Demacia sneered, “This method is useless against real master assassins. Shadow Stealth, Dark Leap, Assassination Mark—any one of these signature assassin abilities can break your method. Not to mention, I sensed that guy called Shadow, who is a powerful warrior above level ten.”

There are hundreds of combat-based professions in this world, called combat professions. Assassins, hunters, thieves, berserkers, and so on are all combat professions, while the six cornerstone systems are called main professions.

Main professions define power levels, while combat professions are about fighting styles. Both warriors and swordsmen, as main professions, can learn assassin skills and abilities, thus becoming professional assassins.

Owen Clark said in frustration, “I can’t help it either. I don’t even know where Uncle Shadow is, so I can only wait for him to show up.”

Demacia said smugly, “Although my power is still weak, this is a world of ice and snow. I can conceal your presence here.”

“Then hurry up.”

“Why should I help you?”

“You have to pay rent, don’t you? Or do you want to live here for free?”

Demacia had no choice, released demonic power, and cast an illusion. Owen Clark felt some changes around him, but couldn’t quite tell what.

“I’ve layered an illusion. Until I stop it, no one can see the existence of this lair.”

Owen Clark laughed, “Nice job, Little Walter.”

Demacia instantly flew into a rage, “What did you just call me?!”

Owen Clark coughed twice, “My mistake.”

The last day quickly passed. Owen Clark pushed aside the rocks and walked out, letting Demacia dispel the illusion.

After walking in the woods for a while, sure enough, Uncle Shadow came looking for him. Owen Clark grinned, “Uncle Shadow, I passed the training, right?”

Uncle Shadow stared at him for a long time, as if he couldn’t figure out how Owen Clark managed it.

Owen Clark felt creeped out by his gaze, covered his chest with both hands, and said warily, “What are you looking at?”

Uncle Shadow withdrew his gaze. “Nothing.”

“You’re not responding right. You should say ‘What if I am?’ Then I say ‘Look again if you dare,’ and you say ‘Go ahead, try me’…”

Uncle Shadow waved his hand to cut him off. “Enough nonsense. Since you did it, come with me.”

Just as I thought, the greatest distance in the world is when I’m joking in front of you, but you can’t keep up with my banter. Useless guy.

Owen Clark pouted and followed Uncle Shadow.

“Are those three still alive?”

“Yeah, I hid them in the lair.”

“Since they survived, I’ll let them go.”

Owen Clark grinned, “What if they find the tribe?”

“So what if they do?”

True, with their strength, they can’t stir up any trouble. After all, even a random team from the tribe could sweep away the hungry… uh, the world.

The two of them headed toward a towering snowy peak. There was a narrow stairway up the mountain, built by who knows whom. The higher they climbed, the fiercer the cold wind became, making Owen Clark stagger. Looking ahead, sure enough, Uncle Shadow stood firm as a rock. How does that saying go? No matter how strong he is, the breeze brushes the mountain ridge; no matter how domineering he is, the bright moon shines over the great river.

“Uncle Shadow, did you practice the Nine Yang Divine Skill?”

“You’ve been saying things I don’t understand since just now.”

After a while, the two reached the mountain summit. Owen Clark was stunned by the scene before him.

At the top stood an ice-blue palace, already in ruins. Thirty-two ivory stone pillars at the gate had mostly collapsed, forty-four steps were buried under snow and ice, the ten-meter-tall golden palace doors were mostly shattered, and golden fragments were scattered across the palace’s ice-patterned stone floor. A decaying, desolate aura blew out from the hollow hall doors.

Owen Clark looked around curiously, “This is a ruined temple…”

“Follow me.”

Owen Clark followed Uncle Shadow into the temple. It wasn’t dark inside. Looking up, he saw an irregular hole occupying half the dome, with the last rays of sunlight streaming in. In the center of the palace was a porous, dark-brown meteorite. The surrounding ice-patterned stone floor was covered in cracks and deep marks from violent impacts. Clearly, this meteorite was the culprit that broke through the dome.

At the very back of the palace stood a ten-meter-tall stone statue of the Ice and Snow Goddess, Messerys. In her left hand she held the Ice Ais Scepter, in her right the Winter Horn, and she wore a magnificent divine robe. The sculptor who carved her face must have been a master, for her cold, stunning beauty was rendered lifelike.

“This is the temple of the Ice and Snow Goddess.” Owen Clark stood before the statue, recalling a line from the village chief’s collection—“The Northern Gods”—which said, “All races living in ice and snow are followers of the Northern Pantheon.”