Facing a fiercer face, Ethan Brooks immediately changed his tone, flatteringly stroking the wolf’s long fur: “No, no, what I mean is, after three years apart, you’ve grown up and become even more handsome.” When the wolf was fooled into smiling, Ethan Brooks instantly flipped over and pinned the wolf beneath him, grabbing the long fur on the wolf’s head with one hand and giving the wolf’s head a few hard smacks with the other: “Damn it, from today on, you’re not allowed to return to the Sacred Garden. Every night, you’ll stand guard for me in the courtyard.”

From beginning to end, Amy was truly frightened. The pressure that snow wolves brought to people in this area was immense. Seeing such a huge snow wolf, and one that appeared out of nowhere, would leave even an adult hunter too scared to react.

Ethan Brooks was very satisfied with the look of terror on Amy’s face after the white wolf appeared. He sat proudly atop the wolf, then picked up the long spear and shield from the wolf’s side, holding them in his left and right hands, and said to Amy with great pride, “How about it, pretty impressive, right? If I put on armor, I’d be even cooler. And here’s even better news: with a mount like this, you don’t need to provide food—it’ll go back into the barrier to find its own.”

Amy carefully stroked the white wolf’s fur, eyes full of curiosity.

“Do you know why I always call you ‘son’?” Ethan Brooks threw out a big question.

Among the three known continents, the highest-ranking unit is the dragon rider. However, because flying dragons are extremely rare—especially those willing to cooperate with humans—dragon riders cannot be deliberately cultivated. Across all nations, the total number of known dragon riders does not exceed 20. So, although dragon riders are powerful, it’s very difficult to use them as a regular military force.

17

Second only to dragon riders are phantom beast riders. The only thing phantom beast riders lack compared to dragon riders is this: although phantom beasts can also use the power of the barrier to float in the air, they cannot use magic, so in one-on-one combat, they cannot match dragon riders.

But what excites all nations most is that phantom beast riders can be trained.

Master Shuo Bude: The so-called phantom beasts here are definitely not borrowed from others’ ideas. Please do not associate them with the phantom beasts in Shouqiang Dada’s “Heavenly Tales of Gods and Demons.”

They are simply mounts for knights. Depending on the type of phantom beast, they can affect a knight’s combat power in different environments and provide various bonuses.

For example, if Ethan Brooks were to compete with other phantom beast riders on the Frozen Continent, he would have a 50% higher chance of winning. If he were to face an ordinary snow wolf rider, there would be no contest at all. Ordinary knights have no chance of defeating phantom beast riders.

Special note.

Volume One: Friendship of Ice and Snow

Chapter Five: Daring Beyond Measure

The Sacred Garden of Phantom Beasts is located at the junction of the Amy Empire, the Holy See, and the Hughes Empire, with an average altitude of 4,000 meters. (Text garbled) If you haven’t seen it with your own eyes, no one would believe that on the snowy mountains, there could be such a small, dreamlike land. From afar, all kinds of phantom beasts live freely within.

However, when you try to enter, you find yourself blocked by a powerful barrier. It is said that only at the moment when the black sun and white sun overlap, and under the guidance of a spirit beast with phantom beast potential, can one possibly enter the barrier.

Of course, these rumors are only recorded in folk legends. The specific method, it is said, is known only to the upper echelons of the Amy Empire, the Holy See, and the Hughes Empire.

Some bards heard this ballad at a dwarven dance:

The four original races left by the Creator God;

The wise gained the heavens, the wicked gained the earth;

The ignorant were cast into the mortal world.

The poor dwarves are searching for the relics of the Creator God.

When the light of life reappears, the holy phantom beast will become the vessel of life for the ignorant.

18

This adds an even more mysterious aura to the Sacred Garden of Phantom Beasts. Recorded in—“Classic of Mountains and Seas: Strange Tales and Curious Theories”

※ ※ ※

“Amy, I’ve always treated you like my own son. And only those with imperial noble titles have the chance to compete for the position of phantom beast rider.” Ethan Brooks sat on the snow wolf, speaking as he scratched the fur under the wolf’s chin. The snow wolf closed its eyes in bliss, purring contentedly.

“Amy, let me tell you a secret. If you want to quickly build a good relationship with a snow wolf or other phantom beasts, the easiest way is to scratch their chins. Heh, these big dummies can scratch every part of their bodies with their claws—except they can’t scratch the itch under their chins. If someone is willing to do it for them, they’ll be very happy.” Ethan Brooks imparted his wisdom.

“But what does this have to do with what weapon I should learn?” After regaining his composure, Amy still didn’t fall into Ethan Brooks’s trap, and asked calmly.