《I Am Doing Daily Tasks in the Wizarding World》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    In a cramped room, illuminated by dim yellow light, a man dressed in a ck robe and wearing a mask stood with his back to Lynn. ¡°Take care of the magical herbs in the pharmacyter. And clean up theb, dispose of any unnecessary waste,¡± he instructed.


    Lynn, standing a short distance behind the man, calmly replied, ¡°Yes, teacher.¡± He crossed his hands in front of him and waited quietly behind the man.


    Theboratory, as the man referred to it, was a makeshift single room in the basement. It was sparsely decorated, with long tables strewn around the room, each neatly arranged with various ss bottles and jars containing different kinds of materials. The room was filled with a faint smell of blood and herbs.


    At the center of theboratory stood arge table, and in front of the man was a horizontal operating table that held an unconscious teenage boy. With a syringe in his hand, the man injected the boy''s vein.


    The boy''s body began to convulse violently, his chest rising and falling rapidly, and white foam forming at the corners of his mouth. Then, his arm began to visibly distort at the injection site. His arm slowly swelled, and the surface of the skin began to reveal arge number of fine dark green scales.


    Lynn had long be ustomed to witnessing such scenes. From the initial feelings of pity and fear, to now feeling numb and calm, he knew that in the presence of this extraordinary man with extraordinary strength, all he could do was try his best to survive.


    The man, who called himself a wizard, was named Angley. In the past three months, Angley had captured and used over a hundred people as test subjects for his experiments.


    Lynn was among them, captured while fleeing with a group of refugees. However, after being tested and discovered to have the potential for wizardry, he was eventually taken in as Angley''s student.


    In the man''s own words, Lynn, who had the potential for wizardry, possessed innate potential that surpassed that of ordinary people.


    Lynn did not care whether he had potential or not, as long as he could survive.


    Ten minutes passed, and the arm on the central table of theboratory had swollen to its limit. The ck and red veins inside it were clearly visible in the candlelight.


    Lynn closed his eyes skillfully and silently whispered to himself before a loud bang filled the room.


    Boom!!!


    The boy''s arm exploded on the operating table.


    His flesh and internal organs near the right chest also burst into pieces.


    The intense pain woke the boy from unconsciousness, and he let out a heart-wrenching scream.


    Seeing the experiment fail, Angley cursed in his hometown dialect in a low voice, then turned and left the room.


    Lynn approached and picked up a broom from the corner, sweeping the pieces of flesh off the floor.


    ¡°Devil, you''re a devil.¡± The boy, with only one breath left, turned his bloodshot eyes towards Lynn and stared at him.


    Lynn stopped and took out a dagger from his pocket. He walked over and helped the boy take hisst breath before lowering his head to continue cleaning up the garbage on the ground.


    With such a severe injury, there was no way the boy could survive. All Lynn could do was to release him from his suffering.


    After cleaning up the garbage on the ground, Lynn took out a ck sack from the corner and put the boy''s body inside.


    Then he turned and went to the next room to fetch a mop and arge ck ss jar from the corner. He poured some ck liquid onto the ground, and the blood on the ground quickly diluted when it touched the ck liquid.


    The blood on the ground was quickly cleaned up.


    Afterward, Lynn simply put the bottles and jars on the table in order. These bottles and jars contained various items, such as half-tails soaked in liquid, walnut-sized eyeballs, dark green viscous liquid, and pure white liquid.


    Lynn arranged the bottles and jars on the table neatly, ording to the different properties, sizes, and shapes of the materials, as if he had obsessivepulsive disorder, giving off an unusual sense of beauty.


    This was why Angley entrusted Lynn with the task of organizing theboratory.


    This kid could organize theboratory better than he could, and Lynn was particrly handy at handling the materials. It was as if he was a born wizard.


    After finishing everything, a transparent screen appeared in the corner of Lynn''s retina, visible only to him.


    A line of standard ck small fonts appeared on it.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Clean up theboratory (1), Clean up theboratory once, and keep theboratory clean and tidy.¡±


    "Completion: Passed"


    ¡°Reward: 5 general experience points.¡±


    This was what suddenly appeared in Lynn''s mind after his first meditation session with the meditation technique bestowed upon him by Angley, a task panel that only he could see.


    However, so far, all the tasks that have appeared on it are just daily tasks, such as cleaning theboratory, cultivating magic nts, and collecting materials.


    And all the tasks were justbeled as (1), maybe it was one stage, or maybe the difficulty level of the task was one.


    The degree ofpletion ranges from ¡°fail¡±, ¡°pass¡±, to ¡°good¡±.


    There should be higher levels of evaluation above ¡°good¡±. But so far, Lin has not received any higher evaluation.


    The rewards forpleting tasks seem to be only general points, which can be used to upgrade one''s level.


    ''Lynn


    Level: Level 2 (1/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.32


    Mental Strength: 1.9


    Mastery:


    Earth Ring Meditation (6%)


    General Experience Points: 75''


    The Earth Ring Meditation is the meditation technique taught by Angley. The core of the technique is to construct a hundred earth rings in one''s mind.


    These rings are interlocked like a tan-colored chain, and if one canpletely construct 100 earth rings, it representsplete mastery of the meditation technique.


    ording to the grand promises made by Angley, mastering the Earth Ring Meditation would lead to the mastery of another one-ring derivative spell: Earth Ring Chain.


    Yes, this teacher named Angley possessed various magical spells and esoteric knowledge.


    Each ring on the chain represents aplete earth ring, and constructing one earth ring would increase the mastery of Earth Ring Meditation by 1% and increase the limit of mental strength by 0.1.


    If one canpletely master the Earth Ring Meditation and construct 100 earth rings in their mind, it would increase the upper limit of mental strength by 10 points.


    Besides this meditation technique, Angley has not taught Lynn any other knowledge. In his own words, the knowledge of a wizard has its own value, and there is a rule among wizards: equivalent exchange.


    ¡°Meditation is the only free gift I give you as my student,¡± his teacher had said. ¡°All other knowledge must be earned through hard work.¡±


    After tidying up theboratory, Lynn turned and left the room. Outside, a narrow hallway led to the adjacent room, where he washed the mop and hung it on the rough bathroom wall.


    Deeper into the hallway, candle wall sconces were spaced every few meters, their dim light barely illuminating the surrounding environment. In the gloom, one could vaguely see the outlines of doors, behind which were the cells that housed the captured ¡°materials.¡±


    There were six rooms in total, with ten people and one monster.


    Lynn was responsible for delivering food to these ¡°materials¡± every day, a menial daily task that his wizard teacher, Angley, did not enjoy.


    After three months of being Angley''s student, Lynn hade to know his teacher quite well.


    Angley spent more than half of each day hiding in his room, possibly in meditation.


    The rest of the time was devoted to preparing magic potions, conducting experiments, and capturing ¡°materials¡± outside.


    Lynn carried a ck sack down to the depths of the hallway, which was lined with barred doors that had been modified to prevent escape.


    He heard intermittent coughing from the nearby rooms.


    As soon as his footsteps echoed in the hallway, there was movement from the rooms on either side.


    ¡°Please, let me go. My family is rich, I can get them to pay you arge sum of money.¡±


    ¡°You devils, my father is a knight. If you don''t release me, he wille and kill you all eventually!¡±


    ¡°You handsome young man, you can do whatever you want to me as long as you let me go.¡±


    Behind the iron bars were crowded with people, including young and old men and women.


    Lynn remained expressionless, tired of hearing their pleas.


    He knew he couldn''t save them. Even if he were to release them from their cells, Angley had set up magic traps on every door and window in the house.


    Releasing them would mean death, and it would also put himself in danger.


    Lynn knew that even now, Angley did not fully trust him.


    He only told Lynn that he had set up magic traps outside all the exits of the room, but did not tell him how to avoid or disarm them.


    As he walked to the deepest part of the hallway, closest to the room inside, it was particrly quietpared to the other rooms.


    Through the door, he could see nothing but darkness, but it gave him an uneasy feeling.


    Lynn took a key from his keychain at his waist and unlocked the door.


    Then, he forcefully threw a ck sack inside and quickly locked the door.


    ng! ng!


    The sound of chains colliding and eerie screams could be heard from inside the room.


    Soon, all that was left was the sound of mad biting and chewing.


    A somewhat muscr man appeared from behind one of the prison cells nearby.


    ¡°Sir,¡± the man was coughing as he spoke, ¡°Could you help me deliver a message?¡±


    Lynn remained silent. ¡°I may not be able to deliver it.¡±


    ¡°That''s okay, it''s better than nothing, isn''t it?¡± The man covered his mouth and coughed softly.


    ¡°My wife''s name is Bowa. She''s skinny, has red hair, and is probably only up to your shoulder. She went with the refugee team to Bangor Port in the south. If you ever get to see her, could you tell her I love her? My name is Lauren, and tell her that I have always loved her. This is all the money I have on me. I hope you don''t mind.¡±


    The man took out four silver coins with a somewhat dull appearance from his shoe, his eyes filled with pleading.


    Lynn remained silent for a moment, then nodded and took the silver coins. He turned and left the hallway.


    Watching Lynn''s back, the man sped his hands together and prayed silently.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    As Lynn emerged from the innermost room, he arrived at another room located towards the outer section of the house. This room had a courtyard.


    The courtyard had an open top, allowing the cold, white sunlight to filter through and fall onto the four small flowerpots ced at the bottom. Each pot had a miniature nt resembling a honeysuckle.


    These nts were small, with only a few round leaves and thin stems holding a massive bud at the top. The pale pink surface of the buds were still closed, with only a small slit in each, and covered in glistening dewdrops.


    Lynn took out a ss bottle and a ss stick. Using the ss stick, he touched the dewdrops on the bud, which were then attracted to it. He then inserted the ss stick into the bottle, and slowly collected all the dewdrops.


    All the dewdrops from the four flowers were collected, forming a thinyer at the bottom of the ss bottle.


    This was the Purple Phoenix Flower, a material used in making potions.


    It liked being in direct sunlight but also preferred a cool and damp temperature, making its cultivation quite challenging.


    It took about three months to cultivate one Purple Phoenix Flower. During this period, the dewdrops that gathered on the petals every day contained excellent magic conducting effects, and were often used by Angley as an additive in experiments. They were also a level 0 material used in making potions.


    All of this knowledge was recorded in the notebook that Angley gave to Lynn. The notebook was a reward for Lynn¡¯s assistance in cultivating magical nts and tending to daily chores.


    It was handwritten and contained various fragmented wizarding knowledge, including information on potions, magical nts, and some general wizarding knowledge such as mutation studies, bloodline studies, and anatomy studies.


    Although these pieces of knowledge were iplete andcked structure, they opened a window to a new world for Lynn. Holding the book, Lynn stood by the window of this new world, eagerly anticipating the beautiful scenery of this new world.


    <em>Gurgle, gurgle.</em>


    In arge iron pot, a yellow and green food that looked like porridge was being stirred with arge iron spoon.


    Although it didn¡¯t look very appetizing, the aroma was not as repulsive as the appearance suggested.


    Thanks to the culinary talents of the Chinese people in his previous life, Lynn considered himself to have some skill when it came to cooking. Although the ingredients he had on hand were humble, he was able to make them taste somewhat decent through his own creativebinations.


    After all, it was his own dinner he was preparing. As a chef, the only benefit was being able to indulge in the delicious food before anyone else. He always enjoyed this privilege, relishing the chance to taste the fruits of hisbor earlier than anyone else.


    Lynn scooped out three lumps of food from the pot that resembled sweet potatoes. They had been stewing for too long and had turned into an unrecognizable mush. The taste was simr to that of sweet potatoes¡ª sweet and sticky, which suited his personal preference.


    He then grabbed four leafy greens from the pot and added them to his bowl before finally cing the only meat bone left in the pot into his bowl. He wasn¡¯t sure what kind of animal it came from¡ª Angley had brought it back two days ago. It looked a bit like a rat, but was as big as a cat.


    Angley, being a wizard, didn¡¯t eat these kinds of things. He imed that as a wizard, he didn¡¯t need to eat. It wasn¡¯t until Lynn noticed oil stains around Angley¡¯s mouth that he realized the old man had secretly been enjoying his own delicious meals in his room!


    Lynn poured the food from the iron pot into a bucket and carried it to the basement. As he walked down the hallway, the sound of the bucket and spoon nking against each other echoed through the hallway. People locked up in rooms on either side of him brought their bowls to the door, hungry for the meager food offering.


    There were only two meals a day here, and they were mostly soup, porridge and greens. Meat was scarce and only a hint of oiliness was present. If they didn¡¯t drink a lot of it, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stave off hunger. Most of their time was spent lying on the ground, trying to conserve energy.


    Lynn used a spoon to scoop the soup into bowls, responding to the constant pleas for extra helpings. He distributed all the food in the bucket to everyone in the hallway before returning to the kitchen to finish his own dinner.


    As he ate, a line of ck text appeared in the corner of his retina¡ª ¡°Complete daily task: Cooking (1) Cook aplete pot of food.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Passed.¡±


    ¡°Reward: 5 general experience points.¡±


    It was strange that the daily cooking task required more than just cooking a good pot of food.


    Once the food was cooked, it was necessary to eat it all in order toplete the mission objective. This put an end to Lynn¡¯s idea of randomly cooking arge amount of food just for the sake of earning rewards.


    He stood up and washed the pots, pans, and dishes before returning to his room. Sitting on his bed, he crossed his legs and began to meditate.


    Closing his eyes, he started his daily meditation routine. As he entered a meditative state, he perceived numerous dots of light surrounding him in the pitch-ck environment. These dots of light were of different colors, such as red, blue, white, purple, and cyan. They were the elements that floated freely in the air.


    However, Lynn didn¡¯t need these elements. Elements were the partners used in casting spells, but what the wizard needed for meditation was spiritual power.


    Among the plethora of dots of light, there were some that were rare in quantity, hovering in the air like small specks of blue dust. Lynn began to meditate, constructing the earth ring in his mind using the construction method of the Earth Ring Meditation technique.


    Although earth rings appeared to be simple, each ring had a vast amount of exquisite and profound runes and circuits, making the meditation process quite challenging. Luckily, Lynn had already gone through the most challenging part of constructing the first ring. It took him nearly a week to construct the first one initially. Subsequently, constructing each ring became much easier.


    In his mind, the seventh ring was slowly taking shape.


    As time passed by, every second and every minute seemed to blur in his meditative state.


    The light from the candle on the table in the room flickered slightly.


    Finally, after an unknown amount of time, the seventh earth ring finally coalesced in his mind! Suddenly, those small specks of blue light dots hovering in the air seemed to be drawn to something with great force.


    A surge of madness flooded his mind, but soon his brain cleared. After a moment, the feeling of rity slowly faded away, and Lynn opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.


    His brain was now much clearer, including his memory, and he knew that this was the positive effect of a slight increase in mental strength gained in a short amount of time.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 2 (1/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.32


    Mental Strength: 2.0


    Mastery:


    Earth Ring Meditation (7%)


    General Experience Points: 80¡¯


    His mental strength had increased by 0.1, which might not seem like much, but it was equivalent to one-tenth of an average adult¡¯s total mental strength.


    His meditation speed had also increased significantly, and this time he had only taken two days to meditate up to the seventh earth ring. At this rate, meditating up to a hundred rings didn¡¯t seem as difficult as he had imagined.


    Outside, the moon was high in the sky, indicating that it was alreadyte at night. Lynn got up, poured himself a ss of water, and drank it. Standing by the window, he gazed outside.


    The moon was like a silver disc,rge and round, hanging in the night sky. In the center of the moon, there was a silver-white woman, as if sculpted from marble, with her hands crossed over her chest.


    ording to Angley, that was a god¡ª a god imprisoned by wizards on the moon.


    Lynn leaned against the windowsill and his gaze gradually shifted from the sky to the outside. Tall and dense pine trees stood one after another, and through them, he could faintly see the outline of a small town in the distance. In the darkness of the night, the eaves and spires of the buildings formed ck shadows.


    As he gazed out, Lynn¡¯s eyes gradually became unfocused, and he began to recall his past.


    A year ago, he awakened to his innate wisdom, but he was still in a foggy and dazed state. Memories from two different lifetimes intertwined, making it difficult for him to distinguish reality from fiction. He spent several days lying in bed before finally piecing it all together.


    This was a world simr to the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, but with distinct ss differences and extraordinary powers.


    Wars, gues, and famines had swept through thend one after another. Just as Lynn was getting used to life in this world, he and his family were swept up in a wave of refugees heading south. They had heard that things were better on the other side of the border at Bangor Port, where there was no famine and they could even take a ship to other continents not affected by war or famine.


    During this arduous journey, Lynn also encountered knights who possessed extraordinary powers that were only mentioned in books. Those knights with bodies that had surpassed the limits of the human body, like ferocious beasts, besieged the monsters born of the gue.


    It was precisely because of the intense battle that the refugee convoy was scattered, and Lynn became separated from his family amidst the chaos. Before he could even find them, he and a small group of refugees were taken captive by Angley.


    That had been going on until today.


    In this chaotic era, it was not umon for people to go missing, and few cared about it except for their loved ones.


    Lynn was worried about the safety of his parents and siblings, but he did not dare to ask Angley too much about it.


    Surviving was already a great fortune for him, and he had obtained the key to unlocking his extraordinary powers from Angley. Compared to those who had be experimental subjects on the operating table, he considered himself to be lucky enough.


    Lynn¡¯s gaze turned mncholic as he let out a soft sigh, wondering whether his parents and siblings had arrived safely at Bangor Port.


    He had expressed his concerns about his family to Angley, but he was coldly rejected. Angley told him that his experiments had reached a critical juncture, and after the experiment was over, he would take Lynn to find his family.


    However, Angley also warned Lynn that the lifespan of wizards far exceeded that of ordinary people. Through alchemical transformation, blood transfusion, and transformation rituals, wizards had many ways to extend their lives.


    In their long lives, family members were just a small part of their journey.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Lynn did not agree with Angley¡¯s statement, but he did not refute the teacher either. Instead, Lynn asked in confusion¡ª If one could extend their own life through these means, then why couldn¡¯t they extend their family¡¯s lives through these means as well?


    However, he did not receive an answer from Angley, only a meaningful smile.


    The next day, Lynn woke up early and cleaned the small building, then went to the courtyard to check on the Purple Phoenix Flowers before heading to the attic.


    Their current residence was a three-story building on the outskirts of the mountain. There was also a deserted courtyard outside, and two underground basements below the small building. Lynn didn¡¯t know why the previous owner had built the basements. The iron railings and many decorations seemed to have already existed, and only minor renovations had been made byter generations.


    After preparing the ingredients in the kitchen, Lynn checked the experimental equipment in theboratory again, making sure everything was in good condition and cleaned before leaving.


    Angley had a habit of sleeping in, and usually didn¡¯t wake up until around ten o¡¯clock in the morning. Lynn could hear footsteps on the stairs: thump, thump, thump.


    Today, teacher Angley woke up faster than Lynn had imagined, and hisplexion looked good. It seemed that he had some good news. As the saying goes, when a person encounters good news, their spirits will be lifted. Lynn could tell that Angley was in a good mood.


    After a short while, Angley walked to theboratory in the basement and started to prepare the potion. Lynn stood not far behind Angley, watching him intently,pletely absorbed in what he was doing.


    Gradually, a pungent odor filled the air. The test tube in Angley¡¯s hand changed from blue to yellow-green, and finally to dark green.


    As Lynn watched his teacher add all sorts of strange ingredients into the potion, his expression gradually morphing into that of an old man staring at his mobile phone on the subway.


    Angley held a syringe in one hand and pushed open the door with the other, entering the hallway.


    ¡°Open the door to this room,¡± Angley said.


    ¡°No, no,¡± Lauren¡¯s terrified voice came from inside the room.


    Lynn stepped forward and unlocked the door, and Angley pushed his way into the room. Soon, he roughly carried an adult out with him. This seemingly strong adult was as fragile as a little chick in Angley¡¯s hand. Lynn recognized him as Lauren, the man who gave him money yesterday to deliver a message.


    Lauren¡¯s face was ashen, as if he had already anticipated his fate. But when his gaze fell on Lynn behind Angley, he paused for a moment, as if he had found the only hope, and a smile squeezed out of his face.


    From the bottom of his heart, Lynn secretly ndered his teacher. Angley looked weak with his ck-framed sses and protruding cheekbones, but he had a strength far beyond that of an ordinary person.


    From the knowledge Lynn had learned from his notebook, he knew that many wizards tried to transform their bodies. Wizards are a profession with the least obvious weak points among other extraordinary power systems.


    Depending on the wizard¡¯s path, the direction of transformation also varied.


    However, one thing was certain¡ª the profession of wizards was like a group of researching schrs, rigorous and ambitious on the path in seeking the truth.


    Lauren was tied to the operating table with iron chains around his hands and feet.


    ¡°Come and take a closer look,¡± Angley said.


    Lynn took two steps forward and stood next to Angley.


    Angley injected Lauren with a white potion he had just mixed, and Lauren quickly fell into aa after the injection. Angley then slowly injected the dark green potion in his hand into Lauren¡¯s veins.


    Lauren¡¯s arm gradually swelled and deformed, with arge number of green scales appearing on the surface of his skin. As time ticked by, Lauren¡¯s arm continued to swell and expand.


    Lynn had grown ustomed to the situation, but he couldn¡¯t help but close his eyes and silently said in his heart, ¡®bang¡¯¡ª but the sound of the explosion did note as expected. When he opened his eyes again, he was amazed to see Lauren¡¯s right arm waspletely deformed, as if it had been transnted from a lizard onto a human body.


    The area where the arm met the shoulder was filled with numerousrge blood vessels that spread throughout the body, causing the veins to bulge and Lauren¡¯s cheeks to quickly sink inwards. This kind of distortion was obviously draining Lauren¡¯s vitality.


    In response, Angley quickly injected Lauren with another tube of transparent reagent. Lauren¡¯s aura stabilized, and the amount of vitality consumed immediately decreased significantly.


    ¡°It seems that the reason for the distortion is indeed due to vitality. My way of thinking about the potion is indeed correct,¡± Angley muttered to himself, with uncontroble excitement in his tone.


    As time passed, Lauren, lying on the operating table, transformed before Lynn¡¯s eyes into a half-human, half-beast monster covered in lizard-like scales. Suddenly, the lizard-man opened his eyes, revealing a bewildered expression as he raised his right arm, which was connected to the operating table on one end and to an iron chain bracelet wrapped around his wrist on the other end.


    The lizard-man struggled to turn his head and noticed the bracelet on his arm, as well as the scales and several newly grown nails. There was a hint of confusion in his snake-like pupils.


    The lizard-man suddenly realized that this was his own arm, and he was shocked by how it had been transformed. He was startled and opened his mouth in fright and anger, but what came out sounded more the howl of a wild beast.


    With a forceful tug, the iron chain stretched taut, making a loud nging sound. In his struggle, the entire operating table shook violently.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    Suddenly, the end of the iron chain bracelet on the right arm connected to the operating table was directly torn off, and two screws flew out, causing the long chain to swing and the strong arm grabbed towards Angley, who was the closest to the table.


    At that moment, a subtle silver light suddenly appeared on the inconspicuous ck robe that Angley was wearing. Soon after, a gray barrier emerged and protected Lynn. As the swinging chains collided with thisyer of barrier, they were instantly bounced high into the air.


    A branch flew out from Angley¡¯s sleeve, which quickly entangled the lizard-man and bound it tightly. After struggling for a while, the lizard-man¡¯s movements became weaker and weaker. Lynn was amazed as he watched this seemingly fragile branch that was thinner than an iron chain, yet capable of binding the lizard-man so tightly.


    ¡°Such a great experimental product,¡± Angley said with a creepy smile. Next moment, he uttered a cryptic syble from his mouth.


    A gray-white mist formed in the air in front of him and then entered the lizard-man¡¯s head. The lizard-man¡¯s body shook, then closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, losing consciousnesspletely.


    Noticing Lynn¡¯s curious gaze, Angley, who was in a good mood, exined, ¡°This is a simple zero-ring spell called Sleeping Curse. After all, there are always some naughty experimental materials who are not willing to ept experiments quietly, and this can make them quiet down a bit.¡±


    ¡°I see that you are interested in mutation. Here is a notebook that you can take a look at,¡± Angley said, and his ruby ring on his index finger flickered slightly. Next moment, a brown leather-covered book appeared in his palm. The leather on the surface of the book had many folds, but it shone under the candlelight, indicating exquisite care.


    Lynn took the not-so-thin leather-covered book and bowed respectfully. ¡°Thank you, teacher, for imparting me with knowledge.¡±


    Angley was very satisfied with Lynn¡¯s sensible behavior. ¡°This is the introductory notebook of my mutation studies that I recorded when I was young. It contains a lot of my insights and transcribed knowledge, which can help you get started.¡±


    ¡°I will definitely study hard,¡± Lynn said in a tone neither humble nor overbearing.


    ¡°Go back to your room and read it carefully. I¡¯m going to do some small experiments, and you cane backter to clean up theboratory,¡± Angley said.


    Lynn left theboratory with the book, preparing to study it thoroughly. As he was about to close the door, he heard Angley¡¯s voice from inside. ¡°Remember to study the content well in these few days. I¡¯ll give you five days to study and then check your progress. If you don¡¯t understand anything, you cane and ask me.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Lynn made his way down the wooden stairs and back into the first floor room. He gently rubbed the cover of the book, feeling the rough texture of the leather that seemed to hold the weight of history within it. As he opened the book, Lynn realized that it was a diary of sorts, written in a simr style to a journal.


    ¡°7th Era of Wizard Calendar Year 4670, the 5th day of the 13th month,¡± the diary entry began. ¡°Today, I attended my first ss on mutation studies at the academy. Unfortunately, the ss had already been going on for a month, and there were many technical terms that I did not understand. But I will study hard, as this qualification cost me a whole ten magic stones.


    ¡°Harin told me that my little sister¡¯s condition is likely due to a curse rted to mutation infection. As long as I study hard in this ss, I can find a way to restore my little sister¡¯s health.¡±


    Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered with interest at the mention of the 7th Era of Wizard Calendar. He had never heard of it before. Was it a unit of time used by wizards to record time?


    He didn¡¯t know, but he was familiar with the 13th month. When he first arrived in this world, he found it strange, but he quickly understood that in this world, there were thirteen months in a year, with each month consisting of exactly thirty days. In other words, this world had a total of 390 days in a year.


    It wasn¡¯t a big deal to get used to it. After all, it was only a difference of twenty-something days from his past life. However, the mention of the academy and the course of mutation studies suggests that there are ces where wizards can learn knowledge in a way simr to a school.


    It was hard to believe that his teacher, Angley, was actually an ¡°academically-trained¡± person. He thought Angley was a rogue wizard.


    Lynn continued reading down the page. The rest of the book was just Angley¡¯s annotations on some mutation terms. From the handwriting andyout, it was not a one-time record, but more like a daily entry.


    ¡°7th Era of Wizard Calendar Year 4670, the 10th day of the 13th month.


    With the help of Harin and by consulting relevant books in the library, I could barely understand what the teacher was saying. I had a fruitful day, and I was happy, but my little sister¡¯s condition was not optimistic, time was running out, and Angley, you had to master more knowledge as soon as possible. That¡¯s your only little sister, and she can only rely on you.


    I liked it here, but I also hated it. Here, I could ess a lot of knowledge, but it was also very indifferent. Almost allmunication between people followed the rules of wizards¡ª the exchange of interests, without any personal feelings.¡±


    Hmm, indeed peeking at the teacher¡¯s diary was much more interesting than dry knowledge.


    It was hard to imagine that his cold and aloof teacher had such a youthful side.


    As the diary progressed, the diary entries became fewer and fewer, with most of the content being notespiled by Angley. Most of them were about the knowledge rted to mutation studies, from entry-level to in-depth, gradually deepening. Lynn was fascinated and gradually deepened his understanding of mutation studies.


    He gradually understood the content of mutation studies. Mutation studies was a rtively broad discipline in the wizarding world, and they are twins with bloodline studies, like the connection between biology and chemistry, and they are inseparable from each other. A master of mutation studies must also be a master of bloodline studies. Conversely, a master of bloodline studies must also be proficient in mutation studies.


    This was because there were various creatures with extraordinary powers in the world, and they widely existed in various nes, while possessing various magical powers.


    Research, analysis, transfusion, replication, mutation, and evolution. It seemed that Angley¡¯s research should be on a kind of bloodline potion simr to that of the lizard-man.


    As Lynn continued to read, a line of ck characters suddenly appeared in the corner of his eyes¡ª ¡°Learned mutation studies, opened the Life upation panel.¡±


    Lynn opened his attribute panel and was surprised to find that there was indeed a new section, Life upation.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 2 (1/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.32


    Mental Strength: 2.0


    Mastery:


    ¡ª¡ªEarth Ring Meditation (7%)


    Life upation:


    ¡ª¡ªLevel 1 Mutation Studies (1%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 90¡¯


    There was a plus sign after mutation studies.


    Lynn discovered that his general experience points could be added to his Life upation.


    Ten experience points were not much, and he could earn them back in a day.


    After thinking about it, Lynn chose to allocate ten general experience points to mutation studies.


    The number (10/10) shed briefly and then returned to (0/10), but the level of mutation studies in front increased by 2%.


    Could ten general experience points earn 1% progress in mutation studies? Lynn thought¡ª Wouldn¡¯t he have to pay a tuition fee of 1,000 general experience points to break through to level 2 in mutation studies?


    No, he already knew 1%, so he should only need to pay 990 general experience points in tuition fees. Plus, he could continue to learn and increase his progress by acquiring knowledge. The tuition fees wouldn¡¯t be that much.


    The next moment, Lynn felt something strange. A clearness swept through his mind as if a door had been opened.


    As someone who had already started to practice meditation, he was more sensitive to spiritual things than ordinary people.


    Arge amount of knowledge leaked out from a door-like existence. This was originally an intangible thing, but it unexpectedly turned into another form of tangible knowledge.


    Lynn closed his eyes and savored it for a while, organizing the knowledge in his brain. Then he opened his eyes, and a hint of inexplicable expression shed in them.


    Interesting. It was indeed knowledge rted to mutation studies, and it was something he had never encountered before.


    From the level of this knowledge, it seemed that they were all at the beginner level of mutation studies, and didn¡¯t involve anything too advanced, which was perfectly suited for Lynn¡¯s grasp. It was a gradual process of filling in the gaps and making up for deficiencies, supplementing the knowledge he had already learned.


    However, because he only had 1% of the knowledge, many of the things he had learned were only superficial and not systematic.


    It turned out that mutation studies belonged to life upation. But what about bloodline studies and alchemical studies? Were they also included in the life upation? And what was the main upation?


    ***


    The night was chilly.


    At the foot of the mountain, a hunter dressed in animal skins wielded his machete to cut off the thorns along the way, while speaking to the two people behind him. ¡°I¡¯m sure that the footprints I foundst time when I went hunting on the mountain led in this direction. I remember there¡¯s an abandoned little house over there that used to be haunted and that¡¯s why it was deserted. Those missing people might have been abducted by ghosts there.¡±


    Behind the hunter was a group of more than ten people.


    Behind the group stood the members of the town security team, arranged in two rows, each of them carrying a musket and wearing leather armor. They held torches in their hands, illuminating the surroundings. Leading the group was a figure d in a suit of tinte armor, holding a small oilmp and carrying a broadsword on his back.


    Despite being fully covered in armor, the leader walked briskly as if the armor on him was made of paper instead of metal.


    The hunter led the way, and the others followed behind.


    This mountain was located to the east of the town and had few visitors, except for hunters and herb gatherers who asionally went up the mountain.


    ¡°Is this the house you were talking about?¡±


    Outside halfway up the mountainside, the members of the town security team gazed at the dpidated house before them.


    The fences outside had long since decayed, the yard was overgrown with weeds, and the exterior walls of the ramshackle wooden house were covered in ivy.


    Not a single sign of habitation could be discerned.


    ¡°If you dare to deceive us, you¡¯ll be done for!¡± One of the constables, carrying a musket on his back, growled menacingly.


    They had climbed such a long distance,ing up the mountain in the middle of the night. They were not here to engage in some haunted house exploration.


    In the dead of night, deprived of sleep and brought up the mountain by the Lord Knight, they dared not harbor any discontent towards him. However, this hunter¡ª as long as he wanted to continue living in the town, he had to submit to their authority.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    ¡°There¡¯s someone inside the house,¡± the knight at the forefront, d in armor, said.


    Living in this deste and abandoned wooden house was already suspicious. After all, living up in the mountains was prone to uncertaintiespared to the safe environment in the town. It was not what normal people would choose.


    Upon hearing the Lord Knight¡¯s words, the constable fell silent. At the same time, he stole a nce at the Lord Knight¡¯s figure with a hint of awe, and upon confirming that the Lord Knight did not take offense at his previous words, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Sir Matthew, the Lord Knight from out of town, wasn¡¯t a local. Their town couldn¡¯t produce such a noble knight. It was said that Matthew hailed from the fiefdom of a prominent noble, having passed the trials of knighthood. Even the mayor treated him with great caution.


    ¡°I saw a faint light behind one of the windows from a considerable distance, but as we approached, it went out,¡± Matthew calmly stated.


    In the silent night, his voice carried far beneath the vast expanse of the tree-filled forest.


    And Lynn, hidden behind the window, heard it clearly.


    He was already cautious enough. There were no curtains in the room, and he had dimmed the light in the oilmp to its lowest setting. He didn¡¯t even ce it on the table near the window but kept it on the ground.


    In this pitch-ck night, without any light, the words in the books would be unreadable.


    At the first sound from outside, Lynn promptly extinguished themp and moved to another room, hiding behind the window to observe discreetly.


    But he didn¡¯t expect¡­


    These guys¡­


    Lynn furrowed his brow.


    No, he had to inform his teacher as soon as possible. Only his teacher could deal with these people. With his current meager skills, not even grasping a single spell, if he were to confront these individuals¡­


    Lynn¡¯s gaze fell upon the objects they held, resembling firece poker.


    Though they were just muskets, he had no doubt that those muskets could turn him into a sieve with a single shot. As for whether Angley could block the muskets, that remained an unknown factor.


    After all, practice makes perfect. Without practical experience, Lynn had no idea if his teacher could withstand a bullet.


    Having be Angley¡¯s student, Lynn knew that if he were caught, he would, at the very least, be tied to the gallows or even burned alive. It was no longer a mere fantasy.


    Lynn turned away from the window and rushed up the stairs.


    The teacher¡¯s quarters were at the far end of the second floor.


    Standing outside the door, Lynn took a moment to catch his breath, then lightly knocked.


    ¡°Teacher.¡± Lynn called out.


    Silence filled the room.


    ¡°Teacher,¡± Lynn called out again from outside the door.


    <em>Creak</em>¡ª¡ª


    The wooden door opened slightly, revealing a narrow gap.


    Angley, with a grim expression, stood behind the door crack. His eyes locked onto Lynn like venomous snakes, devoid of any emotion.


    Lynn felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.


    ¡°Lynn, I hope you can provide me with a suitable reason and tell me why you¡¯ve disturbed me at this hour,¡± Angley¡¯s emaciated face seemed almost skeletal, his sunken eyes deep-set. He slowly opened his mouth, speaking with a deliberate and unhurried pace.


    ¡°Teacher, there are people outside. Many of them are armed with muskets,¡± Lynn quickly exined.


    Those individuals might be approaching the courtyard, ready to ascend the stairs. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time with idle talk while those people stormed in.


    ¡°From now on, don¡¯t bother me with these kinds of matters. Deal with these interruptions yourself,¡± said Angley, as a murky silver light flickered across the ruby ring on his finger. In the next moment, a short oak staff appeared in the palm of his hand. ¡°This staff contains two zero-ring spells: Acid Missile and Mental Shock.¡±


    Lynn epted the short staff, watching as the door closed.


    <em>Do I have to deal with that group of people?</em> Lynn felt a sense of confusion.


    Although he had read about how to use a magic staff in his notes, this would be his first time actually operating such a tool.


    Lynn¡¯s mood grew solemn.


    Gazing at the short oak staff held in his hand, Lynn¡¯s mind raced, recalling the intricate details from the books he had read.


    Although his teacher had previously provided him with the first notebook containing some information about spellcasting and magical tools, he had never actually put those teachings into practice,cking any real-world experience.


    But now it was toote; those people would be arriving imminently.


    Knowing Angley¡¯s temperament all too well, Lynn understood that if he hadn¡¯t adequately prepared for this, the consequences, given Angley¡¯s capricious nature, could be truly severe.


    With these thoughts weighing heavily on his mind, Lynn¡¯s emotions turned grave.


    He couldn¡¯t be certain that the contents of that notebook were entirely urate.


    However, with no other options avable, he had to resort to desperate measures.


    With this realization, Lynn had to focus his mental energy and attempt to establish a connection with the oak magic staff in his hand.


    Thankfully, the process went smoothly, and he effortlessly infused his mental energy into the oak staff, sessfully establishing a profound connection.


    A flood of information about the magic staff rushed into his mind.


    Simultaneously, he became aware of two distinct modules within it.


    It was a peculiar sensation, as if the oak magic staff he held harbored two invisible buttons, their existence detectable only through mentalmunication.


    These must be the spell modules mentioned in the notebook.


    Constructing spell modules within the magic staff meant that by expending his mental energy, Lynn could activate and utilize the spells stored within them.


    <em>Boom!!!</em>


    Suddenly, a powerful surge of elemental energy rippled through the courtyard, followed by an icy cold stream that crashed against the windows at the far end of the second-floor hallway, causing the ss panes to shudder and rattle.


    Echoing the disturbance were numerous cries of anguish.


    Lynn¡¯s expression grew solemn as he swiftly turned and descended the stairs, his footsteps muffled and cautious, tiptoeing to reduce any noise.


    His heartbeats quickened involuntarily, betraying the intensity of his emotions.


    He felt nervous, reminiscent of the days when he and his father took turns keeping watch during their escape, when every refugee around them could turn into a violent mob at any moment. Throughout their journey, he witnessed the cruel and ugly side of human nature far too often.


    ¡°Damn, there are magic traps here.¡±


    ¡°You, go ahead and scout!¡± came an angry voice from outside the yard.


    Lynn made his way to the ground floor and entered one of the rooms, hiding behind the broken window ss to secretly observe the scene in the yard. The ss was filled with impurities, transparent but cloudy.


    Lynn assumed a crouching position, cautiously peering through the broken shards of the windowpane, exposing just a single eye to survey the scene in the courtyard.


    At this moment, the wooden arch at the entrance of the yard had already shattered due to the explosion.


    Frost covered the ground, and several people were scattered around, some lying on the ground, others holding their faces, while the people standing nearby were also injured.


    He knew that Angley had set up magic traps at every entrance and exit of the yard and the house. It not only prevented people inside from escaping but also triggered the magic traps if anyone from outside entered.


    After being caught by a magic trap once, the knight in charge became even more vignt.


    At the forefront of the group, a hunter dressed in fur, carrying a bow and arrow, and holding a short knife, cautiously approached the house. He moved slowly, asionally looking back.


    Outside in the yard, a knight holding arge sword gripped it with one hand, the tip of the sword embedded in the ground, while his gloomy face scanned the surroundings left and right.


    Suddenly, the knight lifted his head and looked towards a specific window.


    Lynn crouched down, leaning against the wall. He didn¡¯t know if he had caught the attention of the knight because when the knight raised his head, he looked directly towards the window where Lynn was hiding.


    Lynn had been extremely careful in his hiding, not even exposing much of his head. Moreover, it was nighttime, so he couldn¡¯t be sure if the knight had noticed him or not.


    The person who was ordered to scout ahead proceeded cautiously, and Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered slightly.


    He knew that right at the entrance, there was a trap. He wasn¡¯t sure if there were any more traps behind, but he walked around the house daily, so it was highly unlikely.


    So, if the trap at the entrance was destroyed, those people could easily enter the house.


    Although the magic staff contained two abilities, Lynn estimated that he couldn¡¯t even be considered a third-rank wizard apprentice at the moment.


    At best, he could be regarded as a wizard apprentice who had just crossed the threshold of wizardry. He calcted that his current mental strength could support him in casting the spells inside the magic staff only three to four times, at most.


    It seemed insufficient.


    On the other side, although seven of the individuals were killed by the first magic trap, there were still eleven remaining, including a knight who possessed extraordinary strength.


    Lynn¡¯s mind raced as he quickly calcted. Mental Shock was a single-target damage spell, while Acid Missile theoretically targeted individual targets as well. However, in practice, this spell had ssh effects and a small area of effect.


    So, Acid Missile it is.


    Lynn infused his mental energy into the magic staff, activating the spell embedded within.


    In his mind, his mental energy flowed out like a rushing flood.


    It diminished by more than one-fifth, and the magic staff in his hand was fully activated.


    He felt a sense of readiness, as if he could unleash the spell at any moment.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    Lynn looked down at the magic staff, where a faint purple glow gathered at the tip.


    Surprisingly, it even had an indicator effect, although it was too conspicuous for someone as <em>upright</em> as himself.


    Lynn sighed inwardly. If he ever had the chance to make his own magic staff in the future, he would definitely create one with concealed fluctuations and light effects. Which <em>honest</em> wizard would go around with a glowing indicator?


    Approaching the window, Lynn took two steps back, blending into the darkness.


    Finding the right angle, he raised the magic staff, aiming at the individuals near the gate in the yard.


    In the next moment, the magic staff in his hand activated.


    Apanied by magical energy fluctuations, a purple beam shot out from the magic staff¡¯s tip.


    A substantial number of elemental fluctuations gathered in the air, rapidly coalescing into a massive purplish-ck liquid, about the size of a basketball.


    <em>Was this really just a zero-ring spell?</em>


    Lynn was surprised. The Acid Missile turned out to berger than he had imagined. He initially thought it would be bullet-sized, at most the size of an apple.


    But to his astonishment, it was asrge as a basketball, visually striking in its effect.


    Aiming at the enemy, he focused his mind.


    The Acid Missile shot forward, its speedparable to an arrow released from a bow.


    With the close distance, it reached the area where the members of the town¡¯s security team were in the yard in an instant.


    Unfortunately, Lynn didn¡¯t control the distance well, and the Acid Missile missed its intended target slightly.


    He had aimed for the knight, but this time it deviated a bit.


    It grazed the knight¡¯s right arm before flying past.


    Matthew reacted swiftly. The intense training he had received as a knight honed his reflexes, allowing him to draw his broadsword and effortlessly swing it like swatting a piece of straw, splitting the unidentified flying object into pieces.


    No matter what it was, it wouldn¡¯t stand a chance¡ª


    The Acid Missile, resembling a water-filled balloon, was instantly shed open.


    As the sword cut through, feeling the peculiar impact from the broadsword, Matthew had an inkling that he might have made a wrong decision.


    The Acid Missile burst with a loud bang.


    Countless droplets of acid scattered and sshed in all directions.


    Matthew closed his eyes and swiftly swung his broadsword, shielding his face.


    Lynn was aware of the characteristics of the Acid Missile. When it encounters obstacles or is disrupted by external forces, it explodes, causing secondary damage.


