Her gentle murmur drifted in the cold wind. The Scorching Sun Weaselwolves could not understand human speech, but the mage blocking their path completely provoked their ferocity.

The lead Scorching Sun Weaselwolf let out a howl of attack, and a pack of golden shadows lunged forward, baring their fangs at the female mage.

“Heh, such speed.”

The female mage chuckled lightly, her figure becoming ethereal as she strode forward with nimble steps. In a flash, she used [Blink] to appear behind the pack, and a rapid string of incantations rang out as transparent [Arcane Missiles] shot forth.

Bang, bang, bang... Not far away, with the fiery flame-wheat field as a backdrop, a mage and a pack of beasts enacted a one-sided slaughter. One after another, the Scorching Sun Weaselwolves fell, becoming lifeless corpses.

Finally, when the number of Scorching Sun Weaselwolves had been cut in half, the surviving beasts no longer lingered. They turned and scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

“Ah! They all ran away?” The female mage shook her head. “No wonder they’re called Scorching Sun Weaselwolves—at heart, they’re still timid like mice. But these corpses should be enough.”

Crouching down, the female mage began to collect the items dropped by the Scorching Sun Weaselwolves, taking out a skinning knife and skillfully peeling the pelts. In no time, a complete Scorching Sun Wolf Pelt appeared in her hand. To be able to skillfully skin pelts from monsters above level 35 showed that her skinning skill was at least advanced level.

To defeat a pack of level 35+ Scorching Sun Weaselwolves alone and possess advanced or higher skinning skills, such a player should have been a renowned figure. Yet, her ID was quite ordinary—so ordinary that no player would recognize it at a glance.

ID: Logan Clark.

As the female mage diligently looted the corpses and skinned the pelts, her communicator rang. A message popped up: “Hey, are you there? If you are, answer your sis right now.”

Sender’s ID—Grace Brooks.

This name was known to everyone in the gaming industry of Yanhuang Nation.