The frozen lake was melting quickly, and a burst of "cracking" sounds rang out. Merlin immediately withdrew Fiery Collapse. Ernie and Watson retreated rapidly until they were far away from the frozen lake.

"Rumble."

The frozen lake was still swaying. The surface of the lake which was initially as glossy as a mirror began to split open as deep fissures appeared. A ferocious gust of chilly wind suddenly whistled from within, sweeping out from the cracks and gradually fading after it came out.

"There are stairs?"

Wizard Ernie suddenly pointed at the crack in the middle on the frozen lake. Indeed, a faintly discernibly flight of jade stairs could be seen in the crack.

"Master, there's something strange about this frozen lake. I've never heard of this in Subzero Snowfield. Who knows, it might have been left behind from a distant past. Since there are stairs, there must've been someone living there. Perhaps it was left behind by a powerful Spell Caster!"

As he spoke, Wizard Watson's eyes twinkled with enthusiasm. If it was left behind by some great Spell Casters, then it was an ancient monument. Although Subzero Snowfield was extremely barren, ancient monuments would occasionally appear. From these ancient monuments, they could obtain alchemy, spells or even precious Pandora Demon Abilities of the legends, greatly boosting the abilities of Spell Casters. This would happen from time to time.

Now that they were looking at such a peculiar frozen lake, with its flight of stairs, naturally, one could not help but think of an ancient monument.

"Both of you, walk ahead. Go in for a look first!"

Merlin seemed to have come to a decision and spoke to Wizards Watson and Ernie.

Wizards Ernie and Watson exchanged a glance in a powerless manner. They were being dispatched as cannon fodders once again, walking into the dangerous unknown of these stairs. No one knew what hazards they would encounter inside.

However, they were now Merlin's slaves. This was what they were supposed to do, and they were aware of this. Therefore, they began to heed Merlin's orders and slowly went down the stairs within the crack.

Merlin followed behind them both, gradually advancing toward the stairs. This flight of stairs was made of jade which looked magnificent, causing them to gasp in amazement!

Jade was enjoyed as an abundant output all over the world. Nonetheless, in terms of time period, there was no doubt that the era that cherished jade the most was the Molta Empire from three thousand and six hundred years ago.

During the era of the Molta Empire, regardless of whether it was the common folk, the aristocrats or great Spell Casters, they all had a great fondness of jade. Therefore, there were traces of jade everywhere.

However, to be as extravagant as to use jade to build stairs was rarely seen. Most Spell Casters would not have been able to accomplish this.

If this ancient monument was truly left behind from the era of the Molta Empire, it must have been an extremely powerful Spell Caster – a Great Wizard at least – who was able to be extravagant enough to use jade to build stairs.

Merlin counted – this flight of stairs consisted of around three hundred and sixty-five blocks of jade. It was a rough allusion to the number of days in a year. This was definitely not a coincidence. After descending the stairs, they found an extended passage. What astonished them was that in the passage, regardless of whether it was the floor tiles or the two walls and ceilings of the passage, everything was paved with jade.

This was basically a world of jade. It was enough to show that the previous master of this place was very fond of jade.

"Master, the end is just up ahead, and there's only a jade door!"

Wizard Ernie had stopped in his steps. During this period, they had vigilantly observed all their surroundings. No one knew what sort of dangers lay hidden in the ancient monument.

Nonetheless, it looked like they still had not met any dangers, only a jade door. This door was blocking their path, and they could only move ahead by opening the door.

"Break down the jade door by force."

Merlin instructed Wizards Ernie and Watson. This jade door did not appear very strong, and brute force should be enough to break it open.

Wizard Ernie drew in a deep breath, and intense Elemental fluctuations appeared around his body.

"Whiz."

An ice spear consolidated from ice crystals appeared in an instant, after which it whistled through the air, flying viciously toward the jade door.

"Rumble."

There was a deafening crash. Ernie's Seventh-level Ice-type spell had countless permutations and could be unleashed in various forms but with more or less the same power. Still, it was unable to shift the door.

"Master, this jade door is far too solid and durable. I can't get it open!"

Wizard Ernie was somewhat flustered. He was a majestic Seventh-level Spell Caster, yet now he was incapable of opening a jade door.

Merlin had been observing the changes in the door. From the moment Wizard Ernie had cast his spells, mysterious runes had, in fact, emerged on the surface of the jade door.

However, these runes were very obscured, and their color was not that different from jade, which was concealed on its surface. If Merlin had not scrutinized it, not even his Mind Power would detect anything out of the ordinary.

"It must mean something. So, it's runes?"

In the past, Merlin did not understand runes, and would not have been able to decipher even a crude Runic Magic Circle. Nevertheless, with the Runic Heartprint now, no runes could mystify him.

"Swoosh."

The Runic Heartprint between Merlin's brow flickered faintly, and streams of light engulfed Merlin's eyes. This was the power of the Runic Heartprint. As long as it was runes, it could not escape the screening of the Runic Heartprint.

As expected, following Merlin's use of the Runic Heartprint, the Runic Magic Circle on the jade door was discerned clearly by Merlin. This was an extremely mighty and complicated Runic Magic Circle.

If one was using brute force, never mind Seventh-level spells, not even Eight-level spells could break it open.