    In an instant, the people around became targets of the Acid Missile¡¯s attack.


    A significant amount of acid spread, drenching the group in a shower.


    <em>Sizzle sizzle sizzle</em>¡­


    The acidnded on their leather armor, emitting a sizzling sound and releasing a pungent white smoke.


    Soon, the acid ate through the leather armor, leaving behind gaping holes.


    The corrosive nature of the acid was incredibly potent.


    Those who had the acidnd on their armor were somewhat fortunate. For some, the acid sttered on their exposed skin, corroding their flesh and revealing grotesque wounds.


    The pain caused them to writhe on the ground.


    Unlike the previous frost magic trap, which had a bone-chilling coldness that provided some numbing effect, the corrosive pain inflicted by the acid was unbearable.


    Knight Matthew witnessed with his own eyes a drop of acid, norger than a walnut,nding onto the face of an ordinary person nearby.


    In just an instant, like a drop of ck ink on a nk piece of paper, the ink rapidly spread and soaked, corroding arge hole on his face. The person copsed to the ground, convulsing, with little chance of survival. Their facial features had beenpletely eroded, leaving behind a pitch-ck cavity. Even the bones inside had suffered considerable corrosion.


    At that very moment, the front portion of the broadsword¡¯s de in his hand abruptly fell off with a loud thud.


    The broadsword had previously blocked the acid aimed at his position, but it had been corroded by the acid, leaving behind an empty hilt with a broken de extending less than two to three centimeters from the hilt.


    Matthew¡¯s face slightly changed.


    The corrosive nature of this ghostly thing was terrifying. What the hell was it?


    ording to intelligence, there might be a wizard hiding here, but he had dealt with wizards before. They were just a bunch of tricksters, ying around with their petty magic. They might know a few shy spells, but theyck real power. They were no different from those magicians who perform acrobatics in the circus.


    Could it be that this wasn¡¯t magic at all, but some new alchemical creation made by those alchemists?


    Just as Matthew was astonished, suddenly his head felt heavy, as if someone had struck it hard with a hammer!


    His head became hazy, filled with dizziness and confusion. The surroundings appeared blurry, as if everything was spinning. Even controlling his own body became difficult.


    <em>Not good! He was ambushed!</em>


    Matthew didn¡¯t even realize how he had been caught off guard.


    Hidden in the darkness behind a window on the second floor, Lynn watched the stumbling knight struggling to maintain his bnce.


    The power of the spell was more formidable than he had imagined. Even a zero-ring spell like this possessed such tremendous power.


    It seemed that he had underestimated the strength of the wizard and overestimated the knight.


    Lynn raised his magic staff and aimed it at Matthew.


    A cluster of Acid Missiles gradually formed.


    Under the cover of night, it urately hit the stumbling knight who had been affected by the Mental Shock.


    With the experience from the first attempt, Lynn¡¯s second shot was precise.


    The acid hit Matthew¡¯s head.


    He convulsed and rolled on the ground, resembling the ordinary people who had been hit by the acid.


    The only difference was that he held on a little longer.


    He continued convulsing for several seconds before finally ceasing. His suit of armor, once protecting his entire body, was now corroded and pockmarked, along with the remaining flesh.


    After consecutively casting three spells, Lynn felt his legs growing weak. It seemed that in the future, he needed to be cautious and not deplete his mental energy carelessly.


    The remaining mental energy would be enough for one more spell.


    Within a short period, casting four zero-ring spells consecutively was pretty much his current limit.


    Lynn looked at the group of people lying near the entrance of the courtyard.


    Not everyone had fallen¡ª there were still four individuals standing.


    Some were far enough, while others had managed to avoid direct contact with the Acid Missile, either due to the projectiles missing exposed body parts or theirrades serving as human shields, taking the hit for them.


    As Matthew copsed, the remaining individuals exchanged bewildered nces.


    The four who were still standing immediately dispersed and fled downhill.


    At most, only one person could be left behind, unless someone was willing to destroy the Acid Missile, just like the knight had <em>kindly </em>done moments ago.


    While Lynn contemted, the four individuals had already covered a considerable distance.


    Even if the Acid Missile were to explode, their range might not be enough to catch all four of them.


    Lynn cleared his mind.


    The hunter, seeing that everyone behind him had been killed, turned around and started to retreat.


    Witnessing this scene, the hunter dared not continue entering the ominous-looking house before him.


    To him, this wooden house was nothing short of a terrifying devil¡¯sir.


    The hunter slowly backed away.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes gleamed, knowing he had onest opportunity to cast a spell. He had heard the hunter¡¯s voice guiding them from a distance earlier.


    ¡°Acid Missile.¡±


    He raised his magic staff for the final time.


    The hunter attempted to dodge, but the proximity was too close, and he was struck directly by the Acid Missile.


    A living person, right in front of Lynn, was corrodedpletely, not even a trace of bone remaining.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    The spell was undeniably convenient for destroying corpses and obliterating any traces.


    However, the power of wizards was truly terrifying. Lynn, a mere novice who had just entered the threshold, not even qualifying as a wizard¡¯s apprentice with only a magic staff in hand, had managed to vanquish a legitimate team led by a knight, consisting of a dozen individuals.


    What kind of power did his teacher, who could easily instruct him in such spells, possess?


    Of course, Lynn was well aware that, based on the knowledge he had acquired from the wizard¡¯s manual, wizards were not frail beings with high damage but low endurance. They tended to be well-rounded hexagonal warriors, favoring aprehensive approach to their development.


    But those were synonymous with formal wizards, not someone like himself, a little apprentice.


    He had no means of defense whatsoever. His sess earlier had relied solely on geographical advantage and the element of surprise.


    If he were to be ambushed, his frail body wouldn¡¯t withstand a single shot from a musket, nor could it endure the weight of a heavy sword or the sharpness of arrows.


    However, everything would gradually get better. Lynn could learn a lot from Angley.


    But with so many casualties on the other side, though Lynn didn¡¯t know where they came from, they were likely affiliated with a nearby faction.


    They could belong to a certain noble family or perhaps a local official.


    Angley¡¯s extensive capturing of experimental <em>materials </em>made it usible that one of the missing individuals could be a rtive of a noble or official.


    With the losses suffered by the enemy, the next group that arrived would surely berger.


    Lynn could only hope that they woulde during the day, as Angley would then take action.


    A sense of urgency rose within Lynn. He would have to meditate diligently in the near future, trying to trigger more daily tasks.


    Unfortunately, his quest system was rather rigid, only disying daily tasks when he met the conditions to activate them.


    The umted general experience points could be utilized to level up.


    Upon leveling up, Lynn would receive a 0.3 increase in all attributes.


    This included, but was not limited to, physical fitness and mental strength.


    Lynn had already noticed a discernible improvement in his meditation speed after leveling up, but he hadn¡¯t conducted thorough testing to determine the exact efficiency of this enhancement.


    But meditation itself was a delicate practice, so Lynn keenly sensed the changes within himself.


    Leveling up improved the efficiency of meditation. If one were to put it in simpler terms, it was like enhancing one¡¯s ¡°aptitude.¡± Therefore, the earlier one leveled up, the better, as it led to higher efficiency in subsequent advancements.


    The sooner the leveling urred, the greater the benefits and rewards reaped.


    To advance from level 1 to level 2 in mutation studies, it required a full thousand points of general experience. Using those experience points to level up could raise one¡¯s level by a whopping ten levels¡ª if the required experience points didn¡¯t increase as the level advanced.


    ¡°Well done,¡± a voice suddenly came from behind.


    Lynn¡¯s body tensed up before rxing as he recognized the voice as that of his teacher.


    ¡°Teacher,¡± Lynn turned around and slightly bowed.


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t handle the aftermath properly,¡± Angley remarked. ¡°Those four individuals will spread the news. The knight you killed had a coat of arms on his armor with the pattern of a Luanweihua, this means that he was a knight under the Duke of Luanweihua.¡±


    ¡°Knights cultivated by nobles like these are all registered. If they die or go missing, it will attract the attention of the nobles behind them.¡±


    ¡°What kind of characters these nobles are, you should know better,¡± Angley said calmly.


    Indeed, Lynn was well aware of the character of these nobles.


    They were greedy, cunning, and unscrupulous.


    Whether from his past memories or the experiences he had gone through after transmigration, Lynn understood that the kingdom¡¯s so-calledws were merely talismans for those with power and influence, while for themon people, they were nothing more than nk sheets of paper.


    Thirty years ago, the kingdom revised a ¡°constitution¡± iming to protect the rights of citizens.


    Previously, when the daughter of a tailor in their town went out with her friends for an outing and was vited by someone, the tailor went to the local government office to report the incident. That very night, a gang of thugs stormed into the tailor¡¯s house, looting everything and leaving no trace of the tailor. The tailor¡¯s daughter and wife were also abducted, andter, someone spotted the tailor¡¯s wife and daughter in the red-light district of the town. Before long, both the tailor¡¯s wife and daughter ended their lives in the red-light district.


    Everyone knew that the perpetrator who vited the tailor¡¯s daughter was the youngest son of a baron, but no one could do anything about it.


    The head of the local government office happened to be the baron¡¯s brother-inw, and the mayor was the baron¡¯s younger brother. The baron¡¯s household even maintained hundreds of manor guards, all equipped with muskets.


    In the town, the baron¡¯s family held absolute power.


    And this was just a baron¡ª above the baron, there were viscounts, earls, marquises, dukes, and even princes.


    Layer uponyer of nobility, like various sizes of leeches crawling on the colossal beast that was the kingdom.


    Even with the constitution being revised time and again, it couldn¡¯t change the fact that the kingdom was deeply mired in its ways.


    Suddenly, gunshots echoed from the distant forest.


    Before long, a towering figure darted through the trees.


    Bathed in moonlight, the figure rapidly approached the direction of the wooden house. As it drew nearer, Lynn could finally discern its appearance.


    Lynn was taken aback.


    It was unmistakably Lauren, the lizard-man from his teacher¡¯sboratory in the morning.


    In just one day, Lauren had undergone such a transformation.


    ¡°Master, everything has been taken care of,¡± the lizard-man knelt down on one knee.


    The gentle moonlight cast a metallic gleam on its smooth scales. Its robust body was well-built, and its heavily developed muscles left no doubt about itsbat prowess on the battlefield.


    To be able to mass-produce warriors of this level with just a potion, Lynn had no doubt that the knowledge Angley possessed was terrifying. Lynn had been following Angley around these days, and Angley had not specifically avoided Lynn when making the potion. Based on what he learned, Lynn could roughly deduce that the potion capable of transforming people into lizard-men was not particrly expensive.


    The power of a wizard was not only reflected in personal strength but might be even more terrifying in other aspects.


    ¡°For the time being, there won¡¯t be any trouble. But it won¡¯t stay quiet here for long. Pack your things and get a carriage ready to head to Bangor Port in the south,¡± Angley said.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lynn was initially taken aback, but then he became ecstatic.


    ¡°The potion has been sessful. You go pack your things. I¡¯ll give you the magic spell to control him. I¡¯ve already deactivated all the magic traps in this house, so you cane and go as you please.¡± Angley tapped Lynn¡¯s forehead, and then turned and went upstairs.


    Lynn felt an itch in the center of his forehead, as if something new had appeared in his mind.


    Once he snapped out of it, teacher Angley had already walked far away.


    Lynn closed his eyes and sank into the consciousness space.


    In the center of the consciousness space, seven earth rings rotated slowly, resembling celestial bodies in the pitch-ck space of consciousness.


    Adjacent to them, there emerged a three-dimensional structure glowing with a soft blue light, akin to intricate runes, calmly hovering.


    Lynn¡¯s senses immersed within, and the rune conveyed its information back to him.


    He discerned its purpose¡ª it was a mental control spell, equipped with two distinct functions, enforcement and punishment.


    Upon activation of the enforcement function, any subject under the influence of this control spell would bepelled to cease all current physical actions, their agency forcefully brought to a halt.


    As for the punishment aspect, it would inflict considerable pain upon the target¡¯s consciousness, with an adjustable intensity of suffering.


    A delicate, pale blue, transparent thread extended outward from the confines of the control spell.


    Lynn opened his eyes, his deep, dark pupils fixated upon the direction of this pale blue, transparent thread.


    The transparent thread traced its path all the way outside the window and arrived at the forehead of the kneeling lizard-man in the courtyard.


    It was apparent that this lizard-man had likely already undergone conditioning by his teacher.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Lynn descended the stairs and stepped into the courtyard, pushing open the wooden door. As he ventured outside, he felt a sense of surrealism, having spent three months confined within those walls. Only the lingering scent of blood in the air and the acidic odor of corrosive substances reminded him of the grim reality he faced.


    ¡°Stand up,¡± Lynn said to the lizard-man.


    Having heard the conversation between Angley and Lynn earlier, the lizard-man rose respectfully and approached.


    It was only after the lizard-man stood up that Lynn fully grasped his towering height. Looking up, the lizard-man must have been well over two meters tall. There was a charred mark on its chest, apanied by ck powder residue and a pungent smell of gunpowder, probably from a musket that hit its chest moments ago.


    ¡°Master,¡± the lizard-man replied with reverence. His hearing had been enhanced, and even though they were in the courtyard, he had clearly heard every word exchanged between Angley and Lynn.


    Lynn scrutinized Lauren, realizing that employing both kindness and authority was the best way to win someone¡¯s loyalty.


    The control spell represented authority, instilling genuine fear and apprehension in Lauren.


    However, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily make him obedient.


    Lauren¡¯s response was somewhat peculiar. Despite being freed, he had chosen to return on his own. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to miss his wife? Shouldn¡¯t he seize the opportunity to escape and find her?


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you run away just now?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Master, in my current condition, where could I escape to?¡± Lauren replied wryly.


    ¡°Angley promised me that if I cooperated with him in the subsequent experiments and tests, he would give my wife a substantial sum of money,¡± Lauren exined with reverence.


    ¡°Moreover, Master, you are an esteemed wizard. I am capable of serving you¡ª I used to be a mere baker. Due to my prolonged exposure to baking, I developed severe lung disease, frequently coughing. But now, I feel much healthier,¡± Lauren nced at Lynn, cautiously adding, ¡°If you wish, Master, I can also bake bread for you.¡±


    So, Lauren¡¯s previous upation was that of a baker.


    Lynn nced at him for a moment. Being a baker might sound like a decent profession, but in reality, it was quite strenuous. Lynn¡¯s uncle was a baker, and he suffered from asthma and eczema. Moreover, their life wasn¡¯t particrly affluent, facing hardships and exhaustion.


    The profit margin for bread was not high, and bread tended to harden quickly. Only when it was freshly baked would it remain soft. So, in order to sell bread more effectively, Lynn¡¯s uncle had to workte into the night, spending most of his time in the dusty bakery. All this effort just to have peoplee to the shop and buy a loaf of bread before they set out each morning.


    Lynn understood Lauren¡¯s situation. In his current state, the human world outside could no longer amodate him. Therefore, he chose to seek shelter by following Angley.


    ¡°Alright, first, help me tidy up these things on the ground,¡± Lynn said.


    Judging from their attire, they were probably constables from the nearby town at the foot of the mountain. Each of them was d in standard imperial leather armor and carried a musket.


    Lynn picked up an intact musket.


    The musket was approximately 1.5 meters long and weighed around 5 kilograms. From the perspective of its weapon structure, it was a striking-type flintlock musket. Although it was far inferior to the modern firearms ofter eras, it would still be more than enough to kill a person with one shot at close range within several dozen meters.


    uracy was its only w. At close range, it was fine, but at a slightly longer distance, the uracy of this flintlock musket was mostly a matter of luck.


    Lynn collected all the flintlock muskets from the ground. These weapons could fetch a good price if sold. Although the kingdom officially prohibited firearms trading, there was still a thriving ck market for them.


    Especially in times of turmoil like the present, some wealthy individuals didn¡¯t hesitate to spend money to arm themselves.


    These flintlock muskets were genuine hard currency, and Lynn didn¡¯t mind carrying a couple of them for self-defense.


    Lynn continued searching the bodies and found over a dozen deerskin pouches, all small and designed to be worn around the waist.


    Gently tapping them, there seemed to be something inside, making a slight jingling sound.


    Opening one of the deerskin pouches, Lynn found that it contained paper cartridges wrapped in oil paper.


    Lynn opened one of the paper cartridges and inspected its contents. It contained gunpowder and lead bullets.


    ¡°Master,¡± Lauren handed a brown bag to Lynn.


    Lynn took the bag, and as he shook it, a crisp and melodious sound emanated from within.


    Upon opening the bag, he found it filled with shiny silver coins and varying amounts of copper coins. The silver coins were mostly standardized, with a woman¡¯s figure depicted at their center, her hands crossed protectively in front of her.


    Looking up, Lynn noticed a striking resemnce between the figure on the coins and the moon in the sky.


    He emptied the contents of the bag and was pleasantly surprised to discover an unexpected golden coin.


    Over the years, the kingdom had minted various currencies. Typically, each new king would have coins minted with their own likeness. Depending on the kingdom¡¯s strength at the time, the gold content of each generation¡¯s coins varied. Furthermore, some regions would mint their own coins, leading to a difference in the value of coins.


    In themon market, there were varying exchange rates between different versions of gold and silver coins.


    Oddly enough, silver coins had standardized minting standards on the market, making them the most widely circted and resilient currency inparison.


    There was, however, a humorous incident in the past when a notorious miserly marquis¡¯ family had their private mint, which produced silver coins with significantly lower silver content, resulting in them turning ck.


    He then attempted to use these ckened silver coins to trade with other nobles, but naturally, he wasn¡¯t sessful.


    Subsequently, the marquis devised a crafty scheme¡ª using these ckened silver coins as payment for his knights and subjects under his rule.


    This caused quite amotion, and it was said that during a hunting trip, the marquis suffered a fall from a horse and was left partially paralyzed. Not long after, he passed his title to his son and eventually passed away.


    After the new marquis ascended, he quickly made amends by providing properpensation to his subjects, and all the previously issued ckened coins were recalled and reminted.


    Thus, an uncanny unspoken agreement was maintained between the major nobles and the royal family, ensuring the resilience of the silver coin currency.


    However, there were too many muskets here, and Lynn couldn¡¯t possibly carry so many.


    If only he could use spatial items to store the muskets inside, that would be great.


    ¡°Apany me to the town,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°But your current appearance won¡¯t do¡ª you need to conceal it a bit,¡± Lynn thought for a moment and had Lauren follow him inside the house to tear down one of the curtains from a room.


    The curtain was old, covered in dust, and had holes chewed by insects in some ces.


    Lauren draped therge curtain over himself, covering his body.


    Two holes, onerge and one small, were conveniently positioned near his eyes, and following Lynn from behind, in the darkness of the night, he looked like a ghost donning a cloak.


    The small town was situated not far from the foot of the mountain, and several figures could be seen in a few houses on the outskirts of the town. The recent gunshot had startled the inhabitants inside.


    From a distance, it appeared to be a small medieval-style European town nestled in the mountains, with many buildings featuring abination of half-timbered and stone structures. Among them, scattered throughout, were wooden thatched cottages.


    The uneven cobblestone roads covered the ground, but many ces were damaged, with weeds growing in the cracks.


    At the heart of the town, a vague outline of a small castle could be seen, likely the residence of the town¡¯s nobles.


    As they got closer, Lynn caught a whiff of the smell of cow dung and horse manure wafting through the air.


    Walking through the town, Lynn knew where to go to rent a carriage or sell his muskets.


    Following the sound, on a street near the southern edge of the town, light spilled out from the windows of arge building. Above the entrance of the building was a prominent sign with a giant carriage and a red leaf symbol.


    Approaching, Lynn looked up and saw the sign of the still-operating establishment. ¡°Red Leaf Inn.¡±


    An inn, amon sight throughout the kingdom. Virtually every small town or city had one.


    A ce for travelers to spend the night, gather for chat and drinks, and also serve as a hub for renting horse-drawn carriages or engaging in certain trades.


    Lynn pushed open the wooden door, and immediately, a cacophony of noise and indescribable odors assailed him.


    The mingling scents of beer, ale, sweat, various foods, cheap perfume, and the burning of tallow candles on the wall shelves filled the air.


    The atmosphere inside the inn¡¯s hall was stuffy with little cirction, but it was much warmer than outside.


    In the center of the hall was a small stove, with wooden tables and stools where drunkards and travelers sat in small groups of twos and threes.


    A waiter was busy cleaning up the vomit left by some of the drunkards.


    As the wooden door was pushed open, a cold draft rushed in.


    The nearby patrons noticed Lynn as he walked in and then shifted their gaze to Lauren standing behind him.


    The air in the inn seemed to suffocate, overwhelmed by Lauren¡¯s eerie appearance and imposing stature. Even in a small town like this, finding a man over two meters tall was extremely rare.


    A neatly dressed waiter approached them. ¡°Good evening, sir. What can I assist you with?¡±


    ¡°Is your boss avable?¡± Lynn asked directly.


    ¡°Please wait a moment,¡± the waiter replied and went to inform the innkeeper.


    After a short while, a tall and lean man in his early thirties, with a goatee, came down the stairs. He nced at Lauren standing behind Lynn and then back at Lynn. ¡°Please follow me this way.¡±


    They ascended the wooden stairs to an upstairs room by the window.


    The man spoke, ¡°What can I do for you, sir?¡±


    ¡°I want to purchase a carriage to travel to Bangor Port,¡± Lynn said.


    Lynn was still wearing the clothes he had on when he fled, and as an innkeeper himself, he had traveled extensively in his youth and had met many people. He could gather a lot from someone¡¯s demeanor.


    However, standing behind Lynn, Lauren¡¯s peculiar attire, with a burly figure draped in what seemed like a curtain, made him somewhat inscrutable. Moreover, it gave off a faint sense of danger.


    Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t think it was an actual curtain¡ª it should be some unique style of clothing.


    ¡°Our inn does offer carriage rental services. We belong to the official inn guild and cooperate with many inns across the country. But if you¡¯re not a frequent carriage traveler, there¡¯s no need to buy one specifically. Though carriage purchase isn¡¯t overly expensive, the subsequent care is quite troublesome. It requires feed, grain, and coarse salt, not to mention hiring a coachman. The daily upkeep cost is about one silver coin,¡± Ted exined.


    Lynn pondered¡ª if he bought a carriage, he would also need to hire a coachman. When they reached Bangor Port, they probably wouldn¡¯t be going elsewhere, and maintaining the horses would require a stable. Upon further consideration, it seemed rather troublesome.


    ¡°How much is the rental fee for a carriage?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°That depends on what type of carriage the guest wants to rent,¡± Ted replied.


    ¡°If the guest is in a hurry, the whole carriage can be chartered. If not, you can wait for a shared carriage. The shared carriage charges per person, and if there are fewer passengers, the price will be more favorable. Chartering the whole carriage is a bit more expensive.¡±


    ¡°Charter,¡± Lynn said calmly.


    Shared carriages were too troublesome, and his teacher¡¯s identity was too sensitive, making it risky to share a carriage with strangers. Lynn wasn¡¯t worried about himself but rather concerned for the safety of the other passengers if they were to travel together.


    ¡°There are two types of chartering. One is where the guest takes care of their own amodation and food expenses, which would offer a more favorable price. The other is a full-service package provided by our inn, including amodation at various inns along the way. Both options are charged based on the distance traveled. For t roads, it¡¯s 8 silver coins per hundred miles, and for mountainous routes, it¡¯s 12 silver coins per hundred miles. If you choose the full-service package, an additional 1 silver coin will be charged per day,¡± Ted exined.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. Our carriage is equipped with a distance drum. For long journeys, it will be sounded every ten miles, and if the distance is less than ten miles, it¡¯s considered a free gift to the guest,¡± Ted smiled.


    After all, each long-distance journey was a big deal. In this small town, there were not many people willing to embark on such lengthy travels. Most people preferred short trips, and only when they were in a hurry would they opt for a rental carriage.


    For many farmers, a long-distance journey would cost most of their life savings.


    Lynn pondered, silently estimating the cost. The distance to Bangor Port was probably seven to eight hundred miles from here, and he wasn¡¯t sure how much of it would be through mountainous terrain or t roads.


    If calcted based on Ted¡¯s prices, the journey to Bangor Port would cost nearly a hundred silver coins.


    One silver coin in the market could be exchanged for 20 copper coins.


    Seeing Lynn lost in thought, Ted added, ¡°Our inn happens to have a carriage avable now. If the guest is ready, we can set off whenever you wish.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow morning,e to pick us up on the main road outside the town,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Do you mind telling me the destination?¡± Ted asked.


    ¡°Bangor Port.¡±


    ¡°Bangor Port is about 760 miles away from here, and we need to pass through the Sagunto Mountains midway. If you require full-board service, the journey will take approximately thirteen to fifteen days, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The price would be 92 silver coins. How does that sound to you?¡± Ted exined.


    ¡°If you are a regr guest, there is no need for a deposit. However, since we are meeting for the first time, we require a sixty percent deposit in advance,¡± Ted added.


    ¡°I have another matter to discuss with you,¡± Lynn said.


    After speaking, Lynn nced at Lauren behind him.


    Lauren obediently stepped forward and ced the bundle he had been carrying in his arms on the table.


    A crisp sound resonated as the contents inside hit the table.


    Ted was momentarily stunned but quickly seemed to realize something. He looked at Lynn with a hint of surprise in his eyes, which flickered slightly.


    His gaze fell on the tightly closed door, and he lifted the bup covering the object on the table.


    He saw the flintlock muskets ced on the table.


    He appeared somewhat wary as he looked at Lynn.


    Having a few flintlock muskets wasn¡¯t a big deal, but being able to produce six at once was extraordinary.


    In this remote little town, there were only two ces where someone could have ess to such a number of flintlock muskets¡ª one was the Baron Badwar residing in the town, and the other was the local constable¡¯s office.


    Of course, there was also the possibility that they came from elsewhere and were trying to sell the flintlock muskets here.


    Though flintlock muskets could fetch a good price in the ck market, they were not too expensive. Despite strict control, they were not overly difficult to manufacture, and the required materials were not too scarce. After all, they were already widely equipped in the military.


    ¡°I can buy one musket back from you for 40 silver coins,¡± Ted offered.


    Sensing that Lynn was not entirely satisfied with the initial arrangement, he added, ¡°Actually, this price is already quite favorable. After all, not just anyone can afford such a musket, and finding a buyer can be quite troublesome. If I can¡¯t find a buyer, I¡¯ll be stuck with them myself.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Lynn said. ¡°I¡¯ll sell you all six. Part of it will cover the carriage fee, and the rest will be settledter.¡±


    ¡°Please wait a moment, sir,¡± Ted nodded, then left the room.


    As Lynn watched Ted¡¯s departing figure, Lauren turned his attention back to him. ¡°Master, do you think he will betray us?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but he won¡¯t do anything rash until he¡¯s certain there¡¯s no one behind us,¡± Lynn replied.


    Merchants are profit-driven, and the smarter they are, the more they consider. Before confirming that there¡¯s no one behind us, Ted wouldn¡¯t dare to take any rash actions.


    By the time he finished investigating anything, he and the teacher would have already left.


    With money, there were many ways to reach Bangor Port. Lynn wasn¡¯t worried about being reported. The town¡¯s defense forces had suffered significant losses, and they wouldn¡¯t have the resources to pursue them now.


    Of course, all this was based on the premise that his teacher was a powerful wizard.


    Once the teacher asked him to find a carriage, he did just that. The remaining safety issues were no longer his concern.


    When ites to fighting, the teacher would be at the front, and all he had to do was cheer from behind.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Leaving the Red Leaf Inn, Lynn had an extra deerskin bag in his hand, and the bag swayed slightly as he carried it. Inside, it was filled with silver coins, a total of 185 pieces.


    He paid 55 coins as a deposit, and the remaining 37 would be paid upon reaching the destination.


    Having sold six flintlock muskets and having ten remaining, at the price of 40 silver coins each, it amounted to a considerable sum, a ¡°huge amount¡± rtive tomoners. However, for nobles and wealthy merchants, 400 silver coins were not much. Sometimes, a luxurious feast could cost even more than that.


    Back on the mountain, Lynn arranged a room for Lauren.


    Then, he returned to his own room and began to tidy up.


    In fact, there wasn¡¯t much to tidy up.


    Apart from a few pieces of clothing and a ck bundle for storing clothes, he put the money bag inside the bundle.


    Lighting a candle, Lynn continued to study the diary that teacher Angley had given him.


    From this book, Lynn learned a lot.


    Moreover, behind the subject of mutation studies, there was a progress bar.


    Although the progress bar was currently stuck at 2% without advancing, Lynn understood that it was because he hadn¡¯t learned enough to push the progress from 2% to 3%.


    The feeling of learning with a progress indicator was truly intriguing, filling Lynn with anticipation for further studies.


    After reading for a while, Lynn extinguished the candle andy down on the bed to rest.


    He had been busy all night and even went to the town.


    Now, after returning and reading for a while, it was alreadyte.


    The next morning.


    Lynn got up and prepared breakfast.


    ¡°Teacher Angley.¡± Lynn heard footsteps behind him, and as he turned around, he saw his teacher, Angley.


    Today, Angley woke up rtively early and had a goodplexion on his face. When he heard Lynn¡¯s greeting, Angley just nodded faintly and walked past him.


    Soon after, Lynn saw Angley heading towards the hallway where the detained <em>materials </em>were kept. He withdrew his gaze, knowing that some things were not within his purview.


    Not long after, agonizing screams echoed from inside the hallway. Lynn¡¯s eyelids twitched vigorously, and his hands trembled slightly as he stirred the pot of soup.


    Lauren, who stood in the corner of the kitchen, swayed his tail and lowered his head, his eyes filled with fear.


    Taking a deep breath, Lynnposed himself and continued cooking the food calmly. Earlier in the morning, he had cooked all the food in the kitchen, preparing arge pot of a sumptuous breakfast, thinking it would be thest meal for the imprisoned prisoners. But now, it seems unnecessary.


    Angley returned to the kitchen, and a faint hint of blood filled the air around him.


    ¡°Teacher, the carriage has been arranged. It¡¯s on the main road, a little way down from the foot of the mountain,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Hm.¡± Angley nodded lightly.


    ¡°Teacher, I also spoke with the innkeeper, and they will prepare food on the way. I gave them some extra money to make the food as good as possible,¡± Lynn continued.


    ¡°You handle those matters,¡± Angley replied nonchntly, seemingly unconcerned.


    After breakfast, Lynn entered theboratory and found all the experimental equipment neatly packed away.


    Angley was dressed simply in a ck cloak with gold trim, and a in ck velvet long-sleeved shirt. There was no visible sign of any packages on him. Lynn knew that his teacher had spatial equipment.


    The experimental equipment in theboratory must have already been stored in Angley¡¯s spatial equipment.


    As they walked down the hallway, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but nce into the depths of the hallway.


    The hallway was quiet, and all the room doors were wide open.


    A faint smell of blood wafted in the air.


    Gazing at the room furthest inside, Lynn noticed that its door was also ajar. However, there was nothing following behind the teacher when he hade earlier.


    A shiver ran down Lynn¡¯s spine.


    In Angley¡¯s eyes, human lives were merely numbers.


    ncing back at the deserted hallway, Lynn turned back and returned to the kitchen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let this food go to waste,¡± Lynn said to Lauren, who was squatting on the floor.


    Lauren crouched on the ground, his long tail bncing him like a stool, extending from behind his back to the ground. The sturdy-scaled tail supported his body.


    ¡°Finish this food,¡± Lynn poured the soup and porridge from the bucket into a bowl, and Lauren picked up the bowl, drinking it all in one gulp.


    Then he smacked his lips and extended his emerald-green tongue to lick the soup from the corners of his mouth.


    Lynn looked at Lauren and then at the remaining half of the iron bucket. He felt that spooning it into the bowl onedle at a time was somewhat unnecessary, so he simply handed the bucket to Lauren.


    ¡°You just drink straight from the bucket.¡±


    At first, Lauren used a spoon to eat, but he soon found it inconvenient.


    He simply lifted the iron bucket and swallowed mouthfuls directly.


    As the food rushed down his throat, Lynn watched Lauren¡¯s neck swell and thicken almost twice its original size. It seemed that after transforming into a lizard-like being, Lauren¡¯s body had undergone some changes¡ªincluding his appetite.


    ¡°Master¡¯s culinary skills are truly amazing,¡± Laurenplimented, patting his slightly bloated belly after finishing the food.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Cooking (1) ¨C Cook aplete pot of food.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Passed.¡±


    ¡°Reward: 5 general experience points.¡±


    A message shed in the corner of Lynn¡¯s vision.


    Lynn nodded without showing any emotion, ¡°As long as you can eat it.¡±


    However, he nced at Lauren and felt that something might be amiss. It seemed like this guy was showing signs of bing a glutton.


    During this journey, he didn¡¯t know if the food provided by Ted would be enough for him.


    Hmm. But lizards are cold-blooded reptiles and have a strong resistance to hunger. He wondered if Lauren had inherited this natural endurance.


    Angley had already gone upstairs from the basement.


    Lynn looked at the kitchen, considering packing some things to take with him. But after observing for a while, he felt that there wasn¡¯t much worth taking. After all, they weren¡¯t valuable items.


    When they arrived at the new ce, he could easily acquire some new ones.


    He then took another look at the ce where magical herbs were cultivated.


    Lynn noticed that the Purple Phoenix Flower, which was being cultivated there, had also been taken away by the teacher.


    Well, it seemed that all the magical items had been taken away by the teacher.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lynn said.


    Lauren followed behind Lynn.


    Suddenly, Lauren grabbed Lynn¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Master, be careful. I feel like¡­ something is watching us,¡± Lauren said.


    Lynn squinted his eyes and stopped in his tracks.


    In the quiet hallway, the spiraling stairs led upward, and only the flickering candle mes on the walls provided a dim illumination.


    As he gazed, Lynn noticed something amiss.


    The candle mes burned, casting a warm orange glow on the walls. The intery of light and shadow was evident, but at the corner, a massive shadow seemed out of ce.


    There was supposed to be nothing there, but arge, shapeless shadow obstructed the passage.


    A presence, invisible to the eye, stood in the corner of the hallway.


    Lynn¡¯s heart tightened.


    The shadow slowly wriggled.


    Shifting from the wall¡¯s corner, the shadow gradually moved, altering the intery of light and shadow until it gradually engulfed the area in front of him.


    Lauren¡¯s body trembled slightly, showing his fear. However, he mustered his courage and positioned himself protectively in front of Lynn.


    ¡°Master, you run first when the timees.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, no need.¡± Lynn had a hunch about what it was.


    Right in front of him, on the deep gray wall tiles, the air began to distort.


    A gigantic head emerged gradually from the surrounding air, taking form before his eyes.


    Its orange pupils were asrge as fists, with ck lines crisscrossing within them. The dark, vertical pupils stared fixedly at Lynn.


    Semi-transparent scales obscured its true appearance, disying an array of mixed colors.


    The dark red core undted, seemingly discerning Lynn¡¯s scent.


    After a few seconds of staring, the colossal head slowly retracted backward.


    The scales blended gradually with the surroundings until it disappeared from sight.


    Just like that, right before Lynn¡¯s eyes, the mysterious figure gradually disappeared from view.


    The shadows on the wall moved slowly, and the light returned to its original state.


    ¡°W-what was that? Is it a monster?¡± Lauren stammered, his long tail swaying slightly behind him.


    Lynn¡¯s mouth twitched, finding the scene before him somewhat incongruous.


    <em>Could you please not wag your tail so fast while saying that?</em>


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    When Lynn arrived in the courtyard, Angley, d in a ck cloak, was already standing just outside the main gate.


    Hearing footsteps behind him, Angley walked straight towards the downhill path.


    Lynn followed closely behind, while Lauren wrapped himself in a curtain-like cloak and walked at the rear.


    By the side of the dry dirt road, a ck carriage stood silently by the roadside. Two horses were harnessed to the front, and behind them was a ck carriage with four wheels.


    The carriage was not veryrge, and there was a luggage rack on top specifically for cing belongings.


    In front of the carriage, an old man sat by its side, puffing on a pipe, creating clouds of smoke.


    Lynn approached and presented the token given to him by Ted yesterday to the old man for verification. With the verificationplete, Lynn and his teacher boarded the carriage.


    As Lynn and Angley got closer, the horses seemed fine, but when Lauren followed, they became uneasy, swaying slightly and making anxious neighs.


    As Lynn and Angley got on the carriage, Lauren tried to join them, but the remaining space inside the carriage was limited. Given his size, the space would be excessively crowded.


    Angley looked at Lauren and calmly said, ¡°You don¡¯t need toe up here. Just follow us from behind.¡±


    Lauren was taken aback, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°Just follow us from behind.¡±


    Lauren obediently stood by the roadside.


    The coachman sitting in the front seat of the carriage saw all of this, but he was sensible enough to know when to ask questions and when not to.


    There were too many strange things in this world, and over the years, he had encountered some peculiar incidents while traveling around. But he managed to live a stable life up until now, and the most crucial point was knowing the rules¡ª knowing what to listen to and what not to listen to.


    After Angley and Lynn settled down in the carriage, the coachman spoke, ¡°Hello, sir. My name is Kim, but you can call me Old Kim. I¡¯ve been driving carriages for over thirty years. I¡¯ve been on this road to Bangor Port several times, so rest assured, as long as nothing unexpected happens, we¡¯ll reach our destination in at most fourteen days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared food and water in the carriage. It¡¯s right here.¡± Old Kim leaned down and pulled open a concealedpartment next to the carriage¡¯s bottom, which surprisingly slid open like a drawer.


    Inside, it was filled with fragrant, soft white bread, truffle sauce, and fresh milk.


    ¡°All of this is prepared for you, sir. If you feel hungry or thirsty during the journey, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lynn nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s set off.¡±


    Old Kim nodded, ¡°Sir, there are nkets and pillows ready inside the carriage. I wish you a pleasant journey. And now, the journey begins.¡±


    Old Kim pulled the reins and skillfully guided the horses forward.


    It must be said that Old Kim truly lived up to his reputation as an experienced carriage driver. Though the road was bumpy at times, he adeptly steered the carriage to avoid any rough patches on the way.


    Moreover, the carriage¡¯s speed remained steady, neither too fast nor too slow, ensuring afortable ride without any feelings of dizziness.


    At the front of the carriage, there was a contraption resembling a small drum.


    Through a small opening, Lynn could catch glimpses of the gear mechanism inside.


    As the carriage advanced, the gears within turned slowly.


    Lynn also noticed two small hammers next to the drum. Did they strike the drum every ten kilometers they traveled?


    The device seemed quite intriguing.


    Sitting in the carriage, Lynn saw his teacher, Angley, with closed eyes, seemingly in meditation.


    Meditating in a carriage?


    Lynn discreetly tried it out but found it difficult to calm his mind, and he couldn¡¯t achieve a meditative state at all.


    Having finally managed to enter a meditative state and about to build his earth ring, Lynn was abruptly jolted out of his meditation by the bumpy carriage ride.


    After several attempts, Lynn had to admit that he still couldn¡¯t find the inner calm required for meditation in this environment. So, he simply decided to take out and study the notebook given to him by teacher Angley.


    Though there were no daily tasks to bepleted during the carriage journey, Lynn didn¡¯t feel rushed at the moment.


    Inside the quiet carriage, the only sound was that of the young man flipping through his book.


    As time approached dusk, Old Kim spoke, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a vige about three to four miles ahead. If you don¡¯t mind, we can stay overnight there. I frequently travel this road, and I know quite a few of the farm owners in the vige.¡±


    Lynn nced at his still meditating teacher.


    Angley showed no reaction.


    Lynn understood that the decision was up to him.


    ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s stay in the vige for the night,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Very well, sir!¡± Old Kim replied.


    As the carriage gradually approached, a vige came into view.


    It was a small vige, with a few scattered cottages sitting along the main road.


    Looking further into the distance, one could see more houses, making it a rather loosely-knit vige.


    The surrounding area was a vast in, with wheat fields stretching across it.


    As the carriage neared the vige, the barking of a dog could be heard.


    Old Kim brought the carriage to a stop in front of a house on a farm by the roadside.


    The house was fenced with wooden rails, and in the yard, a sandy-colored, curly-haired dog was barking loudly at Old Kim.


    The dog¡¯s barks woke its owner.


    ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡± came the voice of a man from inside the house.


    Their dog was very clever¡ª if it were a viger, it might bark, but not with such intensity. Only strangers from outside the vige could trigger such fervent barking.


    ¡°Hey, Tang Jide, it¡¯s me, Old Kim,¡± called Old Kim from outside the yard.


    ¡°Old Kim?¡± mumbled the man inside the house. ¡°I remember now, it¡¯s you, you old smoker. Smoke less, your smell is so strong even Sweet Potato<sup>1</sup> wouldn¡¯t recognize you.¡±


    Soon, the doortch was pulled open.


    A tall man with brown curly hair emerged from the house. He had a sturdy build and nced outside to see the familiar figure of Old Kim.


    He and Old Kim were fairly acquainted. The old smoker was a coachman who frequently traveled around, sometimes bringing guests to his ce to rest, and of course, paying for their overnight stay.


    He would also purchase some supplies from him while he was here.


    For Tang Jide, this was an excellent arrangement. Since Old Kim was a familiar face, he felt reassured.


    ¡°Just this one guest?¡± Tang Jide sized up Lynn, who looked quite young.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more guest, a total of two,¡± Old Kim replied.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll prepare two empty rooms. We happen to have them avable,¡± Tang Jide said.


    After confirming, Old Kim went back to drive the carriage over and parked it in the stable behind Tang Jide¡¯s house.


    Lynn and Angley each had their own room, while Old Kim spent the night in the carriage.


    Tang Jide arranged the rooms for Lynn and Angley, then closed the doors for them.


    He was somewhat curious about their identities. They seemed to resemble father and son, but the one who appeared to be the father was wearing a cloak, giving off an air of mystery, somewhat akin to the wizards spoken of by wandering minstrels.


    Thinking this, Tang Jide couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and scold himself for such fanciful thoughts.


    The situation in the north had been unstable recently, and this year¡¯s weather had been scorching, resulting in poor harvests in the farnds.


    A few days ago, there was a group of refugees from the north, and he had heard from them that there was even a war outbreak in the northern regions.


    Presumably, these two individuals were refugees from the north.


    In the evening, Lynn sat cross-legged on his bed, deep in meditation.


    Outside the window.


    Under the cover of night, the grass by the roadside rustled and swayed.


    The dense vegetation parted like flowing water, revealing a vague and indistinct figure. All that could be seen was a massive dark shadow moving swiftly through the wilds.


    Behind the figure, a human-shaped silhouette ran with great effort.


    Before long, they came to a halt outside a farmhouse.


    In the yard, the once incessantly barkingrge dog now cowered with its tail tucked between its legs.


    Its fur stood on end, and from its throat came a whimpering growl.


    <em>Creak, creak.</em>


    The wooden fence emitted strained groans under the weight.


    The curly-haired dog shivered uncontrobly, its legs trembling as it released a pungent scent.


