The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

Yin Chen walked in the middle of the group, the tip of the short staff in his hand continuously emitting a pale blue light.

A spherical spiritual energy barrier enveloped the team, barely keeping out the coldest, most biting wind blades.

"Red Kite, please put away that heavy axe. Don't let its blade rub against the edge of my shield."

Yin Chen's voice carried through the wind and snow, his tone carrying his usual disdain: "Maintaining the barrier in this environment is already taking a toll on me. If you break it, we'll all be stuck here like polar ice sculptures."

Hong Yuan, carrying a double-edged axe, walked to the side of the group. Upon hearing this, she naturally felt that Yin Chen was picking a fight.

She turned her head and retorted loudly, "Why are you so delicate? This axe of mine was just sharpened. Putting it in my storage space will affect its adaptation to spiritual energy. Besides, if it can't even withstand this little bit of wind and snow, then your claim of being a fifth-tier mage is way too exaggerated!"

"This isn't a problem of moisture; it's a problem of suppressed spiritual energy."

Yin Chen sighed: "The magnetic field here is repelling the power within our bodies. As a enhancement-type creature, you naturally cannot understand the torment that elemental beings are enduring."

Long Ao walked not far from Hong Yuan, his hands in the pockets of his winter coat.

The wind and snow lashed against his hair. He pursed his lips and said stiffly, "Can't you two save your energy for the journey? Chen Guan just said it's thirty kilometers. At this snail's pace, we won't even be halfway there by the time it gets completely dark."

"Long Ao, stop with your sarcastic remarks." Hong Yuan retorted without any politeness, "If you're so capable, why don't you go ahead and clear the way?"

An Changqing looked at the noisy crowd and sighed, wondering if it was really the right decision for everyone to come together.

At the very front of the group, Chen Guan walked with his hands in his pockets, trudging through the thick snow, oblivious to the commotion behind him.

The environment here was harsh, but he walked more easily than anyone else. The gray energy within him seemed to have sensed some kind of call and was in a very active state.

That shared aura pierced through the swirling snow and guided his steps.

He probably couldn't truly understand the situation Yin Chen described.

Black Panther walked beside Chen Guan, its lithe limbs treading on the snow.

As a local leopard, it, like its owner, is not afraid of the cold.

On Chen Guan's retina, the barrage of comments was scrolling.

This is outrageous. Everyone else walks like they're being tortured, but Chen Guan walks like he's strolling in his own backyard.

Long Ao and Hong Yuan, those two redheads, are bickering again. I bet five cents they'll fight later.

I'll bet five cents that Red Kite will win.

[How can you guys be so lacking in class, Brother Ao? You're all so fickle.]

[Su Tai is persistent, but that's the right attitude to pursue the truth. Looking at An Changqing's worried expression, he's like a real mother.]

Chen Guan looked at the words that floated by without any reaction.

His senses spread outwards. Although the magnetic field here was indeed chaotic, it had little impact on someone like him who did not rely entirely on the spiritual energy system.

The wind and snow did not affect his gray energy in the slightest.

After walking for about two hours, the surrounding sky became completely dark.

The intensity of the wind and snow showed no signs of abating; on the contrary, it grew even stronger.

Yin Chen's expression had lost its initial composure. His knuckles were tense as he gripped the short staff, and the light of his spiritual energy shield appeared somewhat dim in the wind.

"Chen Guan!" An Changqing called from behind, "How far are we from the source of the interference? Yin Chen's spiritual energy is depleted too much. We need to find a place to take shelter from the wind and let everyone take turns using recovery potions."

Chen Guan stopped in his tracks, and the black leopard stopped as well, its ears perking up alertly.

"No need to look anymore." Chen Guan turned around and looked at everyone.

"What do you mean?" Hong Yuan immediately took the axe off her shoulder, gripped the long handle with both hands, and asked, "We've arrived? There are demonic beasts?"

Chen Guan turned around and pointed to a patch of darkness to his right: "The edge of what we're looking for is right here."

The group walked forward in the direction he pointed.

Yin Chen reduced the area of ​​the shield, concentrating it around the group to increase the brightness of the lighting.

Bathed in pale blue light, a massive black rock stood out starkly in the snow ahead.

Most of the rock is buried by ice and snow, but the exposed parts show obvious signs of human carving.

Hongyuan stepped forward and touched the surface of the rock: "It's so cold. This material doesn't seem to be ordinary stone. Chen Guan, is this the place you were talking about?"

"To be precise, this is just a boundary marker," Chen Guan replied calmly. Knowledge will not let down those who study diligently; even without an encyclopedia, he could still recognize it.

Su Yuehe pushed away An Changqing's outstretched hand and quickly walked to the rock.

Her breathing quickened, and she pressed her fingers against the cold surface of the rock, carefully examining the patterns eroded by wind and snow.

"It's true."

Su Yuehe's voice trembled slightly as she turned to look at An Changqing: "The engravings on this and the ancient demon script that appeared on the back of the Tongxuan Turtle belong to the same writing system. The interference here radiates inward from this stele."

"A boundary marker?" Long Ao leaned closer, examining the unremarkable stone. "A mere broken rock can release such a strong magnetic storm interference? What would a real altar look like?"

Yin Chen stared at the boundary marker, stunned, and said, "This means that we have entered the absolute domain of the ruins. Hong Yuan, your axe will soon have the opportunity to be tested in actual combat."

This boundary marker... why does it look so familiar?

Yin Chen did not voice his doubts.

"That would be perfect." Hong Yuan chuckled. "We haven't seen a single rabbit along the way. The monsters in the Northern Territory are really lacking in prestige."

What Hong Yuan didn't know was that, having already known Su Yuehe was coming, most of the monsters here had already been wiped out with a single click.

"Don't let your guard down."

An Changqing took out recovery potions and distributed them to everyone: "Since this monument is a boundary marker, it means that what lies ahead is not only a test of the natural environment. Everyone, get yourselves into top condition. Chen Guan, are there any living creatures around here?"

"Not at the moment."

Chen Guan's senses covered the surrounding area: "The magnetic field emitted by this monument is very strange. It not only repels spiritual power, but also seems to be driving away the native demonic beasts in this area. The surrounding area is very clean."

"A place that even the native monsters dare not approach is not good news for us."

Yin Chen took the medicine from An Changqing, tilted his head back and drank it down, which replenished his depleted spiritual energy to some extent.

Su Yuehe stood in front of the boundary marker, closed her eyes, and tried to use her mental power to touch the internal structure of the boundary marker.

"Yuehe, don't push yourself," An Changqing quickly reminded her.

Su Yuehe opened her eyes and withdrew her hand: "I know my limits. The information on this stele has been severely damaged, but the direction it points to is very clear. Continue walking forward for ten kilometers, and you will reach the center of the altar."

She was in a good mood; this boundary marker alone had helped her learn a few more characters.

"Ten kilometers." Long Ao stretched his neck. "It doesn't sound far. Let's all go in one go. In this awful weather, every extra minute is torture."