The only exception was a special Pandora Demon Ability such as Merlin's Darkness Eye and Kleis' Spatial Blade. The fourth form would need to be unleashed or it needed a Ninth-level Spell Caster to forcibly break the door down.

Nonetheless, it was naturally not that troublesome for Merlin. He did not need to force it open because it was a Runic Magic Circle on the jade door. Merlin could use a corresponding Runic Magic Circle to break it open in a precise manner.

"Whoosh."

A beam of light flew from Merlin's forehead. Merlin pressed down firmly with his left hand between his brows. The Runic Heartprint was throbbing faintly, and mysterious runes accompanied the light.

These mysterious runes rapidly flew to the surface of the door. Following that, the jade door quaked slightly. Merlin, using the Runic Heartprint, could clearly perceive that the runes concealed within the door were gradually dismantled.

As soon as the strength of the Runic Magic Circle had vanished completely, the jade door began to slowly swing open.

The jade door gradually opened to reveal a hall which seemed to come from a dream world. This great hall was extremely spacious, and the floor was paved with the most exquisite emerald jade. There were also a few massive pillars that were likewise carved from jade. These were made entirely from jade and were not merely inlaid with jade on the surface.

This was a genuine world of jade. It was the first time Merlin had witnessed such an opulent place!

"Tss."

As soon as they entered the great hall where everyone was stunned to their core, they could not hold back a cold shiver. This was uncommon indeed. It should be known that they had cast their Defensive spells. What sort of extreme chill was able to make them incomparably cold in these circumstances?

Their gazes roved around in all directions. In the front of the hall, they saw a wide jade bed, and on this bed lay a bare, naked woman.

This woman who was completely bare and naked was at the peak of beauty. Her face was serene, and her eyes were shut, just like a sleeping beauty. It was the first time Merlin had seen such delicate features.

Regardless of whether it was Avril or Charise, there were more or less a few flaws, spoiling their aesthetic looks. Still, this was what they possessed as real humans, and was extremely normal.

However, the naked woman lying on the bed before his eyes was perfect from head to toe, without the slightest flaw. It was impossible for a person who was so flawless to exist.

Moreover, although the woman's body was completely bare, it aroused neither lust nor longing. Conversely, there was a sense of holy purity as if one should prostrate oneself in worship.

"The Ice Goddess!"

Suddenly, a fine light shone in Wizard Ernie's eyes, and he seemed to tremble all over.

"Eh? Wizard Ernie, do you recognize this woman?" Merlin looked at Wizard Ernie in suspicion. This aged Wizard's personality was similar to Bammou's but Wizard Ernie was bolder. In order to survive, he had now thoroughly cast aside the pride of being a Seventh-level Spell Caster, obeying Merlin's every word.

Obviously moved, Wizard Ernie replied, "Exactly, Master, I know this woman. In other words, I've seen her statue before. Master must know that before the era of the Molta Empire, besides Spell Casters, there were also powerful gods. These gods were the sole, true rulers of heaven and earth. Normies and Spell Casters shared a similar position, being controlled by the gods.

"However, following the subsequent founding of the Molta Empire, Great Wizards showed up one after another among Spell Casters. Spell Casters entered their most glorious age, and there were even Legendary Wizards who were able to kill gods! Especially those Honored Legends – they were even more powerful and scary, leading Great Wizards to wipe out and suppress countless gods, then banishing many of them. In the end, they've won the glory of Spell Casters!

"As for the appearance of this woman, it's the same as one of the many gods I've seen before in an ancient book. She's called the Ice Goddess, who controls ice and frost, and she's in Thule! We're in Subzero Snowfield – is that not in Thule?"

Wizard Ernie seemed rather worked up. He had never thought that he would be able to see one of the gods who had been killed, suppressed, or sent into exile by Great Wizards in the legends!

Gods and Spell Casters were completely different. If a god was said to be innately powerful, possessing great strengths from birth, then their chances of growing stronger in the future were far too slim. The only way for these countless gods to advance was to absorb the faith of living creatures. From there, they received and relied upon the power of faith. These gods were truly immortal, and could gradually increase their strength over a thousand years, ten thousand or even longer.

However, Spell Casters were different. A genius Spell Caster could become a Great Wizard in over a decade, and there were even those who could form a Maxim and become a Great Legend in a mere twenty years!

Gods and Legends were more or less the same. The gods' greatest ability was their absolute control over Elements. This was an innate gift, so when faced with Spell Casters below the level of Legend, the gods had an overwhelming advantage.

However, once a Spell Caster had become a Legend and consolidated their own Maxim, they gained the ability to contend against a god. A Maxim controlled the Elements as well, and its command of Elements was equally matched to a god's.

The most formidable Legendary Wizards' mastery over a particular Element was even more terrifying than these natural gods', and they were able to easily kill most gods. Legendary Wizards like these were named Honored Legends!

Back when Merlin had been in the Ship of Nikola and obtained the Flame Maxim, only then did he gain a simple understanding of the relationship between gods and Spell Casters. However, even then, he had not seen a god with his own eyes.

Now, the legendary god – the Ice Goddess – was silently lying on the jade bed in a serene and tranquil manner!