    A yellow liquid trickled down from its hind legs.


    In front of it, a colossal head, covered in scales, and asrge as a water barrel, peered down at the dog.


    The creature¡¯s tongue flickered, licking towards the dog¡¯s head.


    Therge dog let out a whimper before copsing unconscious on the ground.


    Lynn, who was in meditation, suddenly felt uneasy as if being watched by some dangerous presence.


    Lynn recalled what his teacher had mentioned in his notes¡ª that wizards, during meditation, entered a special state where their senses were heightened, and they could even sense danger.


    Among the wizards, there was a faction known as divination wizards, who, it was said, needed to meditate before performing their divinations.


    Could it be that the owner of this house was nning something unfavorable towards him?


    Lynn stopped his meditation, and his right hand reached for the magic staff closest to his pillow.


    Then, in the next moment, he raised the magic staff in his hand towards the window, aiming it outside.


    The presence outside the window almost obscured the light, and a massive gray lizard¡¯s skull stared back at him. In the dim night, its orange eyes shone brightly.


    ¡°Lynn?¡± The lizard unexpectedly spoke in a human tongue.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Sweet Potato / Yam ( ·¬Êí / f¨¡nsh¨³ ) ¡ª It was the dog¡¯s name. ??</li></ol>


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Although its voice was obscure and difficult to understand, sounding rather eerie, Lynn could be certain that it had just called his name.


    Lynn stood up from the bed.


    ¡°Lynn,¡± the lizard continued to call his name.


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s shocked and solemn expression, the corners of the lizard¡¯s mouth slowly curved, as if silentlyughing.


    Lynn was certain that he saw a sense of joy on the lizard¡¯s face, like a child finding a toy.


    ¡°Lynn.¡±


    ¡°Lynn.¡±


    ¡°Lynn.¡±


    The monstrous creature with the appearance of a lizard outside the window kept repeating Lynn¡¯s name.


    This lizard didn¡¯t sleep in the middle of the night and crawled to his window, calling his name.


    From next door came the sound of a window opening.


    Immediately, Lynn saw the giant lizard¡¯s pupils shrink rapidly, and the next moment, its head swiftly disappeared from outside the window.


    Only the faint sound of w marks remained.


    Lynn got up and approached the window. The outside was empty, and there was no trace of the lizard anymore.


    The sound of the window opening just now came from his teacher¡¯s room next door.


    Lynn could tell that the lizard was afraid of Angley.


    Could this gigantic, shapeshifting lizard monster be one of the magical creatures his teacher raised?


    Lynn remembered that the notes mentioned that many wizards had a fondness for raising monsters.


    Some wizards would even create alchemical puppets or raise exotic servants.


    In the wizards¡¯ experiments, these servants and pets sometimes proved quite helpful, and they could also serve as excellent experimental <em>materials </em>themselves.


    Perhaps some of the ingredients in the lizard potion that caused Lauren¡¯s mutation were rted to this lizard monster that could turn invisible.


    The next day, Lynn was awakened early by themotion outside.


    ¡°Oh my goodness! What¡¯s on the wall? Dad,e and see!¡± A surprised voice of a boy came from downstairs.


    Soon after, there was a man¡¯s astonished voiceing from downstairs.


    Lynn put on his coat, fastened the buttons, and donned his leather boots before going downstairs.


    ¡°Good morning, sir, you¡¯re awake,¡± a faint smell of milk wafted as a slightly plump woman in a light red dress passed by, holding a cup of milk.


    Lynn stepped outside the farmhouse, where two men, one adult and one young, were standing in the yard.


    Yesterday was dim, and he couldn¡¯t make out the man¡¯s features clearly, but now in the daylight, he could see more clearly.


    The man had brown curly hair, wearing a light yellow turtleneck sweater with a jacket on top, paired with slim-fit jeans and tall boots.


    The young boy next to him was probably his child, appearing to be around eleven or twelve years old, with freckles covering his cheeks, but he had a sturdy build.


    Following their gazes, Lynn noticed the wall covered with horrifying w marks.


    These marks looked terrifying, resembling the scratches of some wild beast.


    Lynn had a rough idea of what it could be.


    Judging by the length and spacing of the w marks, the creature responsible for them must be quiterge.


    ¡°No wonder I noticed something was off with Sweet Potato this morning,¡± Tang Jide said. ¡°It stayed hidden in the doghouse and wouldn¡¯te out no matter how I called it.¡±


    Unlike his simple-minded son, Tang Jide had thought of more possibilities.


    Something that had never appeared before, and then such terrifying incidents happened after these two travelers arrived to rest at their cest night. Moreover, the location of those w marks was closest to that guest¡¯s room.


    Though he couldn¡¯t confirm if it was rted to Lynn and hispanions, Tang Jide felt it was best to send these two guests away as soon as possible.


    Tang Jide brought a te of sliced bread and a cup of warm fresh milk from the kitchen and headed towards the stables.


    ¡°Old Kim, have some breakfast.¡±


    Old Kim rubbed his eyes. ¡°Why are Mr. Grandet<sup>1</sup> being so generous today?¡± Despite resting in the carriage with a nket overnight, he still felt a bit cold.


    Having a cup of warm milk at this moment was undoubtedly afortable thing.


    ¡°What¡¯s the background of those two guests?¡± Tang Jide whispered inquiringly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You know, in my line of work, thest thing I want to do is inquire about the guests¡¯ origins,¡± Old Kim mumbled with a mouthful of bread, speaking vaguely.


    Seeing Tang Jide¡¯s worried expression as he turned and walked away, Old Kim knew well but chose not to say anything.


    How could he not sense that those two guests were a bit peculiar? Yesterday, when the tall figure, dressed just like his old curtains at home, got close, Lily and Golden Bean kept neighing incessantly.


    Lily and Golden Bean had been with him for almost ten years and were very perceptive. Even if faced with a fierce-looking man, they wouldn¡¯t be so anxious.


    Unless¡­


    However, it didn¡¯t concern him too much, and he didn¡¯t n to inquire further. He was just an old carriage driver trying to earn a living and support his family.


    His task was to get them to Bangor Port, and anything else was not his concern.


    As long as he didn¡¯t pry or meddle in matters that weren¡¯t his business, he¡¯d be safe.


    After breakfast, Lynn prepared to leave.


    ¡°Hey, are you a guest from far away?¡± a voice came from behind.


    Lynn turned around and saw a young boy standing right behind him, staring at him fixedly.


    Lynn smiled, ¡°Yes, I suppose so.¡±


    Originally, when he first fled, he came from the north.


    It was quite a distance from here, and Lynn could believe that many people, many of the residents here, might have never ventured that far in their entire lives.


    ¡°Then, can you tell me about your ce?¡± The young boy¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity.


    Lynn didn¡¯t remember much, as he had recently transmigrated into this world, only to be met with a gue and war breaking out. Furthermore, due to drought, the price of food skyrocketed, forcing people from his hometown to flee for survival.


    Reflecting on the boy¡¯s question, Lynn replied, ¡°Actually, there isn¡¯t much difference between us. It¡¯s just that our dialect back in my hometown is a bit different from thenguage here.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the young boy¡¯s eyes dimmed, seemingly disappointed.


    ¡°But you know,¡± Lynn continued, trying to bring back the boy¡¯s curiosity, ¡°during my journey of escape, we passed through a small vige. Unfortunately, the vige was struck by a terrible gue, and many people there lost their lives.¡±


    Death was a word the boy seemed afraid of, but his fascination with Lynn¡¯s story was unwavering. After all, he had never left his hometown since birth, and the furthest he had gone was to a town about twenty miles away, where his father bought him a brand new cowboy hat. He rarely wore it while doing farm work, saving it only for festivals.


    ¡°In that vige, there were no survivors,¡± Lynn continued, ¡°Some people in our group wanted to explore the vige, hoping to find food or seek shelter for the night. However, in the second half of the night, someone discovered that a horde of monsters emerged from the hills behind the vige.¡±


    ¡°The appearance of those creatures was truly terrifying, like something patched together from multiple corpses. They had five heads, ten hands, and were as round as a ball, with numerous seams and stitches all over their bodies.¡±


    Lynn recounted the encounter.


    The boy gulped nervously.


    It was too scary, just like the horror stories adults would tell. And the fact that it came from someone¡¯s actual experience made it even more unsettling.


    Watching the young boy¡¯s anxious and frightened expression, Lynn estimated that he would have nightmares tonight.


    ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Seeing the boy¡¯s nervous expression, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was just teasing you. There aren¡¯t really such frightening creatures.¡±


    The boy¡¯s red face rxed, relieved, ¡°Okay, you scared me with that story. I thought those monsters were real.¡±


    ¡°Well, they may not have five heads and ten hands as I described,¡± Lynn replied yfully, ¡°but they do have three heads and five hands.¡±


    The boy¡¯s momentary relief turned into shock, and his face froze in an instant.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Grandet (¸ðÀĘ̂) is a character name from the novel Eug¨¦nie Grandet. In contemporary Chinese, it is used as a simile to describe someone who is mean, shrewd, and excessively thrifty. ??</li></ol>


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    ¡°Alright, young man, goodbye,¡± Lynn waved to the frightened boy.


    The scared little boy raised his right hand and gave a slight wave in return, ¡°Goodbye, sir.¡±


    Old Kim had already driven the carriage out of the courtyard. Teacher Angley had juste down from upstairs and boarded the carriage outside the yard.


    Lynn followed and got on the carriage, continuing their journey southward.


    In fact, the story Lynn told the boy earlier was true. While traveling south, he had indeed experienced some extraordinary events beyond his previous understanding.


    However, these beings with extraordinary abilities didn¡¯t seem as powerful as those legendary stories suggested. At leastpared to his teacher, Angley, they were far inferior.


    As of now, Angley was the most formidable person Lynn had encountered.


    For instance, there was a creature with three heads and five hands. Besides the extra head on its neck, there was also a woman¡¯s head hanging from its chest.


    Its body looked like a toy that had been randomly assembled, with limbs scattered all over it.


    Although the creature¡¯s strength was slightly above that of an average person, and it had a better ability to recover from injuries, it was only marginally tougher. However, due to its terrifying appearance and its transformation from corpses, the psychological fear it instilled far exceeded its actualbat abilities.


    The refugee group fleeing from the gue dared not attack the monster. At that time, some elderly people kept murmuring that it must be a creature created by a witch, and if they attacked it, they would incur the witch¡¯s curse.


    Eventually, some bolder men from the refugee group used long sticks to drive away the monster.


    Shortly afterward, a cavalry unit riding on swift horses arrived, wielding long spears and short swords, andpletely exterminated these monsters.


    These cavalrymen were knights of the nearby lord, arrogant and tyrannical. Several pretty girls among the refugee group were taken away by the knights as if they were sheep.


    Apart from the cries of those girls¡¯ families, everyone else was just relieved that the knights hadn¡¯t chosen their own family members.


    As the domestic situation continued to be turbulent, these nobles became even more oppressive.


    At that moment, Lynn was also thankful because when the knights approached, his father skillfully had his sister put on a hat and smeared dust on her face. Then several adults surrounded her, shielding her from view.


    With these thoughts in mind, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but think of his family.


    He wondered if they had sessfully reached Bangor Port.


    Lynn looked towards the south.


    That was where he and his family had agreed to go initially.


    If things went smoothly, three months would have been enough for them to arrive there.


    Perhaps they had even found work in Bangor Port.


    Rented a ce to stay.


    When he appeared in front of them soon, they would surely have been pleasantly surprised.


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lynn¡¯s mouth.


    Bangor Port was the kingdom¡¯s first open port, and it was also the most prosperous and advanced ce in the kingdom.


    At that time, many of the town¡¯s goods were said to be imported and transported from Bangor Port.


    Lynn knew that in ces prospering with wealth like this, there must have been an undercurrent of filth and darkness as well.


    But those were things for the rich¡ª for people like them, as long as they had enough to eat and survive, it was sufficient.


    As for wealth, it was too distant from their reality.


    The sound of horseshoes striking the dirt road echoed crisply.


    Lynn sat in the carriage, leaning against the window.


    Turning his head, he looked at his teacher, who had closed his eyes. The teacher was probably meditating again.


    No wonder the teacher was so skilled. Every day, it seemed to be either experimenting or meditating. Could it be that all wizards were such dedicated individuals?


    ¡°Teacher, you haven¡¯t eaten breakfast yet. I saved this for you,¡± Lynn took out a white loaf of bread from his embrace and handed it over.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Angley opened his eyes and nced at the bread in front of him, responding calmly.


    ¡°Very well.¡± Lynn retrieved the loaf of bread.


    He knew the teacher¡¯s character well¡ª he didn¡¯t like to repeat himself.


    Tucking the bread back into his embrace, Lynn took out the alchemical diary and continued to eagerly peruse its contents.


    Angley¡¯s eyes, which had been closed originally, opened slightly. He nced at Lynn beside him, observing the young man¡¯s diligent expression. It was as if something triggered a memory in Angley, and he stared for a moment before retracting his gaze.


    ***


    ¡°Knight Matthew hasn¡¯t returned yet?¡± Within the baron¡¯s castle of Delin Town, Baron Delin XVI inquired of his steward.


    ¡°No, there hasn¡¯t been any news since the night beforest when Knight Matthew took half of the town¡¯s constables up the mountain,¡± the steward exined.


    Baron Delin frowned. This Knight Matthew belongs to the Duchy of Luanweihua, after all.


    If he were merely a knight, the baron wouldn¡¯t concern himself greatly. His territory housed over a hundred musketeers, and even a knight would be turned into a sieve after several rounds of simultaneous musket fire.


    The real troubley in this Knight Matthew¡¯s status. The Duchy of Luanweihua wasn¡¯t too distant from hisnds.


    Since arrival, Knight Matthew had conducted an extensive search through the town, seemingly seeking something.


    Two nights ago, he had even taken the constables up the mountain.


    And then, vanished.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯ve dispatched men to search the mountain. We should have news today at thetest.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Baron Delin nodded, though his brow creased slightly, his unease persistent.


    A knight apanied by a dozen musket-bearing constables was no trifling force, even in the forested mountains.


    To disappear without a trace like this was profoundly dangerous.


    ¡°Lord Baron, Lord Baron!¡± A voice called urgently from outside the door.


    ¡°Master, this is one of the search party members from the mountain,¡± the steward said, then turned to the man with freckles across his face and golden hair. ¡°Tell the lord what you¡¯ve discovered.¡±


    ¡°Lord Baron, I found the bodies of the Lord Knight and the others on the mountain.¡±


    ¡°What did you say? All of them are dead?¡± Baron Delin eximed in shock.


    He was deeply fearful, not knowing what had happened. All he knew was that all his people were dead.


    So many lives lost in an instant, including an officially knighted individual who had passed the trials.


    Delin dered, ¡°Prepare the carriage. I¡¯m heading to the duchy to report to Duke Luanweihua about what has happened here.¡±


    The situation here was dire, and Delin was determined to report it. He had to uncover the source of danger on the mountain¡ª otherwise, his safety would bepromised living here!


    ***


    The following days¡¯ journey remained peaceful and uneventful.


    During these days, Lynn also managed to read through most of the contents in the notebook that his teacher had left for him.


    The gains were substantial¡ª his progress in mutation<sup>1</sup> studies increased from 3% to 7%.


    The knowledge he acquired was enlightening and ignited Lynn¡¯s enthusiasm. Even though it was just 7% of level 1 mutation studies, some portions of the knowledge wereplete and well-structured.


    Especially intriguing was the section regarding mutation catalysts.


    Mutation catalysts referred to the phenomenon where many organisms had a certain probability of giving birth to mutated individuals.


    These mutated individuals often awakened theirtent bloodlines.


    Such mutation might not necessarily be benign¡ª there was a considerable chance they could be malignant.


    But all in all, mutated individuals had significant research value. Thus, mutation catalysts involved artificial methods to catalyze organisms, inducing mutation. Theoretically, the younger an individual, the more susceptible it was to mutation.


    However, within this discipline of mutation catalysts, there was a specific type of potion¡ª the physical vitality catalyst.


    This potion had the effect of making an organism¡¯s body brimming with vitality, making it more prone to mutation.


    In Lynn¡¯s understanding, could this ¡°physical vitality¡± refer to cellr activity? This potion seemed to have other applications as well.


    If the body became more active, could physical training results also improve?


    In the world of wizards, there are numerous methods for enhancing the physical body, including those mentioned in the acquired knowledge of mutations, where certain creatures¡¯ mutated bloodlines are exploited to craft potions that grant a permanent boost to physical strength.


    This form of consumption offers a once-and-for-all solution, eliminating the need for step-by-step,borious physical training.


    Furthermore, with sufficient materials, it could even be produced in bulk.


    For wizards, the energy spent on physically training oneself like a knight might be better invested in acquiring additional knowledge.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Minor changes were made.


    ¡°Transmutation¡± was changed to simply ¡°mutation¡± in order to differentiate between biological mutation (the evolutionary change of one species into another) and alchemical transmutation (the conversion of base elements into precious metals, such as gold or silver). Changes were in chapters 2, 3, 4, 7 & 9. ??</li></ol>


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    ¡°Teacher, I¡¯ve finished reading the notebook,¡± Lynn returned the notebook to Angley.


    Perhaps tired from meditation, Angley wasn¡¯t continuing his meditation right now¡ª instead, he had pulled out a magical book with a purple cover and was engrossed in reading.


    As for why it was a magical book, it was because the cover of this book actually emitted a faint glow!


    Lynn stole nces at it seven times to make sure it wasn¡¯t his imagination.


    Angley sipped his milk nonchntly, then reached out to take the notebook from Lynn¡¯s hand and stowed it back inside his ring.


    Then, Angley raised his right hand, and his fingertip emitted a faint purple light.


    The purple light formed ripples, swiftly spreading to cover the entirepartment.


    Lynn looked around, nothing seemed to have changed.


    Old Kim, sitting in the front, was still driving the carriage as if nothing happened.


    ¡°I originally gave you five days, but since you im to have finished, I will test you. I don¡¯t appreciate dishonest or overly ambitious students,¡± Angley said in a calm tone.


    ¡°As a wizard, even as an apprentice, you must learn to be grounded. I¡¯ve seen too many rash apprentices lose their lives due to various idents. If you¡¯re as foolish as they are, I may consider getting a new student.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you onest time, are you sure you remember everything in there?¡± Angley looked at Lynn and asked slowly.


    ¡°I remember everything,¡± Lynn said sincerely. He had noticed that he had undergone some changes since thest time that door opened and poured knowledge into him.


    He now possessed an eidetic memory, only needing to read something once to remember itpletely. This enhancement was insane, much more exaggerated than the memory boost he got from improving his mental power.


    Without exaggeration, his memory was nowparable to that of a human printer.


    But this change was a good thing, making his learning process significantly easier.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll test you on a few points of knowledge.¡± Angley closed the magical book in his hand, his expression solemn.


    He asked several questions consecutively.


    Some were merely inconspicuous terms from a passage, while others were crucial points of certain knowledge.


    However, Lynn answered all of them urately, even without much thought.


    Lynn was being questioned by Angley about the contents recorded in the notebook.


    For Lynn, who had already memorized all the contents, these questions weren¡¯t difficult to answer.


    This was because Angley was inquiring about the points of knowledge from the notebook.


    After correctly answering all five questions that Angley asked, he nodded in satisfaction. ¡°It seems you are even more suitable to be a wizard than I imagined. Your memory is quite impressive, which is good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more question, and if your answer pleases me, I¡¯ll give you an additional reward,¡± Angley said.


    ¡°And this spell is a reward for your honesty.¡± Angley¡¯s ring shed in his hand.


    The next moment, a ck book appeared in Angley¡¯s hand.


    On the book cover were words written in silver-white.


    These words weren¡¯t anynguage he recognized, but as soon as Lynn saw this script, he understood the meaning of those words¡ª ¡°Sleeping Curse.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, teacher.¡± Lynn received the book that Angley handed over with both hands. The book containing the Sleeping Curse was weighty, and its thickness wasn¡¯t negligible. Why was it so thick! Wasn¡¯t learning a spell supposed to be recorded on a simple parchment scroll?


    At this moment, Lynn suddenly had a faint premonition that being a wizard, this extraordinary upation, seemed to be equated with intense effort.


    And powerful wizards = masters of effort!


    He had witnessed the might of this spell. When Lauren, who was quite irritable upon waking up, was hit with a Sleeping Curse, he slept like a log.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone through the notes¡ª you should know what mutation studies are. So, tell me, why do many wizards choose to extract the mutations from monsters? Why don¡¯t we induce mutations in humans?¡± Angley asked.


    ¡°Because wizards need rationality? Inducing mutations directly in humans might affect the wizards¡¯ rationality?¡± After some consideration, Lynn, through his understanding during this period, knew that wizards were beings pursuing the truth and striving for excellence, and naturally, they wouldn¡¯t allow chaotic thinking to affect their rationality.


    Lynn tentatively voiced his answer. ¡°Is it because inducing mutations in humans might make wizards lose their rationality?¡±


    ¡°No, since it¡¯s mutations, there¡¯s not just the possibility of malign mutations, but also benign ones,¡± Angley smiled slightly, a somewhat eerie expression on his face.


    ¡°The reason for this prohibition is that it¡¯s a fundamental rule of the Order of Wizards¡¯ Council. It forbids wizards from directly conducting research on self-induced mutations. Wizards can alter themselves, transnt bloodlines, explore various transmutation rituals, but they are explicitly prohibited from initiating research on pure humans for mutations.¡±


    The Order of Wizards¡¯ Council?


    This was the first time Lynn had heard about this entity.


    But where there¡¯s order, there must certainly be opposition. Angley smiled, not meaning to delve further into this topic.


    ¡°However, your answer satisfies me. It seems you understand an essential aspect of being a wizard¡ª rationality.¡± Angley smiled.


    Then, his ring shed, and the next moment, a notebook appeared in his palm.


    ¡°Take this to read.¡±


    This notebook was simr to the one Lynn had just returned to Angley.


    No wonder, when Lynn finished going through the first notebook, he found its contents iplete, and the knowledge on it was also fragmented.


    Many parts were far fromprehensive¡ª he felt there was much more to learn.


    As expected, teacher Angley¡¯s series of notebooks wouldn¡¯t be limited to just one.


    It was unknown if there would be a third notebook after finishing the second one, but it was quite likely.


    After concluding the conversation with the teacher, Lynn noticed that Old Kim at the front of the carriage, who was driving the horses, had no reaction whatsoever to the conversation between Lynn and teacher Angley, as if he hadn¡¯t heard any of the voices from behind.


    This was probably rted to the spell the teacher had just cast.


    ***


    Bangor Port.


    On the salty and damp seaside, a row of low houses stood.


    With several expansions over the past years, this seaside city of Bangor had grown increasinglyrge.


    However, the houses that had been closest to the sea were gradually bing uninhabited.


    The constant sea breeze, coupled with moisture and the immersion of seawater, made these houses by the sea damp and cold at night.


    Even the healthiest individuals living here for an extended period would find themselves gued by ailments.


    The locals rarely resided here anymore, having relocated to ces further ind. However, the constant influx of outsiders into Bangor Port had caused property prices to skyrocket.


    Thus, these coastal houses were repurposed by the locals. After simple renovations, they became living quarters for financially struggling neers.


    Despite the dampness and cold, the prices were affordable¡ª just 5 silver coins a month could secure a small single room fit for a family of three.


    In a damp and chilly corner of one such room, a small stove was lit. Vapor billowed from the kettle on the stove¡¯s edge.


    The lid nged as a girl of eight or nine years old, using a towel as a makeshift glove, carefully lifted the boiling water and poured it into a basin already filled with lukewarm water. She let the towel soak in the water for a while, then wrung it out, her small hands reddened from the heat.


    With quick steps, she reached the bedside, cing the towel on a woman¡¯s forehead.


    The woman opened her eyes, her pallid face radiating affection. ¡°Eva, you should take a break.¡±


    The girl merely shook her head, earnestly saying, ¡°Both Dad and my big brother are out working. I need to take care of Mom at home.¡±


    Hearing Eva¡¯s mature words, the woman¡¯s face was a mixture of heartache and self-me.


    She was heartbroken that at such a young, innocent age, her daughter was already showing such maturity. Yet, she med herself for falling ill and making her young daughter care for her.


    ¡°Mom, I miss big brother,¡± Eva pouted suddenly, reminded of how her older brother had taken care of her when she had a cold.


    Anika extended her arm from under the nket and embraced her daughter, her face full of sorrow.


    How could she not yearn for her eldest son?


    However, on their escape journey, that monster suddenly burst out from the roadside and scattered the refugee caravan.


    In the chaos, she had only managed to grab her little daughter¡¯s hand.


    By the time she regained her senses, her eldest son had vanished without a trace.


    She and her husband searched in the same spot the entire day but found no sign of their eldest son.


    Ultimately, they had no choice but to continue following the refugee caravan southward with their second son and little daughter.


    In countless nights, she had often seen, as if in a trance, the figure appearing by her bedside. Yet, each time she reached out, all she grasped was an illusion.


    How fervently she wished the gods could hear her prayers and bring her son back to her side.


    Anika released her grip, her left hand catching hold of her daughter¡¯s arm. She studied her daughter¡¯s face, raising her arm to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eye.


    ¡°Eva, you¡¯re a big girl now. Be strong and don¡¯t cry.¡±


    ¡°But Mom, you¡¯re crying too,¡± Eva said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sad, Eva. I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re taking care of Mom,¡± Anika replied.


    ¡°Mom, we¡¯re almost out of water at home. I¡¯ll go get some from outside,¡± Eva said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go out,¡± Anika suddenly sounded stern, her tone bing firm. ¡°Stay inside and don¡¯t go out.¡±


    Anika suddenly grasped Eva¡¯s hand and pulled her into an embrace.


    With one hand, the woman held her daughter¡¯s head against her, while the other arm encircled her waist.


    Her eyes were fixed on the direction of the window.


    Outside the frosted ss window, a blurred silhouette stood just beyond the pane.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Sleeping Curse, a zero-ring spell was changed from Sleep Incantation. It was first mentioned in chapter 3. ??</li></ol>


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    The features of the person outside the window grew clearer and clearer, until the entire face was pressed against the ss.


    Nose, chin, cheeks were all pushed against the ss, shamelessly peering into the room.


    Anika, sitting on the bed, trembled involuntarily as she witnessed this scene, a mixture of anger and helplessness coursing through her.


    ¡°Damn it, what are you doing in front of my house!¡± A voice of anger suddenly emanated from outside.


    The person against the windowpane pulled away, ¡°Hey, buddy, is this your home?¡±


    ¡°Get lost! If I catch you loitering around my house again, I¡¯ll beat you to death,¡± the man outside retorted angrily.


    The other man outside the door soon left.


    Before long, the door swung open.


    Two figures, one tall and one short, entered the room.


    ¡°Anika, I chased that person away,¡± the one who entered was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties.


    His face was adorned with stubble, he had short ck hair, thick eyebrows, a square jawline, and a tall, robust build.


    He was none other than Anika¡¯s husband, Hamilton.


    Walking alongside Hamilton was their second son, Borg. Though his cheeks still bore a hint of youthfulness, he had a confident air about him and a sturdy frame.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve seen him around our ce several times in the past few days,¡± Borg said.


    ¡°I know. How about we move to a different ce?¡± Hamilton suggested.


    ¡°But the houses in the city are too expensive, and I¡¯m worried that if we move, that person might still find us,¡± Anika expressed her concern.


    Hamilton fell silent.


    They had been here for almost half a month and had gleaned some information.


    Word was that in this area, some people targeted attractive and cute children, particrly those who were refugees from other ces.


    As for the abducted children, they heard that some were sent to brothels, while others were sent to the mansions of nobles.


    Some nobles had entric preferences and targeted delicately handsome young boys.


    Over the past half month, they had graduallye to understand the atmosphere of Bangor Port.


    The ce was highly developed, with an extremely open culture. The bustling districts were filled with five or six-story houses, and everywhere one could see well-dressed merchants and nobles from various ces.


    It was a paradise for the wealthy and a hell for the poor.


    Fortunately, Bangor Port was undergoing continuous development, requiring a substantialbor force.


    He and Borg found manualbor jobs at the docks, moving goods. Though it was tiring, the wages were indeed decent.


    The more you worked, the more you earned.


    As long as you worked hard, you could make about 4 or 5 silver coins a day now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you focus on recovering these days. I¡¯ll try toe back early. As long as Eva doesn¡¯t go out, they won¡¯t dare to break into the house during the day,¡± Hamilton reassured, ¡°Once Borg and I save up some money, we¡¯ll move to a different ce in the city.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid Lynn will not be able to find us,¡± Anika spoke after a moment of silence.


    This was the slums, and most refugees who fled would end up here.


    Lynn didn¡¯t have any money on him¡ª during their escape, Anika and Hamilton carried all their money.


    If Lynn came to Bangor Port, they might be able to find him here.


    ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll ask some acquaintances here to keep an eye out for us, have them help us. If they see Lynn, they¡¯ll let us know,¡± Hamilton said.


    Along with them, there were also some familiar faces from their hometown who hade to Bangor Port.


    In this unfamiliar territory, hometown folks tended to stick together more easily.


    ***


    The carriage stopped in front of the inn.


    As Ted had said, the journey had been rtively safe, without any significant mishaps.


    The journey had gone smoothly.


    Closing the door, Lynn went to the washroom to clean up a bit, then removed his coat and sat on the bed.


    Picking up the notebook ced beside him, the new one given to him by the teacher appeared more like a journal recording various experiments. There was less content about personal emotions in this one.


    Through the pages of this notebook, Lynn could almost see a young and earnest figure within the wizarding academy, facing setbacks step by step.


    ¡°7th Era of Wizard Calendar, Year 4671, the 5th day of the 3rd month.


    My sister¡¯s curse has worsened. I used the magic stones I earned from part-time work to have Harin buy a potion that can alleviate the curse. My sister¡¯s condition has temporarily stabilized. However, there is still a long way to go before finding a solution to the curse.


    I begged my curse-specialized teacher to help treat my sister, but he demanded 800 magic stones as a treatment fee. I can¡¯t possiblye up with that much money. I begged many people, but no one was willing to lend me magic stones. I¡¯m sorry, sister. My talent iscking, and even if I want to sell myself, no one would want me.¡±


    Upon reaching this point, Lynn¡¯s heart trembled.


    Did the teacher have such a past?


    Did he ultimately manage to cure his sister?


    Lynn felt a kind of gossiping joy, as if he had stumbled upon some juicy information.


    However, he certainly wouldn¡¯t dare ask the teacher about these matters in front of him.


    If he touched upon the teacher¡¯s sensitive spot, he might not get a good oue.


    Following this diary entry, there were no more of Angley¡¯s journal entries in the notebook. Instead, it was reced by a series of increasingly cruel experiments.


    Starting from here, Angley began experimenting with living subjects.


    Though it wasn¡¯t his personal experiment, the data from these experiments, including Angley¡¯s recording methods and analysis techniques, were meaningful.


    After reading for a while, Lynn felt somewhat fatigued.


    Closing the notebook, he ced it under his pillow.


    Then, Lynn took out another magical book containing information about the Sleeping Curse.


    The book was somewhat heavy, and it was only after flipping through its pages that he understood why.


    Looking at the gleaming golden pages, Lynn was momentarily stunned, gently rubbing the pages. How could they seem as if they were crafted from solid gold?


    If it was all gold, how much gold was used for such a thick book? The pages were imprinted with text, and Lynn flipped through them. There were a total of eight golden pages.


    These golden pages contained both text and patterns on both sides, making a total of sixteen pages of content that recorded the Sleeping Curse spell.


    Through reading, Lynn gradually understood the content recorded in this Sleeping Curse spellbook.


    It covered everything from the spell¡¯s casting effects, precautions, to the spell framework and the specific requirements for constructing that framework.


    Almost step by step, it guided how to build a spell framework, from the basics to the intricacies.


    For a wizard to cast a spell, they needed to first construct a spell framework within their mental sea. Then, by expending mental energy, they could release the corresponding spell associated with that framework.


    This exnation seemed simple. To Lynn, it was like constructing a model within the mental sea, then using mental energy to activate it, allowing it to manipte the magical elements in the air and form a spell.


    It sounded easy, but merely constructing the spell framework was a massive task.


    The hardest thing in this world was the breakthrough from 0 to 1.


    Especially constructing a framework¡ª it required anchoring first, creating nodes within the mental sea,ying the ¡°foundation.¡±


    Though the magical book had detailed instructions, Lynn tried for nearly an hour and still hadn¡¯t figured out how to anchor mental energy first.


    Lynn opened his eyes, feeling somewhat frustrated.


    <em>Well</em>, he thought, <em>let¡¯s take a break for today and meditate a bit.</em>


    After settling his emotions, Lynn sat cross-legged on the bed and began to meditate. His thoughts entered a state of emptiness, and in his mind, a new ring began to form¡­ Beyond the nine rings, a new one gradually coalesced, ultimately bing the tenth ring.


    Finally, the tenth ring formed, connecting with the previous nine.


    In the dark expanse of his mental space, all around, the freely-floating blue dots of light seemed to be drawn by something, converging into Lynn¡¯s mind.


    His spirit surged.


    Lynn opened his eyes, a gleam of light seemingly dancing within them.


    A smile curled upon his lips.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 2 (1/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.32


    Mental Strength: 2.3


    Mastery:


    ¡ª¡ªEarth Ring Meditation (10%)


    Life upation:


    ¡ª¡ªLevel 1 Mutation Studies (9%) (0/10)


    ¡ª¡ªLevel 1 Bloodline Studies (1%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 90¡ä


    Though theck of daily tasks prevented the increase of general experience points, the daily meditation practice was steadily advancing the Earth Ring Meditation, and knowledge progress in mutation studies was also growing.


    This gradual and steady process of getting stronger and more enriched brought Lynn a sense of satisfaction.


    It would be even better if he could reach Bangor Port and find his family sooner.


    <em>Knock, knock.</em>


    A knocking sound came from the door.


    Lynn looked toward the door. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Old Kim.¡±


    ¡°Do you need something?¡±


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ll be reaching the Sagunto Mountains tomorrow. The road might get rougher from there.¡± Old Kim outside the door spoke.


    ¡°How many days will it take to cross the Sagunto Mountains?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re taking the fastest route. It should take around three days to cross the mountains. There are no towns or viges in the mountains, so we¡¯ll be camping in the wilderness for three days.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Lynn replied.


    As he listened to the fading footsteps of Old Kim, Lynn had justpleted the formation of the earth ring during this moment and had a breakthrough in his meditation. His spirit was in an excited state, making sleep elusive.


    After a moment¡¯s consideration, Lynn put on his coat and shoes, then descended the stairs and stepped outside the inn.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Tonight¡¯s resting ce was an inn in the town.


    The interior design had some resemnce to the Red Leaf Inn, to be precise, the interior design style of many inns in the current era was quite simr.


    An inn served multiple functions¡ª lodging, dining, storage, shipping, and entertainment.


    Those who could be innkeepers often had a local background, and apart from nobles, innkeepers were generally among the wealthiest in the area.


    Coming down the stairs, Lynn walked across the open space outside the inn.


    The night wind was a bit chilly, and the inn was surrounded by a wooden fence. There was a wooden signboard above the main entrance.


    The side of the inn had well-constructed cowsheds and stables, the smell of livestock spreading quite far.


    In the stable, some horses buried their heads, bowing down to chew on the few remaining bits of dry grass in the trough.


    Further back was an empty area, where some carriages, wagons, and hand carts were parked.


    Faint smoke and conversation drifted from that direction.


    Innkeepers would have dedicated people to watch over these carriages and wagons at night, though they also needed to pay a fee to the inn for this service.


    Behind that was the stone building of the inn, the drinking area and the lodging area were separated.


    The tavern for drinking was on the basement floor, while the lodgings required going up another set of stairs from a different direction.


    Under the night sky, the stone building appeared dark and somber, with only a few dim lights flickering between the windows.


    Contrastingly, the underground hall leading to the cer was brightly lit, and noisy sounds were emanating from the underground tavern.


    The night was somewhat damp and cold, Lynn tightened his coat around himself, pushed open the oak door, and the scent of butter candles mixed with the sour odor of sweat rushed at him.


    This town was quiterge, thergest one Lynn had seen among the towns he had passed on this journey. ording to Old Kim, there was arge iron mine just next to the town. The iron mine was the main economic source of this town. Being a miner was a tough and exhausting job, but the pay was decent as well.


    So, many miners woulde to the inn for a hearty drink during their days off.


    Treading down the stone stairs into the underground tavern, it was much warmer insidepared to outside.


    Even though it was deep into the night, the ce was still bustling with activity.


    Behind the bar was an entire wall lined with liquor cabs, disying an array of rum, whiskey, and beer bottles of various colors and sizes.


    In the cer, numerous round wooden tables were arranged, each surrounded by seats resembling tree stumps.


    Many regrs sat at these tables, and in one corner, a few of them were inebriated, having removed their shirts to reveal their hairy chests. They sang folk songs from their hometowns, arm in arm, and shoulder to shoulder.


    On the other side, in a different corner, sat a few women dressed in daring and avant-garde attire.


    Lynn watched as a tipsy patron approached one of the women and struck up a conversation. At first, the woman appeared annoyed, but when the man produced a handful of glittering gold coins from his chest, her expression transformed into a smile. She stood up, wrapped her arms around the man¡¯s neck, nearly hanging on him, her bright red lips whispering in his ear.


    The two of them rose and left the cer together.


    The drunkard¡¯s hands were naughty, and the woman seemed to melt into him like a puddle.


    As the two passed by, faint whispers could be heard.


    ¡°Hit the jackpot.¡±


    ¡°Really amazing.¡±


    The scent of hormones was palpable, and Lynn sneezed, the overpowering aroma of cheap perfume assaulting his senses.


    Stepping onto the thick, slightly grimy carpet, which seemed to have gone without cleaning for some time, Lynn found a secluded spot to sit.


    A waiter approached with a towel and wiped down the table. ¡°Sir, what¡¯ll it be?¡±


    ¡°Bring me some wine,¡± Lynn replied.


    He¡¯d had his fill of aletely and wanted to try something different.


    ¡°We have three types of wine, sir. First, there¡¯s our house-made red wine, crafted from locally selected grapes at 80 copper coins a pitcher. Then, there¡¯s imported bottled red wine from a northern vineyard, at 2 silver coins a bottle. Finally, there¡¯s the finest white grape wine from the prestigious Brandy family, our most exquisite wine, priced at 8 silver coins a bottle.¡±


    ¡°Give me one of everything but the most expensive, and also some roasted meat,¡± Lynn ordered.


    ¡°Very well, sir. That¡¯ll be 3 silver coins and 30 copper coins in total,¡± the waiter stated.


    Lynn tossed the coins into the tray held by the waiter. The waiter, with keen eyes, mentally counted the coins and then bowed, departing courteously.


    The cold wind swept in as a golden-haired youngdy, dressed extravagantly in a billowy princess gown, entered the inn.


    Behind the youngdy, one on each side, followed a man and a woman.


    The man was tall, cloaked in a hooded robe that obscured his figure. His rugged, dark face bore a scar at the corner of his eye.


    His specific features remained indistinct.


    The woman beside him was slightly older, wearing a white cloak. Beneath it, she had on a long, white and gold knittedce dress that fell to her feet. Her hair flowed in golden, wavy waves.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the menu? Bring us the menu,¡± the golden-haired youngdy called out from her chosen secluded corner, which happened to be diagonally across from Lynn.


    However, the older woman at her side seemed to hold disdain for the environment. Upon entering the tavern, she covered her nose and wiped dust off the table.


    The waiter, taking quick and nimble steps, carried a wooden board listing the various dishes avable at the inn.


    ¡°A bottle of Brandy wine, cumin-roasted meat, a roasted rabbit, and a corn sd,¡± the youngdy eagerly ordered her food.


    ¡°Uncle Dempsey, big sister Dolores, what would you like?¡± She turned to the two beside her.


    The slightly older woman smiled faintly, a dimple forming on her cheek. ¡°I must watch my figure¡ª I can¡¯t eat anything tonight, or I won¡¯t fit into my ball gown for the dance.¡±


    The man beside her shook his head slightly, his eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his hood as he surveyed the tavern.


    His gaze paused for a second on Lynn, who was seated diagonally across from them, before shifting to the rowdy drinkers in the distance.


    ¡°Sir, here¡¯s your wine.¡± The waiter arrived with a tray that held a bottle of wine, arge pitcher of red wine, and a steaming te of meat.


    Beside the te were a fork and a knife. Lynn picked them up and began cutting into the roasted meat on his te.


    As he bit into it, the vor reminded him of beef. He casually took a sip from therge ss bottle of wine next to him¡ª it had a tangy, bitter taste with a hint of alcohol.


    Not far away, the golden-haired youngdy lowered her voice and asked the woman beside her, ¡°Big sister Dolores, does Bangor Port really live up to what those people in the capital say? Is it even more bustling than the capital?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Bangor Port is not as vast as the capital, but it¡¯s a free port, and it¡¯s definitely more exotic. There are plenty of exotic foods there,¡± Dolores said.


    ¡°Exotic foods?¡± The youngdy¡¯s eyes sparkled at the thought of tasting many dishes she had never tried before.


    ¡°In half a year, the fleet that recruits wizard apprentices will arrive at Bangor Port. It might be many years before we return to the kingdom again,¡± Dolores said softly.


    Their conversation was not loud, and amidst the noisy tavern, most people didn¡¯t hear. However, Lynn, who was rtively close, caught the gist of it.


    The people at the table diagonally across from him, though speaking softly, did not intentionally conceal their conversation.


    A fleet recruiting wizard apprentices? Bangor Port?


    Lynn contemted as he slowed down the pace of slicing his roasted meat.


    He knew that his teacher came from a specific academy dedicated to training wizards, which was the ce they mentioned, right? And there was a specialized fleet¡ª could it be that this ce was not on this continent?


    Could it be that his teacher¡¯s journey to Bangor Port was rted to this fleet? From what they were saying, returning from that ce didn¡¯t seem convenient. Could his teacher be a rogue wizard who had secretly left?


    Lynn contemted, but he felt uncertain. If there was one ce that trained wizards, there might be others. Perhaps there were other forces training wizards besides the academy that Angley mentioned.


    It turned out that even ate-night snack had unexpected gains.


    The taste of wine and roasted meat was mediocre to Lynn. Compared to the culinary delicacies he remembered from his past life, the food in this era gave him a sense of culinary destion instead.


    Since the power of wizardry was so extraordinary, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he could create some kind of magical tool for crafting exquisite dishes or cultivate particrly delicious animals and nts in the future.


    Lynn just wanted to reach Bangor Port as quickly as possible, find his family once they arrived, and then meditate in peace whilepleting daily tasks.


    Just as his thoughts meandered, a loud bang echoed through the room.


    The oak door swung open abruptly, and a disheveled, stumbling man crashed through it, tumbling down the stairs andnding on the floor. He gasped, ¡°Monsters, there are monsters.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    T/L Bonus: Unofficial illustrations of Andina and Dolores, respectively.


