Eddie remembered hearing several women whispering and laughing like silver bells in his dream.
Since the Blood Queen had just learned to speak and Little Wenli was too young, they couldn't have been part of it. So, who was talking with Laura?
"You must have been dreaming!" Laura said with certainty.
Eddie knew he wasn't dreaming; he was already in another dream, and it made no sense to dream within a dream.
He suspected the mysterious beauty or even Princess Mila, the swordsman lady, might have visited.
Although they claimed not to know each other, they were likely friends and probably closer than they appeared.
Eddie was puzzled by his inability to detect the mysterious beauty.
She must have been just outside his sensory range, close enough yet undetectable.
Was this mysterious ability part of her innate talents?
With many suspicions in his mind, Eddie kept his composure.
After resting, they resumed climbing towards Cloud Top Heavenly Pool.
It took them half a day to reach the pool, suspended high in the sky. To Eddie, it was simply a large mountain lake formed from an extinct volcanic crater.
Cloud Top Heavenly Pool wasn't very large, roughly oval-shaped, and only a few kilometers across.
He wondered if there were any water monsters in the pool, recalling old tales of lake monsters from before his time travel.
"What kind of water monster? Like large fish-type beasts?"
Laura was unfamiliar with the concept of 'water monsters' as the Dragon-Teng Continent was filled with various strange beasts.
"Not important," Eddie replied, his interest in water monsters waning. He had seen and slain many beasts, so his curiosity about monsters had faded.
The Starlight Azure Grass wasn't in Cloud Top Heavenly Pool but on a higher peak nearby.
The steep, sheer cliffs were barren and smooth, with no vegetation. Eddie struggled to carry Laura up the mountain.
She could climb on her own, but her strength and stamina were limited, and the fierce mountain winds made Eddie concerned for her safety, so he carried her on his back.
At the top of the cliff, it was bare except for some snow, seemingly devoid of anything else.
Eddie was initially disheartened, thinking the Starlight Azure Grass had already been picked, but Laura meticulously searched and eventually found a narrow crevice in the rocks.
Inside, there seemed to be just enough space for one person to squeeze through.
Eddie remembered hearing women's whispers and laughter in his dream.
Since the Blood Queen had just learned to speak and Little Wenli was too young to talk, they couldn't have participated.
So, who was chatting with Laura?
"You must be dreaming!" Laura asserted confidently.
Eddie knew it wasn't a dream because he was already in another one. It wasn't possible to have two dreams at once.
He suspected the mysterious beauty or even Princess Mila, the swordsman lady, might have been there.
They claimed not to know each other, but likely, they were close friends.
The most puzzling part for Eddie was his inability to detect the mysterious beauty.
She must have stayed just beyond his sensory range, close enough to be undetectable. Her knowledge of his sensing range was mysterious.
Was this some kind of innate ability?
With many suspicions, Eddie remained outwardly calm.
After resting, they resumed their climb towards Cloud Top Heavenly Pool. It took them half a day to reach the pool, which Eddie saw as just an old volcanic crater filled with water, now a vast mountain lake.
Cloud Top Heavenly Pool wasn't very large, oval-shaped, with a circumference of only a few kilometers.
"Are there water monsters here?" Eddie asked, recalling tales of lake monsters.
"What kind of water monster? Like large fish-type beasts?" Laura asked, unfamiliar with the term 'water monster' as the Dragon-Teng Continent had many types of strange beasts.
"Never mind," Eddie replied, his interest in water monsters waning.
The Starlight Azure Grass wasn't found within the pool but on a higher peak nearby.
The steep cliffs were smooth and barren, making the climb challenging.
Laura could have climbed herself, but her strength was limited, and the fierce winds made Eddie carry her on his back.
At the top, they found the area barren except for some snow.
Eddie initially felt disappointed, thinking the Starlight Azure Grass had been picked, but Laura meticulously searched and eventually found a narrow crevice.
Inside was just enough space for one person to squeeze through.
Eddie felt something was amiss.
The place lacked powerful beasts, which should have discovered the Starlight Azure Grass growing in such an inaccessible location.
As Eddie searched with growing unease, a delicate shout echoed from the top of the cliff, followed by a loud rumble as if someone was fighting above.
Turning to investigate, he saw a torrent of fiery flames shooting through a narrow gap in the rocks, aiming straight for Laura.
Eddie's heart trembled, recognizing the familiar fire.
It was Lin Mo Ding Cang's infernal blaze!
Indeed, he had followed them, but who at the cliff top had discovered his ambush and intervened?
Could it be Princess Mila?
Eddie was particularly struck by Princess Mila's distinctive shouts in battle.
Her cries were unique, exceptionally clear, and full of a heroic spirit. Although he hadn't heard her clearly just now, he sensed something significant.
