Adam Bennett had already consulted a vast amount of information back when he was at the Imperial Capital Military Academy. The authenticity of this map was beyond doubt, because the paper it was made of could no longer be produced in the present day. Just this map alone was already a highly valuable antique. At that time, he was extremely dissatisfied with his father's demands on him and wanted to break free from his family's control to establish his own career. For this, he had put in a lot of hard work on the continent's geography and history. After multiple verifications, Adam Bennett was very confident in his own judgment. According to the markings on the map, he had already seen the legendary ice peak.

The Berlusconi Mountains stretched from east to west, with more than sixty peaks of various sizes. The map recorded an unnamed peak that had been rarely visited since ancient times. In fact, this deathly mountain range had never welcomed any living creature. Even the most famous Yilua'na Peak was seldom visited, let alone that nameless mountain.

After crossing a ridge, Adam Bennett suddenly felt a trace of warm air. He was extremely surprised and quickly scrambled forward a few steps. Rounding the bend, a huge snow hollow appeared before Adam Bennett's eyes.

Because the surrounding peaks blocked the cold currents, the temperature here was slightly higher than outside. Although it was still bitterly cold, compared to the outside of the snow hollow, it was nothing short of paradise. With his hands and feet already numb and barely able to move, Adam Bennett could no longer hold on and collapsed into the snow hollow, gasping for breath.

“Oh! Gods of magic above, please let me rest for a while, or I will surely die.”

Adam Bennett curled himself up in the soft snow for warmth, holding his hands in front of his eyes and breathing warm air onto them, trying to regain some feeling. Although he was usually very calm, in this weather, Adam Bennett was actually a bit anxious. According to the map, he should have already reached the entrance to the labyrinth, but something he hadn't anticipated was that the endless snow and frost had deeply buried all traces, making it impossible for him to determine the exact location of the labyrinth.

He rubbed his hands and feet vigorously to recover a bit, then Adam Bennett took out the map again and carefully examined the ancient script on it. He gave a bitter smile, his teeth chattering as he said, “As long as you shout loudly, 'Da Luo Bi Suo Zi Ma Ga Yi Sao Da Luo Si!' the gate of the labyrinth will open. I actually believe this without a doubt. Could the Great Stone Dynasty really be so magical, that you don't need any key, just this phrase to open a gate?”

“Da Luo Bi Suo Zi Ma Ga Yi Sao Da Luo Si!”

“Da Luo Bi Suo Zi Ma Ga Yi Sao Da Luo Si... Da Luo Bi Suo Zi Ma Ga Yi Sao Da Luo Si!”

“Da Luo Bi Suo Zi Ma Ga Yi Sao...”

Chanting this incomprehensible phrase over and over, Adam Bennett didn't even notice that the snow beneath him was gradually sinking. By the time he realized it, it was too late to escape. He could only clutch the map tightly, making sure this precious lifeline wouldn't be lost.

With a huge rumble, he plunged deep into the snow cavern below.

“Oh no! Am I going to die like this?”

Adam Bennett tried desperately to control his body, but his usually nimble limbs had long since become stiff. Even if he were in his normal state, it would be impossible to leap out of the snow cavern in this situation. After the fall, no matter how unwilling he was, Adam Bennett was left completely exhausted, his whole body numb as if it had fallen apart.

Rustle! After a long time, Adam Bennett not only didn't feel the bone-chilling cold he expected, but instead his body gradually warmed up, and strength slowly returned from within. It was nothing like the usual stories of falling into an ice cave. Instantly, hope was restored. When he struggled to his feet, he couldn't help but cry out in surprise and delight.

This huge stone cavern was covered in signs of human workmanship. The stone walls were carved with strange beasts Adam Bennett had never seen before, in an ancient style—simple lines, yet lifelike. In an inconspicuous corner, there were several special patterns that matched the emblem marks on the map exactly.

Chapter Three: One to Four, Who Wins?

Adam Bennett looked around and quickly spotted a pitch-black, deep corridor ahead. The young man immediately felt reassured, convinced that his hardships had finally paid off and he had found the labyrinth.

Having once mixed with a band of thieves to earn his tuition, Adam Bennett was by no means a coward. Darkness was not something he feared. Although the corridor looked mysterious and unfathomable, with no idea where it led, he did not hesitate in the slightest. Overjoyed, the youth slowly stretched his limbs, trying to regain some flexibility, then rubbed his palms together vigorously, drew his still-icy longsword, and strode forward.

Swish!

Adam Bennett swung his sword upward, instantly beheading a flying beast that had tried to ambush him.

“The environment here is really warm—there are even snow mountain bats around!”

The deeper he went, the more the temperature fluctuated. Adam Bennett had already memorized everything on the map by heart. He silently recalled the map in his mind while keeping an eye out for the occasional cave creature. In a labyrinth full of dangers, holding the map in one hand and focusing half his attention on finding the way was extremely risky. Seasoned adventurers always memorize the map to avoid being caught off guard in an emergency.