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    The man tumbled, bloodied and wailing in agony.


    The once somewhat raucous tavern suddenly fell silent.


    Numerous gazes were fixed upon him.


    ¡°There are monsters in the mine, they¡¯ve devoured so many people, it¡¯s terrifying!¡±


    The man who had managed to climb to his feet cried out for help.


    ¡°They¡¯re all dead, all dead, those monsters are too horrifying.¡± The man seemed mentally shaken, having suffered severe trauma.


    ¡°What happened at the mine?¡± A group of drunks seated next to arge table quieted down, and those nearby who didn¡¯t also fell silent. A somewhat older man with amanding presence, his graying beard giving him an air of authority, stood up and inquired.


    ¡°We were asleep at night when a monster, snake-like, burst in out of nowhere,rger than a bull. Poor Pete had just gotten up from his bed, and the monster swallowed his head and upper body in a single gulp.


    ¡°I rushed out and saw that there were many more monsters just like it in the mine. If those monsters make it to town, we¡¯re done for.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, Ral, it seems like you had a nightmare. I¡¯ve been mining for five years and never seen any monsters, and we have so many people here, what¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± A heavily intoxicated man stood up, patting his chest, although his stance was swaying and his cheeks were beet red. ¡°Come on, you lead the way, I want to see if my pickaxe is harder or that monster¡¯s head is harder!¡±


    Monsters?


    Lynn¡¯s expression slightly hardened. This world was indeed unsafe.


    He only hoped it wouldn¡¯t dy his journey tomorrow.


    When he heard that the monster was somewhat snake-like, Lynn¡¯s initial thought was of the monster his teacher kept. If that lizard had been seen hurriedly in the dark, it might be mistaken for a snake, and that monster feasted on humans¡ª perhaps it had sneaked out for an unsanctioned feast.


    But then he heard there were several of the same monsters in the mine¡¯s open area. Lynn realized his spection was likely incorrect. Unless that lizard monster had severalpanions.


    The tavern¡¯s patrons bickered for a while, and eventually, a dozen or so miners, who appeared to be the most sober among them, left the tavern. From their conversation, it seemed like they were preparing to make a trip to the town¡¯s church.


    The remaining drunks, who had already imbibed heavily, were amodated in amunal bunk room behind the tavern to rest.


    Lynn finished his meal, then rose and went upstairs to his room.


    ***


    Outside the small town, at the mine.


    Rows of shanties had been constructed there for the miners¡¯ lodgings. However, at this moment, chaos reigned around these shanties.


    People were scattered everywhere, fleeing in all directions. In an open area, bathed in the soft light of the moon, stood a peculiar creature, about three meters long, silver-gray all over, resembling an earthworm and yet like a snake. Its silvery-gray head swayed from side to side.


    It seemed to be discerning the scents in the air.


    After a moment, as if it had determined its direction, the monster directly burrowed into the ground. The solid earth seemed as soft as mud, and the monster easily disappeared into it.


    On a nearby high ground, a tall figure, seemingly cloaked, stood, looking down on the scene below.


    ¡°Terrifying,¡± Lauren shuddered, shocked to see such monsters here.


    He and the big lizard followed behind their master¡¯s carriage. In the daytime, they couldn¡¯t openly travel on the main road and had to follow their master¡¯s trail from the forests on either side of the road.


    Luckily, this big lizard had a keen sense of smell, so Lauren simply followed it.


    However, as soon as they arrived in town, the big lizard led him to this area.


    Only after they arrived did he realize that some monsters had burst out of the mining area.


    Lauren turned to look at the big lizard, which was spitting out its forked tongue, its eyes distant, then nced back down below.


    ¡°You¡¯re not seriously considering going down there, are you? That would expose us to the eyes of ordinary people. Without our master¡¯s orders, I won¡¯t take action. This is madness. What if we¡¯re unprepared?¡± Lauren shook his head frantically.


    But the next moment, Lauren¡¯s words caught in his throat.


    Because, before he could finish, the big lizard beside him had already charged down the slope.


    Its massive body darted rapidly through the rocky terrain, and even with Lauren¡¯s keen eyesight, he could only make out a blurry figure.


    From a distance, in the mining area at the foot of the mountain, a miner who was fleeing suddenly had the ground under his feet split open. He stumbled as the rolling earth beneath him tripped him.


    The next moment, a massive head burst forth from the earth.


    Apanied by a piercing scream, the lower half of the man¡¯s body was swallowed by the monster beneath him.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    From the side, a colossal creature suddenly charged out, behaving rudely like a bulldozer, and sent the emerging monster flying.


    The earthworm monster, about three meters long, with its entire body silver-gray and resembling a worm or snake, was about to turn back when it met the faint red glow in the eyes of the lizard monster that had rampaged down the hill.


    In a stare-down with these eyes, the earthworm monster froze in ce, then, in the next moment, had its head bitten off.


    Juices spilled out.


    This earthworm monster, which even a pickaxe couldn¡¯t harm, appeared fragile as paper before the lizard monster.


    ***


    ¡°Big sister, I don¡¯t want it this way,¡± the golden-haired youngdy sighed softly. ¡°Why did Father send me to Bangor Port? I don¡¯t want to leave the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Andina, you need to understand that the current kingdom is not safe,¡± Dolores said. ¡°Only that ce is rtively secure. Only by bing a wizard can you avoid being affected by the conflicts of this mortal world, and you will have the right to choose freely.¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s difficult toe back once you go there,¡± Andina stared into her big sister¡¯s eyes, stubbornly saying.


    ¡°Who said that? As long as you be a full-fledged wizard, you cane back if you want,¡± Dolores replied. ¡°And it¡¯s not just you¡ª I will go with you. You won¡¯t be alone.¡±


    ¡°But why haven¡¯t any of our ancestors who went theree back?¡± Andina bit her lip, puzzled.


    ¡°And now there¡¯s a gue outbreak in the territory, and the kingdom to the north is invading us, it¡¯s war,¡± Andina continued. ¡°Is Father sending us away because he¡¯s in danger and wants us to take refuge?¡±


    Dolores didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at her words.


    Her little sister was truly innocent.


    ¡°If that were the case, would Father tantly let you leave the family¡¯s territory like this?¡± Dolores reassured her naive sister.


    Andina was initially taken aback, thinking that her big sister had a point.


    If it were really so disgraceful, would Father have openly allowed Uncle Dempsey to lead a squad of knights to follow them?


    Uncle Dempsey was renowned as one of the great knights from the northern territories of the kingdom.


    In the Duke of Luanweihua¡¯s territory, there were hundreds of knights in total. Among them, Uncle Dempsey stood above the rest. He was one of the three prominent knights in the duchy and held the title of Storm Knight.


    She had heard that Uncle Dempsey had once led a ten-man knight squad and defeated over a thousand bandits head-on.


    In the adjacent room, with a sword in hand, Dempsey stood close to the door, behind it.


    The inn¡¯s corridor had wooden flooring, and footsteps on it were unusually distinct. However, the footsteps in the corridor at this moment had a deliberate and subdued tone, and they gave him an inexplicable sense of strangeness¡ª it didn¡¯t quite sound like a person.


    The owner of the footsteps clearly had considerable weight as their steps on the floor were particrly heavy, apanied by a faint dragging sound. It seemed like the person was also dragging something while walking along the narrow corridor.


    In Dempsey¡¯s mind, an image formed¡ª a tall, slow-moving man, dragging something heavy along the corridor.


    Dempsey furrowed his thick brows, his body tensed, like a sword poised to strike.


    Next door was the youngdy¡¯s room. If the owner of the footsteps stopped at her room¡¯s door, he would break the door open at the fastest speed and swing his sword.


    In his mind, Dempsey visualized theyout of the inn¡¯s corridor, calcting the angle at which he should strike if he rushed out and nning the subsequent moves if the opponent dodged.


    Meanwhile, in the corridor, Lauren turned his head, a bit puzzled, and looked at the wall beside him.


    Ever since he had transformed into a lizard-man, he noticed that his hearing had be incredibly sensitive. In the inn, he could hear the soft breathing of women, the panting of men, the coughing of elderly people, and even the very faint breathing behind the wall just a step away.


    Was someone hiding behind the wall?


    Lauren scratched his head, his face full of confusion.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    In the room, Lynn was flipping through the Sleeping Curse spellbook. Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, things that had seemed obscure and iprehensible earlier now strangely clicked into ce, giving him a surge of inspiration.


    Constructing a spell framework required anchoring it first.


    Visualizing the mental sea as a three-dimensional space, anchoring meant manifesting mental energy in a special form as nails to secure nodes in this space.


    Then, connecting these nodes would construct the corresponding spell framework model. This was the basic requirement for constructing a spell framework.


    For beginners, however, anchoring wasn¡¯t easy.


    It was akin to achieving deep meditation in Zen Buddhism. The principles were there, but very few could truly achieve it. Even professional monks required a long time to reach this stage.


    Knowing something and being able to do it were entirely different matters.


    However, Lynn wasn¡¯t entirely without a foundation. Meditation was the prerequisite, and being able to meditate allowed him to enter the mental sea.


    Lynn had practiced meditation, and for most people, that was already a significant foundation.


    Initially, Lynn had considered other methods, like finding shortcuts to bypass the anchoring step. But after some thought, he realized that manifesting mental energy as nails in space to secure nodes was essentially about making the spell framework more precise.


    The tiniest error could lead to significant issues.


    Lynn understood the importance of precision like the saying ¡°a small part out of ce could cause a thousand-mile error.¡±


    He was still an apprentice, so it was best to follow established procedures and not rush to create new paths. Trying to take shortcuts for immediate progress could jeopardize his future.


    But how should he anchor? The mental sea was a three-dimensional space, at least as he perceived it. It wasn¡¯t a t canvas.


    How could he solidify his mental energy like nails in a three-dimensional space?


    Lynn tried various methods, but couldn¡¯t budge his mental sea in the slightest.


    However, when he saw the Earth Ring slowly rotating in ce at the center of his mental sea, a sudden insight struck him. Practicing the Sleeping Curse, fundamentally speaking, it was a skill framework.?


    ording to his teacher, when the Earth Ring Meditation technique was perfected, it would generate the Earth Ring, a one-ring spell in the practitioner¡¯s mind.


    This spell level couldn¡¯t just appear out of thin air, right? So, wasn¡¯t the floating and rotating Earth Ring in his mind an, in a sense, unformed skill framework?


    When he meditated on the Earth Ring, he condensed the prototype of each ring in his mind and thenpressed them continuously.


    Through this process, he attracted soul fragments from the surrounding air to generate the Earth Ring.


    Of course, there were some technical principles involved, but after meditating for months, Lynn had thoroughly grasped these principles. In other words, there was no technical difficulty in implementing this.


    The book recorded that soul fragments were a kind of energy that diffused in the air after the death of all things.


    Essentially, they were a materialization of mental energy.


    So, anchoring was using thispressed mental energy technique to fix mental energy at a specific point?


    Although he hadn¡¯t tried it yet, Lynn felt it should be something simr.


    He had been fixated on turning mental energy into nails due to empirical influence. Since the rings of the Earth Ring could form in his mental sea, he didn¡¯t need to make anchoring overlyplicated. He just needed to condense it into simple circles.


    Next, Lynn gave it a try, and soon, he condensed his first anchor.


    In his mental sea, a ring of mental energy was fixed in ce.


    Lynn looked left and right. However, no matter how he looked at it, it seemed ugly. This anchor had a rather irregr appearance.


    The problem was that he had only learned the Earth Ring Meditation, so he could onlypress mental energy in this shape. Well, now that he had the basics sorted out, he could work on improving the shapeter.


    After all, if he could draw circles, what was stopping him from drawing triangles, squares, straight lines, and dots?


    <em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>


    The knocking at the door startled Lynn from his meditation.


    In the room, Lynn opened his eyes.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Lynn frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Master,¡± came Lauren¡¯s voice from outside.


    Lynn sensed it for a moment, using the runes he controlled through his mind¡ª he confirmed that it was indeed Lauren at the door, not an imposter.


    So, Lynn went over and opened the door, standing behind it.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he said, and as soon as he finished, he smelled a strange odor.


    The source of this smell was the half of something that Lauren was carrying.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Master, this is something good,¡± Lauren replied as he entered and closed the door.


    He then proceeded to tell Lynn about his recent experiences.


    ¡°Are you saying that you encountered some monsters in the mine, and then the lizard almost devoured all the monsters in the mine, leaving only half a corpse?¡± Lynn looked at the half of the corpse Lauren was holding.


    It felt strange to him¡ª this monster¡¯s head was incredibly smooth, like it had ayer of metallic film.


    Besides that, the body behind this monster was pink, segmented, with a faint golden ring in the middle of each section. This monster was only half intact, its lower half had been forcibly torn apart by some external force.


    ¡°Howe there¡¯s a metallic shell, it looks somewhat like human-made traces,¡± Lynn spected in his mind.


    This monster gave Lynn a very strange feeling, an indescribable sense of eeriness.


    ¡°When you came up, no one else saw you, right?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°No, I avoided everyone else,¡± Lauren replied.


    He knew that he didn¡¯t look human right now, and exposing himself to human sight would only cause panic. Moreover, he didn¡¯t have the ability to conceal himself like that lizard monster.


    Lynn nodded at Lauren¡¯s words, then focused his attention on the monster in Lauren¡¯s hand.


    Perhaps it was from reading his teacher¡¯s recent experimental notes too often, but Lynn couldn¡¯t help but feel eager to try something.


    The part of the monster that had been bitten open revealed tender white flesh. There was no discolored liquiding out of the wound¡ª the only thing flowing from the monster¡¯s body was a transparent, viscous liquid, which might be its blood.


    Lynn took a sample of it and, through some tests, determined that this liquid was not corrosive.


    He also tapped the monster¡¯s head, and it had a metallic sound to it. At the very top of the head, upon inspection, Lynn found a flower-shaped mouthpart that could open. Inside were many silver-white, high-hardness teeth.


    What followed shocked Lynn¡ª these silver-white teeth were even harder than iron!


    Lynn looked at the button in his hand that had been easily pierced by the teeth, and a hint of dread shed in his eyes.


    Lauren, who was crouching beside him, watched Lynn¡¯s examination with an adoring look, as if Lynn were a professional inspector.


    At this moment, Lauren felt that the monster¡¯s corpse he had brought back had fully realized its maximum value! Just swallowing it like the big lizard had done earlier would have been the greatest waste.


    ¡°Master, I saw it emerged from the ground and instantly devoured half a person,¡± Lauren pointed at the monster¡¯s teeth.


    ¡°Are you saying it can move quickly underground?¡± Lynn asked.


    Lauren nodded vigorously.


    Lynn rubbed his chin with his finger¡ª he didn¡¯t know the reason. It might be due to the effect of some kind of a spell, or it could be something rted to its skin or some other reason, just like that big lizard that could turn invisible.?


    Lynn then continued to examine the monster¡¯s corpse with a curious attitude. However, the more he inspected and explored, the stranger it seemed to him.


    This earthworm monster really gave him a sense of being artificially created, somewhat like alchemy, but he hadn¡¯t seen alchemy before, so he couldn¡¯t be sure.??


    He thought of the records rted to alchemy mentioned in the notes and tried topare the knowledge in his mind with what he was seeing.


    It was said that some wizards studied alchemy to transform monsters or magical items. There were even some wizards who specialized in creating alchemical golems to protect wizard towers from disturbances by pesky robbers while they conducted experiments. There were even wizards known to establishboratories near precious ore deposits, making it convenient to use the ore directly for creating a continuous supply of alchemical puppets.


    There was said to be an iron mine near the small town.


    Could it be that a wizard had conducted some experiments here?


    However, it was just an iron mine, and if it were really a wizard, it seemed a bit shabby.


    Of course, these were all Lynn¡¯s spections.


    It was also possible that these monsters had originally lived in the ore deposits, and the workers identally dug into their nests, releasing these monsters.


    But this still couldn¡¯t exin the artificial traces on these monsters. Could it be that these monsters were sealed here and were identally released by the workers?


    Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered continuously.


    ¡°Do you remember where that mine is?¡± Lynn asked.


    Lauren nodded. ¡°I remember.¡±


    ¡°Take me there. Let¡¯s first find that lizard brother,¡± Lynn added.


    If it were only him and Lauren, it might be somewhat dangerous. But if that lizard was willing to apany them, their safety would be greatly increased. Although they didn¡¯t know the level of this lizard monster, one thing was for sure¡ª itsbat power was definitely higher than the two of thembined.


    At Lynn¡¯s words, Lauren hesitated.


    That lizard apparently seemed to be female.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    Lynn led Lauren away from the inn, carrying with them a flintlock musket and ten rounds of ammunition.


    Reloading the musket proved to be a cumbersome task¡ª after each shot, they had to painstakingly clear the barrel of gunpowder residue and debris before adding fresh gunpowder and lead bullets for the next shot. Hence, ten rounds of ammunition were deemed sufficient.


    Once outside, Lauren guided Lynn toward the nearby forest.


    Inside the forest, Lauren came to a halt beneath a towering tree.


    Lynn lifted his gaze, fixing his eyes upon the vacant expanse of the colossal tree before him.


    Within his line of sight, adjacent to the transparent trunk of the towering tree, space began to ripple, and the outline of a translucent figure gradually materialized from thin air.


    Semi-transparent scales emitted a silvery-gray sheen, and orange-yellow vertical pupils remained fixed on Lynn.


    The big lizard stared at Lynn, its gaze tinged with a hint of scrutiny, and it slowly pronounced Lynn¡¯s name, ¡°Lynn.¡±


    ¡°Hello there, big fellow,¡± Lynn responded.


    The lizard¡¯s head made a slight rotation, and its eyes sparkled with wisdom.


    It was in the process of dissecting the meaning behind Lynn¡¯s words.


    Then, with a gradual shake of its head, it replied, ¡°I¡¯m not called ¡®big fellow¡¯¡ª my name is Serena.¡±


    Indeed,munication was possible, and that was sufficient for Lynn, he thought.


    ¡°Hello, Serena,¡± Lynn greeted.


    Although he was somewhat curious as to why a lizard had chosen a feminine name for itself, Lynn refrained from prying further.


    From their brief interaction, Lynn discerned that this big lizard could speak, articte in humannguage, and possessed normal logic and cognitive abilities, allowing for meaningfulmunication.


    Since it could converse, harbored no malicious intent, and was open tomunication, the foundation for cooperation had beenid.


    ¡°Would you be willing to apany me to the mine?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°If you ever desire a meal in the future, I can assist with cooking¡ª I¡¯m quite skilled at it,¡± Lynn attempted to entice the lizard with the promise of food.


    The big lizard was deep in thought.


    It recalled the time when Lynn had served as its feeder not too long ago.


    Moreover, it didn¡¯t seem to mind Lynn¡¯s presence or scent.


    What was even more significant was that it sensed the mark of Angley on Lynn.


    After pondering for a moment, the big lizard descended from the tree and followed behind Lynn.


    Although the big lizard hadn¡¯t spoken, it had provided its answer through actions.


    After sessfully swindling a hired thug, Lynn felt a slight sense of relief.


    Arriving at the entrance of the mine, the area outside the dark, cavernous opening was barren except for scattered rocks.


    The ground bore traces of old bloodstains, blending with the dusty, multi-colored patches.


    Lynn nced at the dark mine entrance and suddenly realized he had overlooked something crucial.


    The mine was too dark, and he hadn¡¯t brought any torches for illumination.


    Two dim, orange beams of light emerged from behind him. They weren¡¯t very bright, but they provided enough visibility to discern the immediate surroundings.


    Lynn was surprised to find that the lizard¡¯s eyes were glowing.


    Leading the way, Lynn walked ahead, with the big lizard and Lauren following closely behind.


    The mine had considerable depth, with wooden supports scattered throughout. On both sides of the walls, you could still see candle holders with dried wax remnants. The ground was littered with rubble and dust.


    However, before long, they reached a fork in the path.


    Lynn frowned. He had originally nned to explore the mine tonight, thinking it wouldn¡¯t take much time since it was right on the outskirts of the town.


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated multiple forks in the tunnel. If there were many more like this, even a whole day and night might not be enough.


    The big lizard¡¯s orange eyes fixated on the left path before it continued forward.


    Lynn hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly followed.


    As they delved deeper underground, with each fork in the tunnel, the lizard continued to lead the way. Lynn could sense that they were descending further into the earth, and the air grew increasingly oppressive. The heavy dust made Lynn hold his breath, and faint sounds echoed from deep within the mine.


    Once again, they reached a fork in the tunnel, and suddenly, there was a cracking sound from above.


    In the next instant, a colossal creature lunged at Lynn like lightning.


    Lauren, who was beside Lynn, reacted swiftly, swinging a fist upward with great force.


    With a lightning-fast speed and pinpoint uracy, the uppercut connected with a resounding thud.


    <em>Boom</em>¡ª


    It was like punching a sandbag.


    The dull impact sound apanied the noise of a heavy object hitting the ground.


    The big lizard leading the way turned its head. Bathed in the orange glow of its eyes, Lynn could see a bulky monster that looked like an earthworm not far behind him, with a metallic sheen on its head¡ª struggling to burrow into the ground.


    It quickly disappeared into the mine, leaving only a gaping, pitch-ck hole in its wake.


    The big lizard gave it a cursory nce before redirecting its attention.


    It twisted its body and continued deeper into the tunnel.


    A curious Lauren asked the big lizard, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat it?¡±


    After spending these days in the wilderness with the big lizard, he had grown familiar with it.


    ¡°Not hungry,¡± the big lizard replied in human speech and continued onward.


    Was this really a case of whether you are hungry or not? Lynn found this situation somewhat of a pain in the ass.


    He had a feeling that the big lizard might not be as reliable as he had initially thought. So, he quickened his pace, closing the distance between him and the lizard, while tightly gripping the staff in his hand.


    The earlier incident happened because he had been a bit too far away, making him the target of that monster.


    If danger arose, he nned to take cover on the big lizard¡¯s back at the first sign of trouble.


    It seemed that there were more of these monsters inside the mine¡ª the few encountered outside were just the tip of the iceberg.


    Lauren remained silent, trailing behind Lynn. When Lynn nced at him, Lauren wore a pleased smile, seeking to please.


    Lynn nodded in approval of Lauren¡¯s impressive feat, considering how he had effortlessly dispatched the monster with a single punch. It was evident that Lauren possessed considerablebat prowess and an extraordinary level of strength.?


    The big lizard continued to lead the way, and the confines of the cave began to feel slightly constricting for it.


    As they ventured deeper, Lynn could sense the air growing thinner, but it had not yet be a hindrance to their breathing.


    Upon reaching the deepest point, a faint trace of blood lingered in the air.


    Lynn¡¯s foot seemed to encounter something soft and slightly resilient as he took a step. He moved his foot, identally kicking whatever it was.


    A tinkling sound followed, and upon closer examination, Lynn realized it was a pickaxe.


    Beneath the pickaxey a bluish-purple severed hand, clutching the handle tightly.


    ¡°This is it,¡± the big lizard came to a halt, raising its head high with its orange-hued pupils fixated straight ahead.


    Following the big lizard¡¯s gaze, Lynn found himself at the end of the passage, facing a stone wall.


    However, there was a sizable cavity that had been chiseled into the wall.


    Signs of human excavation were evident along the edges of the cavity, with scattered rubble and chaotic footprints littering the ground.


    Peering into the abyss, Lynn could see nothing but pitch darkness.


    However, upon closer examination, he noticed a clue.


    Along the edges of the chiseled cavity, there was a trace of gold.


    Approaching it, Lynn realized it was a solid gold door, though it had been significantly damaged.


    A massive breach had been carved into it.


    Connecting this sight with what he had seen earlier¡ªa pickaxe and a severed hand¡ªLynn surmised the probable cause.


    The mine workers had discovered the golden door, but they didn¡¯t dare to openly excavate it. Instead, they secretly chiseled away a bit each day.


    In the end, they had damaged the door and unwittingly released the monsters within.


    As for why the monsters only came out at night, Lynn spected, looking at the scattered remains on the ground, that someone had sneaked in to excavate the golden door during the nighttime.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    The hole was small, justrge enough for one person to enter.


    It was possible that those monsters had emerged from inside.


    Lynn hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°Master, let me go ahead and scout,¡± Lauren spoke up.


    Lynn furrowed his brow, unsure of what dangersy within. Allowing Lauren to go ahead posed significant risks.


    However, someone had to lead the way.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m tough and can handle it,¡± Lauren said with a goofy grin, patting his sturdy chest, which emitted a dull thud.


    As they were talking, the big lizard behind them suddenly moved.


    Its massive body turned within the cave, and its tail rose high.


    The robust tail, like a battering ram, mmed into the stone wall.


    <em>Whoosh!</em>


    The tail¡¯s tip tore through the air, emitting a sharp sound.


    The wall exploded, and a multitude of debris fell to the ground.


    The impact also sent the golden door behind the wall crashing down.


    Gold door fragments and shattered rocks littered the ground. Lynn moved aside some of the debris and gazed at therge chunks of the golden door. If these pieces of gold were taken by the miners, they could instantly be wealthy residents of the town. Then, one night in the future, they might fall prey to a gang of intruders who would ransack their homes, and the gold might end up in the collection of some noble.


    Lauren crouched beside Lynn, marveling at the sight. He had never seen so much gold in his life.


    He reached out and touched the gold.


    ¡°It¡¯s all gold,¡± Lauren confirmed, realizing that he had never seen so much gold in his entire life.


    If he had possessed this much gold back in the day, he might not have had to leave his hometown and family behind.


    Lauren¡¯s vertical-slit pupils appeared somewhat distant as he stared fixedly at the ground, memories he¡¯d rather forget flooding his mind.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the rising price of grain in his hometown, with wheat now selling at 5 silver coins a pound and his bread fetching two silver coins each, he wouldn¡¯t have beenbeled a vampire by the town¡¯s residents. They used him of raising the price of bread in such dire circumstances, likening him to a vampire draining the wealth of themon folk. But why did none dare to openly insult the noble grain merchants selling wheat at exorbitant prices? Even those who harbored discontent only dared to mutter behind closed doors.


    One night, masked intruders stormed into his shop, smashed everything, and made off with all the money and bread flour.


    Although they had covered their faces with cloth, he recognized their boots¡ªexquisite leather boots. Regr folks wouldn¡¯t be able to afford such footwear.


    He seemed to grasp something fundamental then. There were bards who had sung that ignorance was the breeding ground for sin. So, he and his wife left their hometown and set off for the reputedly bustling Bangor Port, where they heard one could journey to more countries.


    With the wall now shattered, the space behind it was fully revealed.


    Behind the stone wally a spacious area.


    The big lizard entered first.


    Lynn and Lauren followed closely behind.


    A shadow fell from above, but the big lizard¡¯s tail swung suddenly, swatting whatever was descending from their path.


    The creature that had been above was now sent flying.


    It appeared to be the same type of monster they had seen before.


    The path behind this stone wall wasn¡¯t very long, and in less than a minute, they reached its end.


    There was a faint glow ahead, and whaty before Lynn was an astonishing sight that left him utterly stunned.


    At the far end of his line of sight was a strange space.


    From Lynn¡¯s perspective, an unusual space had appeared deep within the mining cave, something that shouldn¡¯t belong there.


    Directly ahead, there was a bronze-colored, ethereal space faintly emitting a soft light. It resembled a scene from a dream and a mirage at the same time.


    The details of the scenery were not quite discernible, but he could make out aboratory-likeyout inside.


    Experiment tables, metal frames, workbenches¡ª all with a metallic sheen and faint bluish shadows along their edges.


    As Lynn approached, the scene gradually expanded and sharpened, almost to the point where he could reach out and touch it. Then, everything vanished before him, leaving only the depths of darkness surrounding him.


    Stepping back two paces, the scene reappeared.


    Was this some kind of magical projection?


    Lynn furrowed his brow in thought.


    Yet, everything had an unexpectedly tangible quality.


    The big lizard by his side observed the unfolding scene, lost in contemtion.


    ¡°Communicate with mental power,¡± the big lizard lying behind suddenly spoke.


    Lynn looked back at the big lizard and then turned his gaze back to the scene ahead. Mentalmunication¡ª and who can tell him how tomunicate with mental power, anyway!


    It was like someone giving you a sword and telling you to fly with it¡ª can you just fly?


    His teacher hadn¡¯t taught him that far yet.


    Lynn found this rather a pain in the ass and tried to concentrate his mental power.


    ¡°Communicate with mental power¡­municate with mental power,¡± he repeated to himself, squinting, but nothing seemed to happen.


    He had no idea how to project his mental power. Maybe he should meditate on it? Was it something like that? There was only one way to find out. Lynn closed his eyes and began to meditate.


    As he started to meditate, his thoughts gradually drifted away.


    Huh?


    Lynn noticed something unusual.


    In his dark mental sea, apart from the central core and the ¡°anchor¡± fixed near the edge, there was a flickering, shing mental fluctuation at the periphery.


    It was like some kind of signal.


    In Lynn¡¯s mind, the analogy of a Bluetooth signal appeared, even though it might not be entirely urate.


    But it was the closestparison he could find.


    Lynnmunicated with the flickering, fluctuating signal at the edge of his mental sea.


    The connection was established smoothly, and in the next moment, his mental power gushed out like a burst dam.


    A vast amount of information flooded into his mind, causing Lynn¡¯s brain to ache slightly. He had experienced a simr sensation when he added points to mutation studies and received knowledge from the door, but there was no pain involved then.


    After a considerable amount of time, Lynn¡¯s head, throbbing slightly, finally digested the information.


    He now understood the name of the space before him¡ª the Alchemy Laboratory.


    It was essentially a copsible and foldable pocket dimension.


    Its first owner was an alchemical wizard and Lynn was its third owner.


    Inside, it contained basic alchemical instruments and apparatus.


    The first owner had been a third-level wizard apprentice who was proficient in alchemy, but he suffered an incurable injury in a battle with his nemesis, fleeing and leaving behind his legacy and information about his enemy.??


    He had hoped that a future inheritor of his legacy, once powerful enough, would avenge him.


    The information about the second owner was rather scarce.


    Lynn then checked the Alchemy Laboratory, finding that most of the materials and items originally stored here had been depleted.


    Considering this ¡°experimental base¡± established deep within the iron mine, Lynn spected that the second owner might have been quite impoverished.


    Stepping further into theboratory, Lynn noticed a clock-like calendar on a table.


    He picked it up, and it had a scale with a pointer. Below it was a red line.


    The length of the red line corresponded to the years.


    After reading the information, Lynn¡¯s expression became somewhatplex.


    The first owner of this Alchemy Laboratory passed away in the year 4121 of the 7th Era of Wizard Calendar.


    Now, what year was it in the Wizard Calendar?


    Lynn thought for a moment, realizing that his teacher had never mentioned it. However, although he didn¡¯t know for sure, he recalled that his teacher, Angley, had noted a specific date in his own notes.


    It was in the Wizard Calendar of the year 4610. Back then, his teacher was still a young and innocentd.


    In other words, it had been at least five hundred years since that time.


    At least five hundred years had passed, and if that wizard enemy of his hadn¡¯t met an untimely end, he would likely have be a full-fledged wizard by now.


    Fortunately, this inheritance didn¡¯t impose a strict requirement on the inheritor to seek revenge. Instead, it was more of a request¡ª if the inheritor had the strength, they could seek revenge, but if not, they were encouraged to live their life and pass down the legacy.


    Lynn thoroughly examined the Alchemy Laboratory. Among the items he found there were various alchemical apparatus and a bookshelf with about forty to fifty books.


    Upon a cursory examination, Lynn noticed that these books fell into two distinct categories.


    The first category consisted of ancient tomes, bearing the weight of history. Most of them contained knowledge of spells, with a significant portion dedicated to alchemy. Lynn also discovered three spellbooks containing zero-ring spells, likely left behind by the first wizard.


    The second categoryprised handwritten notes, many of which were filled with misspellings and had crooked handwriting. In addition, there was a three-meter-tall, handcrafted, egg-shaped metal apparatus in the corner of the room. Scattered across the nearby table were various design blueprints.


    While perusing the blueprints, Lynn noticed a familiar pattern, nearly identical to the creatures he had encountered in the mine.


    Case solved, the culprit responsible for these alchemical monsters was revealed¡ª the second inheritor.


    On the paper, the name of these monsters was written: Iron Earthworm.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    There was also experimental data regarding the Iron Earthworm nearby.


    ¡¶Iron Earthworm¡·


    Average body length: 3.2 meters.


    Average diameter: 1 meter.


    Strength: Knight-level (slightly stronger than a knight).


    Endurance: Beyond Grand Knight-level, extremely strong.


    Reaction speed: Knight-level.


    Linear speed: Unqualified! (Can¡¯t catch up to a horse) There are messy scribbles here, indicating frustration when writing this part.


    Tooth hardness: Level 3 hardness.


    Recovery speed: Level 3 healing.


    Digestive capacity: Level 2 digestion.


    Materials: 10 kg of earthworms, 10 kg of refined iron, 500 g of yellow jasper powder.


    Manufacturing process: Add the raw materials to the Iron Earthworm prototype machine and follow the detailed steps toplete the production. Afterward, ce the Iron Earthworm eggs near an iron ore deposit, and the Iron Earthworm eggs will absorb the iron ore nutrients to grow.


    Growth cycle: 30 days.


    Lynn was familiar with the rankings of tooth hardness and recovery speed.


    In the first notebook that Angley gave him, there were relevant records.


    This was the wizard¡¯s evaluation of an item¡¯s hardness, with established standards.


    Some materials with extremely high hardness could even withstand the bombardment of high-intensity spells without deformation.


    Level 3 hardness was already quite high. In the wizard¡¯s assessment criteria, level 3 hardness belonged to high-hardness materials, and they generally had resistance to spells. Zero-ring spells would typically find it challenging to damage materials with level 3 hardness.


    Earthworms and refined iron were not rare materials and could be found almost anywhere. The only rare item was the yellow jasper powder.


    This should be rted to alchemy, a subject that Lynn was not yet familiar with.


    In terms ofbat power, the Iron Earthworms didn¡¯t have particrly strong frontalbat abilities.


    If Lauren were to be considered as abat unit, judging from the strength he disyed when he punched the Iron Earthworm away just now, if Lauren were fully armed with armor and weapons, the Iron Earthworm might not be his match in a head-on fight.


    However, in aplex underground terrain, with the Iron Earthwormunching a sneak attack first, Lauren would also be in great danger.


    Combat was never a simpleparison of data.


    Realbat experience, the terrain, the environment, and the element of surprise were all crucial factors determining sess or failure.


    The main issue was that the Iron Earthworm could move freely underground, making it more stealthy and threatening than ordinary monsters.


    But there was also a treasure.


    Since he was the creator of the Iron Earthworm, he naturally had corresponding means of control.


    For wizards, no matter how they created alchemical puppets, mutated monsters, fused monsters, or subjugated familiars, there were corresponding control methods.


    It could also be understood as a secret door to these monsters.


    On the nearby table, a metal bracelety quietly.


    This was the control metal bracelet.


    All Iron Earthworms created through this metal device would naturally be under the control of the metal bracelet.


    Lynn picked up the bracelet. The metal bracelet had ten small holes, but only two of them were currently lit.


    Lynn connected with the bracelet using his mental power and sensed the two units under the bracelet¡¯s control.


    And these two units were not far from this location.


    At the same time, Lynn could perceive a feeling of ¡°fear¡± emanating from them.


    The source of this emotion was none other than Serena, not far away.


    Lynn¡¯s gaze fell upon the massive lizard.


    Its body was over five to six meters long, and although it was lying on the ground, the front half of its body, with its raised head, reached a height of nearly two meters.


    ¡°You can take thisboratory,¡± Serena said.


    Lynn looked at Serena, full of surprise and suspicion.


    Did this big lizard know it was aboratory?


    Moreover¡ªand Lynn wasn¡¯t sure if it was his imagination¡ªSerena¡¯s ¡°reasoning¡± seemed to be getting stronger.


    Serena turned and walked away, heading outside the cave.


    Lynn fell silent. Initially, he thought this lizard was a sentient monster captured by his teacher. However, from their recent interactions, it didn¡¯t seem to be the case.


    But why did his teacher keep it hidden so deeply?


    Thinking about Serena¡¯s increasingly logical thinking ability, Lynn had a bold guess forming in the back of his mind.


    Regardless, this time, Lynn felt he owed Serena a big favor.


    For Lynn, this Alchemy Laboratory held a different kind of significance. It meant he could continuepleting his daily tasks.


    Putting on the metal bracelet, Lynn issued amand. ¡°Come here!¡±


    Soon after themand was issued, the ground not far away cracked open, and two Iron Earthworms emerged from the earth. Compared to their length and diameter, they seemed a bit chubby, with their head portion resembling two metallic membranes.


    With the metal bracelet on his wrist, Lynn could sense the emotions of these two Iron Earthworms¡ª awe.


    ¡°You two stay in the ground and follow me. Don¡¯te out without mymand,¡± Lynn ordered the two Iron Earthworms.


    Then, right in front of Lynn¡¯s eyes, the two Iron Earthworms burrowed into the ground and disappeared.


    Lynn walked over to a shelf, where on the topmost level of the metal rack, there was a cubic metal block.


    This was the core of the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Lynn took the cubic metal, and as he infused it with his mental power, it behaved like a magic staff.


    The smooth surface of the cubic metal slowly cracked open along a fine seam.


    The seam spread and rotated, resembling a metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube.


    The surrounding space, like a light behind a closed door, transformed into a beam of blue light, and was absorbed into the metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube held in Lynn¡¯s hand.


    As Lynn infused it with his mental power again, the metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube rotated and opened once more. A beam of blue light poured out from the seams, creating a t expanse of space around.


    After some simple experiments, Lynn confirmed the existence of this folded space. It existed independently of the real world.


    It could be controlled in two different states.


    Lynn named the first state ¡°Concealed Mode.¡±


    In Concealed Mode, the outside world couldn¡¯t see the interior of this space, and the space itself couldn¡¯t observe the outside world. Simultaneously, the metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube would exist in the outside world, which was one of its only drawbacks.


    The second state Lynn named ¡°Open Mode.¡±


    Just like when he first saw this space, the outside world could see the interior within a certain distance, but they couldn¡¯t directly enter it. Inside the space, one could also see the outside scenery. Only beings allowed by Lynn could enter this semi-open space.


    The first state might be safe, assuming the other party didn¡¯t understand magic.


    Lynn suspected that if a wizard could create this folded space, they likely had means to destroy or forcefully enter it. So, the first state wasn¡¯t absolutely secure.


    Lynn went to the fragments of the golden door and moved them into the folded space of the Alchemy Laboratory for storage.


    In the kingdom, these golden fragments were undoubtedly worth a fortune.


    At least Lynn would no longer have to worry about money.


    Lynn held the Rubik¡¯s Cube, apanied by Lauren, and walked towards the cave exit.


    Compared to the journey here, leaving was much simpler. They just had to keep walking outward.


    However, halfway through, they suddenly heard footsteps and voicesing from the cave ahead.


    Inside the mine, a group of eight people walked further inside.


    These individuals still carried the lingering scent of alcohol, holding oilmps in their left hands and pickaxes in their right.


    The leader of the group was burly and imposing. He spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Have those monsters disappeared?¡±


    The man beside him was slightly shorter and bald, a red-bearded fellow in a vest. He replied, ¡°I saw a wingless dragoning and devouring all those monsters.¡±


    ¡°Why would there suddenly be monsters in the mine? Could it be that we¡¯ve opened the seal to hell?¡± the red-bearded man spected.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as hell¡ª poverty is the greatest demon!¡± the burly leader scoffed.


    ¡°Do you all want to go back to being as poor as you were at the beginning?¡± the leader continued sternly.


    The surrounding miners remained silent.


    This was also the reason why, despite their fear, they had rushed over.


    ¡°There¡¯s indeed something strange about the door deep underground. That¡¯s why I warned you all not to break through the doorpletely. Try to distribute the drilling evenly, and don¡¯t take too much at once. If you take too much, it¡¯ll be hard to hide it on your person. If the overseer finds out, none of us will get anything!¡± the burly leader exined.


    They continued walking downwards, and none of them noticed that among the stones by the cave wall they passed, there was a metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube hidden.


    As the burly leader looked at the other miners around him, a hint of malice shed in his eyes.


    These people were too foolish!


    And theycked insight, easily tempted by a small benefit.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that five miners had discovered the door at the same time, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted to share it with anyone.


    The more people who knew, the greater the risk of exposure. He had repeatedly warned them not to tell anyone.


    But in just a few days, the number of people who knew had expanded from the initial five to the current nine.


    Some of these miners were from out of town, but most were locals. Despite the hard work in the mine, the wages were decent, so many local men worked there. They had strong family ties and friendships, especially among the miners who enjoyed drinking. Sometimes, after a few drinks, they couldn¡¯t resist bragging.


    He didn¡¯t actually like drinking, but in order to supervise these people, he gathered with them every day.


    However, he knew that secrets couldn¡¯t be kept forever.


    With so many people knowing the secret, it was only a matter of time before it leaked out.


    That¡¯s why he had been secretly umting gold over the past few days, waiting for the right moment to leave. With that gold, he could go wherever he wanted to live a good life.


    As for his wife and daughter back home, the burly man had no intention of taking them with him. Having too many people would only be a hassle.


    Soon, they arrived at the deepest part of the mine, where their secret was hidden.


    Looking at the copsed stone wall in front of them and the remnants of the vanished golden door, some miners couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. They hurriedly ran forward a few steps and searched through the rubble.


    But they found nothing.


    ¡°Who sneaked back here?¡±


    Some people became anxious, their faces turning red, their necks bulging.


    ¡°Was it you? I saw you leave for a moment while you were drinking.¡±


    ¡°Is your brain filled with shit? I went to use the toilet because I had diarrhea. Besides, it was just for a short while. It¡¯s impossible for me to run from the tavern to here in that time.¡±


    Listening to the buzzing arguments around him, the burly man felt annoyed and was about to speak up.


    Suddenly, he felt the ground beneath him give way. The earth and stones under his feet crumbled into emptiness, and the lower half of his body plunged into a viscous yet firm substance.


    In his panic, he used both hands to support himself on the ground beside him. He wanted to see what it was, but he felt an excruciating pain in his chest.


    The next moment, he saw a massive object fall from the overhead rock wall, swallowing the head and body of another person in one go.


    This colossal creature wriggled in ce like a giant maggot. From its mouthparts at the top, a trickle of red blood flowed.


    The burly man murmured unintelligibly as he, with only the upper half of his chest remaining above the surface, emitted only faint moans from his throat.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    The azure sky stretched endlessly above, while the dark and silent mines dominated thendscape.


    The mine overseer had gathered at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by the miners.


    In the open space before the mine entrancey some gruesome remains, remnants fromst night¡¯s events.


    In this small town, word traveled fast, and the news of the monsters in the mine and the deaths had already caused panic. Residents with some savings prepared to flee to neighboring towns or slightly more distant cities.