With Princess Mila's strength, she might not be able to defeat Lin Mo Ding Cang alone.
The fact that the battle was still fiercely ongoing and Lin Mo Ding Cang had the spare energy to launch his infernal blaze at Laura, threatening to scorch the Starlight Azure Grass, indicated he wasn't alone – he definitely had assistance!
"Danger!" Eddie rushed to leap up the cliff to protect Laura.
"Don't come here, stay away!" Laura urgently summoned her grimoire, raising a protective shield to block the fiery attack.
To her, the Starlight Azure Grass was more precious than anything, and she would rather suffer injuries than see these extraordinary flowers wilt.
Another thunderous noise came from above the cliff, shaking the ground. Eddie, anxious and eager, quickly climbed to provide support to the struggling Princess Mila outside.
At the mountain's base, Grey Wolf was leisurely trying to communicate with the Three-tailed Snow Fox in various languages.
Unfortunately, his language skills were lacking – not even a regular cat would understand him, let alone the Snow Fox.
Actions were more practical. Grey Wolf occasionally caught a snow rabbit, hoping to impress the little beauty. Unaware that the Snow Fox, like its master, preferred vegetarian food, Grey Wolf would have been more successful offering a Wisdom Fruit or "White Mold Truffle."
The Snow Fox elegantly wrapped itself with its long tail, comfortably lying on the snow, sleeping peacefully while waiting for its master to return.
In contrast, Grey Wolf was much more active. It was waiting for Eddie but never forgot to entertain itself. Chasing snow rabbits and snowbirds, it even drove a noisy pack of third-level snow wolves ten kilometers away and killed several giant spiders, extracting their venom glands.
Grey Wolf didn't eat them, merely carrying them along the way.
Eddie had a vivid impression of Princess Mila's unique shouts in battle. Her cries were distinct, exceptionally clear, and full of a heroic spirit. Despite not hearing her clearly just now, he sensed something significant and realized the enormity of the situation.
With Princess Mila's strength, she might not be able to defeat Lin Mo Ding Cang alone. The ongoing fierce battle, coupled with Lin Mo Ding Cang's ability to launch his infernal blaze at Laura while attacking the Starlight Azure Grass, indicated he wasn't alone – he definitely had assistance!
"Danger!" Eddie urgently thought of leaping up the cliff to protect Laura.
"Don't come over, stay away!" Laura urgently summoned her grimoire and raised a protective shield, blocking the fiery attack.
She valued the Starlight Azure Grass above all else and would rather suffer injuries than see these extraordinary flowers wilt.
Another thunderous noise echoed from above the cliff, shaking the ground. Eddie, anxious and eager, quickly climbed to provide support to the struggling Princess Mila outside.
At the mountain's base, Grey Wolf was leisurely trying to communicate with the Three-tailed Snow Fox in various languages.
Unfortunately, his language skills were lacking – not even a regular cat would understand him, let alone the Snow Fox.
Grey Wolf's attempts to impress the Snow Fox were in vain, as it did not appreciate the bloodied prey Grey Wolf brought.
Unlike Grey Wolf, the Snow Fox preferred a vegetarian diet and would have been more impressed with a Wisdom Fruit or White Mold Truffle.
Instead, it elegantly wrapped itself with its long tail, comfortably lying in the snow, sleeping peacefully while waiting for its master to return.
In contrast, Grey Wolf was much more active. It waited for Eddie but never forgot to entertain itself.
Chasing snow rabbits and birds, it even drove a noisy pack of third-level snow wolves ten kilometers away and killed several giant spiders, extracting their venom glands.
Grey Wolf didn't eat them, merely carrying them along the way.
The mane dogs, thunder leopards, and scorpion lion simultaneously pounced, viciously biting the Six-tailed Spirit Fox.
Amidst the frenzied attack, blood splattered everywhere, and white fur flew chaotically.
Even one of the fox's long tails was partially severed, creating a horrifying scene of bloodshed.
In a desperate effort, the Six-tailed Spirit Fox mustered its last bit of strength and leaped up in a piercing shriek, lunging straight at the fallen warrior.
It swiftly bit and shattered the contract scroll, refusing to form a pact.
With its blood-stained tails, the fox swept away the pursuing thunder leopards and knocked the fallen warrior into a somersault.
The warrior's contamination orb also flew out of his hand and landed on the ground.
The fallen warrior's face swelled up where the fox's tail struck, blood gushing from his nose.
Enraged, he grabbed the rune metal column and smashed it repeatedly on the fox's head, sending the Six-tailed Spirit Fox flying several meters away.
He bellowed furiously, "Ungrateful beast! I'll kill you!"
At that moment, Grey Wolf, who had rushed from the mountain's entrance with all its might to save the day, witnessed this scene and went into a complete rage.