On Dragon Sleep Continent, Snow Demons brought bitter cold, while dragons brought warmth.
After the Glimmering River left Wuyou Snake Manor, it flowed out of the territory of Guangguang River Valley. Clay Dragon Ross's power contracted sharply and could no longer keep the territory warm.
Thus, beyond the territory lay a vast expanse of ice and snow.
Only at the border between the territory and the snowfields, where a trace of Clay Dragon Ross's scattered power remained, could part of the cave ecosystem continue functioning beneath the Ice Cap, within underground rivers. Thus, some criminals and freemen hid there.
They survived on underground snakes, rats, insects, moss, and fungi.
They formed cave habitats.
The noble lords allowed the cave freemen to operate along the edges of their territories mainly to create a buffer zone against the snowfields.
When Snow Ghosts crossed the border, the first to face the threat were naturally the Cave Freemen.
That was a natural barrier.
"Xiangshui River Cave is indeed one of our lines of defense. But, Teacher Charles, Teacher Eric, if this line of defense is not entirely under our control, then it is a double-edged sword. It can defend against Snow Ghosts, but it can also cut us."
Russell saw it clearly.
Perhaps to his father, Baron Roman, Xiangshui River Cave was an excellent line of defense, and Wuyou Snake Manor itself was likely another line of defense. Therefore, the little danger posed by Xiangshui River Cave could not shake the territory and did not count as a double-edged sword.
Unfortunately.
Now that Wuyou Snake Manor was his territory, the double-edged nature of Xiangshui River Cave left him unable to rest easy.
Charles was briefly at a loss for words.
Eric nodded heavily. "My lord is right. Xiangshui River Cave cannot be allowed to continue as it is. We must wipe it out as soon as possible!"
Russell smiled. "Exactly."
Charles thought for a moment and said, "We could still negotiate with Lone Wolf Lisbon and establish a cooperative relationship. We could treat him like a vicious dog, toss him a few bones now and then, and let him guard the border for us. What do you think?"
"Even if we adopt that vicious dog, we must first tame it. Otherwise, it will still bite its master."
"All right, I have to admit it, Russell. You see farther ahead than I do." Charles spread his hands. "You were born to be a lord."
Knock, knock, knock. Butler Morris entered after knocking, carrying a tray in his hands.
"I woke Mrs. Moore and had her prepare milk tea for my lord and the two gentlemen." Morris set down three cups of milk tea.
"Oh, drinking fragrant milk tea on such a cold night is truly blissful," Charles said happily.
Eric said nothing, but a fleeting smile appeared on his face.
Russell smiled. "It is so late, yet Mrs. Moore still had to be troubled. Morris, please thank her for me. Also, tell her that tomorrow, she and you will each receive an extra pudding. It is on me."
Morris smiled. "Serving my lord is our natural duty. My lord is too generous."
Charles took a sip of milk tea and teased, "It would be even more perfect if the milk tea could be replaced with Black Pearl Wine."
"Do not drink alcohol lately, Charles," Eric said.
"Of course, of course. Do you think I do not understand that?" Charles raised his voice slightly.
At dawn, the rain stopped.
Territory Patrol Knight Captain Kendall did not return with Tom and John. Instead, Chris, the castle guard knight captain, arrived.
"Baron Lord takes this matter very seriously and specifically ordered me to come support Young Master Russell." Chris had arrived alone on a Nightmare Ghost Horse, without bringing any additional knights—against a mere Snow Ghost incursion, one Phantom Beast Knight was enough to suppress it.
"I thought Lord Kendall would come." Charles followed Russell out to greet him. He was more skilled than Russell at such social formalities.
"If Kendall came, Lone Wolf Lisbon might not dare lure the Snow Ghosts into invading." Chris explained, "The caves are connected by underground passages. Lisbon would certainly need to determine Kendall's location first before luring in the Snow Ghosts."
Xiangshui River Cave was not the only cave around Guangguang River Valley.