    However, those without money had no choice but to stay. Moving was not a simple matter¡ª it involved finding new amodations, buying furniture, securing new jobs, and even hiring a carriage for relocation¡ª all substantial expenses. For some, struggling to survive in town was the only option, especially since the town still had the Baron and his family.


    A carriage rolled in slowly, its design somewhat exquisite, with rose-shaped copper ornaments adorning the railing along its sides.


    Upon seeing the familiar carriage, the overseer recognized it as belonging to Baron Flo¡¯s family.


    The overseer¡¯s expression turned serious. He halted in his tracks and quickly moved toward the approaching vehicle.


    ¡°My lord,¡± the overseer said with a respectful tone.


    The iron mine belonged to Baron Flo¡¯s family, and the overseers were all servants of the Baron¡¯s family. They had even paid a price to secure their positions.


    The blue curtains in front of the carriage were drawn back, revealing a meticulously dressed man with graying facial hair who stepped down from the carriage.


    ¡°Steward Dweint,¡± the overseer stood by the carriage, his back slightly bent.


    Dweint was an elderly steward in the Baron¡¯s family, having served two generations of Barons. He held a significant position within the family.


    ¡°Lord Baron has already been informed of the situation here. However, he is not feeling well today, so he entrusted me with handling matters here,¡± Dweint said.


    ¡°The iron mine is the economic backbone of the town, and it must resume operation as soon as possible,¡± Dweint continued. ¡°This is the Baron¡¯s wish.¡±


    ¡°Master Steward, there is widespread panic in the town, and the miners are reluctant to work in the mines. They im there are monsters inside, and they are afraid to go down for work,¡± the overseer said with a bitter smile.


    ¡°Yes, Lord Baron considered that aspect as well. He has gone to the nearest city of Munster to request a priest and a demon hunter to drive out the monsters in the mine,¡± Steward Dweint replied.


    ¡°But for now, do not halt the operations. Earl Hobbs from the north has purchased this batch of iron ore from Lord Baron, and it must be delivered by the end of the month. Their convoy will arrive by then, and regardless of the means, the expected iron ore production must be met.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Some people wish to leave the town, and Lord Baron is not pleased with it. You should keep an eye out and prevent certain miners from sneaking away. This town belongs to Lord Baron, and its residents are his subjects. No one is allowed to leave the town without Lord Baron¡¯s permission,¡± Steward Dweint said calmly.


    ¡°Understood,¡± the overseer nodded.


    On the other side of the small town, near the main road leading south, a group of five or six constables stood.


    The road was blocked by horizontally ced wooden posts in the middle, and constables with swords at their waists and flintlock muskets in hand were inspecting passing pedestrians.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this old Jorik from the town¡¯s tailor shop? Where are you nning to go with all these things?¡± A constable stopped the old man and used the longsword in his scabbard to tap the carriage behind old Jorik.


    Inside the carriage, there were some belongings.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the city to buy some fabric,¡± old Jorik replied.


    ¡°No, today Lord Baron has spoken. No one is allowed to leave the town,¡± the constable said coldly.


    Old Jorik was taken aback. He rubbed his hands nervously. ¡°Lord Constable, I¡¯m really just going to the city to purchase some fabric. My tailor shop is running out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still a no. Go back!¡±


    The pedestrians ahead were thoroughly checked, and the constables were being very meticulous. Even passing dogs had to leave behind a tuft of fur.


    And even traveling merchants wishing to head south would undergo repeated inspections.


    In the distance, a carriage approached slowly.


    Old Kim, who was driving the carriage, saw the roadblock ahead and wore an expression of concern.


    This scene was all too familiar to him.


    These local nobles in the town were the local bullies. Although decades ago, the kingdom had issued the ¡°Citizenship Decree¡±, which mandated that citizens who held legal employment and paid taxes to the kingdom were entitled to receive standard treatment and were protected by thew.


    ?This decree expanded the scope of citizenship and garnered a lot of support from the citizens for the reigning king at the time.


    However, before that, the concept of citizens was limited to a small group, and only those with power and influence, aside from nobles, were considered ¡°citizens.¡±


    Despite the issuance of thesews, the status of the kingdom¡¯smoners had only marginally improved. In reality, in some remote areas or in territories ruled by powerful nobles for many years, the decree was practically as good as a nk piece of paper.


    ?Some stubborn, old-fashioned nobles still arrogantly believed that the people within their domains were their private property.


    Most of the residents in the town recognized these constables. The town wasn¡¯t that big, so almost everyone knew everyone else.


    Even if someone was not recognized, passing pedestrians and caravans had to pay a fee to the constables to pass safely.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± one of the constables looked up and down at Old Kim, who appeared unfamiliar and not from the town.


    The noble¡¯s orders were clear¡ª no townsfolk were allowed to leave. But during such a dangerous time, it was an opportunity to extort others.


    ?At this dangerous moment, there is no guarantee that someone will fish in troubled waters.


    ¡°Check the people inside, too,¡± the constable coldly ordered.


    ¡°Master, the people inside are all my guests,¡± Old Kim spoke up.


    ¡°Whether they are your guests or not, I¡¯ll decide after I take a look,¡± the constable impatiently replied.


    Standing beside him was a slightly overweight man with a ruddyplexion and short eyebrows. He raised his flintlock musket and pointed it at Old Kim¡¯s head menacingly. ¡°You old coot, our captain told you what to do, and you better do it without any more nonsense, or you¡¯ll be tasting bullets.¡±


    Inside the carriage, Lynn, who had been reading his notes by the window, closed his notebook.


    ncing at his teacher beside him, Angley had his eyes closed¡ª clearly, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with such minor matters.


    ?Lynn knew he had to handle these matters himself. Otherwise, if these people shed with his teacher, he would also be reprimanded.


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Constable, we are travelers from the north heading south, not residents of your town,¡± Lynn peered out of the carriage, pushing aside the carriage curtain.


    The constable looked at Lynn¡¯s delicate and pretty facial features and maliciously spected that this might be some rich person¡¯s boy toy.


    ¡°Open the curtain,¡± the constable ordered.


    ¡°My teacher is inside, and he¡¯s older and not in good health,¡± Lynn said as he handed over several silver coins.


    The constable took the silver coins, nced at them, and weighed them in his hand. Based on his touch and experience, he estimated there were at least seven or eight. It seemed like a fat sheep.


    If they were truly nobles, they wouldn¡¯t have just this one person. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke nobles, but everyone else in town was fair game.


    ¡°Why do I feel like you resemble someone from a certain family in town? Let me think,¡± the constable said as he extended his hand and opened his palm.


    His face fully disyed wantonness as he looked at Lynn.


    They were like wild dogs on the roadside. The more you pushed them, the more afraid they became, and the weaker you seemed, the more they thought they could bully you.


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lynn¡¯s lips as he put on a gentle smile. ¡°Alright, please wait.¡±


    Seeing the young man before him showing fear, the constable sneered in his heart. <em>Whoever you are, as long as you¡¯re not a noble, you¡¯d better behave in front of me.</em>


    Back in the carriage, Lynn took out his staff and peered through the curtain¡¯s gap.


    His gaze fell on the constable outside.


    He silently chanted a Mental Shock spell.


    The light at the tip of the staff grew stronger.


    The constable in uniform outside sneezed and rubbed his nose, looking around.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    Invisibly, a ripple of energy pierced through the carriage curtain, urately targeting the leader of the constables.


    The constable captain, who was standing, shivered as if possessed, his body suddenly stiffening, as though struck by a heavy hammer.


    Then, with a loud ng, he knelt down directly.


    His kneecaps made intense contact with the gravel on the ground, but there was no reaction whatsoever.


    The other constables who had gathered around stood frozen, not understanding what had happened to their captain or why he had suddenly knelt down.


    The chubby constable with short eyebrows began to feel uneasy. He then saw the carriage curtain being pulled aside, and the young man from earlier leaned out his upper body.


    In his hand, he held a ck wooden staff, which he pointed at themselves and the others.


    Although a gentle smile yed at the corners of his mouth, his deep-set eyes were as cold as a deep abyss.


    A basketball-sized ball of liquid was churning and spinning at the tip of the wooden staff.


    The ball of liquid shot out and exploded among the crowd, sttering in all directions!


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Numerous screams reverberated through the empty main road.


    The intense pain caused by the highly corrosive acid left everyone writhing on the ground. These constables, who were used to a life offort, had lost all fighting capability in the face of the acid¡¯s corrosive effects.


    Lynn bent over, his boots on the carriage¡¯s step, and a flintlock musket in his hand as he descended.


    He walked up to the people who were still breathing.


    He aimed the flintlock musket at their heads.


    Without mercy, he squeezed the trigger.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    Then he picked up another flintlock musket and repeated the same steps.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    <em>Bang!</em>


    <em>Click, click</em>¡ª¡ª


    The firing pin made a clicking sound.


    This time, the shot didn¡¯t go off, possibly due to damp ammunition or some other reason.


    ?Lynn turned the musket upside down, gripping the barrel, and swung the butt end down on their heads, smashing them until their skulls cracked, and brain matter sprayed until it stopped.


    With the gruesome task finished, Lynn bent down, picked up the corners of their clothing, and wiped the blood off his boots.


    Then, he deftly looted the muskets and bullets from their hands, along with the coins from their pockets, as if it were an inconsequential chore. He returned to the carriage naturally.


    Poor Old Kim had never witnessed such brutality before.


    He covered his eyes with both hands.


    He felt like he might have seen something he shouldn¡¯t have.


    <em>Oh no</em>, Old Kim thought pessimistically, <em>I might not survive the night</em>.


    ¡°Keep moving,¡± Lynn¡¯s gentle voice came from the carriage.


    Old Kim swallowed hard, didn¡¯t even dare to smoke, and quickly urged the horses to continue south.


    When Lynn and his group had moved far away, Lauren, who was covered with curtains on the nearby hillside, walked down and turned to the woods behind him. ¡°Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?¡±


    The only response was the rustling of leaves in the wind.


    Lauren shook his head and proceeded to drag each of the bodies into the nearby woods. After a simple cleanup of the traces on the ground, he heard someone approaching from a distance and quickly hid to the side.


    ¡°You handled it well,¡± Angley opened his eyes and spoke.


    Lynn promptly closed the book and listened to his teacher¡¯s words.


    ¡°I was worried they might disturb you, teacher,¡± Lynn replied. ¡°Teacher, there¡¯s something I need to tell you fromst night.¡±


    ¡°I know, I thought you wouldn¡¯t mention it,¡± Angley said cryptically.


    ?Lynn¡¯s expression changed slightly.


    ¡°But it¡¯s just an Alchemy Laboratory. Since it¡¯s your find, you can keep it,¡± Angley said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lynn lowered his head, his face filled with anxiety, but his heart remained calm. Angley indeed knew aboutst night¡¯s incident, and Lynn would have been surprised if he hadn¡¯t.


    Looking out of the carriage window, Angley suddenly spoke. ¡°If only I had been as cautious as you back then, maybe those things wouldn¡¯t have happenedter.¡±


    ¡°Since it¡¯s an Alchemy Laboratory, there should be alchemy books inside. You are currently studying mutation studies with me. Remember, a person¡¯s energy is limited, even if you¡¯re not exactly human. So, in the early stages, it¡¯s best to master one or two subjects.¡±


    ¡°This will greatly help you in the future,¡± Angley continued.


    Lynn didn¡¯t fully understand, but he kept his teacher¡¯s words in mind. With Angley¡¯s knowledge, what he said must have a reason behind it.


    The carriage entered the Sagunto Mountains, and the road gradually became bumpy. The trees on both sides grew taller and denser, casting dark shadows over the road.


    Old Kim found a quiet spot and stopped the carriage. He lifted the nket ced under the driver¡¯s seat and wrapped it around himself. Then, he gathered some dry firewood and lit a fire by the roadside.


    He knew his fate depended on the mysterious mage inside the carriage, and his life could be changed with just a thought.


    ¡°Sir, would you like toe down and warm up by the fire?¡± Old Kim asked.


    The carriage remained silent, and no one answered.


    Old Kim didn¡¯t dare to ask further questions. He hung his head low and rubbed his hands by the fire.


    Inside the carriage, there was no one, only a metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube sitting quietly on the seat.


    The Alchemy Laboratory¡¯s folded space was somewhat cramped, mainly due to the scattered experimental equipment and some scraps of paper scattered everywhere. Lynn hadn¡¯t had time to tidy up afterst night.


    In the corner of the space, on the bed, Angley sat reading a book.


    When Lynn had politely asked his teacher if he wanted to enter his folded space earlier, he had thought the aloof teacher would refuse.


    Little did he expect that Angley would agree directly. Angley, who was reading, coughed slightly.


    Lynn quickly withdrew his gaze. Judging from his teacher¡¯s attitude, this folded space wasn¡¯t something extremely rare to him. Then why had he never used it before? Was it because he didn¡¯t have ess to it?


    Lynn began to tidy up the Alchemy Laboratory, organizing the experimental equipment neatly into categories ording to his ideas.


    After a busy half-day, he finally got everything cleaned up. Small text appeared in the corner of his vision.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Clean up theboratory (2), Clean up theboratory once, and keep theboratory clean and tidy.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Passed¡±


    ¡°Reward: 10 general experience points.¡±


    Lynn paused for a moment. It appeared that the Alchemy Laboratory counted as aboratory too.


    But why was it marked as (2) when the previous ones werebeled (1)? Was it because thisboratory belonged to him, or was it considered more ¡°advanced¡± than the temporaryboratory he had cleaned earlier?


    With the addition of these ten points of general experience, Lynn¡¯s experience points reached 100. He could level up again.


    For now, Lynn was primarily considering leveling up because increasing his level would enhance not only his physical fitness and mental strength but also improve his meditation efficiency.


    It could boost efficiency by more than ten percent, and gaining such abilities early on would yield higher rewards.


    As for his knowledge of mutation studies, he could enhance it by reading books. Although Lynn was quite curious about alchemy, like how the Iron Earthworms were created through alchemy, who wouldn¡¯t want to craft a few magic ¡°Gundam¡± themselves?


    However, he hadn¡¯t finished reading the books on mutation studies yet. Lynn thought that <em>assembling </em>the ¡°Hulk¡± seemed like a good choice too.


    He wasn¡¯t in a hurry¡ª knowledge was readily avable, waiting for him to acquire it at any time.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Because the teacher was right there, Lynn still didn¡¯t raise his level right under his nose.


    After all, he hadn¡¯t experimented with the sudden increase in mental strength and the potential anomalies it might bring, or the rapid improvement in physical fitness. He couldn¡¯t be sure if he could hide it from Angley¡¯s watchful eyes.


    After tidying up theboratory, things looked much more pleasing to the eye. While rearranging the bookshelves, Lynn found a notebook that contained some self-narratives about the second owner.


    ?Lynn wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of the profession of a wizard or some other reason, but he noticed that most of the wizards he encountered liked to write diaries or take notes.


    <em>Which honest person likes to write a diary?</em>, he muttered in his heart.


    However, he could also understand the mentality of these people. For wizards, due to the nature of their profession, they had fewer friends, and most of them were somewhat reclusive.


    With no one to confide in, they liked to write diaries to record their daily trivia or research insights. Personal secrets were not recorded in these diaries. Moreover, they often stored these diaries in the most secure ces. If someone could find them, it probably meant that something unexpected had happened. These diaries and some research findings served as evidence that they had once existed.


    Every wizard had a certain pride. As researchers among the extraordinary, they naturally stood at the top of the disdain hierarchy.


    <em>Even if I dissipate in the future, my works, my achievements, and my wisdom will continue to exist in this world eternally. On the path to truth, there will always be a footprint of mine.</em>


    As a fellow wizard, the more Lynn understood about wizards, the more he could empathize with this mentality.


    Thinking of this, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but sneak a nce at his teacher, the guide who had set him on this path.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you reading the book properly? Why are you looking at me?¡± Angley suddenly frowned as he looked at his book.


    ¡°I just suddenly feel lucky to have met you, teacher,¡± Lynn said, and there was indeed a hint of sincerity in his words. If it weren¡¯t for meeting Angley, he would still be an ordinarymoner.


    Faced with the exploitation of the constable and the condescension of the nobles, even with the memories from his previous life, Lynn felt a sense of powerlessness when confronted with the trends of this era.


    That was also the reason why, for most of the year after awakening his innate wisdom, he did not use some knowledge from his previous life to earn money on arge scale.


    In this era, power was not emphasized, but there was something even more frightening than power¡ª ss. Nobles¡¯ sons were born nobles, whilemoners¡¯ sons, barring exceptional circumstances, remainedmoners for life.


    Nobles could killmoners without needing a reason¡ª they only had to pay a fine.


    Only the Noble Council had the authority to judge nobles.


    Behind those merchants, there was always a noble background, and their wealth was always rued for the nobility.


    Lynn had persuaded his family to go to Bangor Port because he had heard that the atmosphere there was more open. He wanted to gather more information about this world through Bangor Port and then choose the right path. Originally, he had longed for this world, which was not limited to just one country. Surely, there were some countries that were rtively less rigid in their ss systems.


    But now, he had embarked on a different path, one that was unknown but filled with anticipation and excitement.


    Angley continued reading without any movement. After a while, he said in a calm tone, ¡°Fate has already marked a price on all gifts, you don¡¯t need to be grateful.¡±


    Lynn was ustomed to his teacher¡¯s enigmatic personality. He didn¡¯t mind. <em>Whether I¡¯m grateful or not is my business, it has nothing to do with your reaction.</em>


    Lynn flipped through the notes in his hand. Through the fragments in the notes and the almost worn-out dictionary book left in the corner of the bookshelf, a vague image was pieced together in Lynn¡¯s mind.


    A young orphan with the potential to be a wizard but living in poor conditions, enduring mistreatment at his uncle and aunt¡¯s house, identally inherited the legacy of a wizard. He had a tough and sunny personality. Every night, he secretly entered the space to study magic. When he reached adulthood, he left his uncle and aunt¡¯s house.


    While wandering outside, he met the young daughter of a count. The two shared a deep bond but were separated due to their social statuses. Just as the war broke out, to gain a noble title and marry his beloved, the young man participated in the war and gained a significant reputation with his alchemical skills.


    When the kingdom conquered the enemy country, the king rewarded the heroes. However, on the way back from the celebration banquet, they were ambushed. Using hisst resort, the young man escaped with severe injuries.


    He hid in the iron mine to umte strength for revenge. He wasn¡¯t sure if he would ever return. The second inheritor of the wizard¡¯s legacy believed that he might not fulfill the first wizard¡¯s wish. He was grateful to the first wizard for giving him the opportunity to change his fate. Without him, he might have remained a country boy for his entire life.


    So, before leaving, he left behind the Alchemy Laboratory, the knowledge he had acquired over the years, and his final achievements.


    ?Lynn rubbed his chin.


    The story of the second wizard in this Alchemy Laboratory sounded quite traditional.


    And who knew if the revenge was sessful¡ª it was highly probable it failed, right?


    Moreover, the two countries mentioned in the notes were very familiar.


    The country that eventually won the war was the Erdolu Kingdom, the very kingdom he was currently living in.


    ?Lynn had heard that the kingdom hadunched a war in the south to reim southernnds, but that was more than two hundred years ago. Everyone involved in those events was likely long gone.


    But Lynn considered a deeper possibility.


    The second wizard never returned, most likely because his revenge had failed. However, the alchemical monster he created must have been seen by people at the time.


    So, it wasn¡¯t surprising that someone in the Erdolu Kingdom recognized the Iron Earthworms. This thing might even be recorded in the libraries of certain nobles.


    Angley had walked to the desk at some point, looking at the blueprints for the Iron Earthworm.


    He shook his head and casually said, ¡°Not bad. Being able to produce such a product here shows some talent.¡±


    ¡°Although I haven¡¯t delved deeply into alchemy, I do have some knowledge,¡± Angley said lightly.


    ¡°In fact, for wizards, regardless of the direction, the most important thing is perfection. You need to excel in one direction, whether it¡¯s in terms of lethality, reconnaissance, production, camouge, or even production cost and speed. There should always be a distinctive feature to make a wizard¡¯s creation stand out.¡±


    ?Lynn put down the book and listened attentively to his teacher¡¯s exnation.


    ¡°Mediocrity has no future. For wizards, mediocrity means uselessness because wizards can study many creations,¡± Angley said, redirecting his gaze. ¡°The only notable advantage of this Iron Earthworm is that the materials required for its production are rtively easy to obtain.


    ¡°Yellow jasper is amon stone with magical properties. Creations made using yellow jasper have good affinity with the earth.


    ¡°In the wizarding world, the price of 10 kilograms of yellow jasper powder was approximately 1 magic stone. However, thebat abilities of the Iron Earthworm werecking. It didn¡¯t possess innate magic and could only be considered a beast with extraordinary talents, not even reaching the level of the lowest-grade magical creature. Its only notable trait was the ability to tunnel through the earth, likely due to the inclusion of yellow jasper.¡±


    Lynn nodded, and he noticed a key term, ¡°wizarding world,¡± in his teacher¡¯s words. He wondered whether it was a noun or a pronoun.


    ¡ª¡ª


    T/L Bonus: Unofficial illustration of yellow jasper.


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    ¡°But it¡¯s not magic¡ª it¡¯s just an innate ability. So the Iron Earthworm can only move through soil without magical properties. If it¡¯s in soil with magical properties, its movement speed will be greatly reduced. If there¡¯s a soil elemental spell, like Concrete Art, that solidifies the earth, it would be like an insect trapped in amber underground.


    ¡°This Iron Earthworm can deal with ordinary people reasonably well, but it falls short against experienced professionals.


    ¡°While it¡¯s challenging for our field of mutation studies during the apprentice stage to createbat-ready creations like alchemical studies, once you reach a certain level of study, you¡¯ll understand that mutation studies is far superior to alchemical studies. Alchemical studies¡¯ creations are stiff and rigid, only possessing the most basic logic, incapable of handling moreplex tasks. Mutation studies are different,¡± Angley said calmly.


    ¡°I understand, teacher. I will work hard to delve into mutation studies,¡± Lynn replied.


    Angley nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Study diligently on your own.¡±


    With that said, Angley raised his right hand, and beneath his ck robe, one dried and stiff finger pointed at the void.


    In the next moment, a circr portal appeared in front of Angley.


    Angley walked into the portal and disappeared.


    Once Lynn was sure his teacher had left, he ced the diary back on the shelf.


    He pondered for a moment, unsure if his teacher felt jealous when he saw Lynn exploring knowledge from other fields.


    The notes were also ced back on the shelf.


    Lynn¡¯s determination to study mutation studies and alchemical studies remained unwavering. For now, he would primarily focus on mutation studies since he had his teacher to consult when encountering unfamiliar concepts.?


    As the saying goes, the poor rely on mutation, and the rich rely on science and technology.


    Alchemy, just from the second<sup>1</sup> character ¡°gold,¡± indicated that it was a costly side upation.


    Furthermore, alchemy couldn¡¯t function without materials.


    At present, mutation studies seemed to have more advantages.


    Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lynn began his daily meditation.


    Daily meditation was a must. During the day, it was challenging to concentrate while riding in a carriage, so he could only read. At night, he had to allocate most of his time for meditation, with the remaining time dedicated to learning the Sleeping Curse.


    And now that the teacher was gone, Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered.


    He opened the attribute panel.


    Silently, he thought about leveling up.


    The 2nd level instantly turned into the 3rd level.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 3 (0/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.62


    Mental Strength: 3.6


    Mastery:


    ¡ªEarth Ring Meditation (10%)


    Life upation:


    ¡ªLevel 1 Mutation Studies (10%) (0/10)


    ¡ªLevel 1 Bloodline Studies (1%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 0¡ä


    A new force surged within his body. Not only in his flesh but throughout his entire being, new strength coursed through him. Lynn felt his power rapidly growing, as if he could knock out a cow with a single punch.


    Of course, he knew this was an illusion. Going from 1.32 to 1.62 only meant a 22.7% increase in physical fitness. Thisprehensive improvement inbat capabilities was definitely more than just 22.7%, but still far from being able to knock out a cow with one punch.


    However, the increase in physical fitness was just an added bonus. What benefited him the most was not limited to the hidden improvements on the attribute panel.


    Cross-legged in meditation, Lynn indeed felt that his meditation speed had increased quite a bit, bing smoother.


    Meditating for two hours, the eleventh earth ring was gradually forming, but halfway through, it copsed.


    Lynn opened his eyes, not discouraged. If it didn¡¯t work today, he would try again tomorrow.


    At least today¡¯s efficiency was much higher than yesterday¡¯s. This feeling of progress every day fascinated him. Originally, he estimated that it would take at least three or four days to condense the eleventh earth ring, but now it seemed he could do it much sooner.


    Lynn discovered something¡ª the process of condensing the earth rings was even more challenging than he had imagined.


    It might require more time than anticipated.


    After sessfully condensing the first ten earth rings, the difficulty for the eleventh one had increased slightly.


    It required more time as well.


    If the difficulty increased with every ten earth rings, it would take even longer than before for him to achieve his goal. Given his previous aptitude, it would have taken at least two years to condense all the earth rings in the best-case scenario.


    However, with his improved aptitude, as long as he kept leveling up, his aptitude would continue to improve. Although the increase each time was not significant, the umtion over time would steadily boost his aptitude and, consequently, his meditation efficiency.


    Of course, Lynn couldn¡¯t be sure that the only factor affecting meditation efficiency was aptitude, but it didn¡¯t stop him from temporarily defining it as ¡°aptitude¡± in his mind. After all, meditation techniques could increase the limit of mental strength, so even if it wasn¡¯t aptitude, it was still valuable.


    For the next two days, Lynn read books, meditated, and attempted toprehend the Sleeping Curse every day.


    The efficiency of the Sleeping Curse had improved significantly. The Sleeping Curse required a total of 47 nodes.


    Both meditation and constructing skill frameworks were time-consuming tasks.


    Lynn aimed to construct three skill nodes every day, with an efficiency of one node per hour.


    Time passed slowly.


    Old Kim, after the initial panic on the first day, noticed that Lynn and the other person didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of silencing him.


    He felt relieved and began to drive the carriage more respectfully and carefully, hoping to deliver his two distinguished guests to their destination as soon as possible.


    ***


    In Maple Leaf Town, a group arrived at a run-down lodge on the hill during the day. Twelve fully armored knights surrounded an elderly man in a brown linen robe. Although his beard was dark, his hair was gray. He was protected in the center.


    The old man approached the lodge, palms open, and retrieved a crystal ball from his chest.


    He held his hands out, and the crystal ball slowly rose from his palm, floating in mid-air.


    As he chanted mysterious incantations, the surface of the crystal ball emitted a faint glow.


    Then, within the crystal ball, a scene appeared.


    Strangely, the scene inside the crystal ball was precisely what was happening at the lodge in front of them. However, the crystal ball disyed the scene from a high-altitude perspective, as if it had be the eyes of some entity observing the lodge from above.


    Simultaneously, the scene within the crystal ball started to move, transitioning from static to dynamic.


    The efficiency, however, had increased countless times, as if it were in fast-forward mode.


    The old man closed his eyes and continued his incantations.


    As he chanted, his previously gray hair gradually turnedpletely white.??


    One silver strand after another took on a frosty sheen atop his head.


    Two wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened and slowly formed a third.


    The scene within the crystal ball shifted from daytime to nighttime and then back to daytime. Suddenly, three figures appeared in the courtyard.


    The image froze, and the once-clear picture within the crystal ball became blurry, flickering and stuttering.


    The figures in the courtyard seemed as if veiled by a hazy mist, making their appearances indecipherable.


    ¡°Three people. These three must be the ones who killed Matthew.¡± A knight stood beside the old man, wearing a bright red cloak and silver armor that glistened in the sunlight. He ced his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.


    ¡°Zoom in, let¡¯s get a clearer look at their faces,¡± the knight said.


    The old man continued chanting, and the image within the crystal ball gradually erged.


    Suddenly, the floating crystal ball exploded with a resounding ¡°bang.¡±


    The old man let out a brief and sharp cry.


    His once gray hair, now entirely white, turned pale in an instant.??


    Fragments from the shattered crystal ball pierced the old man¡¯s face, and his entire face was smeared with red blood.


    Then the old man fell to the ground, losing his life instantly. The knights watched this scene in silence for a moment, their fingers gripping the sword handles trembling slightly.


    ¡°Stop the investigation. This matter ends here.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: (Li¨¤n j¨©n) is tranted to alchemy, the second word refers to (j¨©n) which means gold.


    Á¶½ð (li¨¤n j¨©n) : alchemy


    Á¶ (li¨¤n) : to refine / to smelt


    ½ð (j¨©n) : gold ??</li></ol>


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Hundreds of miles away from the forest lodge, on a winding path in a mountain range, Angley, who was sitting in the carriage, suddenly raised his head. His deep brown eyes instantly turned into a clear blue.


    The blue pupils seemed like a crystal-clear ss sphere, shimmering with faint electric arcs. Angley lifted his gaze towards the empty void as if making eye contact across the distance.


    Lynn, who was reading a book next to him, felt somewhat ufortable. He had a strange sensation of nausea deep within his heart, as if he were being observed, and goosebumps formed on his neck.


    However, this feeling of being watchedsted only for a very short while and quickly faded away. Lynn nced at his teacher sitting beside him and saw that Angley didn¡¯t react.


    Lowering his head, Lynn continued reading.


    Perhaps the captivating knowledge of this extraordinary world had drawn him in. Lynn didn¡¯t find reading dull at all. In fact, he found the contents of the books very interesting, and the more he read and understood, the stronger this feeling became.


    Mutation studies. With each book he read, Lynn¡¯s understanding of mutation studies deepened. He noticed that not only was he improving in mutation studies, but his knowledge of bloodline studies had also advanced significantly.


    ¡°Sir, we will arrive at Bangor Port today,¡± Old Kim said.


    After leaving the mountain range, the carriage¡¯s speed increased, and the monotonous journey was starting to make Lynn feel a bit weary.


    As they continued to approach and draw nearer to Bangor Port, Lynn¡¯s thoughts gradually intertwined in his mind like threads, forming aplex web of emotions.


    Lynn made a faint sound from his nostrils and lifted the curtain of the carriage.


    From the initial expectations upon boarding the carriage to the fatigue caused by the bumpy journey, Lynn¡¯s emotions became somewhatplex upon realizing they were nearing their destination.


    He worried about the possibility of receiving distressing news about his family during the journey, yet he couldn¡¯t help but anticipate the joyful expressions on his parents¡¯ faces when they saw him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard,¡± Lynn said.


    Gazing at the scenery outside the window, the distant sky seemed even bluer than the ind sky, with fluffy white clouds drifting in the air. The trees on both sides were bing sparser, and themon folk on the main road were gradually increasing.


    These passingmoners were dressed in fine attire, and both the colors and styles of their clothing were richer than those of the ind region¡¯s residents.


    They wore smiles on their faces, engaged in hushed conversations, and asionalughter echoed from the streets.


    In the ind areas, it was a rare sight to see women walking outside.


    But here, women dressed in beautiful attire strolled the streets, holding their heads high, chatting quietly withpanions. It was unclear what they were discussing, but asional sounds of excitement drifted over.


    Old Kim, who was driving the carriage and puffing on his pipe, looked at this scene with a hint of envy in his eyes.


    It would be great if he could live here.


    However, that opportunity had passed in this lifetime.


    He was too old, and he didn¡¯t know how many more years he could continue working.


    Right now, all he wanted was to earn as much money as he could while he still could, to spend on his grandson and save for his son. As for himself¡ª well, he was just an Old Kim, and in their hometown, ¡°Kim¡± meant a diligent ox.


    ***


    ¡°That¡¯s the one. What do you think?¡±


    Anika held her daughter warily, watching the group of people who had suddenly burst into their home.


    In front were two men who appeared to be slightly older. The man on the left had a narrow scar running down the corner of his mouth, and he had lost half of his eyebrow. The man on the right was shorter and stout, but had a more menacing facial expression, with his face covered in rough flesh.


    Behind these two men stood a group of burly individuals, and there were a few others outside.


    The other residents in the vicinity watched from a distance, afraid to approach.


    Except for the two leading men who were known troublemakers in the slums, the people behind them were well-dressed and didn¡¯t look likemon folk. Perhaps they even had connections with the nobility.


    The group of burly men dispersed, and a man wearing a gray suit with round sses on one side walked forward.


    He gave Eva a thorough look from head to toe.


    Anika recognized the look in his eyes¡ª she had seen it when she picked out meat at the market.


    ¡°Not bad at all. You can fill a quota. Take her back,¡± the man said before turning to leave.


    Anika tried to hold her daughter, but she couldn¡¯t resist the strong pull. She looked at Eva, who was crying loudly due to the pain, and her heart ached. Her fingers barely loosened before her daughter was snatched away by these people.


    In the next moment, Eva was forcefully taken away by the group.


    ??Anika tried to chase after them, but the stout man suddenly kicked her hard in the stomach.


    She fell to the ground, and two hoodlums rushed over, delivering punches and kicks in the chaos. Someone even kicked her head hard, causing her to lose consciousness.


    After a while, when the group had left, some neighbors sneaked over to see what had happened and found Anika lying on the ground, unconscious.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ¡°The Hamilton family is really unlucky.¡±


    Someone peeked their head over to look at her, then quickly retreated.


    Someone shook their head, saying they couldn¡¯t afford to offend those people, who were probably nobles.


    In the evening, two men, one tall and one short, walked home together from the dock.


    Hamilton was carrying a plump and juicy big fish. Although there were many bloodstains on its scales, and it wasn¡¯t very fresh, he had bought it from a fisherman for just 10 copper coins.


    Eva loved eating fish, and tonight he would cook a delicious fish stew for her. She was still growing, and she needed good nutrition.


    Hamilton¡¯s left hand was in his pocket, feeling the warm silver coins. He was quite satisfied. Perhaps in a few days, he would have enough money to rent a better ce. The seaside was too damp, and even as an adult, he woke up every morning feeling aches in his knees.


    As they walked on the moist and mossy wooden nks, the cold sea breeze blew in, and Hamilton tightened his cor.


    However, he didn¡¯t notice the strange looks from the other people in the slum. But his son, Borg, who was walking beside him, sensed that something was amiss.


    Borg was a quiet and introverted boy. Although he felt that something was wrong, he only held his father¡¯s hand tighter.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Borg? Are you feeling cold?¡± Hamilton asked with concern.


    ??Borg shook his head.


    ¡°Hamilton,¡± a man sitting on a small stool in front of a nearby house suddenly called out to Hamilton.


    Hamilton turned his head and recognized the man as Bart.


    He was a fellow townsman who had fled with him. He used to be a carpenter in town and ran a small grocery store. He was skilled in craftsmanship. During their journey of fleeing, both families had helped each other out.


    However, Bart had injured his leg during the evacuation and now barely made a living by doing some carpentry work for others.


    ¡°Hey, Bart, how abouting over to my ce for some soup tonight?¡± Hamilton said with a heartyugh.


    Bart fell silent for a moment and then spoke, ¡°You should hurry home and check on Anika.¡±


    After saying this, Bart lowered his head and continued to work on the stool he was crafting.


    Hamilton was taken aback by Bart¡¯s words and sensed that something was amiss. He immediately ran toward his own house.


    As he approached his home, Hamilton hastily pushed open the partially closed door. He saw Anika lying on the floor, her breathing weak, and their daughter Eva was missing from the room. The man¡¯s eyes turned red.


    ¡°Anika!¡±


    He quickly lifted Anika onto the bed. His wife¡¯s forehead was as cold as ice, and her breathing was very faint.


    The honest and straightforward man was in a state of panic, leaving Borg to stay with his mother and take care of her. He hurriedly went to fetch a doctor.


    It was a windy night, and the elderly doctor was reluctant to leave his home. However, when he saw the man with bloodshot eyes offering twice the usual fee, the doctor, who was in his sixties, reluctantly picked up his medical kit and came to Hamilton¡¯s house.


    The old doctor examined Anika¡¯s body and shook his head. ¡°Cold has entered her body, there¡¯s a wound at the back of her head, bruises on her abdomen, possibly internal injuries. The main issue is that the cold entered her body after the injury. Even if she can be treated, it will take a long time, and there may be lingering effects. Luckily, her physical condition is decent¡ª if she were weaker, she might not have made it.


    ¡°But even if she recovers, I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be able to do heavybor anymore. If you want to treat her, it will cost a significant amount of money. Are you sure you want to proceed? It¡¯s not that I¡¯m charging a high fee, it¡¯s just that many of the required medicines are not cheap.¡±


    Hamilton scraped together more than a dozen silver coins from the corners of the room and gathered the silver coins he had hidden in various ces in the house, forming a small pile on the bed.


    ¡°Is this money enough?¡± he asked.


    ¡°The money won¡¯t be enough for the uing medications, but for now, it¡¯s temporarily sufficient,¡± the old doctor replied, shaking his head and then nodding. After a moment of hesitation, the old doctor reminded him, ¡°Are you sure you want to save her? This will financially burden your family.¡±


    He had witnessed too many simr cases where a single illness could plunge a family into a deep abyss.


    Hamilton clenched his teeth, nodded, and affirmed his decision. He had to save her¡ª he was willing to work twice as hard in the future to earn money for her treatment. He had already endured the pain of losing a son once, and he couldn¡¯t bear to lose his wife now.


    And there was also the disappearance of Eva. At this moment, the man, who was in a foreignnd, suddenly felt a profound sense of powerlessness.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve arrived. This is Bangor Port,¡± Old Kim steered the carriage to a stop in front of the Green Vine Inn.


    Lynn drew back the carriage curtain and looked out the window at the gravel main road, the three to four-story buildings on either side of the street, and the pedestrians with rosy faces and clean attire.


    Indeed, Bangor Port was quite different from the small town back home. His hometown still had dirt roads that would get muddy on rainy days.


    Perhaps it was due to being a port town, and with winter approaching, many pedestrians were dressed in thick coats with scarves around their necks.


    Although it was still a far cry from the bustling cities he had heard of in this era, Bangor Port had already surprised him considering the scenery he had seen along the way.


    ¡°Sir, the remaining¡­¡± Old Kim stammered.


    Lynn settled the remaining payment with Old Kim, who epted the money with gratitude.


    ¡°Sir, do you need to go anywhere? I can give you a ride,¡± Old Kim offered.


    After traveling this far, despite resting at night, the horse was tired and needed a couple of days of rest in Bangor Port. So, Old Kim wouldn¡¯t be leaving the port anytime soon, and he also wanted to buy some things for his family since prices were more reasonable here than in his hometown.


    Lynn nced at his teacher, and Angley just kept his head down, engrossed in his magical book.


    After spending some time together, Lynn had a general idea of what his teacher meant.


    ¡°If we¡¯re looking for someone, do you have any connections?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°The innkeeper should know,¡± Old Kim replied.


    Innkeepers usually had various connections, so finding the innkeeper wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    They contacted the innkeeper through Old Kim.


    The innkeeper assessed Lynn¡¯s appearance.


    He didn¡¯t seem wealthy, nor did he look like a noble, but being able to rent a carriage for such a long journey probably meant he had some resources.


    Thinking of this, the innkeeper spoke, ¡°Big Goldtooth at the docks, he has a lot of informants under him, and he¡¯s well-informed.¡±?


    ¡°But finding someone won¡¯te cheap. Are you prepared to be fleeced if you¡¯re looking for Big Goldtooth?¡± the innkeeper asked. ¡°Are you sure you want me to contact him for you?¡±


    Lynn replied, ¡°I appreciate your help, innkeeper.¡±


    ?Lynn knew that situations like these typically involved amission for the innkeeper, which was often referred to as a brokerage fee. He understood that this fee would be included in the payment to Big Goldtoothter.


    The innkeeper called over one of his bodyguards to bring someone in.


    Before long, a drunkard was brought in. The innkeeper nodded slightly and then turned to leave with the bodyguard.


    The drunkard reeked of alcohol, and his hair looked like it hadn¡¯t been washed in ages.


    ¡°5 silver coins,¡± the drunkard said, holding up five fingers. ¡°Give me 5 silver coins, and I¡¯ll take you to meet my boss.¡±


    Lynn took out five silver coins and handed them to the drunkard without changing his expression.?


    The drunkard took the silver coins, bit them with his yellowed teeth, and then put them against the tip of his nose, sniffing vigorously.


    Finally, he tucked the silver coins away in the back of his pants in satisfaction.


    ¡°Follow me.¡± The old drunkard led Lynn downstairs and out of the inn¡¯s side door.


    Lynn furrowed his brow and said, ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    The drunkard halted.


    Lynn continued, ¡°Please wait here for me. I have anotherpanion.¡±


    Lynn returned to the inn¡¯s front entrance but found the carriage empty.


    His teacher was nowhere to be seen.


    How could such a big person not stay put and wandered off instead? He sighed in helplessness and asked Old Kim if he had seen any sign of Angley.


    Old Kim hastily shook his head, somewhat apprehensive, and said, ¡°I noticed as soon as I got down that there was no one in the carriage.¡±


    Lynn inquired again with the innkeeper, who all confirmed they hadn¡¯t seen his teacher.


    Lynn fell silent, but his teacher was such a big person, he couldn¡¯t possibly have gone missing. Besides, although his teacher appeared very thin, he didn¡¯t need to worry about his safety¡ª he should be worried about those who might have ill intentions towards his teacher.


    Lynn suspected that his teacher wanted him toplete the task first. After all, his teacher hadn¡¯t objected when Lynn mentioned his intention to find his family.


    ?Lynn then returned to the side door.


    The drunkard was leading the way ahead, zigzagging along the path. Lynn had his hands in his pockets, his gaze calm.


    He could sense that right beneath his feet, two Iron Earthworms were following him. When he rested the previous night, he had the Iron Earthworms travel overnight, covering some distance along the path they were taking today. That was why these two were now able to keep up with their progress.


    Now, their presence was indeed proving useful. In this era ofwlessness, Lynn never trusted or overestimated the morals of others. Someone who was a trading partner one moment could easily turn into a robber the next.


    They crossed the street with seagulls circling in the sky.


    As far as the eye could see, the azure coastline was dotted withrge ships docked at the pier. Dockworkers in short shirts were unloading cargo from the ships, or loading goods from the dock onto the vessels. The canal banks on both sides were bustling with activity.


    People dressed in bright and exotic outfits disembarked from the steamships, strolling among the buildings near the seaside. The walls, painted dazzling white, faced the sea. The eaves were adorned with seashells, mermaid statues, and other decorations. Fragrant scents wafted through the air. There were bars, restaurants, bakeries, and some local specialty food shops.


    <em>Toot</em>¡ª¡ª


    Apanied by the melodious sound of a whistle, a steamship with a chimney belching ck smoke slowly docked at the shore. Some people withce and ribboned hats peered out from the ship¡¯s sides, and they had long, purple-ck hair cascading from their shoulders.


    On the pier, many boys and girls wearing hats quickly went to greet them, holding bouquets of flowers or some exquisite seashells to offer.


