Ice Leopard

Jialan's Mental Power receded like the tide. The moment his consciousness returned to his body, the wind and snow outside the cave rushed at him. The ice crystals on his eyelashes fell with a rustle as he opened his eyes.

Facing the burning gazes of everyone, he nodded almost imperceptibly. "It is indeed an Ice Leopard, but... it could sense my Mental Probe."

The stout Tavern Owner was overjoyed to hear this and quickly ordered everyone to set up an ambush at the cave entrance.

"Strange, how could an Ice Leopard that hasn't advanced to Advanced tier possibly detect my Mental Probe? Could it be a mutant?" Jialan was a little puzzled.

He then turned and instructed the two guards beside him, "Be careful. That Ice Leopard is a bit strange. I estimate its strength might be more than just an Intermediate Magical Beast."

Ike's hand gripping his sword instantly tensed, and his companion's breathing beside him became noticeably heavier.

More than Intermediate? Could it be an Advanced Magical Beast? Although this place is located on the empire's border, close to the Misty Forest, Advanced Magical Beasts rarely appear.

Seeing the expression on their faces, Jialan smiled slightly and comforted them, "There's no need to worry too much. We have so many people. Even if it's an Advanced Magical Beast, if we can't kill it, it shouldn't be difficult to retreat."

His voice carried the unique composure of a Spellcaster, which slightly relaxed the guards' taut nerves, but they still guarded Jialan's side without leaving.

When the Tavern Owner signaled that they were ready, Jialan's second Mental Probe was no longer concealed, and it fiercely pierced into the cave.

This time, he was met with a roar that shattered ice pillars. The snow-white beast was so fast that it left afterimages on his retina. Before the mercenaries in the front could even raise their shields, the shield's surface, made of profound iron, was indented with a claw mark.

"Shields up!" The roar of the Intermediate Warrior leading the mercenaries erupted along with his Battle Qi, pushing the Magic Beast back half a step with a silvery-white wave of energy.

The archers ambushing on the surrounding snow pines seized the opportunity. Four arrows tore through the air, but the moment they touched the beast's fur, they were slowed by the flowing ice mist, finally only embedding shallowly into its flesh.

The Ice Leopard cried out in pain, roaring. A faint stream of light flowed around its body, its speed increasing by another third. Apart from that Intermediate Warrior, no one else could track its movements.

Seeing this, Jialan frowned. With a few thuds, two of the mercenaries holding shields and taking the brunt of the attack were injured, one of them looking quite serious.

"We can't delay any longer," Jialan took his Staff out of his Spatial Bag, steadied his mind, and was about to chant the incantation when a more powerful roar echoed from the distant mountains. An even larger Ice Leopard swooped down from the mountaintop, leaving a trail of afterimages on the snow.

"Not good!" Everyone's hearts trembled. So there was more than one Ice Leopard here. Jialan's expression turned grave, and he turned to look for the Tavern Owner, but he was nowhere to be seen.

He couldn't help but be startled and quickly began to search the surroundings with his Mental Power. That fatty was actually an Assassin, and not a low-level one at that. He had already stealthily approached within three yards of the Ice Leopard in the cave.

Jialan's heart eased. He glanced at the Tavern Owner's hiding spot with a strange look, then turned to the newly appeared Ice Leopard, his lips parting slightly as he prepared a spell.

Ike and the other guard, one hand holding a shield and the other a sword, firmly protected Jialan behind them, staring tensely at the larger, newly appeared Ice Leopard.

The larger Ice Leopard stopped about ten meters away from the three of them. Its pair of bright blue eyes were fixed on Jialan, whose body was surging with Mana. It was clearly intelligent.

A pained roar echoed from the other side. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the stout Tavern Owner, taking advantage of the smaller Ice Leopard being distracted by the warriors, had stealthily approached it and plunged a Dagger fiercely into its flank. Blood splattered. The Ice Leopard, in pain, flicked its tail and sent the Tavern Owner flying. The Tavern Owner rolled several yards in the snow, his fat shaking, and scrambled back up as if unharmed.

Seeing its mate injured, the larger Ice Leopard, while everyone's attention was drawn away, turned into several afterimages and lunged at Jialan from different directions.

The aura of the enemy before it posed the greatest threat. If it could deal with him first, things would be easier.

Jialan had most of his attention on it. The moment it moved, Jialan was already prepared. Runes flashed in his eyes, and the Tier 0 Spell "True Sight" was instantly cast.

The structure of this spell was very simple and required no casting time. As long as the spell structure was outlined in the mental sea, it could be cast by channeling Mental Power.

He quickly looked around and discovered the Ice Leopard's true form. In his right hand, a white Magic Spider Gland had appeared at some point. He threw it towards the Ice Leopard's true form. The spider silk gland burst in the air, transforming into a giant web five to six meters in diameter, instantly enveloping it.

"Web Spell," a High-Tier 0 Spell, infinitely close to a Tier 1 Spell. The casting time was only one to two seconds for this control spell.

However, it required the spell material, Magic Spider silk glands. Magic Spiders are Tier 1 Magical Beasts, and their silk glands are not cheap. This one cast cost five gold Jintana. Spellcasters are indeed an expensive profession.

Once the Ice Leopard was trapped, the sticky, tough silk, as thick as a finger, bound it tightly. The surrounding illusions also disappeared instantly.

Ike and the other guard rejoiced. This Ice Leopard's speed was too fast, but its defense was not strong. As long as its speed was controlled, it would be much easier to deal with.

Seizing the rare opportunity, they both leaped forward, their blades igniting with various colored Battle Qi. However, the moment they struck, they met the Ice Leopard's mocking gaze. The cold light condensed in the Ice Leopard's throat struck first. Opening its mouth wide, a half-meter-long Ice Blade cut through the spider web and exploded with their Battle Qi into a sky full of ice crystals, repelling both of them several yards.

Seeing this, Jialan sighed softly. The Magic Beasts rampaging in the wilderness and the strange creatures lurking underground do not need to learn obscure and profound spell knowledge, nor do they even need incantations and gestures. They can unleash powerful spells relying solely on the Mana contained within their bloodline.

It is precisely because the outside world is too dangerous that, apart from mercenaries who make adventuring their profession, ordinary people usually dare not venture deep into the wilderness alone.

These two were not specialized guards for a Spellcaster after all. A Mage's close-quarters guards would absolutely not stay far from the Mage. Protection is the guard's duty. After all, in any battlefield, as long as the Spellcaster does not fall, there are infinite possibilities.