Starting Unlimited Evolution from Grinding

Chapter 348: An Encounter with the Frost Wolf Squad, "Bandits" in the Secret Realm?

On the way forward, Lin Mo kept using Knight skills to grind their proficiency.

At the same time, Ellie and the others were getting familiar with their abilities through fighting magical creatures.

Although these creatures were a bit weak, they still provided some benefit.

The process of finding the mission targets went fairly smoothly, and soon they found the first B-rank mission target and wiped it out with ease.

So they moved forward while clearing creatures and completing missions, and the second mission was also completed without issue.

That done,

the group continued through the icy terrain, where temperatures had already reached around minus fifty degrees Celsius.

Lin Mo recalled information about the Phantom Snow Fox, a creature whose attack method could briefly cause hallucinations.

So this kind of creature

even some Transcendent-Level monsterscould make it easy to be shaken off or to hide from.

Even if there were Assassins among them

once affected, people...

the material value of the Phantom Snow Fox was about five times that of same-level monsters!

That was one of the reasons Lin Mo chose to take this task.

As for another reason, his curiosity about the so-called "spiritual attack" of that creature was certainly a factor.

Lin Mo told everyone what he knew about the Phantom Snow Fox and warned them to be careful.

He wasn’t afraid himself, but the other girls might be.

Everyone’s Spirit attribute was quite low, so they had little resistance to mental attacks.

Even Flora and Finnie were several levels below the Phantom Snow Fox and might not withstand its "enchanting invasion."

Everyone nodded and became more cautious, sticking close to Lin Mo and constantly scanning their surroundings.

Lin Mo also carefully probed the nearby movements, not missing any hint of abnormality, and slowed his pace slightly.

Ellie pricked up her ears and twitched her nose from time to time. Although scent traveled more slowly in such cold conditions, it was still more reliable for her than relying on sight.

After moving another roughly two or three hundred meters, they encountered a creature that had been sneaking up and attacking—an ambusher was discovered and promptly killed by Ellie’s timely strike.

Just as Lin Mo finished storing that creature’s corpse into his Portable Space, Ellie’s ears twitched and her pupils narrowed.

"Lin Mo, there seems to be something moving up ahead..."

She pointed toward the northwest at about a forty-five-degree angle.

Inside the Millennium Cold Cavern, what could that movement be?

Probably a fight between creatures or another group of adventurers?

Lin Mo thought for a moment in the direction Ellie indicated.

It sounded like they had run into

Lin Mo signaled the others.

Very quickly, "Lin Mo"

From the scene, even the weaker ones were around level thirteen or fourteen, and the stronger ones ranged between levels fifteen to twenty, mostly grouped together.

This adventurer squad was not made up of ordinary low-level players.

Lin Mo immediately recognized them; these were not simple low-level adventurers.

Judging by the fighting, the weaker ones only sustained some superficial injuries.

Lin Mo considered it.

Everyone here was an adventurer, so lending a hand wouldn’t be wrong. More importantly, these wolves were excellent sources for proficiency farming.

When his real body moved in, Lin Mo stopped concealing himself and burst out from the side into the battlefield, starting with a Knight's Charge that brutally sent a giant wolf flying.

The adventurers who had been gritting their teeth to defend were dumbfounded.

Such a huge wolf, sent flying like that?

Wait, are you a Knight or a Warrior?

Before they could recover, Lin Mo had already started his show, still relying mainly on Knight skills. Because his attributes were so strong, even Knight skills with limited damage looked exaggerated in his hands.

Of course, he also showed off the new skill he had just acquired—Unfading Shield.

Instead of using his Crystal Shield Technique as before, he took out an Exceptional-Grade shield he had bought earlier from his Portable Space. Lin Mo infused his Qi and Blood into the shield, and the vitality within began to flow, twisting like a meat grinder.

Lin Mo slammed the shield forward. The wolf hit by it was shredded by the rotating life force, flesh torn and blood splattering everywhere.

The effect of this move was undeniably violent.

This sudden aid stunned the leader of the adventurer squad for a moment, but a smile soon spread across his face.

He said nothing and continued to focus on the current fight, engaging with two Frost-Toothed Silver Wolves with ease, not falling behind at all.

With Lin Mo’s help, the battle ended quickly.

At the same time, Ellie and the others arrived here with their Shadow Split.

When the combat finished, rows of giant wolf corpses lay on the ground. Lin Mo turned to look at the adventurer squad’s leader and suddenly frowned.

He had intervened simply to gain proficiency, just as he had back in Silverstream City; he hadn't intended to claim any spoils.

He held that mindset, but seeing the leader’s guarded, even hostile expression, he felt a bit irritated.

Although annoyed, Lin Mo didn’t press it; his assistance had been just a casual favor.

He pointed at the corpses on the ground.

The leader on the other side heard him and seemed to relax.

"Really sorry... I shouldn't have been so suspicious," the leader said sheepishly.

"Oh?"

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The man on the other side was clearly stunned for a moment.

Lin Mo nodded.

"What happened?"

"It’s known around here that adventurer squads entering this cavern have a pretty high casualty rate," the leader explained.

Lin Mo listened as the man continued, "At first it seemed like monster attacks, but the Association investigated and found that while it looked like monster work, some scenes appeared deliberately staged, with certain similarities. They couldn't rule out human involvement—someone might be using monsters as cover to kill and rob."

So some adventurers had turned into bandits?

"The Association hasn’t given a final conclusion yet, but I suspect that’s the case... So I was a bit suspicious earlier. Now that I think about it, I was overly sensitive. Brother, you meant well helping us, and I’m truly sorry!"

"It’s fine."

Lin Mo waved his hand. Since there was reason behind it, he wouldn’t hold a grudge.

"But I still feel bad. Why not take some of these Frost-Toothed Silver Wolf corpses?"

"Aren’t they your mission's loot?"

Lin Mo countered.

The man scratched his head awkwardly. "They are. We still need to bring these back to report. How about this: tell us about your mission and we’ll help you finish it. Consider it returning the favor. How does that sound?"

Lin Mo glanced at him. The middle-aged man had a simple, honest smile—someone who seemed sentimental and straightforward.

"No need."

He waved his hand. "Our mission is rather complicated. You wouldn't be of much help."

"All right then."

Seeing Lin Mo refuse, the man didn’t press further. He called his subordinates to start processing the wolf corpses and walked over to Lin Mo, advising earnestly, "Little brother, you all are young. Be extremely careful from now on. Those people’s methods are unknown, but from current information they’re very cunning—most likely disguised..."

He looked sincere.

"I understand."

Lin Mo nodded.

The man slapped Lin Mo on the shoulder. "Haha, when you finish your task, head over to Frostbreath Town. I’m sure you'll be welcomed. Experience counts for a lot."

Then he and his team headed toward the Secret Realm exit.

Lin Mo watched them leave.

"Lin Mo?"

Ellie looked puzzled. What was he watching so intently?

If Lin Mo had known what it meant, he...

Finnie guessed, "Maybe it reminded him of the past..."

"Perhaps..."

Lin Mo’s tone was long and ambiguous. He soon turned, smiling faintly. "Let’s go. We should continue our journey."

"The rest of the way, we’ll have to be extra careful. Besides monsters, we might face human attacks..."

"Pah, we’re not afraid! If anyone dares, I... Lin Mo will smash them flat!"

Ellie was mid-boast, but she immediately redirected it toward Lin Mo, making everyone burst into laughter.