    ¡°This is the steel ship of the Fischer Empire, and those little devils are a bunch of chasers, making more money than me by showing the way,¡± the drunkard said somewhat enviously. Then he spat on the ground and continued, ¡°Those purple-haired devils from the Fischer Empire sure are wealthy.¡±


    ¡°On this side is the new dock, and even theborers moving goods here are from noble families. These shops near the dock are all monopolized by the influential nobles from the port. The money these shops make every day is enough for me to drink for a year,¡± the old drunkard smacked his lips, full of envy.


    ¡°Is Big Goldtooth here?¡± Lynn was somewhat surprised. If that were the case, Big Goldtooth¡¯s backing was probably quite formidable. Lynn felt he should consider his next moves carefully.


    ¡°Our boss is in the old dock. The old dock is mainly used by the old merchant ships, mostly from within the kingdom,¡± the old drunkard led Lynn through the streets of the new port.


    After walking for a considerable distance towards the front of the new dock, it took them nearly half an hour. The surroundings became increasingly dpidated, and even pedestrians grew scarcer.


    However, soon the people around them began to gather once more.


    But the residents here seemed visibly less spirited than those on the new port side, and the surrounding buildings exuded a stronger sense of historical vicissitude.


    If everything was new at the new dock side, here on this side everything was old.??


    Tall and short houses were scattered throughout this area, each with a drainage ditch in front. Lynn saw women carrying basins and pouring water from them into the drainage ditches. On the distant coastline, a vast open space on the dock was piled with cargo crates, and the dockworkers were enthusiastically hollering while carrying the crates.


    The people here were bustling with activity, and several young boys, with dark skin and wearing only their underwear, came running out from an adjacent alley, chasing each other, their bare bottoms on disy as they raced away.


    ¡°Here we are, the old dock,¡± the old drunkard nodded and then led Lynn into a nearby alley. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t call him Big Goldtoothter. Our boss¡¯ name is Hampton.¡±


    Before long, the old drunkard stopped in front of a building that didn¡¯t seem particrly different from the surrounding ones.


    Two dark-skinned men with tattoos on their arms were leaning against the wall near the entrance.


    Faint noises could be hearding from inside the house.


    ¡°Looking for Boss Big Goldtooth,¡± the old drunkard said.


    The two men looked Lynn up and down and, seeing a young, fair-lookingd, waved their hands to signal him to enter.


    ¡°Big! Big! Big!¡±


    ¡°Small! Small! Small!¡±


    Inside the room, several burly men gathered around a table, shaking dice, and there was a pile of copper coins on the table.


    ¡°You¡¯re Hamilton, right? I heard from Jeffs that you need money. I can lend you some, but it depends on whether you¡¯ll be obedient,¡± a fat man with a bulky build, wearing a hat and sparse beard on his face, said to Hamilton from the sofa in the upstairs room with the window wide open.


    Hamilton remained silent. Yesterday, the doctor had suggested finding a less damp ce to live, as his wife¡¯s illness would neverpletely heal in such conditions. It was best to relocate.


    However, he was torn between providing for his family, paying for his wife¡¯s treatment, finding a new ce for them to live, and the expenses of tracking down Eva. The heavy burden was overwhelming.


    Yesterday, he had thought about confronting those two hoodlums. Maybe they were also afraid of facing an enraged Hamilton¡ª a man who stood over six feet tall, which was why they hadn¡¯t returned home the entire night.


    When he came to work at the docks today, one of the dockworkers who had been helping himtely noticed his troubled demeanor and, after a conversation, learned that he needed money. He then introduced Hamilton to the dock boss, Big Goldtooth, also known as Hampton.


    Hamilton had heard of Hampton and knew that some people privately referred to him as the Dock Rat.


    In this bustling port city, wherever there was sunshine, there was also darkness. Big Goldtooth engaged in some shady businesses in secret, and in the dock area, there were several individuals simr to Big Goldtooth.


    Normally, Hamilton would have stayed far away from them. But it was the desperation for money that had forced him to consider crossing his own moral boundaries.


    Besides, he had heard that Big Goldtooth was well-informed, and he was not without a purpose in approaching him¡ª to find Eva.


    ¡°I can do work for you,¡± Hamilton finally spoke after a moment of silence.


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Big Goldtooth took a puff of his cigar.


    <em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>


    There was knocking on the door.


    One of Big Goldtooth¡¯s underlings entered and whispered something in his ear.


    Big Goldtooth chuckled, ¡°The drunkard has brought us a little fat sheep. Come on, Hamilton, let¡¯s go have a look.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    ¡°Is the person inside?¡± Hampton descended the stairs. There was a separate small guest room behind this building.


    Following Hampton were four robust men.


    The old drunkard led the way ahead, opening the door.


    Inside, a young man was sitting at the table, leaning back, with only two legs of the chair supporting his body.


    Hamilton, following behind Big Goldtooth, felt somewhat nervous. It was his first time doing something like this, and his conscience weighed heavily on him.


    If Anika knew he was involved in this kind of activity, she would surely be furious with him.


    Hamilton thought to himself.


    Due to his strong physique, he had been approached by people before for simr work, but Hamilton had never wanted to be someone who harmed others.


    Upon entering the room, Hamilton kept his head lowered, not daring to look at the person inside.


    ¡°Big Goldtooth? I want you to help me find¡ª¡± Lynn looked at the man standing behind Big Goldtooth with a strange expression on his face.


    Could there be two people who looked so alike in this world?


    Lynn blinked.


    Double-checking.


    Lynn had thought of many ways to meet, but he never expected to reunite with Mr. Hamilton under such circumstances after a long separation.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but let out augh, his lips curving slightly.


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Big Goldtooth¡¯s facial expression remained unflustered.


    He detested it when people mocked his appearance.


    ¡°Nothing, just thought of something amusing,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°The whole dock knows that I, Big Goldtooth, have the most up-to-date information,¡± Big Goldtooth said, taking a seat and propping up his right leg. ¡°Whoever you want to find, as long as you can afford it, there¡¯s no one I can¡¯t locate.¡±


    Big Goldtooth burst intoughter, revealing his yellow-stained teeth.


    Hamilton, standing behind Big Goldtooth with a heavy heart, heard a familiar voice and looked in the direction of the sound.


    In the next moment, Hamilton¡¯s eyes widened, as round as copper bells, filled with astonishment and disbelief.


    But immediately after, he felt worried and guilty for reuniting with Lynn in this ce of all ces.


    He knew Big Goldtooth was not a good person. He had heard that Lynn hade to find someone, probably him.


    Hamilton¡¯s tiger-like eyes were fixed firmly on Lynn.


    Lynn discreetly ced his index finger to his lips.


    <em>Shh</em>¡ª¡ª


    After a brief moment of surprise, Hamilton was consumed by nervousness.


    He didn¡¯t know how to navigate this situation.


    Lynn turned to Big Goldtooth and asked, ¡°Big Goldtooth, how much money do I need to find someone?¡±


    ¡°Looking for someone from out of town?¡± Big Goldtooth grinned, ¡°That¡¯s not so easy. There are so many peopleing to Bangor Port every day. If it¡¯s a local, it¡¯s easier to find, but for someone from out of town, it¡¯s moreplicated. It can be done¡­ for the right price.¡±


    ¡°Just amoner, how much money do I need to find them?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°The speed of finding someone depends on how much you¡¯re willing to pay,¡± Big Goldtooth exhaled a thick puff of smoke, his gaze growing more audacious.


    Looking for amoner? Big Goldtooth assessed Lynn from top to bottom, noting that he didn¡¯t seem like a wealthy person.


    He had heard from the drunkard that Lynn arrived on an inn carriage, a clear sign of being an outsider.


    The truly influential people had their own carriages, so why would anyone need to take an inn carriage?


    Big Goldtooth became increasingly convinced in his heart, and his gaze turned more malevolent.


    ¡°However, you look quite clean. If you don¡¯t have enough money, I can rmend a lucrative opportunity for you,¡± Big Goldtooth said with malicious intent.


    With that, Big Goldtooth approached Lynn and reached out, grabbing Lynn¡¯s shoulder.


    Lynn ced his hand on top of Big Goldtooth¡¯s palm.


    Huh?


    <em>Click</em>¡ª¡ª


    Suddenly, Big Goldtooth¡¯s wrist bent, and a force even greater than his came from the other end of his wrist.


    Big Goldtooth let out a scream and hurriedly said, ¡°Quick,e and restrain him.¡±


    Hamilton elbowed the person beside him in the waist and delivered a punch to the back of another person¡¯s head with his right hand.


    The person hit in the waist half-knelt on the ground, gasping for air and clutching his side.


    The other person winced in pain but reacted quickly, turning to grapple with Hamilton.


    Thest person nced at Lynn, then at Hamilton, and chose to save their boss in response to Big Goldtooth¡¯s cries for help.


    Hamilton held onto this person and shouted to Lynn, ¡°Run, Lynn!¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what to do. The only thing this honest and somewhat clumsy man could think of at this moment was to let Lynn escape from here.


    He didn¡¯t consider whether Lynn could escape even after leaving the yard. He just hoped his missing son could get out of his current predicament in his own way.


    Lynn¡¯s face remained expressionless. Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet sank, and the man who had just taken a couple of steps forward fell into a gaping maw.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    His torso was severed at the waist.


    Colorful entrails mixed with copious amounts of blood spilled all over the ground.


    The Iron Earthworm that had emerged from the earth, their three-meter-long bodies now towering, stood firmly in ce at this moment.


    Overlooking Big Goldtooth from above, their metallic heads opened up, revealing a dense array of sharp teeth surrounding a flower-like mouthparts. The mouthparts, imbued with a strong rust-like odor, hovered just half a meter away from Big Goldtooth¡¯s head.


    Viscous fluid and blood slowly dripped from the mouthparts, falling onto Big Goldtooth¡¯s shoulder.


    Big Goldtooth swallowed hard.


    His legs turned weak, and he stammered, ¡°You¡ª you¡¯re an extraordinary being. Don¡¯t be hasty, buddy, don¡¯t be hasty. I think there¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be negotiated, right?¡±


    ¡°It depends on your performance, Mr. Big Goldtooth,¡± Lynn released his grip.


    The Iron Earthworm swung its head, knocking Big Goldtooth to the ground.


    Big Goldtooth struggled to his feet.


    Somewhat disheveled, he managed to force a smile on his face.


    He had never imagined that this seemingly handsome young man was actually an extraordinary being. If he had known, he would never have agreed to meet with Lynn in the first ce!


    <em>Damn old drunkard!</em>


    Big Goldtooth seethed with anger.


    ¡°I came here with sincerity originally, but some of your actions have deeply hurt and disappointed me,¡± Lynn began to speak.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing topensate you, sir,¡± Big Goldtooth quickly responded, desperate to save his life.


    ¡°I find the room a bit noisy,¡± Lynn remarked.


    Big Goldtooth understood what Lynn meant. Some of his underlings outside had heard themotion inside and were trying to enter.


    ¡°Everyone stay outside!¡± Big Goldtooth yelled at the door.


    He didn¡¯t want his underlings to witness his embarrassed state.


    ¡°Pansen, Ford, you two stop and guard the door. Don¡¯t let anyone else in,¡± Big Goldtooth instructed two of his close underlings.


    The two who had been fighting with Hamilton immediately ceased their struggle and rushed to stand guard at the room¡¯s entrance, preventing others from entering.


    Big Goldtooth¡¯s eyes darted between Hamilton and Lynn.


    Now that he was temporarily out of danger, Big Goldtooth began to think.


    Hamilton seemed to know Lynn. Initially, Big Goldtooth had thought Lynn might be an assassin sent by another faction to kill him, but if that were the case, Lynn would have attacked directly.


    If he could establish a good rtionship with Lynn, then perhaps he could harness the power of an extraordinary being for his own purposes.


    Big Goldtooth had heard of extraordinary beings. As the Dock Rat, he was privy to more information than the average person and knew that within the kingdom existed a group of extraordinary individuals that ordinary folks were unaware of.


    These people were exceptionally mysterious, but they weremonly found among the nobility.


    The mostmon type among them was the knight of the nobility.


    A knight was the most prevalent type of extraordinary being.


    Some ordinarymoners might think knights were simply people who had received training in knighthood, learning some advanced swordsmanship.


    But he knew that was only for ordinary knights. Within the ranks of knights, there were true extraordinary knights¡ª those whose strength was as great as a bear, their speed faster than a leopard, their muscles as hard as iron.


    Apart from knights, there were other types of extraordinary beings. He had heard of some troubadours who could recite the verses of the Grim Reaper, and anyone who heard their recitations died. Some were blessed by the Sea God, capable of breathing underwater for several hours, and they were known as water demons.


    Some might think these were just legends, but he knew that many of these rumors were true.


    For instance, if an ordinary person were to witness what had just urred, they might believe it to be the work of a beast tamer capable of controlling monsters.


    ¡°Lynn,¡± Hamilton looked at the curled-up Iron Earthworm at Lynn¡¯s feet, resembling a small dog. It was impossible for him to connect the monster that had just devoured half a person in one bite with it now.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Lynn nodded and exchanged a nce with Hamilton.


    Now wasn¡¯t the time to talk too much, in case they revealed too much to Big Goldtooth.


    Originally, Lynn had considered killing Big Goldtooth outright.


    But upon reflection, he thought there might be a better way to handle the situation.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    ¡°I need you to help me find someone. A man who likes to wear cloaks, looks elderly, around fifty or sixty, very thin, with a hooked nose, blue eyes, and roughly the same height as me,¡± Lynn exined, gesturing with his hands.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Big Goldtooth replied.


    ¡°By the way, if you find any trace of him, do not disturb him recklessly. This man is very dangerous. Just notify me directly,¡± Lynn added.


    Hearing even an extraordinary being like Lynn describe this man as dangerous, Big Goldtooth couldn¡¯t help but nod solemnly.


    But deep down, Big Goldtooth wondered, could this man be his enemy?


    <em>If it¡¯s like that¡­</em>


    Big Goldtooth noticed the look in Lynn¡¯s eyes and quicklyposed himself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as he¡¯s still in Bangor Port, we¡¯ll definitely find his trace,¡± Big Goldtooth reassured, patting his chest.


    Lynn snorted. He didn¡¯t really believe in so-called assurances, but he possessed the power to overturn the table.?


    ¡°Do your job well. By the way, it should be convenient for your dock to receive meat, right? My little cuties need to eat quite a bit every day. Oh, and no human meat is needed. It tastes sour, and they¡¯ve grown tired of it recently. Let¡¯s switch to fish for a change, introduce them to some new vors,¡± Lynn said calmly, patting the nearby Iron Earthworm.


    At the same time, from the hole where the Iron Earthworm had emerged earlier, another shiny metal head popped out.?


    Another Iron Earthworm revealed its head.


    Big Goldtooth¡¯s eyelids twitched. He couldn¡¯t believe there was not just one of these monsters! Furthermore, they could burrow underground, which terrified him.


    If he offended Lynn, he would never be able to walk openly on the streets again. There was no guarantee that a monster wouldn¡¯t suddenly emerge from the ground.


    The gruesome sight of being bitten in half just now was still vivid in his memory.


    ?Big Goldtooth didn¡¯t think even his corpulent body would fare well in such a situation.


    ¡°My lord, I believe this is all a misunderstanding,¡± Big Goldtooth said, taking off a leather pouch from his waist.


    Before even opening the pouch, the crisp and melodious sound of coins clinking could be faintly heard.


    Big Goldtooth untied the top string of the leather pouch and poured all the coins inside into his hand.


    ?At a nce, there were dozens of glittering gold coins, and their high purity was evident¡ª they were not cheap or low-quality gold coins.


    Hamilton stared wide-eyed at the sight. He needed money, and needed it desperately. Wasn¡¯t that precisely the reason why he hade here in the first ce?


    Then, Hamilton witnessed Big Goldtooth put all the gold coins back into the pouch and hand it over to Lynn. Lynn took the leather pouch and then passed it to Hamilton beside him.


    Hamilton received the money pouch from his son, feeling somewhat dazed.


    After arranging contact information with Big Goldtooth, Lynn left the ce with Hamilton, who was still somewhat absent-minded.


    Big Goldtooth watched Lynn¡¯s retreating figure, the smile on his face gradually fading, reced by seriousness.


    The Iron Earthworm obediently burrowed back into the hole it had emerged from a moment ago.


    Lynn didn¡¯t directly kill Big Goldtooth. This decision was influenced by the fact that Hamilton was present with Big Goldtooth. Lynn wasn¡¯t sure if there were any other individuals behind Big Goldtooth, and he believed that eliminating all of Big Goldtooth¡¯s underlings would be necessary unless he could be certain.


    Otherwise, Hamilton would be the biggest vulnerability.


    However, Lynn believed that with the warning from earlier, Big Goldtooth wouldn¡¯t stir up trouble on his own.


    Although he had paid apensation fee, Lynn knew that the money was not a significant loss for Big Goldtooth. At most, it had dented his pride, but at least not in front of his many underlings.


    The main reason was that Lynn didn¡¯t need money right now. He could extract a substantial sum simply by taking out the gold from the broken golden gate¡ª a gate that Lynn had learned about during his time studying.?


    The golden gate had an array inscribed on it, and it had kept all the Iron Earthworms in a dormant state. Destroying the array had activated them.


    The golden gate had been left behind by the previous inheritor as a gift to the next one. Initially, the Alchemy Laboratory had contained numerous magical ores, but they had all been squandered.??


    These gold pieces that he took were useless, might as well cast them into a door and keep it preserved.??


    Although Lynn regretted not having those magical ores anymore, having this much gold wasn¡¯t bad either.??


    ¡°How¡¯s Mom and the others?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Your mother fell ill,¡± Hamilton fell silent for a moment, then spoke. As a father, he hadn¡¯t initially wanted to worry Lynn, but he found himself incapable of concealing the truth.


    Though Lynn¡¯s current transformation left him somewhat unfamiliar, Hamilton didn¡¯t understand why Lynn could control monsters, yet he harbored no fear.


    ¡°Ill?¡± Lynn grew silent, a touch of concern in his voice. ¡°Did you get her to see a doctor?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve called a doctor, and the doctor said she needs proper treatment,¡± Hamilton replied.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not the biggest issue,¡± Hamilton nced at Lynn, his tone growing heavy. ¡°Eva has been kidnapped.¡±


    Lynn halted in his tracks, his facial expression a mask of unreadable emotions.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday afternoon.¡±


    ¡°By whom?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know for sure, but some neighbors recognized two of them, the infamous troublemakers Jerome and Sersi from the slums.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you should go back with the money first,¡± Lynn said calmly, his hands in his pockets.


    ***


    The underlings dragged a trail of blood on the floor, while Big Goldtooth sat in an adjacent seat, his countenance gloomy.


    The old drunkard knelt on the ground in front of him, with Pansen and Ford, Big Goldtooth¡¯s personal bodyguards, firmly holding his shoulders.


    ¡°Do you even know how many gold coins I lost because of the people you brought? Thirty-two!¡±


    ¡°All because of you, you damn fool! Fool! Fool!¡± Big Goldtooth seized the ashtray and smashed it forcefully against the old drunkard¡¯s head.


    The old drunkard was left bleeding, trembling.


    ¡°Oh, it seems I¡¯ve arrived at an inconvenient moment,¡± Lynn¡¯s voice resonated from outside the door.


    Big Goldtooth¡¯s movements stalled.


    His expression rapidly shifted from anger to a grin.


    ¡°My dear friend Lynn, what brings you back? Did something get left behind?¡± Big Goldtooth asked cordially.


    ¡°Help me find two people, Jerome and Sersi from the slums,¡± Lynn said with a sly smile. ¡°I heard they¡¯re a couple of troublemakers. With your influence, it should be a walk in the park to track them down.¡±


    Every snake knows its hole, and every rat has its nest. For small-time hoodlums like them, Big Goldtooth¡¯s connections could make finding them even easier than locating regr folks.


    ¡°Of course, my good friend, leave it to me. Whoever knows Jerome and Sersi from the slums, whoever finds their whereabouts, will be rewarded with a gold coin!¡± Big Goldtooth dered loudly, rising from his seat.


    In the courtyard, a thin, ck-haired man with a Mohawk hairstyle raised his hand. ¡°Boss, I have a few friends who are from that area. They should know those two.¡±


    ¡°Boss, I lived in the slums for eight years before. I¡¯m very familiar with that ce,¡± shouted one of the underlings.


    The scents among rats were simr, and they always managed to find theirpanions in theplex urban tunnels.


    An hourter, Jerome and Sersi, who had juste out of a casino, were hooded, beaten, and taken away.


    When Sersi¡¯s hood was removed, he found himself in a damp, musty-smelling underground basement.


    ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Lynn, and the girl you kidnapped yesterday is my sister,¡± Lynn said calmly.


    Across from Sersi, a fair-faced youth maintained a cold expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to chit-chat with you right now,¡± Lynn continued. ¡°Jerome has already spilled the beans, but to confirm if he was telling the truth, I need to hear the answers from you again. If your answers don¡¯t match, I¡¯ll cut off one of your fingers. After all, Jerome imed that everything he said was true.¡±


    ¡°???¡± Sersi¡¯s eyes widened. <em>Fuck, why on earth would you cut off my finger if our answers don¡¯t match?</em>


    ¡°Nobles! Nobles! The girl was taken away by the nobles. What I said is true¡ª you must believe me!¡± Sersi shouted desperately, as if clutching at a lifeline.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    <em>Nobles, huh.</em>


    Lynn¡¯s understanding of nobility was limited, whether gleaned from the memories of the previous life or the experiences of this one. What he had heard most about were the opulent and extravagant lives led by those of noble birth.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you what you wish to know,¡± Sersi began.


    Lynn rose from his seat and said, ¡°I apologize, but your responses do not align with Jerome¡¯s. It appears you¡¯re lying to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you, I¡¯m not!¡± Sersi eximed in terror.


    ¡°By the way, I remember what that man looked like. I¡¯ve discreetly observed them. They got on a carriage with a rose emblem. It must be Viscount Bolent, that¡¯s the Bolent family crest,¡± Sersi said.


    Lynn approached Sersi from behind, his hand firmly holding Sersi¡¯s head to prevent any erratic movements. In his other hand, he held a small knife, tracing a circle along Sersi¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t move. It may sting a bit, but the pain will soon subside.¡±


    With his head held in ce, Sersi struggled, much like a dying fish floundering.


    ***


    ¡°You rest well,¡± Hamilton said as he returned home with arge bag of medicine. He looked at Anika, whose countenance bore the weight of sorrow.


    Ever since Eva had been abducted, Anika had worn this despondent expression.


    Hamilton retrieved a pouch of coins from his pocket and poured the gleaming gold pieces onto the bedspread.


    Anika stared at the shimmering gold coins, her reaction pausing for a moment. Anxiously, she grasped Hamilton¡¯s hand. ¡°Where did you get so much money?¡±


    Anika asked nervously, knowing that in their former circumstances, their entire family wouldn¡¯t have earned this much even if they didn¡¯t eat or drink for ten years.?


    ¡°We have money now,¡± Hamilton said.


    ¡°Can we use this money to get Eva back? We can offer it,¡± Anika said.


    Hamilton fell into contemtive silence, steering the conversation elsewhere. ¡°I saw Lynn today.¡±


    ?Anika raised her head, her once-dim eyes now alight with hope.


    She struggled to move her weak body and leaned her head to look behind Hamilton. ¡°Where¡¯s Lynn?¡±


    ¡°Lynn went to take care of something. He¡¯lle find uster.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Hamilton thought about Lynn¡¯s recent changes and added, ¡°Lynn has be quite formidable now, even more so than me as a father.¡±


    Anika felt a sense of disappointment. She didn¡¯t care about how powerful Lynn had be¡ª all she wished for was his safety.


    Borg, who was boiling water nearby, heard his father mention his older brother, and his eyes filled with joy. He firmly believed that his big brother was still alive. In his eyes, aside from their father, his big brother was the most formidable person in the world.


    ***


    Armed with the information provided by Big Goldtooth, Lynn arrived at the outskirts of Viscount Bolent¡¯s territory, on a small ind in the center of the port city.


    Bangor Port had been the hereditary territory of the Bolent family for generations. Originally just an ordinary port, it had thrived in recent years, and the Bolent family had grown in tandem.


    Gradually, they had be a prominent and influential family.


    The information provided by Big Goldtooth was more extensive than what was publicly known.


    It was said that the Bolent family¡¯s ancestors were once fishermen, but one day, they received a blessing from the Sea God. This ancestor came to be known as the Sea God¡¯s spokesperson and even aided a prince in reiming lostnds for the kingdom.


    After that prince ascended the throne as king, the Bolent family was granted the title of viscount and awarded the fiefdom of Bangor Port.


    However, Big Goldtooth and his associates knew more than the average person. It was rumored that each generation of the Bolent family possessed extraordinary beings akin to their ancestors¡¯, suggesting some kind of lineage inheritance.


    As for receiving the Sea God¡¯s blessing, people like Big Goldtooth, who grew up by the sea, scoffed at such notions.


    The so-called Sea God was nothing more than a jest. Fishermen who urinated on the Sea God¡¯s statues returned with bountiful catches, while devout sailors who worshiped the Sea God daily drowned at sea. If there was a Sea God, he was an idle and ineffectual deity.


    The Bolent family estate was located at the heart of Bangor Port, with a canal running through the entire city and the family¡¯s residence positioned close to the waterfront.


    Lynn held a skeptical view of the existence of gods. He neither wholly rejected their existence nor blindly ced his trust in them.


    Though there were legends of gods, they had never manifested in reality.


    Although every town had a church, and priests resided in these churches, the priests were just ordinary people.


    ?Lynn heard that the priest in the small town where he had once lived, a man in his fifties who liked to drink, had fallen in the snow one snowy night and frozen into a popsicle.


    He had also attended the priest¡¯s funeral. Despite the priest¡¯s fondness for alcohol, he had been kind and amiable on ordinary days, offering free prayers whenever someone in the town passed away. But the priest had possessed no extraordinary powers.


    The kingdom seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally restricting the church. If he could read more ancient history books, he might have understood more, but as an ordinary person, he had no ess to such texts.


    When Lynn traveled south with his master<sup>1</sup>, Angley, he had fantasized about encountering grand and epic stories along the way.


    However, except for the mining ident that happened during the journey, there had been no other unexpected encounters with people possessing extraordinary powers.


    It seemed that there weren¡¯t as many people with extraordinary powers in this world as he had imagined.


    Thinking back to his teacher¡¯s words, it seemed that beneath the world of ordinary people, therey a deeper world.


    Perhaps due to its proximity to the sea, theyout of this viscount¡¯s residence was not that of a castle but that of an estate, with hills, greenery, fountains, and statues.


    The viscount¡¯s estate was brightly lit, as it was hosting a grand banquet tonight.


    Thick thorny vines covered the high walls.


    However, this did not pose a problem for Lynn. The ground beneath his feet slightly trembled, and the soil became soft. Soon, arge hole appeared beneath him.


    An Iron Earthworm peeked half of its head out and then disappeared into the ground again.


    Lynn crawled into the viscount¡¯s estate through the hole, which could easily amodate a person.


    However, in such arge estate, how was he supposed to find the clues he sought?


    Footsteps sounded in the distance, and Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered slightly.


    He hid in the nearby bushes.


    The footsteps suggested that there were several people.


    Peering through the gaps in the bushes, Lynn could see that they were dressed as attendants.


    None of these individuals spoke, and they hurried along with lowered heads.


    Wait a minute, ording to the TV dramas he watched in his previous life, shouldn¡¯t there be a few guards or maids chatting away, leaking all the secrets of the master¡¯s household, and conveniently being overheard by the protagonist?


    Lynn lurked while slowly making his way toward the central estate.


    Suddenly, footsteps came from ahead.


    A blonde little girl who appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old pouted and ran out of the castle in a huff.?


    Chasing after her was an older maid.


    ¡°Youngdy, youngdy, where are you going?¡± the maid asked anxiously.


    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t bother me. I don¡¯t want to marry that count. He¡¯s so old, nearly forty years old, about the same age as my dad. I refuse to marry him,¡± the blonde little girl said, fuming.


    ¡°And he has three daughters and four sons! Do you expect me to face a group of stepsons and stepdaughters older than me every day in the future?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Not sure why the author suddenly used the word (ʦ¸¸ : master) in this one particr sentence. All this time, Lynn had indeed been calling Angley (ÀÏʦ : teacher). ??</li></ol>


    T/L Bonus: Unofficial illustration of Vielvi running from the maid.


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    The maid dared not respond, for this was not a topic she could engage in, even behind closed doors.


    Lord Viscount was a stern master, and servants who disobeyed in the estate often met a grim fate, serving as food for the fishes.


    Her sole duty was to attend to the youngdy and ensure she did not stray beyond the estate¡¯s boundaries.


    The maid made an attempt to grab the blonde little girl¡¯s arm, but the girl abruptly halted, delivering a resounding p across the maid¡¯s cheek.??


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than a servant. Who gave you permission to touch me?¡± The blonde little girl spoke with disdain.


    The maid covered her stinging cheek and hung her head.


    ¡°Let me make it clear¡ª where I go is none of your concern. You will stay here, and you¡¯re not to breathe a word to my father, or I¡¯ll have my brother beat you to death,¡± the blonde little girl snorted before briskly departing.


    The maid¡¯s face turned ashen.


    She was at a loss for what to do. If the youngdy were to disappear, she would surely be beaten to death at the hands of Lord Viscount.


    The youngdy had a vtile temper, especially the young master, who was domineering and often beat many servants to death.


    Just as the maid was wrestling with her thoughts, the blonde little girl had already scampered far away.


    The maid collected herself and quickly hurried in the direction the youngdy had gone.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered slightly.


    ¡°Hmph, finally managed to shake her off. I refuse to be wedded to an old man,¡± Vielvi pouted and muttered to herself, hiding behind a flower bed.


    As she was about to rise, arge hand reached over from behind and covered her mouth.


    ¡°Shh,dy, please be quiet. You wouldn¡¯t want your lovely face to get identally scratched, would you?¡± A frigid de lightly grazed her tender cheek.


    Vielvi¡¯s face turned pallid, and her eyes darted helplessly in all directions.


    But this ce was too secluded, and ordinarily, there were very few visitors. She had deliberately hid here.


    At this moment, Vielvi was beginning to regret her decision.


    ¡°I ask, you answer. If you take more than two seconds to ponder, my hand might identally tremble,¡± Lynn¡¯s gentle voice resonated from behind.


    ¡°Where have all those people your father abducted disappeared to?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± Vielvi shook her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to ask a third time,¡± Lynn warned.


    Vielvi was on the verge of tears, but suddenly a detail shed through her mind.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t know, but I have an idea where they might be hidden,¡± Vielvi began to speak.


    ¡°Some of the condemned prisoners from the ports were locked in the basement. If there¡¯s a ce to hide people, it¡¯s probably there,¡± Vielvi said.


    Basement¡­


    Lynn squinted, it did sound like a good ce to hide someone.


    ¡°Take me to the basement,¡± Lynn ordered.


    Lynn nodded toward the distance, and Lauren, who had crawled out of the pit with his butt stuck out, also nodded to Lynn.?


    ***


    Surprisingly, the basement was located in a building near the riverbank.


    Many dense trees grew between here and the estate.


    Taking advantage of the cover provided by therge trees, Lynn sneaked up to the entrance of the building by the river.


    Apart from an iron lock and a barred iron gate, there was no one at the entrance.


    The soil beneath Lynn¡¯s feet loosened, and a huge monster emerged from the ground.


    Vielvi watched in shock as the monster crawled out of the earth.


    Already frightened, she became even more terrified.


    The Iron Earthworm opened its mouth and devoured the iron lock as if it were a piece of chocte.?


    Iron shavings fell like crumbs from the corners of its mouth onto the ground.


    The iron gate was pushed open, revealing a dark staircase leading to the basement.


    Lynn tightened his grip on his staff andmunicated with the Iron Earthworm through the metal bracelet on his wrist. After confirming that there were no people hidden in the darkness, Lynn proceeded.?


    Letting the Iron Earthworm lead the way, Lynn, holding Vielvi hostage, entered the basement. Shortly after Lynn vanished, Lauren, moving stealthily, tiptoed to the doorway and followed suit, swiftly closing the iron gate behind him.


    <em>Drip, drip¡­</em>


    The sound of water droplets falling onto the floor echoed through the space.


    The basement proved even more damp than Lynn had anticipated.


    ¡°There is¡­ there is¡­¡± the Iron Earthwormmunicated to Lynn, providing some cryptic information.


    It conveyed that there was something ahead, but given its limited intelligence, it struggled to specify precisely what it was.


    As Lynn journeyed deeper, he noticed that the rooms lining the corridor on both sides seemed oddly familiar, reminiscent of the cells he had seen in teacher Angley¡¯s designs.?


    However, these cells were all empty.


    The basement was deep, spanning severalyers beneath the surface. Lynn surmised that if they continued descending, they would find themselves at an elevation even lower than the adjacent canal.?


    Were the Viscount¡¯s family nning to build an underwater amusement park or something???


    Despite this humorous thought, Lynn remained cautious.


    As for Vielvi, trembling with fear, she clung to Lynn as if she were a quail.


    Lynn¡¯s arm locked around her throat like an iron cor, making Vielvi feel somewhat constricted, and even the act of breathing became a struggle.


    However, for some unknown reason, Vielvi didn¡¯t dislike this¡­ even though she should have been afraid of this man, she found herself curious about him.


    Lynn furrowed his brow, realizing that the girl in his arms had somehow looped her arms around his waist.


    This made walking a bit awkward for him.


    Lynn fiercely tapped Vielvi¡¯s backside with his magic staff. ¡°Don¡¯t obstruct me!¡±?


    He scolded her in a low voice, his warm breath brushing against Vielvi¡¯s ear.


    The girl in his arms went even softer, like a puddle of water.


    Lynn¡¯s brow furrowed even tighter, and he pushed the girl away, then grabbed her by the back of her neck, holding her like a baby chick.


    If there was any danger, he would not hesitate to throw her out.


    ¡°Up ahead¡­¡± came the feedback from the Iron Earthworm.


    They had reached the end of the corridor.


    Before them stretched a vast, open room.


    There was a faint, indistinct sound of water sshing.


    Lynn stopped in his tracks, pausing for a moment, with Lauren following from behind.


    ¡°Boss<sup>1</sup>.¡±


    The sudden voice from behind startled Vielvi.


    Lauren had arrived in the evening, unable to enter the port during the day. He had followed the scent to catch up.


    Considering Lauren¡¯sbat prowess, Lynn had also brought him along.


    ¡°Boss, can you see clearly?¡± Lauren asked.


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Lynn retorted.


    ¡°Boss, an oilmp.¡± Lauren extended a hand from beneath his tattered curtain, holding an oilmp.


    The hardships of their journey had taken their toll, leaving Lauren¡¯s curtain attire even more weathered.


    ¡°You could have mentioned it earlier,¡± Lynn remarked. They had been stumbling through the dark, which was far from convenient.


    From beneath the curtain, Lauren retrieved a flint lighter and helped Lynn light the oilmp.


    With themp in hand, Lynn surveyed the surroundings.


    Vielvi stole a surreptitious nce at Lynn. His skin had always been fair, but three months of life in a lodge with no sunlight had left it even paler, his lips thin, and his features finely chiseled and handsome.


    Though his first impression might not have been striking, he possessed a unique charm.


    Lynn took in the sights around him. Several pirs supported the grand hall, but only half of it was solid ground¡ª the other half was a turbulent body of water.


    Dark waves crashed against the te floor of the hall. On the ceiling, two exceptionally long chains hung from the rafters, descending into the water.


    The chains swayed slightly, disturbed by something beneath.


    A dark tangle of water nts emerged from the water¡¯s surface.


    <em>?????????????????????????????Ssh</em>¡ª¡ª


    The rusted chain swayed, and a cyan hand rested on the stone edge of the shore.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Vielvi let out a scream and attempted to hide behind Lynn.


    ¡°I thought who could it be, turns out it¡¯s my dear niece,¡± a cyan face surfaced from the water. The mass of water nts became damp hair clinging to the face. As the figure grinned, it revealed a mouthful of sharp teeth.


    Lynn observed the figure, narrowing his eyes, recalling what Big Goldtooth had mentioned about water demons.


    He did bear a resemnce.


    The water demon crawled out of the water, and once he stood up, Lynn realized he exceeded two meters in height. Chains were fastened around his ankles.


    ¡°My lovely niece, have you missed me? Have you finally decided toe visit Uncle?¡± The water demon¡¯s arms were elongated, almost reaching his knees. He tilted his head, his face disying madness.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: Lauren had been addressing Lynn as Master (Ö÷ÈË) prior, suddenly now he changed to Boss (ÀÏ´ó), perhaps starting to get closer and feeling morefortable around Lynn? ??</li></ol>


    T/L Bonus: Unofficial illustration of the water demon.


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Vielvi stared at the water demon, her gaze fixed for a long moment, suddenly ovepping with the image of someone from her memory.


    ¡°Uncle Dyb!¡± Vielvi shrieked.


    She couldn¡¯t reconcile this mad and ferocious monster with her kind, tall, and gentle uncle.?


    In her memories, Uncle Dyb was the most elegant gentleman in the family. She faintly recalled that it might have been because Uncle Dyb had fallen in love with amoner woman and incurred her grandfather¡¯s wrath.


    After that, she hardly saw him. Her father had told her that Uncle Dyb had been banished to a remote family estate.


    At that time, she had felt some regret.


    But she had never imagined that her missing uncle would be locked away here.


    ¡°Is the little creature next to you the food you brought for Uncle? It smells really sweet, there¡¯s a kind of¡­ a kind of captivating scent.¡± Dyb narrowed his eyes.


    Then, his gaze shifted to Lauren at the back.


    ¡°An interesting reptile, perhaps with a unique taste,¡± Dyb hissed, his tongue ck and elongated, nearly reaching his chest.


    Viscous liquid dripped from his tongue onto the ground.


    ¡°Uncle Dyb, why are you here?¡± Vielvi asked.


    ¡°Why am I here?¡± Dyb repeated in a self-muttered tone, suddenly turning fierce, as if provoked by something.


    In a fit of frenzy, he clenched his fists and struck the ground forcefully, shattering the blue stone tiles.


    ¡°Why am I here!? Well, you should certainly ask your dear grandfather, my own dear father! They were the ones who chose me and threw me into this hell with their own hands!¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯ve be a demon, it¡¯s because they forced me to!¡±


    Dyb gasped, and it seemed like a glimmer of rity returned to his senses.


    ¡°Vielvi,¡± Dyb inquired, ¡°tell me, how is my beloved Marasia? They promised me a respectable job for her, to raise our child together.¡±


    Vielvi¡¯s eyes filled with confusion. She had never heard of Uncle Dyb having a child before.


    Seeing the perplexity in Vielvi¡¯s eyes, Dyb¡¯s expression gradually darkened.


    ¡°So it¡¯s all a lie, from beginning to end, all lies,¡± Dyb rasped.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Vielvi stammered, utterly at a loss.


    ¡°Sorry for interrupting your family reunion,¡± Lynn interjected, ¡°but I¡¯d like to know where all those people your family captured have gone. Is there another ce aside from here where they¡¯re being held?¡±


    Dyb turned his gaze toward Lynn and grinned wickedly. ¡°Those captured people? Well, they¡¯ve all be my meals.¡±


    Lynn¡¯s smile disappeared from his face. ¡°This joke is not funny.¡±


    ¡°If you could dive underwater, you¡¯d find the seabed littered with white bones. Maybe it was my dinnerst week, or perhaps the month before?¡± Dyb grinned maliciously.


    ¡°Once a week, huh? Good to know,¡± Lynn replied calmly.


    The fool across from him didn¡¯t specify if it was yesterday¡¯s dinner or today¡¯s, which might provide an opportunity.


    It seemed like his sister had probably been hidden elsewhere on the estate. The most troublesome part was that she might not even be on the estate.


    It made sense, such matters were typically kept hidden from the younger generation in a family.


    Lynn had stumbled upon the Bolent family¡¯s secret by pure ident.


    The rumors circting outside were indeed true¡ª the Bolent family possessed extraordinary inheritance.


    Dyb suddenly charged at Lynn, prompting Lynn to pull Vielvi with him as he retreated, positioning Lauren as a barrier between them.


    The chain, extending from the ankle to the ceiling, curved and tightened.


    It stopped just shy of touching Lynn when there were less than two meters between them.


    <em>ng</em>¡ª


    The chain tightened, and the ws almost touched.


    ¡°Are you not afraid of me?¡± Dyb inquired.


    ¡°Your enemy is not me,¡± Lynn replied, turning away.


    He had no interest in getting involved in the family¡¯s feud, especially when the other party was unwilling tomunicate.


    At the same time, Lynn took Vielvi with him.


    If he truly couldn¡¯t find his sister, he decided to use Vielvi as a pawn, a hostage to exchange for his missing sibling.


    ¡°Master, how did you know the chain couldn¡¯t reach us?¡± Lauren asked.


    ¡°Because there¡¯s a line underfoot,¡± Lynn exined.


    While surveying the surroundings, he had noticed the line beneath his feet.


    In this ce, the appearance of a semi-circr line was particrly intriguing.


    He observed that the center of this semi-circle seemed to be precisely at the top of the chain.


    Coupled with their brief encounter, he sensed that the water demon¡¯s emotions were somewhat unstable. For their own safety, those who raised the water demon naturally needed a safe boundary.


    Therefore¡­ it wasn¡¯t challenging to deduce.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Dyb¡¯s voice came from behind.


    ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡± Dyb requested.


    Lynn¡¯s steps did not falter.


    ¡°I can tell you where our family hides people. My brother has pedophilic tendencies. If you¡¯rete, there might be some results you don¡¯t want to see,¡± Dyb said.


    Lynn paused.


    Seeing Lynn stop, Dyb¡¯s face showed a triumphant smile. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Help me steal a key.¡±


    ¡°No need for such trouble,¡± Lynn said, holding a staff and aiming at the chain above the ceiling.


    As the tip of the staff emitted a purple glow, in the damp air, a swirling liquid gradually took form.


    Dyb¡¯s pupils contracted, a trace of fear shed in his eyes. He suddenly understood the confidence of the man in front of him. It turned out that he also possessed extraordinary powers like himself, and he didn¡¯t have to transform into the monstrous appearance that he did.


    ¡°Tell me the answer first,¡± Lynn said.


    Dyb responded, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, the answer lies in his study. Behind his study, there¡¯s a separate room, where those girls were all kept¡ª of course, this has been going on for several years. I can¡¯t guarantee if he has changed locations now. As for how to open that secret room, there¡¯s a ck box in apartment in his bookshelf. Rotate that box, and you¡¯ll open the secret room.¡±


    ¡°Acid Missile.¡± Lynn¡¯s staff¡¯s tipunched acidic projectiles toward the ceiling.


    Whether intentional or not, this mass of acid hit the top chain just right but veered slightly off.


    The highly corrosive acid dissolved the iron chain, leaving only a small part attached at the top.


    ?Dyb pulled the chain, and chunks of ceiling ster fell.


    It was unlocked but notpletely opened.


    However, with his strength, it wouldn¡¯t take long topletely pull down the remaining bit of the iron chain still fixed to the ceiling.