Around this warm river valley were Red Bat Cave, Savage Cave, Blind Man Cave, Gap Cave, and caves of all sizes.
"I see." Russell suddenly understood.
As the Territory Patrol Knight Captain, Kendall was naturally feared by the drifters in the surrounding caves.
If they could not determine Kendall's location, Lone Wolf Lisbon would certainly not dare act rashly.
Chris, on the other hand, was the castle guard knight captain and did not often appear in the territory, so he was less likely to draw attention.
"Then I will be troubling Young Master Russell these next few days."
"Only with you staying at the manor's annex can I be at ease. These next few days, I can also ask Lord Chris about some cultivation matters."
"Good!"
Nothing happened on Chris's first day in the manor's annex, so Russell simply treated him as another knight instructor and asked many questions about Battle Aura.
For an Armored Knight, opening the meridians and strengthening Battle Aura were the foundation of cultivation. At the same time, one also had to practice the various techniques for circulating Battle Aura.
They could roughly be divided into four aspects: Battle Qi Penetration, Battle Qi Vortex, Battle Qi Instant, and Battle Qi Sword Aura.
"There are no shortcuts for Battle Qi Penetration, Young Master Russell. The method Eric taught you, using Battle Aura martial techniques to open your meridians, is itself the best way to cultivate Battle Qi Penetration. You need only persevere, and Battle Qi Penetration will naturally reach mastery."
"I understand."
"As for Vortex and Instant, there is no need to attempt them yet. You can only link your Battle Aura and use them after opening multiple meridians... Once the three forces merge into one, you can break through the threshold of Battle Qi Sword Aura and achieve Battle Qi Projection."
"Thank you, my lord, for clearing up my confusion."
"These are common knowledge. Even if I did not tell you, Young Master Russell, you would understand." Chris smiled, maintaining sufficient respect in his attitude toward Russell.
Of course, Russell knew very well that this respect was not directed at him personally, but at his father, Baron Roman.
Night fell. Chris's arrival had not been widely announced, so they only held a simple dinner in the second-floor dining room.
The banquet ended once the wine had flowed freely.
After bathing and going to sleep, Russell drifted in and out of consciousness for an unknown length of time before the Dark Dreamscape appeared again. Little Dream Dragon flew over with a cackling cry.
"Come on, Snowflake. Patrol properly today and see whether any assassins dare come again."
"Caw!"
One man and one dragon flew around the manor annex. Two spots of magical light were especially bright, undoubtedly radiating from Chris and his Nightmare Ghost Horse.
"So this is a Phantom Beast Knight. So bright!"
Russell observed the light radiating from Chris at close range. The light had completely solidified into Chris's outline, and even his facial features had begun to faintly emerge. Of course, compared with Baron Roman's appearance in the Dark Dreamscape, it was still somewhat blurrier.
In the territory of Guangguang River Valley, Lord Ross was undeniably the strongest in battle. Right behind him was Baron Roman.
Because Baron Roman was an advanced Phantom Beast Knight.
"Let us go take a look at the Nightmare Ghost Horse." After admiring Chris's light, Russell went to admire the light of the phantom beast Nightmare Ghost Horse.
Phantom Beasts originated from wild beasts.
Perhaps a wild beast absorbed enough Earth Power, underwent a transformation in its own strength, and evolved into an extraordinary Phantom Beast.
Or perhaps a wild beast accumulated power and gave birth to Phantom Beast offspring.
Of course, two Phantom Beasts mating could naturally produce Phantom Beast offspring. This second generation of Phantom Beasts would have better aptitude.
"Father has a female Nightmare Ghost Horse, while Chris's is a male Nightmare Ghost Horse. I wonder whether they can mate and produce a little ghost horse... Then Mother could whisper in Father's ear, and perhaps the little ghost horse..."
At that thought, Russell suddenly laughed and shook his head. "Probably not. Even if they really have a little ghost horse, my elder brother Roland would still come before me. Do not think too much."
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