<h4>Chapter 401: Returning to the Ancient Monument II</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>EndlessFantasy Trantion <strong>Editor: </strong>EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the quiet jungle, a figure in ck appeared.


    “Looks like this is it!”


    Merlin looked around him and could vaguely, feel a sense of familiarity from his memory. This was where the ancient monument had been. However, now there was only t ground covered all over with a thick carpet of dead leaves. How could there be an ancient monument here?


    “Rise!”


    Merlin furrowed his brow, following which he waved his hand. Instantly, the fallen leaves were quickly spun by a whirlwind, drifting to the sides. An empty clearing appeared on the ground.


    In the clearing, there was a small dirt mound. Merlin’s eyes brightened for after this mound appeared, the feeling in his heart became even stronger.


    “The ancient monument must be here, only for some unknown reason it had sunk in, leaving only a small part above the ground. If I hadn’te here before, it wouldn’t have been easy to find.”


    Merlin mumbled to himself. He had already discerned that this small dirt mound was where the ancient monument had been, only for some reason, it had gradually sunk underground and was covered by the fallen leaves.


    Back then, there had been a passage in the ancient monument, but now even the passage had been buried. Nheless, this did not faze Merlin.


    ( Boxno vel. co m ) “Open up!”


    Merlin roared out in a low voice. His figure leaped forward in an instant, bing a ck sh as the energy in his entire body exploded furiously.


    “Rumble.”


    The loud sound reverberated in the jungle. Merlin was currently using the pure strength of his body. He was already very strong. In one strike, the loose soil immediately copsed inward and revealed a deep-reaching passage which headed downward.


    “So, there’s a passage!”


    A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. In the past, he had entered through the passage. Now, he had merely gauged the vicinity of the passage to directly force a way in.


    Damp air came from within the deep passage. Although dead leaves and loose dirt covered the passage, there was still moisture which seeped inside.


    Merlin entered the passage and felt a cool, gloomy force. He knew that there were patterned spiders and other guardian monsters in the ancient monument but with his current abilities, he should be able to easily deal with even the strongest guardian monsters.


    “Squeak squeak.”


    Indeed, in a short moment, Merlin heard a strange noise up ahead, following which patterned spiders appeared in the passage one after another, blocking Merlin’s path.


    These patterned spiders had iparably vibrant colors. Each of them had arge frame. Upon seeing Merlin, a blood-red look shed in their eyes, and they appeared overjoyed.


    In their eyes, Merlin was a delicious feast!


    “Hmph!”


    Merlin snorted coldly. A ragingyer of mes immediately red up around him. Wherever the Fourth-level spell Incinerating Fire went, the patterned spiders had no way of withstanding it, each being burnt to ashes.


    Perhaps to the Merlin of the past, these patterned spiders were formidable, but to the current Merlin, they were barely worth a mention. Wherever he passed by, the patterned spiders were reduced to ashes.


    “How weak!”


    Soon enough, the patterned spiders were all burned to ashes. Merlin continued forward, and he quickly reached a me-shaped statue.


    This me-shaped statue was life-like and detailed especially when Merlin arrived near it. It began to twist gradually, and a beam of firelight shot out wildly from the statue.


    This firelight rapidly took shape, and it was the me sprite that he had met back then in the ancient monument!


    The me sprite was surrounded by a furious burning ze. As it saw Merlin, a stunned expression crossed its face. Following that, the me sprite carefully sized Merlin up, and asked in a bewildered and uncertain voice, “I remember you. Back then in this ancient monument, you’re Wizard Merlin who cultivated Fiery Copse! You’ve already be a Fourth-level Spell Caster?”


    The me sprite found it hard to believe. How long was Merlin gone? At most, it had been a mere few years’ time, and back then, Merlin was only a First-level Spell Caster.


    Merlin shook his head lightly. “I’m still not yet a Fourth-level Spell Caster, only I’ve managed to construct a Fourth-level Fire-type spell.”


    “You’ve constructed a Fourth-level Fire-type spell?”


    The me sprite’s eyes brightened as fluctuations emerged around it. Anyone could clearly see that it was ecstatic.


    “Which is to say, you’vee here now to cultivate the second form of Fiery Copse?”


    “That’s right. I’m here to cultivate the second form of Fiery Copse. The treasures that enable me to do so can only be found here in the ancient monument!”


    Merlin did not deny this. Once he had cultivated the second form of Fiery Copse, it would be a great blessing to the me sprite as well. This was because once Fiery Copse had reached the second form, the binding of the entire ancient monument would gradually vanish, ultimately allowing the me sprite to achieve freedom.


    This was the opportunity that the me sprite had dreamed of!


    Perhaps because the me sprite was overjoyed, it flitted around constantly, and a scorching force could vaguely be felt in the air.


    “Yes, yes, yes! The day is finally here. I’ve waited such a long time, and now I have a chance to escape atst. Wizard Merlin, I’ll bring you to the obstacle. Only after clearing that obstacle can you obtain the various treasures within for the cultivation of the second form of Fiery Copse!”


    The me sprite could wait no longer to bring Merlin to attempt the obstacle.


    Merlin nodded. Previously, when he first cultivated Fiery Copse, he had to go through an obstacle as well. Naturally, this time, in order to cultivate the second form, he also had toplete an obstacle.


    Merlin did not know much about this ancient monument. He merely knew that it was left behind by a great Spell Caster named Wizard Dond. ording to Merlin’s conjecture, Wizard Dond should also be a Great Wizard!


    Only a Great Wizard would have the ability to leave behind such a massive ancient monument and set up various spells and techniques within whichsted even after a thousand years. Most Spell Casters would have no way of achieving this.


    The me sprite quickly brought Merlin through many passages until they came before a stone room. Inside the stone room, there was a gray monster which resembled a hedgehog currently in a deep slumber.


    “Snap.”


    The hedgehog-like monster seemed to have sensed the arrival of Merlin and the me Sprite and gradually woke up.


    “Hmm? A puppet?”


    Seeing this hedgehog-like monster, Merlin could feel its lifeless force as well as traces of severe energy. Only those puppets would emit such a force.


    This hedgehog monster before him was a powerful puppet!


    “Buzz.”


    Without warning, the eyes of the hedgehog puppet shed with a red glow as if it hade alive. Thereafter, it’s cold eyes flicked open and fixed upon Merlin!