    ?Dyb¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement, like a wild wolf. He grabbed the chain with both hands and fervently pulled it down. ¡°My brother, and my father, wait for me, wait for me!¡±


    Taking advantage of this time, Lynn had already led the two out of the underground.


    ¡°You should know where your father¡¯s study is,¡± Lynn said to Vielvi.


    Having witnessed Lynn casting spells, Vielvi dared not act presumptuously.


    She obediently nodded and then guided Lynn to her father¡¯s study.


    The first-floor hall of the estate was brightly lit and bustling.


    ¡°Is your family hosting a banquet?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°I heard that a duke¡¯s daughter from the kingdom arrived. My father and a few brothers are circling around that duke¡¯s daughter like a group of stallions in heat,¡± Vielvi said nonchntly.


    With Vielvi as the insider, they smoothly reached Vielvi¡¯s father¡¯s study.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Turning the wooden box, the room began to spin.


    Lynn noticed the bookshelves in front of him swaying. In the corner of the adjacent bookshelf, a small section began to rotate, simultaneously turning inward.


    As the bookshelves flipped, a room hidden behind them appeared in the sight of everyone.


    Lynn quickly walked over, and behind the bookshelves was a narrow passage.


    Lynn heard faint sounds emanating from deep within the passage. He remained alert as he walked toward it.


    Simultaneously, he brought Vielvi with him and instructed Lauren to guard outside.


    The passage inside was a descending spiral staircase. Lynn estimated that he had descended about half a floor.


    At the end of the spiral staircase was a tightly closed wooden door.


    Intermittent knocking sounds came from behind the wooden door. The wooden door required a key, which Lynn naturally did not have.


    But he had a physical way to open the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stand behind the door. Move away, I¡¯m going to open it,¡± Lynn said to the person behind the door.


    Upon hearing Lynn¡¯s voice, the knocking from behind the wooden door temporarily stopped.


    ?Lynn took out his staff, but suddenly he felt that his own magic was insufficient.


    Without the magic staff given to him by Angley, many things would be inconvenient for him to handle.


    Now, it seemed that Acid Missile spells were the solution to everything. If only he could master a bit more spells, things wouldn¡¯t be so troublesome.


    The Acid Missile shot out, hitting the target urately.


    Thick white smoke sizzled out, and the wooden door was instantly corroded, creating arge hole.


    The edges of the corroded opening turned charred. Through the hole, Lynn saw the scene behind the door¡ª a simply decorated room. Not far behind the door stood a lively little girl, the one he had been searching for, Eva!


    Eva crossed her hands over her chest, somewhat dazed, looking through the hole at Lynn outside the door.


    The pitiful Eva¡¯s small mouth opened slightly, and her big eyes suddenly became moist.


    ¡°Eva,¡± Lynn said in a deep voice.


    Eva blinked, lifting her delicate arm to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.


    She thought it was an illusion.


    After wiping her eyes, the person standing outside the hole in the door was still there.


    Eva burst into tears with a loud cry.


    ¡°Good girl, brother will take you away.¡± Lynn pushed open the door and grabbed Eva¡¯s hand.


    Eva clung to Lynn¡¯s leg, unwilling to let go, like a little squirrel clinging to a thigh.?


    Coming out of the secret room, Lynn noticed that Lauren had changed into a new curtain.


    The originally tattered curtain was thrown to the ground. Lauren now wore a high-quality ck and gold velvet curtain, with two holes torn at eye level.


    Lynn paid no heed to such trivial matters. If Lauren liked changing into a new battle robe, so be it.?


    As Lynn quietly left the estate from the other side with Eva, he heard screams and shouts not far away in the estate, making the lively banquet even more chaotic.


    Lynn had no intention of getting involved.


    ¡°Do you intend to take me away?¡± Vielvi, who was being held hostage, asked.


    ¡°Sorry, I haven¡¯t learned the spell of erasing memories yet,¡± Lynn replied.


    Turning his head, Lynn lifted Eva, covering her eyes.


    The ground beneath Vielvi¡¯s feet suddenly broke open, and with a scream, she fell straight down.


    ?The soil rolled, and the Iron Earthworm closed its mouthparts and turned over, leaving behind an empty space.


    ***


    ¡°You¡¯ve been staying in this ce for some time, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lynn, holding Eva, listened to the sound of the waves beside him and the chilling wind blowing from the direction of the sea.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Eva buried her head in Lynn¡¯s arms, her voice as soft as a mosquito.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve brought Eva back,¡± Lynn said as he walked into the house, holding Eva¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Lynn!¡± Anika was pleasantly surprised. When she saw Eva following behind Lynn, her originally ailing self suddenly seemed much more spirited.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m back,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Where have you been all this time?¡± Anika asked with concern.


    ¡°I met a kind person,¡± Lynn thought for a moment. Although Angley was indifferent to others, he was good to him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find a new ce to stay first. Staying here in the damp and cold for too long is not good for the body,¡± Lynn suggested.


    ¡°But it¡¯s toote now,¡± Anika hesitated.


    Considering that his mother was currently unwell, Lynn waited until the next day and, through an intermediary, purchased a three-story loft with a garden.


    The loft was located in an area north of the seaport, not far from the security post. Compared to other ces, the security here was rtively good.


    For certain reasons, Lynn did not choose a house near the river.


    Then Lynn contacted Big Goldtooth and, through his channels, tried to locate Lauren¡¯s wife.


    But so far, there were no leads.


    Lauren looked somewhat uneasy, and Lynnforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Big Goldtooth will contact us as soon as there¡¯s any lead.¡±


    ¡°I know. Thank you, Master,¡± Lauren¡¯s tail swayed slightly behind him, revealing his unsettled emotions.


    Lynn could still remember the promise he made to him, which had deeply moved Lauren.


    ¡°Can you find my teacher through Serena?¡± Lynn asked Lauren.


    He knew that Lauren had a good rtionship with the big lizard named Serena.


    If anyone could find teacher Angley, Serena would have a good chance.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. When we were nearing Bangor Port, I couldn¡¯t find Serena¡¯s trace,¡± Lauren shook his head.


    ¡°You know, if it doesn¡¯t want to show itself in front of me, even if it¡¯s standing right in front of me, I wouldn¡¯t be able to detect it,¡± Lauren innocently said.


    Lynn expressed understanding¡ª he wasn¡¯t capable of fully detecting Serena. He could only sense Serena when she was in close proximity. If she was a bit farther away, he wouldn¡¯t be able to perceive her. This seemed to be rted to his stronger mental strengthpared to ordinary people.


    While Lauren¡¯s physical qualities far surpassed those of ordinary humans, there wasn¡¯t a significant difference in terms of mental strength.


    Through spells, Lynn could roughly sense Lauren¡¯s mental strength.


    And lower in mental strength than Lauren was the Iron Earthworm.


    The mental strength of the Iron Earthworm was only about half of Lauren¡¯s, much lower than that of an ordinary person. This also exined why the Iron Earthworm wasn¡¯t very intelligent.


    For the next four days, Lynn secluded himself.


    He spent most of his time in his room each day.


    Having found his family, Lynn resolved a longstanding concern, and he delved into his Alchemy Laboratory.


    Perhaps because he no longer had this concern, even the efficiency of his meditation had seen a slight improvement.


    Although he didn¡¯t know why his teacher had disappeared, Lynn wasn¡¯t worried. He knew that if Angley wanted to find him, he could certainly contact him.


    Rather than worrying about it, Lynn decided to seize the time to improve himself.


    During these four days of seclusion, Lynn spent nearly ten hours each day constructing the spell framework for the Sleeping Curse.


    Finally, on the evening of the fourth day, thest node was sessfully constructed.


    In the mental sea space, forty-seven nodes formed a mysteriousyout, creating aplete pattern.


    ¡°The first step is done¡ª nowes the second step.¡± In the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn opened his eyes, tired but excited.


    ¡ª¡ª


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    KO-FI

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    Constructing the spell framework, the first step involved fixing the nodes.


    It was akin to building a house byying the foundation.


    The second step was to connect these nodes, and with the experience from the first step, the second step was rtively much simpler.


    Following the methods in the magic book, Lynn used his mental strength to draw lines and connect different nodes in the specified order.


    With a total of forty-seven nodes and countless possible connections between them, this was just for a basic spell. Lynn couldn¡¯t fathom how much time and effort the wizard who invented this magic had put into it.


    Connecting the nodes turned out to be simpler than fixing them. Lynn found that it took only about ten minutes to connect two nodes. Perhaps it was a matter of practice, and Lynn¡¯s efficiency increased rapidly.


    Estimating, he figured that he couldplete the connections between all the nodes in just one more day.


    Stretched out, in the room, the metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube at the foot of the bed rotated, casting a beam of light through the cracks in the Rubik¡¯s Cube.?


    Lynn appeared in the bedroom.


    The room Lynn upied was a small one on the third floor, near the attic, well-ventted.


    On the desk by the window were two books and a mechanical rm clock.


    These two books were the Kingdom Chronicles and Heidinger¡¯s Botany, that were asked to purchase by Lynn from a bookstore when his brother Borg went out.??


    Bangor Port truly lived up to its status as a city at the forefront of the kingdom. A bookstore had already appeared here, although it sold very few books.


    The Kingdom Chronicles recorded the history of the Erdolu Kingdom. Understanding a country was best initiated by delving into its history.


    However, after flipping through the book, Lynn tossed it aside. The entire book was filled with embellishednguage, even the history of the initial invasion of the southern kingdoms had been altered to a mere reiming of lost territories.


    The entire book sang praises and ttery to the royal family and nobility, with almost no useful content.


    It did, however, provide Lynn with a better understanding of the nobility in the kingdom.


    Apart from the royal family, the Erdolu Kingdom had two princes, three dukes, six marquises, ten earls, and hundreds of viscounts and barons.


    However, one of the princes, after attempting to incite rebellion and seize the throne following the establishment of the kingdom, was defeated by the king of that generation. The rebellious army was wiped out, and their bloodline was exterminated. Now, the kingdom only had the bloodline of one prince remaining.


    The three dukes were respectively the Duke of Luan Tailbloom<sup>1</sup>, the Duke of Cuckoo, and the Duke of Golden Lion.


    In the book, the most valiant and skilled inbat was not the seemingly mighty Duke of Golden Lion but the Duke of Cuckoo. It was said that his territoryy in the northernmost part of the kingdom, defending the kingdom against enemies from the north.??


    Hence, the Duke of Cuckoo was also known as Blood Cuckoo, and it was said that the red color of their family emblem, the cuckoo flower, was crafted using the blood of their enemies.


    The Duke of Luan Tailbloom¡¯s family had a long-standing friendship with the royal family, and a lush forest within the kingdom was their family¡¯s territory.


    The territory of the Duke of Golden Lion was on the western side of the kingdom, with not much detailed information recorded in the book.


    Compared to this book, the other book brought more surprises to Lynn.


    Heidinger¡¯s Botany documented the shapes and uses of many nts, some of which were precisely the materials Lynn needed to create physical vitality potions.


    Although the names and designations were different, it was mainly due to regional differences, primarily based on the characteristics of the nts themselves.


    The main ingredient required for this potion was a material known as the Radiant Glow Mushroom.


    This Radiant Glow Mushroom thrived in cool and damp environments, containing rich vitality.


    The nt guide also recorded this mushroom, known in the Erdolu Kingdom as the Cavern Lifeblood Mushroom.??


    Locals typically used it as a medicinal herb to treat external injuries. However, due to the tendency of the Cavern Lifeblood Mushroom to grow flesh buds on the surface of wounds when applied externally in the long-term, this was considered its most significant side effect.??


    As a result, locals gradually stopped using it.


    Only the impoverished and destitute, with less-than-ideal conditions, continued to use it to treat external injuries. After all, not many wealthy people were willing to ept the growth of flesh buds or tumors on their bodies¡­ and the poor either didn¡¯t mind or had no choice since they were not visible under clothing.


    But in recent years, with the opening of Bangor Port, knowledge from other kingdoms flowed in.


    Better alternatives for treating external injuries emerged, and this Cavern Lifeblood Mushroom was slowly phased out.


    Lynn had Borg go to the market to purchase some Cavern Lifeblood Mushroom and to the pharmacy to buy other medicinal ingredients.


    In the evening, Lynn went down to the dining room to eat, and Hamilton hesitated to speak several times at the dinner table.


    After finishing dinner, Lynn wiped the corners of his mouth and asked, ¡°Father, is there something on your mind?¡±


    ¡°In thest few days, I¡¯ve been in discussion with your mother. Although we¡¯vee into a bit of coin, it¡¯s inevitable that one day it will be spent. I¡¯ve decided to open a tailor shop with your mother. What do you think?¡± Hamilton spoke hesitantly.


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Lynn replied eagerly.


    If his parents could find some meaningful work, that would be excellent.


    Though Lynn didn¡¯t know how much longer he could linger in this ce, he had a faint premonition that Bangor Port wasn¡¯t the culmination of his life¡¯s journey.


    Giving a man a fish is not as beneficial as teaching him to fish. Finding stable employment might be a good path for them.


    ¡°The money is earned by you. From the ie of the tailor shop, after covering daily expenses, half will be saved for you. The remaining half, your mother and I n to set aside for Borg and Eva. What do you think?¡± Hamilton proposed.


    Lynn shook his head.


    Quickly noticing, Hamilton added, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll save it all for you.¡±


    ¡°No need to save it for me. Use the money from the tailor shop for yourselves,¡± Lynn replied.


    Hamilton suddenly froze, gazing at Lynn¡¯s face. He seemed to have guessed something.


    His lips moved slightly, and he lowered his head.


    Since returning, Hamilton had never asked how Lynn came back, how he acquired his abilities, or how he brought Eva back. Until now, he had a somewhat surreal feeling, fearing it might be just a dream.


    Every day, Anika cooked Lynn¡¯s favorite fish stew with fennel. Lynn liked it spicy, so she would add a bit of chopped red pepper to the stew.


    ¡°Brother, these are the medicinal ingredients I bought at the pharmacy¡ª all the ones you asked for. Also, the ssware you wanted me to inquire about¡ª I heard there¡¯s a foreign merchant who might have them, but I didn¡¯t see him today.¡± Borg handed the bag to Lynn, his eyes filled with admiration.


    Since childhood, he had always thought his brother was smarter than him. Returning this time, he felt like his brother was enveloped in a mist.


    This feeling held a deadly allure for a child his age.


    In the evening, Lynn sat at the desk perusing books.


    One hand appeared on the balcony railing, and then Lauren turned over, leaping onto the balcony.


    Lynn heard the familiar voice behind him, but he kept his head down, continuing to sketch on the slightly yellowed paper.


    On the weathered sheets, he used a pencil to outline the shapes of vessels needed for crafting potions.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t found them yet?¡± Lynn asked out of habit.


    Lauren shook his head. ¡°No sign of them.¡±


    When Lynn bought the house, he also acquired the adjacent small building, and Lauren moved in.


    At Lynn¡¯s request, every day, Borg would obediently go to the market and leave some food at the doorstep of the neighboring building.


    ?Lynn nodded. In reality, his purchase of the experimental equipment served another purpose.


    That purpose was experimentation.


    Through a period of observation, Lynn discovered that triggering daily tasks required a specific environment.


    He deliberately disorganized the equipment in the Alchemy Laboratory, then rearranged it, but this method failed to trigger an acquisition of any experience points.


    He also tried cooking in his current residence, but it didn¡¯t trigger a daily task either.


    This forced Lynn to ponder the reason.


    He believed that the ability to trigger daily tasks in the lodge before might not be solely due to cooking food.?


    It probably had something to do with the creature being nurtured and the conditions at that time.


    Was it because his role was a wizard¡¯s apprentice following a task assigned by his teacher who was a full-fledged wizard at that time? Or was it rted to the magical creatures included in the feeding?


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but make a bold spection. Perhaps, only after conducting aplete experiment and then tidying up theboratory, could he gain experience points.


    Moreover, since cleaning theboratory could yield experience points, it made no sense forpleting an experiment to have no rewards.


    If he personally conducted a full experiment, perhaps the benefits would be even greater than merely tidying up theboratory.


    ¡ª¡ª


    TL/N:<ol><li>¡ªRegarding Duke of Luanweihua, ð½Î²»¨ [ lu¨¢n w¨§ihu¨¡ ].


    ¡ªording to wiki, luan is a mythological bird in East Asian mythology. The luan is sometimes referred as simurgh by western sinologists when they trante the Chinese term luan; however, they do not refer to the same bird creature and is therefore an inappropriate trantion of the term. It is also sometimes inappropriately tranted as roc and phoenix.


    ¡ªW¨§i means tail whilst hu¨¡ means flower/ blossom.


    ¡ªIn order to make it a bit more consistent and fit with the other dukes, Duke of Luanweihua will now be called Duke of Luan Tailbloom.


    ¡ªThe duke was mentioned in chapter 7, 12, 16. ??</li></ol>

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    ¡°Have we been abandoned?¡± Lauren questioned, a hint of confusion in his eyes.


    He gazed eagerly at Lynn.


    In truth, bing a lizard-man had made him feel the most insecure.


    Transforming from a human into an heretical existence deemed uneptable in human society.


    Although he hadn¡¯t tried, Lauren believed that if he were to walk down the street without the curtain-like cloak that concealed his form, he would undoubtedly elicit numerous screams and horrified stares.


    The only person in this world who could tolerate his peculiarity was the youngd in front of him.


    ¡°No, we haven¡¯t,¡± Lynn reassured him. ¡°At least, I won¡¯t suddenly disappear.¡±


    The next morning, Lynn observed thepleted framework of the Sleeping Curse in his mind.


    It was a three-dimensional model difficult to describe in words.


    At the moment all the nodes werepleted, the spell framework seamlessly melded into one.


    Lynn noticed numerous details in this model.


    With the formalpletion of the spell framework, it meant he had sessfully mastered the zero-ring spell¡ª Sleeping Curse.


    However, he still needed a test subject.


    Lynn went to the backyard of his residence.


    The soil on thewn in the backyard loosened, revealing an iron head the next moment.


    The Iron Earthworm had no idea what awaited it.


    Regarding the casting of the Sleeping Curse, there were two modes.


    One was the silent casting, advantageous for its stealth, yet not entirely concealed. This was because releasing the spell activated the mental energy in the caster¡¯s mind, imperceptible to ordinary people and beings with significantly lower mental energy.


    However, it became very apparent to those with mental energyparable to or only slightly lower than the caster¡¯s. Additionally, silent casting was slower.


    The other was casting with an incantation, requiring the utterance of a spell. The only downside to vocal casting was that chanting the incantation was quite conspicuous. However, the advantage was a faster casting speed!


    As for how much faster exactly, Lynn didn¡¯t know. The magic book only mentioned in passing that vocal casting would be faster, and it was influenced by proficiency.


    Lynn raised his right hand, and with a mentalmand, his mental energy flowed into the Sleeping Curse¡¯s spell framework like water gushing from an opened valve.


    A considerable amount of mental energy continuously dissipated. It stopped only after consuming more than a quarter of his mental energy.


    Lynn estimated that it was approximately twice the consumption of a zero-ring spell on a magic staff.


    Was it because the magic staff could save mental energy, or was it because the spell was engraved on the magic staff? Lynn pondered.


    With the sessful release of the spell, a grayish-white mist coalesced in his palm.


    Just like what he had seen at teacher Angley¡¯s ce initially, it could be released at any moment through his intention.


    Choosing the Iron Earthworm as the target, Lynnmanded, and the grayish-white mist in his hand shot out at incredible speed.


    Sleeping Curse unleashed!


    The grayish-white mist instantly merged into the Iron Earthworm¡¯s body, and the Iron Earthworm¡¯s body stiffened.


    The next moment, it copsed.


    Lynn received no feedback through the metal bracelet.


    The connection waspletely severed! Lynn roughly understood the range and trajectory speed of this spell.


    Taking out his magic staff again, Lynn released the Sleeping Curse once more.


    This time, as Lynn depleted his mental energy, he felt a feedback force from the magic staff in his hand.


    This force was constant and very resilient.


    In an instant, Lynn understood that the reason for the reduced energy consumption during spell release was due to this magic staff.


    This magic staff was a valuable item.


    Being able to reduce the mental energy needed to cast spells was highly important for a wizard!


    Without the magic staff, he could release at most three zero-ring spells. With this magic staff, he could release approximately six or seven spells.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 3 (0/100)


    Physical Fitness: 1.63


    Mental Strength: 3.7


    Mastery:


    ¡ªEarth Ring Meditation (11%)


    Life upation:


    ¡ªLevel 1 Mutation Studies (11%) (0/10)


    ¡ªLevel 1 Bloodline Studies (1%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 0¡ä


    The improvement in physical fitnesspared to before was a mere 0.01, a small increase.


    On the other hand, mental strength had increased significantly with the rise in levels and meditation techniques.


    Lynn estimated that without the magic staff, the standard mental energy consumption for casting a zero-ring spell would be one unit.


    With the magic staff reducing the mental energy consumption by half, it could reach 0.5 standard units.


    For an ordinary person without enhanced mental strength, even if granted the ability to cast zero-ring spells, without a magic staff, one spell couldpletely drain their mental energy.


    ¡°Brother, I got the ssware you wanted, but that merchant raised the price suddenly and demanded two extra gold coins from me,¡± Borg grumbled while holding the experimental ssware. ¡°Seeing his cunning face, I really wanted to give him a good beating, then I wouldn¡¯t have to pay him even a single gold coin.¡±


    He felt that he hadn¡¯t handled the situation well and ended up spending two extra gold coins for his brother. How many loaves of white bread could two gold coins buy!


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. How much is it, anyway?¡± Lynn checked the ssware brought by Borg for experiments.


    It was said that this set of ssware was originally purchased by a priest who enjoyed studying pharmacology. However, the priest had some idents, and the merchant ended up with this set of ssware, purchased at a high price from abroad.


    After inspecting the ssware and confirming its quality, Lynn patted Borg on the shoulder. ¡°You did well, little guy.¡±


    Encouraged by his older brother¡¯s praise, Borg¡¯s spirits soared, filled with excitement.


    After dinner, Lynn eagerly returned to his room.


    Taking the ss experimental vessels into the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn then retrieved the medicinal herbs procured by his little errand boy, Borg, a couple of days ago.


    ¡°Let me think about what else I need,¡± Lynn rubbed his forehead, recalling the knowledge stored in his mind.


    It was preferable to use pure water and a me of constant temperature. However, obtaining pure water required the condensation of spells, though distilled water could serve as a temporary substitute. As for a me of constant temperature, Lynn opted for a makeshift version using an alcoholmp.


    Having prepared these materials in advance, Lynn meticulously arranged them on the table. Extracting nt essences, he followed the knowledge in his mind, step by step, heating, modting, and stirring various nts in different proportions.


    The process took close to two hours.


    After this duration, Lynn gazed at the dark purple liquid in the test tube in his hand, deep in contemtion. He recalled that the correct end product should be a shade of green, yet the liquid in his bottle was a dark purple. What had gone wrong in the process?


    Lynn¡¯s head throbbed with a headache.


    But soon, the headache vanished.


    A ck line brushed across the corner of his vision.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Experiment (1), Completed an experiment of extremely low difficulty.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Unqualified (¦ç)¡±


    ¡°Reward: None.¡±


    Indeed,pleting the experimental series of daily tasks earned rewards.


    There was an expandable symbol following the ¡°Unqualified¡± status.


    With a thought, Lynn expanded the symbol following ¡°Unqualified.¡±


    Completion: Unqualified (¦æ)


    Mistakes ¢Ù The yellow sprout grass extractioncked thorough and uniform stirring. Mistake ¢Ú The neutralizing agent should have been preheated for 30 seconds, with a preheating time exceeding 2 seconds being an error. Mistakes ¢Û.


    Lynn was pleasantly surprised¡ª there was an exnation apanying these mistakes. Though it was only textual guidance, it was better than having nothing at all.


    Now aware of where his experiment had gone wrong, he could avoid such errors in the next attempt. Lynn took out his notebook and transcribed all his mistakes onto its pages.


    Afterward, he tidied up the experimental utensils on the table.


    ¡°Daily taskspleted: Laboratory Cleanup (2), Clean theboratory thoroughly, maintaining its cleanliness.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Qualified¡±


    ¡°Reward: 10 general experience points.¡±


    Lynn pondered whether the different difficulty levels between theboratory experiments and the post-experiment tasks were due to the assessment criteria being rted to theboratory¡¯s specifications.


    Squinting his eyes, Lynn contemted this in his mind.


    However, he wondered why it was only deemed ¡°Qualified.¡± Achieving an outstanding evaluation seemed to be quite challenging.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    Afterpleting the experiment, Lynn sat cross-legged on the bed and began to meditate.


    Three hourster, the twelfth earth ring sessfully condensed within his mind.


    Apanied by a cold current, rity washed over Lynn¡¯s brain. Habitually, he opened the interface panel, and his mental attributes increased by 0.1. The progress of the Earth Ring Meditation Technique also reached 12%.?


    It took approximately three days on average to condense one earth ring. Lynn estimated that in just 24 days, he could elevate the Earth Ring Meditation Technique to 20%. However, he knew that the difficulty of the meditation technique would likely increase.


    He wondered whether his meditation speed was considered fast or slowpared to other wizard apprentices. Lynn recalled teacher Angley mentioning three levels of wizard apprentices¡ªfirst-level, second-level, and third-level.


    He pondered in the depths of his mind on the criteria for these three levels and wondered if he could be considered a first-level wizard apprentice at this point.


    A sigh of admiration escaped Lynn¡¯s lips.


    The next day, Lynn continued with his experiments.


    Armed with the insights gained from the previous night¡¯s failure, Lynn smoothly navigated through the experiment. Soon, a potion with a deep emerald hue was sessfully concocted, albeit not entirely standard in color.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Experiment (1), Completed an experiment of extremely low difficulty.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Qualified (¦ç)¡±


    ¡°Reward: 10 general experience points, 1% progress in Mutation Studies.¡±


    In Lynn¡¯s mental sea, a door swung open, and a plethora of new knowledge flooded in.


    The feeling of navigating the ocean of knowledge left Lynn thoroughly content.


    Indeed, the rewards forpleting experiments were even more abundant than before.


    Though Lynn had achieved a ¡°Qualified¡± status, upon expanding the symbol, he discovered six mistakes he had made. Five of them were minor details regarding time and handling of raw materials, while the remaining one involved a significant problem with the proportions.


    Fortunately, these errors were not too severe, merely affecting the quality of the potion.


    Examining the test tube of reagent in his hand, Lynn faced a dilemma. He realized he hadn¡¯t prepared a sk to store the potion. Using a cork stopper to seal the test tube, Lynn considered that the potion, with moderate vtility and weak oxidization, could withstand exposure to air for a considerable time withoutpromising its properties.


    Subsequently, Lynn cleaned up theboratory, earning another daily reward of 10 points of general experience.


    Calcting it this way, if he maintained a minimum ¡°Qualified¡±pletion status every day, he could secure 20 experience points daily, faster than before.


    Lynn silently contemted this in his mind.


    What if two experiments were to be conducted each day?


    He spected there wouldn¡¯t be additional rewards. Angley had conducted two experiments on the same day previously, and Lynn, despite cleaning theboratory twice in a day, hadn¡¯t triggered extra rewards. Just like cooking, one could only trigger a task once a day.


    Daily tasks were truly meant to be once a day, or else they would be considered repetitive.


    Nevertheless, to keep the spirit of exploration alive, Lynn set aside some meditation time for his second experiment of the day.


    With the experience gained from the second experiment, the third one concluded sessfully five minutes faster than the second.


    Observing the emerald-green potion before him, the color was now much closer to the desired shade.


    Regrettably, no daily task was triggered. It seemed that all tasks of the same type could only be triggered once a day.


    <em>Tomorrow, I should be able to achieve a higher evaluation than just ¡°Qualified.¡± </em>Lynn thought to himself.


    At this moment, at the old dock.


    The lighthouse¡¯s me was the only faint light on the dock, and the dark seawater surged back with the cold wind.


    Big Goldtooth sat by the window, listening to his subordinates report the recent events.


    Not long ago, the hole in the ground had been refilled, but the newlyid floor stood out conspicuously with a color mismatchpared to the surrounding floors.??


    Every time Big Goldtoothid eyes on that hole, he would be haunted by the memories of that day.?


    Listening to the reports from his subordinates, Big Goldtooth¡¯s expression gradually darkened.


    A significant event had urred in the Bolent family a few days ago. Many dignitaries who attended the Bolent family banquet that day reportedly failed to return.


    No one knew exactly what had happened, and the incident remained veiled until rumors began to circte today.


    On that day, many people were said to have perished. Not only that, but even the current patriarch of the Bolent family had met his end!


    Others might consider it an ident, but Big Goldtooth vividly remembered that person inquiring about the Bolent family shortly before.


    ¡°The Bolent family has undergone such a major incident, and it happened not long after that person asked me about the Bolent family.¡±


    Big Goldtooth¡¯splexion suddenly turned ugly.


    In a daze, he seemed to glimpse arge looming cauldron.


    <em>No, absolutely cannot let anyone know that I am connected to this.</em>


    A trace of severity shed in Big Goldtooth¡¯s eyes.


    The few underlings involved in that incident must be dealt with swiftly.


    As long as that person remained silent, others wouldn¡¯t know about his involvement in this.


    And that person, truly dangerous.


    Even dared to strike at the Bolent family, a noble n.


    If nobles could be targeted, let alone someone like him, amoner. Big Goldtooth nowbeled Lynn as dangerous.


    He just wanted to stay far away from Lynn.


    Over the years, navigating the underground docks, Big Goldtooth understood a fundamental rule¡ªnever offend the nobility.


    The rtionships between these nobles were intricate, like the roots of a massive tree buried underground. If you didn¡¯t pull them all out, you¡¯d never know how deeply intertwined those roots were.


    Generations of nobles intermarried, and the rtionships between many noble families were extremely close.


    Because in the kingdom, there exists a noble inheritance decree!


    When a noble family loses all its direct blood rtives due to foul y, the king, acting justly, can appoint a coteral rtive to inherit the original noble¡¯s title and territory to seek revenge on behalf of the fallen family.


    Nobles would never despise having morend of their own, and this decree has led to intermarriage among noble families. Unless ennobled by the king during times of war, nobles can only be seeded by their descendants.


    Furthermore, Big Goldtooth received another piece of information¡ªthe Bolent family¡¯s banquet that day was held to entertain a prominent figure.


    To be treated seriously by a viscount, the status of this influential individual was beyond Big Goldtooth¡¯s imagination.


    However, what seemed peculiar was that yesterday, Big Goldtooth received news thatrge ships from the old dock were conscripted by some influential figure. Judging from the faintly revealed rumors, it seemed rted to the Bolent family. The higher-ups leaked the information to ensure the cooperation of Big Goldtooth and his underground associates, warning them not to cause trouble and to keep all their schemes in check.


    Naturally, Big Goldtooth wouldn¡¯t court trouble willingly.


    What puzzled him, though, was the mass conscription of ships by the Bolent family at the port. Were they preparing for a sea voyage? Big Goldtooth had never heard of the Bolent family venturing out to sea. In Bangor Port, numerous ship guilds and merchants¡¯ associations, all of which had the backing of major noble families in the kingdom. The Bolent family didn¡¯t need to embark on sea expeditions because these associations and guilds paid substantial taxes to them annually.


    These taxes were more than enough to keep them well-fed.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    In the middle of the night, a thick fog rose on the streets.


    The dense mist nketed the entire street, leaving everything damp.


    A figure leaped lightly over the fence and into the courtyard.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± a voice from the next door called out, halting the figure that had just leaped over the fence.


    The silhouette that had scaled the wall came to a stop.


    The fog dissipated around him, revealing the true form of the figure in the courtyard. With long arms almost reaching the knees, a rigid and icy blue face, Dyb stood with his head tilted, assessing the equally inhuman monster on the balcony of the adjacent second floor.


    Orange-yellow pupils exuded a murderous aura, and the robust body covered in scales looked down on him from above.


    Dyb couldn¡¯t help but emit a creepyugh, ¡°I remember you. You were among those who came that day. It seems I haven¡¯t chosen the wrong ce.¡±


    ¡°You dare to be so arrogant while injured?¡± Lauren stared at a conspicuous sword wound on Dyb¡¯s right chest.


    This sword wound almost pierced through his entire chest, the wound protruding outward, revealing the pink flesh inside.


    ¡°Oh, this wound. You remind me of that guy with the sword. He almost cut me in half with one swing. I came with sincerity, you know. You wouldn¡¯t want others to know about letting me out secretly.¡± Dyb spoke.


    ¡°You are threatening me.¡± Lauren clenched his fists.


    He had to guard the tranquility of the night for his master and couldn¡¯t let others disturb him.


    ?Dyb smirked slyly, ¡°Because time is a bit tight, I took some liberties.¡±


    ¡°It seems I came at the wrong time today, but it¡¯s okay. Your leader will surely make a different decision than you. I¡¯lle back tomorrow at this time.¡± Dyb turned and walked away.


    ¡°Wait, you haven¡¯t said what it¡¯s about,¡± Lauren felt like this guy was a deranged lunatic.


    ¡°Did I not say?¡± Dyb scratched his head, looking puzzled.


    ¡°Well, then let me repeat. Although your master sneaked away a long time ago, those people guessed that I would have help. They even asked me who my aplice was. Oh, but rest assured, I¡¯m a very trustworthy person. I didn¡¯t say anything. I told them I sneaked out on my own.¡±


    Dyb tilted his head, ¡°Well, if they find out on their own, it¡¯s not my concern. So, I came to ask if you¡¯d like to join me in silencing them permanently. By then, all the wealth of our family, including the inheritance rted to the Sea God, will be yours~ Are you tempted? Hahahahahaha.¡±


    This lunatic, making such a loud noise in the middle of the night, as if afraid others wouldn¡¯t hear.


    Lauren furrowed his brow.


    Strangely, even though this madman¡¯s voice was so loud, none of the surrounding residents seemed to be awakened.


    After saying this, Dyb disappeared into the mist.


    ¡°Did he really say that?¡± In the morning, Lynn, having seen Lauren¡¯s warning on a blue g hanging by the window, came to Lauren¡¯s house after having breakfast to learn about the events of the previous night.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, master. Last night, he sneaked into your yard in the middle of the night, but I drove him away!¡± Lauren said.


    Lynn frowned¡ªDyb had found him and subtly implied a threat.


    He talked about an inheritance rted to the Sea God, but Lynn wasn¡¯t particrly interested.


    Ordinary gold, silver and jewels¡ªno matter how many¡ªwere of no use. As long as they were sufficient, it was enough.


    Lynn understood why the second wizard inheritor left so much gold, cast into a door, in the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Compared to other metals that couldn¡¯t resonate with magic, gold was a kind of semi-magical metal.


    Therefore, it wasmon to see many magicians or wizards use gold to create magical items or tools.


    However,pared to those precious and powerful magic metals, the value of gold wasn¡¯t considered high.


    As for Dyb¡¯s mention of an inheritance rted to the Sea God, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but think of the scene when he first encountered Dyb.


    Trapped underwater by several thick chains, struggling to crawl out of the water, it looked like a water demon. Its appearance was not exactly pleasant, bordering on ugly.


    Lynn didn¡¯t care much about appearance, but if he had to choose between extremely powerful magic and appearance, he would definitely choose the former.


    But that required the strength to be so overwhelming that he could ignore such a minor issue, and Dyb¡¯s disyed power wasn¡¯t impressive enough to make Lynn tempted.


    To be bound by just a few chains, its abilities probably weren¡¯t anything special.


    Thinking about being threatened by Dyb, Lynn¡¯s gaze turned slightly cold. Next time, he would have to handle things more thoroughly.


    Although he wouldn¡¯t admit it, some things didn¡¯t require evidence¡ªmere suspicion was enough.


    If that guy revealed him before dying, it would be troublesome and disrupt his peaceful life.


    Lynn felt he should have a proper conversation with Dyb, he wasn¡¯t interested in the so-called inheritance rted to the Sea God.


    With the influence of his reading of wizard books and memories from his previous life, Lynn harbored no awe for gods.


    In his view, so-called gods were just life forms with powerful abilities.


    If he had enough strength, ying the role of a god wouldn¡¯t be too difficult.


    Compared to the inheritance of gods, having the opportunity to capture a few gods was what truly excited Lynn.


    And an inheritance that needed to consume people to sustain itself?


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss itter tonight,¡± Lynn said.


    Lynn did not let Dyb disrupt his own pace.


    Thanks to the sessful construction of the Sleeping Curse skill framework, Lynn now had a lot of spare time every day.


    He intended to use this extra time to read alchemy books.


    Meditation had time constraints¡ªone couldn¡¯t meditate for too long in one session.


    If likening the brain to a sophisticated instrument, meditation was akin to running it at high speed. Prolonged, high-intensity operation during meditation could potentially harm the brain.


    Therefore, meditation needed to be timed, and four to six hours a day was the optimal meditation time.


    Back in his room, Lynn picked up the young gray rabbit that Borg had bought for him from the market.


    He watched the little rabbit hopping around in the cage.


    Lynn pinched the rabbit¡¯s mouth and poured the physical vitality potion he concocted yesterday into its mouth, making it drink it all.


    Releasing his grip, the rabbit shook its head, then hopped a couple of times and curled up in a corner with its back turned to Lynn.


    The physical vitality potion had two effects¡ªone was to increase vitality and enhance the effects of exercise.


    The other was to induce physical mutation.


    Such mutations were random.


    Moreover, the effects were better on juvenile individuals, with a lower chance of inducing mutations in adult individuals.


    Since this rabbit was not yet an adult, Lynn decided to test the effects of the potion on it.


    The materials used for the physical vitality potion might not be very rare, but fundamentally, it was a kind of wizard potion, belonging to magic potions!


    He locked the rabbit in a cage and ced the cage in the Alchemy Laboratory space.


    Then Lynn began today¡¯s meditation and daily tasks.


    In the evening, Lynn stood in Lauren¡¯s yard, watching the thick fog gradually rising around. Lauren mentioned that yesterday, the fog had risen suddenly as well. The fog came too suddenly, and at the end of the street, Dyb¡¯s tall figure emerged through the mist as expected.


    Behind Lynn, Lauren calmly observed Dyb¡¯s chest. Compared to the wound fromst night, today¡¯s wound had shrunk and healed considerably. This guy had quite a strong recovery ability.


    ¡°Be at ease, my friend. I¡¯vee to seek cooperation,¡± Dyb said as he walked to the edge of the yard, smiling at Lynn inside. However, his appearance was too monstrous, making his smile somewhat frightening.


    Lynn squinted, instructing Lauren to open the yard gate to let Dyb in.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve suffered quite a bit of injury,¡± Lynn pointedly looked at Dyb¡¯s wound.


    Dyb touched the sword wound on his body, reminiscing, ¡°I was careless. After killing that fraud, I wanted to seek revenge on the entire family, but unexpectedly, there were two reinforcements on the scene¡ªa mage using magic and a knight with exceptional sword skills. That knight shed me in the chest, and I blinded one of his eyes in return.¡±


    Dyb continued, ¡°Now, I just want revenge on those deceiving scoundrels. They promised me that as long as I epted the family¡¯s inheritance, they would support my wife, Marasia, and my son. But they lied to me. Moreover, my beloved passed away three years ago because she couldn¡¯t afford the medical treatment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s truly unfortunate,¡± Lynn said.


    Dyb stated, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I will have my revenge.¡±


    ¡°Not inviting me in for a seat?¡± Dyb asked.


    ?Lynn turned sideways and gestured for Dyb to enter Lauren¡¯s house.


    Dyb wasn¡¯t afraid of traps. He walked straight into the room and found a ce to sit. ¡°My family ancestor was just a sailor who pulled up a statue during a fishing expedition. That night, he dreamt of the statue in his sleep, and it granted him power. From then on, his fame grew, bing a renowned sailor, eventually forming his own fishing fleet.¡±


    ¡°Sounds nice, but when I saw you, you were locked underwater. Your inheritance must have significant drawbacks. I¡¯m not interested in bing a cannibalistic lunatic,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Actually, at the beginning, this inheritance didn¡¯t have these drawbacks. But as it passed down through generations, those who gained the inheritance became increasingly extremist. They even lost their sanity, attacking living people. Initially, only the wisest n leaders could inherit the inheritance. Now, the inheritance has be something even dogs despise, yet they still have to keep its power within the hands of direct descendants,¡± Dyb sneered.


    ¡°It¡¯s truly ridiculous¡ªfearing it while unwilling to let go of its power.¡±


    Lynn lightly tapped the armrest of the sofa with his fingers, unsure how to respond. However, the pursuit of power has been a human trait from ancient times to the present.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you should be a wizard apprentice,¡± Dyb suddenly spoke.


    Lynn¡¯s middle finger, resting on the leather, abruptly paused. The air seemed to freeze, and Dyb, noticing the reaction, continued, ¡°It¡¯s no secret. Just a wizard apprentice. Many noble families leave behind inheritance, but bing a wizard requires talent. I envy that¡ªI didn¡¯t have the innate talent of a wizard apprentice. Otherwise, ten years ago, I would¡¯ve been taken away, and I wouldn¡¯t have been chosen to receive this cursed inheritance.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably getting on that ship in five months. I wonder which family you¡¯re from? We might even have a blood rtion,¡± Dyb asked, probing.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Many nobles have wizard inheritance?


    Lynn was surprised in his heart, but his face remained calm. He had never known this before.


    He always thought that only a very small group of people knew about wizards, but judging from the fact that Dyb revealed his wizard identity so easily, it seemed that those who knew about wizards were not few.


    Could his teacher, Angley, also be a noble?


    He agreed to bring himself to Bangor Port. Could his teacher¡¯s purpose also be rted to the ship that would arrive in five months?


    <em>Aftering here, you disappeared without a trace. Are you scheming something, my teacher?</em>


    ¡°You may look down on our family¡¯s inheritance, but I know where good things are. When our ancestors salvaged the statue together with a few items, we secretly had them appraised, and those items are all magical items,¡± Dyb said. ¡°I know where they are hidden. Moreover, our ancestors left behind the address where the statue was salvaged. He called it the Eye of the Sea God. In hister years, he sailed alone into the Eye of the Sea God. Not only that, every generation of our family¡¯s inheritors will disappear in their old age, and I suspect they all went there.


    ¡°I noticed their movements. I destroyed the inheritance statue. For them to leave a new inheritance, they will definitely recruit ships and go to the Eye of the Sea God again.¡±


    Dyb said, ¡°By then, I won¡¯t take a single penny.¡±


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s calm expression, Dyb suddenly leaned in, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking about how to get rid of me, are you? You wouldn¡¯t be that ruthless, would you!?¡±


    Dyb covered his chest, ¡°It really makes me very sad. If I can¡¯t go back, this matter will be published in the city newspaper the next day. I don¡¯t want to hurt my good brother.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you can control me like this?¡± Lynn said expressionlessly.


