Returning to Dawn City, Lin Xiu could not wait to learn new skills. Led by Lu Chen, they came to the Assassins' Guild. It was an ancient building hidden in the bustling city; its exterior looked completely ordinary, but the interior held a world of its own.
"Welcome to the Assassins' Guild." An elder dressed in black robes stepped forward to greet them. "I am the instructor here, Shadow."
Lin Xiu noticed that the elder's eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they could see right through a person's heart. His movements were impossibly light; clearly standing right in front of them, he gave the impression that he could vanish at any moment.
"I heard you want to learn new skills?" Instructor Shadow asked.
Lin Xiu nodded. "Yes, I want to become stronger."
Instructor Shadow smiled faintly. "Very well, but before that, you need to pass a trial."
As the words fell, the scene before Lin Xiu suddenly shifted. He found himself in a pitch-black maze, surrounded by absolute silence, with only the sound of his own breathing echoing around him.
"This is the assassin's trial maze," Instructor Shadow's voice came from all directions. "Find the exit, and you will gain new power."
Lin Xiu took a deep breath and activated Stealth. He could sense that this maze was fraught with danger. Every step required extreme caution, and any mistake could lead to failure.
Suddenly, a cold flash struck from the side! Lin Xiu instinctively sidestepped to dodge, but his sleeve was still torn. Looking closely, he saw an assassin made entirely of shadows, staring at him coldly.
"Defeat me, and you can move forward," the shadow assassin said.
Lin Xiu gripped his dagger tightly, his heart pounding. He knew this was a true battle of life and death. The shadow assassin's speed was terrifyingly fast, its attack angles tricky, and every strike aimed straight for a fatal spot.
The battle was intensely fierce, and Lin Xiu already had several wounds on his body. Yet he did not give up, carefully observing the shadow assassin's movements. Finally, he spotted the opponent's opening!
Now is the time!
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xiu used a feint to trick the shadow assassin, driving his dagger precisely into the opponent's heart. The shadow assassin dissolved into black smoke, and the maze's environment shifted accordingly.
[Acquired new skill: Shadow Clone]
[Acquired new skill: Shadow Strike]
Lin Xiu's eyes lit up; these two skills were precisely what he had been dreaming of. Shadow Clone could create a duplicate to confuse enemies, while Shadow Strike allowed him to instantly close in on a target.
When he returned to the real world, he found Lu Chen and the others waiting anxiously.
"How did it go?" Bai Zhi asked with concern.
Lin Xiu flashed a confident smile. "I succeeded."
Lu Chen nodded. "Good. Next, we need to prepare for the Frozen Throne. The environment there is the complete opposite of the Lava Cave—an extreme cold region where any mistake can lead to frostbite or even death."
Su Yu added, "Moreover, rumor has it that a Frost Dragon guards the place, making it even harder to deal with than the Lava Giant."
Bai Zhi patted Lin Xiu's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll help you. But before that..." She blinked. "We need to go to the Auction House to buy some cold-resistant gear."
The four of them arrived at the Auction House, which was bustling with noise and excitement, its shelves dazzling with all sorts of rare items. Lin Xiu took a fancy to a soft armor made from ice-silkworm silk; not only was it lightweight, but it also provided decent cold resistance.
"This one is good," Lu Chen commented, "though the price is not low."
Right at that moment, a familiar voice drifted over: "Isn't this our newly appointed assassin?"
Lin Xiu turned around and saw a man in gorgeous mage robes walking toward them. The man was handsome, but his gaze carried a hint of contempt.
"Who is he?" Lin Xiu asked in a low voice.
Bai Zhi frowned. "Xiao Xian, a Level 20 Mage, notoriously arrogant. He tried to recruit me into his party before and I turned him down."
Xiao Xian walked up to them, his gaze sweeping over Lin Xiu. "I heard you're going to the Frozen Throne? Just with this rookie?"
Lu Chen said coldly, "That's none of your business."
Xiao Xian chuckled softly. "I'm just offering some kind advice. The Frozen Throne is no place for children to play house. However..." He looked at Bai Zhi. "If you change your minds, my party will welcome you at any time."
Bai Zhi refused flatly, without a shred of politeness. "Thanks, but we have our own plans."
Xiao Xian shrugged, and before turning away, he shot Lin Xiu a meaningful look. "Hope you guys make it back alive."
Lin Xiu clenched his fists, fighting spirit igniting in his heart. He knew this dungeon run was not just a test of strength, but a challenge to their teamwork and coordination.
Early the next morning, the four of them set out on their journey to the Frozen Throne. Trudging across a boundless snowfield, they finally laid eyes on that towering ice mountain. Bathed in sunlight, the ice mountain refracted a dazzling radiance, resembling a crystal palace.
"Are you ready?" Lu Chen asked.
Lin Xiu took a deep breath, feeling the newly acquired power surging within him. "Ready."
Bai Zhi raised her staff. "Remember, in the extreme cold, you must constantly monitor your body temperature. I'll cast a cold-resistance buff for everyone, but its effectiveness is limited."
Su Yu checked her quiver. "I've brought specially crafted flame arrows. Hopefully, they'll deal extra damage to the Frost Dragon."
The four of them exchanged smiles and stepped into the Frozen Throne. A bone-chilling wind rushed at them, and Lin Xiu felt as though his very breath was about to freeze. Yet he knew the real challenge had only just begun.
The interior of the Frozen Throne was like a gigantic maze filled everywhere with crystal-clear ice pillars. Every step they took required extreme caution, as hidden traps could trigger at any second.
Suddenly, a strange noise came from ahead. Lin Xiu activated Stealth and crept forward quietly. The sight before him made him gasp: a colossal Frost Dragon was fast asleep, its entire body covered in heavy ice armor, surrounded by countless floating ice crystals.
"Is this our target?" Lin Xiu returned to the party and described what he saw in a low whisper.
Lu Chen frowned. "Even trickier than anticipated. We need a flawless plan..."
Right at that moment, the Frost Dragon abruptly opened its eyes, shooting out two icy beams of light!
"Scatter!" Lu Chen shouted.
The battle was on the verge of erupting!