Ji Lin darted silently toward the entrance of the cave before slipping inside without making the slightest sound.
The air deep within the cavern was bitterly cold, so frigid that the rocky walls were covered in thick layers of ancient ice.
The farther he ventured inward, the harsher the cold became.
Then, without warning, the passage opened into a vast chamber.
At its center stood an enormous platform formed entirely from countless layers of ice that had accumulated over many years.
Resting atop it was a massive violet sphere no smaller than a basketball.
Continuous waves of freezing energy radiated from its surface until even the surrounding air seemed completely frozen.
Ji Lin’s eyes widened slightly as he murmured
The Ice Essence…
Yet that was far from the only treasure within the chamber.
Surrounding the platform stretched a small garden filled with rare spiritual herbs.
At its very center bloomed a crystalline flower wrapped in dense icy mist.
Merely looking at it was enough to create the illusion that its cold could pierce straight through a person’s bones.
Even so, Ji Lin did not move.
Instead, he carefully examined the surroundings.
It did not take long before he discovered why all of those priceless treasures had remained untouched.
Both the Ice Essence and the crystalline flower were protected by an invisible defensive formation.
Ji Lin slowly shook his head.
Attempting to break it through brute force was impossible.
According to the memories of the original storyline, the formation absorbed every external attack directed at it and could not be forced open under any circumstances.
Its only key was the Ice Spirit Crystal carried by the Winged Frost Wolf King.
Without it, the formation would never open, no matter how many methods one attempted.
Moreover, any violent disturbance inflicted upon the formation would immediately alert the Wolf King, causing it to return to its lair within a very short time.
System, give me an inexpensive tool—something that costs no more than one hundred Luck Points—that will allow me to bypass this formation silently and transfer everything inside directly into the System Storage before the Wolf King notices anything.
The reply came almost immediately.
[Ding! Second-Grade Formation Penetration Tool purchased successfully.]
[100 Luck Points have been deducted.]
A second notification immediately appeared before him.
[Ding! Notice: This tool remains effective for only three minutes after activation. During that time, it can silently bypass all ordinary and low-grade formations. Once the time limit expires, it will automatically disappear.]
Ji Lin nodded calmly as he dismissed the system window.
Three minutes…
Were more than enough for what he intended to do.
Ji Lin took out the tool he had purchased from the system.
It was a slender metallic needle no longer than a finger, its surface engraved with countless delicate spiritual inscriptions.
Fixing his gaze upon the protective formation before him, he carefully inserted the needle into one of its spiritual nodes.
No sound echoed through the cave.
No explosion followed.
Instead, transparent ripples spread quietly across the barrier, as though the surface of still water had been gently disturbed.
Only a few moments later, the formation silently parted, revealing a narrow passage just large enough for a single person to enter.
Ji Lin stepped through the opening without hesitation.
After walking several more steps, the widest chamber of the lair unfolded before him.
At its center lay a Winged Frost Wolf cub, curled peacefully upon the ground with its fluffy tail wrapped around its body as it slept soundly.
A crafty smile appeared on Ji Lin’s lips.
He knew perfectly well that if the cub awoke and released even a single howl, the Wolf King would return in a very short time.
For that reason, he calmly said,
“System, purchase one low-grade Red Smoke Fruit.”
[Ding! Purchase successful.] Find the original chapter at g.com.
His eyes settled upon the fruit as a faint smile appeared on his face.
Magic beasts with an affinity for the ice element were irresistibly fond of it.
Its true value, however, did not lie in its flavor, but in its powerful sedative properties.
Any beast that consumed it would fall into a deep sleep lasting no less than one full hour.
Ji Lin reached into the System Storage, and a pale crimson fruit appeared in his palm.
He gently tossed it into the range of the formation.
The moment it landed beside the cub, a rich, fragrant aroma spread through the chamber.
The little wolf’s nose twitched several times.
Slowly, it opened its eyes before eagerly sniffing the air.
Without the slightest hesitation, it rushed toward the fruit and swallowed it in a single bite.
Only a few seconds later, its tiny body swayed unsteadily before collapsing onto its side and falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Ji Lin let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Now that the lair had become completely silent, he turned toward the stone platform.
With a casual wave of his hand, the Ice Essence vanished instantly.
The surrounding spiritual herbs disappeared immediately afterward, followed by the Ice Mist Flower, all of them transferred directly into the System Storage without leaving behind the slightest trace.
Just as he was about to leave, an amusing thought crossed his mind.
A mischievous grin spread across his face as he calmly spoke.
“System, purchase a portrait of Ye Fang and print the words, ‘Ye Fang Was Here,’ beneath it on the cave wall.”
[Ding! Customized Ye Fang portrait purchased successfully.]
[Attached text: “Ye Fang Was Here.”]
[Cost: 20 Luck Points.]
Ji Lin retrieved the portrait from the System Storage and firmly attached it to the stone wall directly opposite the platform.
After making certain that everything was exactly as he intended, he swiftly departed from the lair and disappeared among the forest trees, heading back toward Azure Cloud City.