    ¡°No, no, no, I, Dyb, am very trustworthy. I only need you to help me once, just once.¡± The yful smile on Dyb¡¯s face suddenly disappeared, leaving only deep loneliness. ¡°Consider it a plea from a father who lost his child and a husband who lost his wife. Just this once. I promise to bury this matter in my stomach in the future.¡±


    ¡°Let me hear your n first,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°They are preparing to go to the Eye of the Sea God by ship. I have read the family¡¯s collection of books, and I know where the Eye of the Sea God is. The Eye of the Sea God is near an ind. By then, we can go to the ind in advance and ambush. They will definitely fish heavily at that time. We just need to find an opportunity to board the ship and deal with those few extraordinary beings. The rest will be easy. Ordinary people won¡¯t be able to resist us at all. We just need to sail back to Bangor Port.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like a good idea.¡± Lynn pped his hands with a smile, and dust scattered from his palms.


    The dust grew heavier, turning into dense smoke. Dyb, who was enthusiastically discussing his n, was caught off guard and ended up with a face full of soot. He was organizing his thoughts to articte his n when, unexpectedly, the guy on the opposite side pped his hands, seemingly innocently, thus activating a hidden Sleeping Curse. Caught off guard, Dyb fell victim to it.


    ¡°You¡ª¡± Dyb couldn¡¯t believe it. Was this guy really not worried about his identity being exposed?


    <em>Boom</em>¡ª


    Dyb slumped on the sofa.


    Lauren stood by like a stunned goose.


    ¡°Search him, what are you standing there for?¡± Lynn said to Lauren.


    Lauren acknowledged and quickly walked over to search Dyb.


    Dyb was dressed in a brown linen robe with two loose pockets hanging all over him.


    From the outer pocket, Lauren pulled out a half-eaten dried fish. Then, from the inner lining pocket, he took out a rusty silver ring.


    The silver ring was of standard human finger size, but Lynn, looking at Dyb¡¯s thick finger joints, guessed why the ring was hidden in his bosom.


    Looking at Dyb lying on the ground, Lynn¡¯s expression was indifferent. <em>I just want to do my experiments peacefully. Why do you have to provoke me?</em>


    <em>Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just take your own revenge honestly? Do you really have to drag me into this?</em>


    As for Dyb¡¯s so-called im of information leakage, Lynn didn¡¯t believe it.


    A guy who had been locked in a water dungeon for who knows how many years¡ªwhat kind of loyal follower could he have? He even ate stolen dried fish from who knows where, not a single copper coin to his name.


    Lynn sneered. If there were such loyal followers, they would have found a chance to rescue him long ago.


    As for the so-called Sea God inheritance or Sea God treasure that Dyb mentioned, Lynn was not interested at all.


    Come on, that was the sea. If something unexpected happened, where could he run to? Swim back?


    Lynn wouldn¡¯t willingly put himself in a desperate situation with no way out.


    He couldn¡¯t help but think about finding an opportunity to <em>borrow</em> from the Bolent family. As for the interest¡­ Lynn looked at Dyb¡¯s head.??


    ¡°Your story touched me, but I¡¯m sorry¡ªI also have people I need to protect,¡± Lynn said, taking out his magic staff.


    Acid Missile flew.


    Dyb¡¯s head was instantly corroded, leaving only a headless body twitching slightly.


    The surrounding ground was also corroded, leaving pockmarked holes.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t be sure if Dyb¡ªnow without a head¡ªcould survive. After all, this was a being with extraordinary powers, not an ordinary person.


    So Lynn sent another Acid Missile towards its heart position.


    Although this might cause significant damage to this experimental <em>material</em>, Lynn wanted to be cautious to ensure safety.


    If he could learn a spell that could kill an enemy without damaging the body, that would be great.


    Lynn brought Dyb¡¯s body into the Alchemy Laboratory.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lynn said. ¡°See if you can find the way he came.¡±


    The fog had already dissipated on the streets outside.


    Lauren followed Dyb¡¯s scent left behind and tracked it all the way.


    After walking for nearly half an hour, they finally stopped in an abandoned hut near the old dock.


    ¡°The smell here is the strongest,¡± Lauren said.


    Lynn looked around. The ceiling of this rundown shack had arge hole corroded through it.


    The walls were full of tiny insect holes, and the air was foul and damp.


    In the grass outside the hut, there were fish bones and scattered fish scales.


    It was evident that Dyb hadn¡¯t been living well these past few days.


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s a ss bottle here,¡± Lauren said, picking up a hidden ss bottle from the corner. The ss bottle¡¯s body was smooth to the touch, with no dust. The semi-transparent ss bottle revealed a yellowed piece of paper inside, resembling a message in a bottle.


    Removing the bottle cap and pouring out the paper, the handwriting on it looked somewhat childish.


    ¡®I asked Mom why other kids all have dads. Mom said my dad turned into a fish and went to the sea, so if I write a letter to Dad and he receives it, can hee back to see Mom?¡¯


    Below was a doodle-like drawing¡ªa little boy holding the hand of an adult with his left hand and holding a fish with his right hand.


    On the fish¡¯s illustration, there was a patch of scales with blood around the eye area.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    After reading the paper, Lynn stuffed it back into the bottle, strolled to the seaside, fell into silence for a moment, and tossed the message bottle into the sea.


    ¡°Let it go where it belongs.¡±


    In the night, the cold seawater sshed against the rocks, and the waves carried away the drifting bottle.


    In the distance, the dock and the lighthouse were faintly visible.


    Lynn blew the cold wind for a while, and Lauren stood silently beside him.


    Lauren¡¯s eyes were dim, and he suddenly missed his wife.


    Being here for so long without finding his wife, he was worried that something unfortunate might have happened to her.


    He was afraid that the news he received would only be bad.


    Once, he was just a tired and hardworking baker. His wife had never lived a good life and was eventually forced to leave their hometown together.


    He remembered that his wife was most afraid of the dark. Without him by her side, would she still think of him when she was scared at night?


    After returning home, Lynn immediately entered the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Lynn nced at the young gray rabbit locked in the cage. The little rabbit was still huddled in the corner, facing away from him. However, Lynn could tell from the slight movements of its back that it was alive.


    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lynn began his meditation for the day.


    After the meditation, although he didn¡¯t manage to form a new earth ring, Lynn felt satisfied. At most, he could create another earth ring tomorrow.


    ¡°So, this is the meaning of alchemy.¡±


    Without books to read, Lynn turned to alchemy books during his free time.


    After all, no wizard could resist an entire bookshelf of books. If anyone could, then give them an unexplored library.


    Lynn finished reading the alchemy book, unlocking the door to the world of alchemy.


    Alchemy, essentially, was a discipline of material transformation.


    Creating alchemy puppets,bining metal with flesh¡ªthese were just derivative knowledge of alchemy.


    The core knowledge of alchemy lies in the transformation of substances.


    In simple terms, it involves using alchemy to create more powerful substances, serving as the solid foundation for many wizarding disciplines¡ªa true cornerstone!


    Because many wizards¡¯ ingenious ideas rely on alchemy for support.


    Within the texts of alchemy books, Lynn encountered the arrogance of the alchemist wizard.


    ¡®Always some foolish groundhog thinks that we alchemist wizards only know how to make puppets. For heaven¡¯s sake, what era are these wizards living in? I seriously doubt if the wizard who says such things left his brain at home where his mother gave birth to him.¡¯


    ¡®Creating puppets is just a trivial extension of us noble alchemist wizards. Without us, other wizards might as well go knock bones in the primal forest!¡¯


    ¡®If there are any young wizards reading this, you must remember¡ªdon¡¯t imitate those bloodline wizards who mess with corpses every day. Otherwise, you won¡¯t know when you¡¯ll sprout a dozen hands and hundreds of eyes. No witch will like such a strange fellow.¡¯


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but think of materials science. Alchemy and materials science were quite simr, but alchemy¡¯s scope wasn¡¯t limited to materials alone.?


    <em>Hmm.</em>


    The wizard who wrote this book seemed to harbor strong animosity towards bloodline wizards.


    If half of this book discussed alchemy, the other half was dedicated to criticizing bloodline wizards.


    After reading all night, Lynn, feeling a bit weary, set aside the book. He opened the attribute panel, and not surprisingly, he noticed a new branch of alchemy under his life upation, with precisely 1% progress.


    <em>Huh?</em>


    Lynn turned to look at the cage.


    His peripheral vision caught something odd about the cage.


    At a nce, the cage seemed to be overgrown with weeds.


    Densely packed, it looked like a super-sized furball, filling the cage tightly.


    Lynn walked over and gently grabbed a handful.


    His hand immediately gained some fur.


    Was this rabbit fur?


    Lynn contemted, and he opened the iron cage. The thick mass of fur inside the cage stirred, and Lynn squinted, extending his finger.


    This seemingly inted fluff was pierced through with a single poke.


    The rabbit was entirely covered in fur, and Lynn couldn¡¯t even reach the bottom with his entire finger.


    Poked by Lynn, the timid creature hopped around, searching for a ce to hide on the table.


    ¡°Is this¡­ hypertrichosis?¡± Lynn couldn¡¯t be sure.


    But what was certain was that this gray rabbit had undergone some kind of mutation, resulting in excessive hair growth.


    <em>Hmm.</em>


    What could be the use of this mutated gene for rapid hair growth? Making hair growth agents?


    It could be a good way to make money, especially for middle-aged men facing hair loss issues.


    However, extracting the mutated gene was not an easy task, and the currentboratory conditions were not sufficient for Lynn to carry out experiments of this magnitude.


    After teasing the little rabbit for a while, Lynn confirmed that the reagent he made was effective, putting him in a good mood.


    After the incident with Dyb, Lynn obtained the peaceful life he desired, indulging in meditation and reading.


    ***


    ¡°The recovery situation is not optimistic¡ªhis eyeball has been damaged. At most, we can reduce inmmation and prevent infection in the wound.¡± The doctor removed the bandage and reced it with a new one for Dempsey.


    ¡°Uncle Dempsey.¡± The blonde youngdy standing by the window was full of concern.


    ¡°Miss Andina, you don¡¯t have to me yourself. As a knight, I¡¯ve long been prepared for sacrifice, especially since I¡¯ve only lost one eye. I still have one eye to see things,¡± Dempsey said with vigor.


    ¡°Andina, your safety is the most important. Not just me, but also your father, grandmother, and the entire family have great expectations for you,¡± Dempsey said with deep sincerity.


    ?Andina bit her lip, her gaze somewhat evasive.


    She didn¡¯t like the feeling of being expected by many people¡ªit would put tremendous pressure on her.


    Since she was detected to possess the qualifications of a wizard by the family¡¯s magic crystal ball at the age of five, she became her father¡¯s most cherished daughter. Even her brothers held lower status in the family than her.


    Not long ago, when they arrived at Bangor Port, they followed the custom of visiting local noble families.


    After learning about her identity, the local viscount in Bangor Port even hosted a grand banquet, inviting the mayor and high-ranking officials from the area.


    As the banquet neared its end, a sudden thick fog enveloped the estate, and a ghostly figure burst through the window.


    The figure was incredibly powerful, tearing off the viscount¡¯s head right in front of her.


    After killing the viscount, she became the second target of the attack. To protect herself, Uncle Dempsey fought fiercely against the monster. Although they managed to drive it away, he was injured, losing an eye in the process.


    Despite the sincere attitude of the Bolent family, offering substantialpensation, she would rather use that money to ensure Uncle Dempsey¡¯s health.


    ¡°Andina, the Bolent family¡¯s people are here again. They invite us to search for our ancestors¡¯ treasures,¡± Dolores walked in from outside, informing Andina.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m not interested in their treasure,¡± Andina responded coldly.


    Dolores nodded, agreeing with Andina¡¯s decision. She could tell that the Bolent family had ulterior motives. Even she realized that their invitation was just a ploy to make them act as bodyguards for safety. The humanoid monster that day could move in the water, making it impossible for them to catch up if it jumped in.


    ¡°Miss, there are quite a few people at the estate now. Our property in Bangor Port is not thatrge, and thevender fields in the suburbs can¡¯t amodate too many employees. The stewardins that many of the sheltered refugees don¡¯t work and eat too much,¡± Dolores exined.


    ¡°Then don¡¯t take in any refugees for now,¡± Andina casually replied. She then turned to look at Dempsey, lying on the bed. ¡°Uncle Dempsey, let¡¯s go to thevender estate in the suburbs tomorrow to rx. It might do you good.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Outside thevender estate in Bangor Port, the purple sea of flowers and the red windmill cottages created a unique and beautiful scenery along the port.??


    Bowa followed in the crowd. She had heard about the youngdy of the estate, a very bigdy. Even the steward in charge of managing the estate rushed to wee her, repeatedly reminding everyone not to run around or gaze recklessly at the youngdy, an important figure they must not offend.


    Bowa was actually quite curious about the youngdy. She had never seen someone of such high status before. However, she was responsible forundry, and there were still many clothes left to wash today. If she dyed her work, she would be reprimanded by the supervisor. Living and eating here with a decent sry, Bowa couldn¡¯t afford to lose this job.


    The supervisor was extremely strict. Bowa had witnessed another woman, chosen alongside her, being dismissed for damaging two pieces of clothing.


    With her head down, Bowa meticulously and attentively cleaned the clothes, forgetting about the passing time. It wasn¡¯t until footsteps and the murmurs of servants outside the courtyard wall reached her ears that her attention was momentarily diverted.


    ¡°The youngdy is so beautiful, her long golden hair is like the princess in the books.¡±


    ¡°The youngdy is also very kind. She gave Tom a gold coin as a reward.¡±


    ¡°Wow, if only I could get closer at that time.¡±


    A hint of envy shed in Bowa¡¯s eyes, but she didn¡¯t harbor jealousy because she knew she was clumsy, and bumping into important people could lead to trouble.


    She hung the freshly washed clothes on the line.


    At that moment, footsteps approached the door.


    Bowa turned her head and saw the supervisor entering. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Supervisor.¡±


    The supervisor¡¯s expression was grim, and several other servants followed behind.


    ¡°Someone said they saw you stealing from others. Is that true?¡± the supervisor asked.


    Bowa hurriedly denied, ¡°No, it¡¯s not true. I didn¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°Supervisor, we found it. We found this in her bundle,¡± hurried footsteps outside again, and a group of older servants entered. The leader held a gold ring in his hand.


    ¡°Did you all see it taken from her bag?¡± the supervisor asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It was taken from her bag.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I saw it too.¡±


    Several servants spoke up, including some who had worked at the estate for over a decade.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, supervisor. I didn¡¯t take it,¡± Bowa eximed.


    A few workers beside her used, ¡°We all saw it, and you¡¯re still trying to deny it. Women like you are the best at pretending.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t expect Bowa, who looks so honest, to be this kind of person.¡±


    The supervisor remained expressionless, and seeing this, Bowa became even more nervous.


    Thest time someone was dismissed, the supervisor had the same expression.


    Bowa had been hired recently to specifically handleundry. Because of her diligent work, the supervisor was initially satisfied. However, they never expected her to have such a habit of theft.


    The supervisor gestured for Bowa toe closer. ¡°Come here.¡±


    ¡°Supervisor.¡± Bowa walked over anxiously.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching your work these past few days,¡± the supervisor began.


    Bowa nodded hurriedly.


    ¡°It¡¯s only the 14th of the month, but I¡¯ll settle your wages for the entire month. Go find another job,¡± the supervisor said.


    ¡°Supervisor, I really didn¡¯t take that thing,¡± Bowa pleaded.


    The supervisor waved it off. Whether she took it or not was no longer important. With too many people in the estate, he had heard that the higher-ups were discontented. If anyone had to me, it would be her for not knowing how to get along with people.


    ***


    In the past couple of days, Lynn had seen his parents going to choose a shop and observing the market.


    Watching the excited couple, in their middle age, embarking on entrepreneurship, Lynn felt that as long as they were happy, that was what mattered.?


    As long as they had something of their own to do and could support themselves, whether or not they made money was not important.


    Hamilton and the others invited Lynn to go out together to choose a location for the shop, but Lynn declined, choosing to meditate at home during the day. In his mind, the earth ring gradually took shape!


    <em>Hum</em>¡ª


    A cold stream flowed through his mind, and the new earth ring sessfully condensed.


    Very good, another step forward.


    In the evening, Lynn sat on the edge of the bed reading a book. The sound of knocking came from the balcony¡¯s wooden door, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lauren walked into the room, and as soon as he entered, the man couldn¡¯t stop rubbing his hands.


    Seeing his happy, excited, hesitant appearance, Lynn had a guess in his heart.


    ¡°Master, could you do me a favor?¡± Lauren asked nervously.


    Seeing Lauren¡¯s eyes twinkling and the tail behind him swaying slightly, Lynn, since arriving here, saw it so excited for the first time.


    ¡°Did you find your wife?¡± Lynn guessed.


    ¡°I found her,¡± Lauren said with excitement in his tone.


    ¡°I asked someone to find Bowa and them. Today, they said there are clues, and I followed them. It was indeed my wife and child, but I dare not go in to see her,¡± Lauren said somewhat shyly.


    Now, the way he looked, how could he dare to see his wife?


    His current monstrous appearance would only frighten her.


    The more you love someone, the more you can¡¯t bear to see them hurt. Sometimes, he would rather have the monstrous thorns turned around to stab himself.


    ¡°Master, could you help me take a look at her tomorrow? Just as my friend, this is the money I¡¯ve saved,¡± Lauren took out a money bag from his pocket.


    Lynn didn¡¯t refuse¡ªhe had promised Lauren this matter from the beginning.


    ¡°Tell me the address. I¡¯ll go take a look tomorrow.¡±


    Lauren gave Lynn the address, then climbed out of the window and left the room.


    Watching Lauren, who was so excited today that he forgot to close the balcony door, Lynn smiled and sincerely felt happy for him.


    Lynn reversed the book he was reading and ced it on the table.


    He walked to the balcony, and a cold breeze swept in as the curtains fluttered.


    He then pulled down the curtains and closed the balcony door.


    Sitting back at the desk, Lynn suddenly froze.


    On top of the alchemy book he had just put down, there was now an additional book with a brown leather cover on mutation studies, and he had no idea when it appeared.


    With his current mental strength, he could vividly recall that there was absolutely no such book here just now!


    Lynn turned his head to scan the room.


    The room was empty, without any additional presence.


    But the book on the table was undeniably real.


    ¡°Serena?¡± Lynn spoke.


    The room remained silent, and there was no response.


    Lynn lowered his head and picked up the book on the table.


    ¡®Introduction to Mutation Studies and Fundamentals.¡¯


    <em>Teacher, was it you?</em>


    <em>Then why were you unwilling toe out and meet me?</em>


    Lynn sighed inwardly.


    As he flipped through the pages, a nk sheet of paper floated down between the pages.


    His eyes lit up.


    Picking up the sheet of paper, there was only one address written on it.


    ¡®Folk Street 13.¡¯


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    The next day, following Lauren¡¯s given address, Lynn found Bowa.


    ¡°Who are you looking for? My husband is out. If you need to see him, you can wait for him to return and talk to him,¡± Bowa cautiously eyed the young man who had suddenly run into her home. She didn¡¯t recognize him.


    ?Lynn smiled.


    ¡°You must be Bowa,¡± Lynn spoke.


    Bowa looked at Lynn with caution. She basically never revealed her true name to outsiders.


    ¡°I¡¯m a friend of your husband,¡± Lynn said.


    Bowa lowered her head and continued washing vegetables, her lips pursed. Empty words meant nothing to her. ¡°My husband just went out. He¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    A person iming to be her husband¡¯s friend suddenly emerged out of nowhere.


    Lynn took out a pocket watch from his pocket.


    Seeing the pocket watch in Lynn¡¯s hand, Bowa¡¯s eyebrows twitched.


    She was very familiar with this pocket watch. It was a birthday gift she bought for her husband, and he loved it. He rarely wore it, keeping it in his pocket instead, often taking it out to y with and show off to friends.


    ¡°Can I take a look?¡±


    Lynn handed the pocket watch to Bowa.


    Bowa took it, looking at the pocket watch. There was a small notch on the upper right corner of the dial.


    It was Lauren¡¯s watch.


    ¡°Are you really Lauren¡¯s friend?¡± Bowa asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lynn replied.


    ¡°Is he still alive?¡± Bowa pressed on.


    Lynn hesitated. He felt that saying Lauren was dead was not a good answer, so he said, ¡°He¡¯s still alive.¡±


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t hee to find me?¡± The red-haired woman frowned, feeling somewhat worried.


    ¡°He¡¯s not in a convenient situation right now,¡± Lynn exined.


    ¡°Why is he not convenient? Did he find another woman and no longer wants me?¡± Bowa asked. ¡°If he sent you here topensate me, then you can take it back with you.¡±


    Bowa continued to wash vegetables, keeping her head down.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Truly a married couple, she had already guessed his purpose before he even spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just assume he¡¯s already dead. I can live on my own,¡± Bowa said, still looking down.


    The woman¡¯s stubbornness exceeded Lynn¡¯s imagination.


    Regardless of the situation, Lynn believed that Bowa should at least have the right to know. In too many stories, small misunderstandings led to conflicts between lovers and spouses, ultimately turning into tragedies.


    Lynn didn¡¯t like that.


    He stared into Bowa¡¯s eyes. ¡°He met with an ident.¡±


    ¡°What happened to him!¡± Bowa suddenly raised her head, worry evident in her emerald green eyes. The vegetables in her hands were snapped in half.


    ¡°If he bes someone you don¡¯t recognize, appears somewhat unfamiliar, and might even scare you with just a nce, would you still want to see him?¡± Lynn exined gently.


    ¡°I want to see him! Maybe I¡¯ll be a bit scared at first, but I can adapt. Just like his bad habits, he always snores when he sleeps, but I¡¯ve adapted,¡± Bowa said. ¡°I¡¯m willing to see him.¡±


    ¡°I also think it¡¯s best for him toe and exin in person,¡± Lynn smiled.


    ¡°He¡¯lle to exin to youter, madam.¡±


    Exiting the slums, Lynn asked passersby and eventually found Folk Street.


    Folk Street was one of the older streets in Bangor Port.


    In this rapidly developing port city, old often meant dpidated.


    But Folk Street was surprisingly clean and tidy.


    Tall chestnut trees were nted on both sides of the spacious street.


    On either side were quaint three-story cottages and independent small courtyards separated by little fences.


    Each house had a small namete on the stone pir beside its entrance.


    Folk Street 1, Folk Street 2, ¡­, Folk Street 13.


    Lynn walked to the end of the street.


    The main gate was closed, but the lock on the left side of the gate¡¯s small door was open. The small door was slightly ajar, seemingly weing his arrival.


    Pushing open the door, Lynn entered the courtyard, where thickyers of fallen leaves had umted, indicating ack of maintenance for quite some time.


    Even the main door of the ground floor was slightly ajar.


    Lynn stepped inside.


    In the living room, a familiar figure d in a cloak stood with their back to Lynn.


    ¡°Teacher,¡± Lynn spoke.


    ¡°Hmm, it seems you are content with your present life,¡± Angley said nonchntly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to find my teacher, just didn¡¯t know how,¡± Lynn exined.


    Angley didn¡¯t linger on the topic.


    ¡°Take this.¡± Angley took a brass-colored, antique-looking ring from his pocket and ced it on the table.


    ¡°Teacher, this is¡­?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you look at it,¡± Angley replied.


    Lynn picked up the ring from the table.


    ¡°Infuse your mental energy into it,¡± Angley instructed.


    By now, Lynn was well-versed in such matters. After infusing his mental energy into the ring, Lynn sensed a void space.


    The space wasn¡¯t extensive, roughly the size of a ssroom.


    However, size is rtive, and for Lynn, this area was convenient enough for storing personal belongings.


    While the Alchemy Laboratory was capable of storing items, the manner in which it opened made it less convenientpared to the ring.


    Inside the ring, there was a bookshelf, and on the bookshelfy fourteen books.


    ¡®Compendium of Lesser Undead Creatures,¡¯ ¡®Compendium of Lesser Natural Creatures,¡¯ ¡®Introduction Manual to Necromantic Mutations.¡¯


    Many of these were guides or knowledge rted to the field of mutations.


    However, what lingered most vividly in Lynn¡¯s memory were the four ck-covered books with white text beside them.


    It seemed like a series, much like the Sleeping Curse Angley gave him initially.


    The words written on them were unintelligible to Lynn, yet with just a nce, he grasped the meanings of these cryptic texts.


    ¡®Minor Fireball Spell,¡¯ ¡®Mage¡¯s Hand,¡¯ ¡®Whip of Thorns,¡¯ ¡®Minor Illusion Spell.¡¯


    A total of four spell skills!


    Additionally, there was a gray wizard robe, ten egg-sized crystals with a radiant azure glow, and finally, a crystal vial containing steaming red liquid.


    The crystal vial rested casually, without any heating apparatus around, yet the red liquid inside boiled fervently, emitting bubbling water-like sounds.


    Though unsure of its nature, based on Lynn¡¯s limited knowledge of mutations, he spected that the red liquid in the vial was some kind of magical creature¡¯s blood essence.


    This gift was monumental, and for Lynn in his current state, its value was immeasurable.?


    Holding the items, Lynn felt a bit overwhelmed.


    To receive something for nothing felt uneasy, and he pondered on the ethics of appropriating such valuable possessions as an apprentice.


    ¡°Teacher, this gift is too generous¡ªI cannot ept it,¡± Lynn voiced his hesitation.


    ¡°Do you remember what I told you back then?¡± Angley spoke slowly.


    Lynn¡¯s expression shifted, and he became more serious.


    ¡°Wizards believe in equivalent exchange,¡± Lynn exined, ¡°What do you need me to do, teacher?¡±


    Angley smiled kindly, a benevolent expression on his gaunt cheeks. ¡°Just a simple task.¡±


    ¡°Please tell me, teacher,¡± Lynn said, sensing that the task might not be as simple as it sounded.


    ¡°Five monthster, when the ship docks at the port, you board it. It¡¯s simple for you,¡± Angley said.


    Lynn remained silent. He knew there must be more toe¡ªit couldn¡¯t be that straightforward.


    ¡°After boarding, the ship will eventually stop at an ind. On that ind, you will undergo a selection process. This selection will determine which academy you, these apprentice wizards, can enter.¡±


    Angley¡¯s smile became even brighter. ¡°And what you need to do is, in this selection, eliminate all the noble wizard apprentices who boarded the ship in Bangor Port.¡±


    In Lynn¡¯s mind, a phrase uttered by teacher Angley suddenly resurfaced¡ª¡¯fate has already marked a price on all gifts.¡¯


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you¡¯re enjoying this and would like to show support, please consider buying me a coffee, your kind support and generosity really means a lot to me! Thank you~


    KO-FI

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    ?Lynn was mentally prepared for Angley¡¯s words¡ªafter all, it was just about killing.


    His dark pupils remained undisturbed, not a ripple of emotion visible.


    ¡°So, this is the price I need to pay, teacher?¡± Lynn paused and, in the end, addressed Angley as ¡®teacher.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, allowing you to embark on the path of a wizard, along with this knowledge and magic, is the gift I bestow upon you,¡± Angley said.


    Lynn inquired, ¡°Are participants allowed to harm others during the trial?¡±


    Lynn needed to rify some things in advance, making it easier for him to nter.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Angley replied. ¡°However¡ª¡±


    Lynn knew that the crucial part of Angley¡¯s statement woulde afterward.


    ¡°However, those noble wizards who have boarded the ship from the Erdolu Kingdom throughout the generations will undoubtedly consider you an enemy,¡± Angley continued.


    Lynn wasn¡¯t surprised¡ªwhen Angley mentioned the price earlier, he had already considered this possibility.


    ording to the information obtained from Dyb, among the nobles of the Erdolu Kingdom, there seemed to be a means of screening and selecting descendants with wizard talents. Where there are people, there are factions¡ªthese descendants with wizard talents must have formed their own factions at the Wizard Academy.


    <em>So, my teacher, to which faction do you belong? Or is this solely your personal vendetta??</em>


    ¡°Causing too many deaths, you can probably only enter the ck Wizard Academy. Unless you have connections in the White Wizard Academy, the likelihood of them epting you is low,¡± Angley continued.


    Lynn stood silently in his ce.


    ¡°Is there anything else you need to instruct, teacher?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s any knowledge you don¡¯t understand, you cane to me for guidance,¡± Angley said.


    Lynn nodded¡ªhis teacher¡¯s words implied that he didn¡¯t necessarily have to stay here.


    The thought of having only five months left to spend with his family left Lynn feeling inexplicably downcast, the emptiness overwhelming.


    By the time he returned home, it was already afternoon.


    Hamilton and the others hadn¡¯t returned yet, so Lynn idly yed with the ring on his left index finger.


    Entering the Alchemy Laboratory afterward, Lynn picked up a book. In the next moment, the book disappeared from his palm, and simultaneously, Lynn felt that there was an additional book inside the spatial ring.


    After a series of experiments, Lynn roughly figured out the purpose and limitations of the spatial ring.


    Firstly, it couldn¡¯t contain living beings, unlike the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Secondly, every activation of the spatial ring, whether withdrawing or storing, would consume a minute amount of mental energy.


    Simr to opening the Alchemy Laboratory, which also consumed a small amount of mental energy. However, Lynn didn¡¯t pay much attention to it on regr days since he didn¡¯t frequently use the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Additionally, the space inside the spatial ring had no gravity, and all items within were essentially in a state of suspended animation.


    However, Lynn could easily adjust the position of items inside the spatial ring using mental energy, with very low consumption.


    Items ced into the spatial ring would be automatically stored in the avable space without directly touching other items.


    Once Lynn understood the rules of using the ring, he stored all the books from the Alchemy Laboratory¡¯s shelves into the spatial ring. After all,pared to the metallic Rubik¡¯s Cube, a ring carried on his person was more private.


    Later, in the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn took out four magic books from the ring that contained records of spells.??


    ¡®Minor Fireball Spell¡¯, ¡®Mage¡¯s Hand¡¯, ¡®Whip of Thorns¡¯, ¡®Minor Illusion Spell¡¯.


    After a brief perusal, Lynn roughly understood the effects of these four spells.


    All four were zero-ring spells.


    First and foremost, the one with the highest damage was Minor Fireball Spell.


    As one of the most ssic spells in countless works¡ªFireball Spell.


    Even with the addition of the term ¡°Minor,¡± it couldn¡¯t hide its charm.


    On the first page of Minor Fireball, it mentioned the one-ring spell Fireball, but the text didn¡¯t specify the exact power of Fireball. It only mentioned the basic application skills as the most fundamental usage of fire elements. Fireball was one of the easiest spells to learn among one-ring spells, and as a simplified version of Fireball, Minor Fireball was also one of the simplest offensive spells among zero-ring spells, with only twenty-seven nodes in total.


    When Lynn saw this, he almost cried out. He thought about the forty-seven nodes of the Sleeping Curse, and now he was looking at this one with almost half of those nodes missing.


    <em>Do you know how I spent those days building skill nodes? With just these twenty-seven nodes, I¡¯m sure to master this Minor Fireball Spell!</em>


    Judging from the scale of the Acid Missile produced by the magic staff, Lynn was quite optimistic about the power of the Minor Fireball.?


    Moreover, it was a bit embarrassing for a wizard to always only throw ¡°spit¡±.


    How could a true wizard not know a few cool elemental spells?


    The second spell, Mage¡¯s Hand, was a rather mysterious one.


    It was a sustained skill that created an energy-based, attributeless ghostly hand. This hand could remotely manipte objects and interact with them.


    The book mentioned that this was a zero-ring spell that many wizards would learn because of its various uses and great convenience.


    However, maintaining the Mage¡¯s Hand required a constant expenditure of magic power.


    The third spell, Whip of Thorns, required a casting medium, which could be any nt seed. The power of this spell was somewhat rted to the seed used.


    After casting, it could activate the seed, generating a thorny vine. The wizard could manipte this vine for various activities, including whipping, binding, and tethering.


    Lynn thought this spell seemed a bit unconventional. Also, he didn¡¯t have any nt seeds, but the magic book did mention methods for cultivating and selecting seeds.


    Interestingly, the methods for cultivating seeds belonged to the field of mutation, and Lynn had no trouble reading about it.


    Thest spell, Minor Illusion, created a movable illusionary image that could be controlled. The illusionary image could be of any unit, including oneself or others, or even an object.


    However, the magic book mentioned that this spell required extremely high proficiency.


    Otherwise, the illusions created will be full of loopholes.


    Moreover, Minor Illusion had a drawback¡ªits essence was merely an illusion simted with magic power.


    So, don¡¯t expect it to withstand any damage. In fact, this illusion couldn¡¯t even pick up a piece of paper.


    All attacks and physical contact would pass through the phantom.


    Furthermore, for wizards with strong mental strength, the images created by Minor Illusion were quite crude.


    Apart from Minor Fireball, which had only twenty-seven nodes, Mage¡¯s Hand had forty nodes, Whip of Thorns had thirty-six nodes, and Minor Illusion had the most nodes, totaling a whopping fifty.


    The number of nodes in the Sleeping Curse was surprisingly high among the zero-ring spells Lynn had encountered.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    ??The Sleeping Curse actually had forty-seven nodes.


    It seemed this skill had quite potent effects.


    Lynn took out Minor Fireball Spell and memorized all twenty-seven nodes on it.


    Then, sitting on the bed, he began meditating to construct nodes. With the experience from the first time, the speed of building nodes was much faster this time.


    Moreover, Lynn discovered that the speed of node construction was rted to his mental strength.


    The stronger the mental strength, the faster the construction of nodes.


    Byte afternoon, the sounds of their return echoed from downstairs.


    Lynn opened his eyes, having built four nodes in the afternoon alone.


    At this rate, if he worked overtime in the evening, it would probably take only three or four days toplete the spell framework of Minor Fireball.


    He joined his family for dinner downstairs, listening to their cheerful conversations. Today, they scouted a shop, investigated the market in Bangor Port, and had a meal together.


    They believed that opening a tailor shop targetingmoners, with affordable prices, would be a profitable venture. Many local tailors served the nobility, making it difficult formoners to find suitable clothing.


    Thus, they nned to open a tailor shop catering to themoners. Lynn thought his parents¡¯ idea was forward-thinking. There was certainly a market¡ªthe poor in Bangor Port were different from those in other ces.


    Even the poor in this developing port city had higher ies than those in other cities in the ind Erdolu Kingdom. However, due to the higher cost of living, many struggled to make ends meet.


    If there was a rtively affordable tailor shop, it would undoubtedly be popr among the poor. Once a group of regr customers was established, even with thin profits but high turnover, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to sustain a family.


    After dinner, Lynn went to Lauren¡¯s house under the pretext of taking a stroll.


    Entering the house, he recounted the events of the day to Lauren.


    Lauren listened hesitantly, a mix of worry and nervousness evident on his face.


    ¡°Others have already said they wouldn¡¯t care about your appearance now, and every rtionship needs a conclusion,¡± Lynn remarked.


    ¡°Are you nning to end things with your wife like this?¡± Lynn inquired as Lauren shook his head, looking lost.


    ¡°Then go!¡± Lynn urged. ¡°Don¡¯t let yourself regret it. With your current lifespan probably exceeding that of an ordinary person, do you want the rest of your life to be filled with regret for today¡¯s decisions?¡± Lynn continued.


    Lauren, firming his resolve, clenched his fist and nodded.


    How Lauren went about it, what he said¡ªLynn didn¡¯t care. He believed Lauren could handle this matter.


    Later, Lynn returned to his room, engaging in his daily meditation exercises. When meditation reached its limit, he constructed spell nodes.


    After feeling the fatigue from meditation and spell node construction, he rxed by reading books.


    This was the fulfilling sense of progress that Lynn sought.


    As winter in Bangor Port wasing to an end, a piece of news shocked the entire city.


    Some time ago, the Bolent family mobilized arge number of ships to set sail. However, they encountered an unprecedented storm at sea, and almost all the ships sank. Only a few small boats with a handful of skilled sailors managed to escape.


    The entire Bangor Port was plunged into an atmosphere of mourning.


    As a port city, many residents of Bangor Port made their living from fishing. The sailors on the sunken ships were crucial pirs in many families that relied on the fishing industry.


    Countless families were shattered by this sudden cmity.


    Adding to theplexity, it was reported that the patriarch of the Bolent viscount family in Bangor Port had recently died due to an ident. The old patriarch, who had been in retirement for a long time, regained control of the family. He personally led the ill-fated expedition, apanied by many young members of the Bolent family.


    However, with the unexpected disaster, the Bolent family was suddenly left in a state of chaos, and the few remaining family members began to fight for the vacant viscountcy, intensifying the internal struggles within the family.


    As a family that grew alongside Bangor Port, the influence of the Bolent family in Bangor Port was unquestionable. As this family fell into turmoil, the overall security of Bangor Port descended into chaos for a while.


    The external turmoil didn¡¯t significantly affect their household, except that Lynn sometimes heard from Anika at the dinner table that the prices of materials like linen, wool, and leather for making clothes had risen slightly.


    With the Bolent family selecting a new patriarch to inherit the title, the situation in Bangor Port gradually stabilized, and the previously turbulent prices of goods returned to normal.


    For many nobles in the kingdom, they needed a stable Bangor Port to continuously provide them with wealth.


    At the edge of the port, although Bangor Port had given birth to many wealthy individuals with its development, life for many lower-ss fishermen seemed to have changed little. They still went fishing and sold their catch every day.


    In the eyes of their neighbors, Bayer was just a solitary old bachelor who liked to drink.


    Bayer, wearing ear-muffling hats on the boat, struggled to pull up the fishing in his hands.


    ¡°Damn, did I catch a corpse?¡± Bayer muttered irritably.


    The thing in the fishing didn¡¯t struggle at all¡ªit clearly wasn¡¯t a fish. If it were a fish, there would be some resistance. Only when the caught a stone or something heavy would it feel this dead weight.


    Laboriously pulling up the fishing, Bayer, looking at the messy with the half-person-tall bronze statue, felt a hint of confusion in his eyes.


    He stopped cursing and instead bent down to untangle the fishing, taking the bronze statue out and cradling it in his arms.


    Like caressing a cherished treasure, he couldn¡¯t help but stroke it lovingly.


    ¡°Oh, this is definitely a treasure. I need to hide it well¡ªotherwise, others will surely try to snatch it from me,¡± Bayer murmured.


    He even forgot about fishing, hastily steering the fishing boat back.


    For the next few days, Bayer didn¡¯t leave his house after returning home.


    The neighbors noticed something unusual about him. In the past, this alcoholic used to go out at least every other day to buy liquor. If it wasn¡¯t for his drinking habit depleting his funds, he wouldn¡¯t have remained a lonely old man to this day. No woman would want to marry a poor drunkard.


    Concerned neighbors approached, knocking on his door, wondering if the old drunkard had encountered some mishap.


    As soon as they reached the door, they caught a whiff of a strong, metallic scent.


    Quickly summoning other neighbors, they opened the door to find the house in disarray. The floor of the room had been cleared, and blood smeared on the ground formed a pattern resembling some kind of sacrificial ritual.


    In the center of the pattern, a womany on the ground in a position of both terror and misery. A gaping opening extended from her windpipe to just below her navel, resembling an open door. All her internal organs were missing, leaving only an empty chest cavity.


    ¡°<em>Gag</em>¡ª¡±


    Someone covered their stomach and vomited profusely.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    Upon returning home, Lynn entered the Alchemy Laboratory. Observing the Cavern Lifeblood Mushrooms on the experiment table, he realized there was only enough for onest experiment. ¡°Not enough raw materials,¡± Lynn muttered.


    Frowning, Lynn recalled how Borg had extensively purchased Cavern Lifeblood Mushrooms from various pharmacies in Bangor Port, nearly depleting their stock. Some pharmacies even took advantage of the demand to raise the price.


    With practiced ease, Lynn spent an hour concocting the potion. As his proficiency increased, what once took two hours now required only half the time.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Experiment (1), Completed an experiment of extremely low difficulty.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Excellent (¦ç)¡±


    ¡°Reward: 20 general experience points, 2% progress in mutation studies.¡±


    <em>Excellent?</em> Lynn¡¯s raised an eyebrow.


    Lynn looked at thepletion evaluation shing in the corner of his vision, feeling somewhat surprised. This was the first time he had received an excellent evaluation.


    What could be the reason? Expanding the details of the ¡°Excellent¡± rating, Lynn discovered that he had made only two minor errors, one rted to a specific ingredient.


    <em>Perhaps it was rted to the efficiency of the experiment?</em> Lynn spected inwardly.


    ?Looking at the vial of reagent in his hand, Lynn took out a thorn seed from a nearby box. Tossing the seed into the reagent, tiny bubbles formed on its surface as the thorn seed sank to the bottom, creating a subtle reaction.


    Lynn secured the vial of reagent on a stand, knowing it would take at least half a day toplete the mutation.


    nt seeds mutated faster than animals.


    After tidying up the experiment table, Lynn left the room. He descended to the adjacent room and walked into the neighboring courtyard.


    Lauren emerged from the house just as Lynn approached. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t disturb you,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Not at all. Bowa¡¯s already asleep,¡± Lauren replied with a silly grin.


    Since Lauren personally went to find Bowast time, Lynn had no idea what transpired between the couple, but Bowa moved in with Lauren, just as she had mentioned. Even with Lauren¡¯s current appearance, she showed no signs of repulsion.


    ¡°Could your wife help buy some medicinal materials tomorrow if she¡¯s avable?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Bowa has always been grateful to you, Master. She won¡¯t refuse,¡± Lauren replied.


    ¡°In addition, there are these seven types of herbs and ores. Check if they are avable as well,¡± Lynn added, listing a few more materials.


    As Lynn¡¯s knowledge of mutation studies continued to progress, he discovered several new potions he could create. His understanding of mutation studies deepened, but many materials for the new potions were quite rare.


    Lynn cross-referenced thependium, finding that some potion ingredients were avable in the Erdolu Kingdom, although the names differed. However, many materials remained elusive.


    Two potions caught Lynn¡¯s attention.


    The first was the Mutation Mental Energy Recovery potion. Consuming it could rapidly restore arge amount of mental energy within a short time. However, there was a drawback¡ªit could only be consumed once in a short period. Taking more would result in overall body soreness, heavy-headedness, and severe side effects. The core material needed was a rare flower called Blue Kingflower.


    The second was the Meditation eleration Mutation potion. After consumption, it could enhance clear thinking and slightly increase meditation efficiency. However, it had mild addictive properties and required a metal ore called Silvercrest ore.


    This Silvercrest ore was locally known as Fake Silver ore in the Erdolu Kingdom because of its strong resemnce to silver in appearance.


    Hence, many locals used it as a substitute for silver. However, inparison to genuine silver, this Silvercrest ore, or Fake Silver ore, couldn¡¯t dissolve in water. The moment it came into contact with water, it would turn extremely soft. This characteristic became the reason why Silvercrest ore was eventually easy to identify.


    Both potions were excellent, but Lynn wondered why they both had side effects. Was it due to being mutation potions? If only the side effects could be eliminated.?


    Lynn felt that it was not impossible. Since it was a mutation potion that could generate side effects, it must also be possible to eliminate those side effects. All it required was a reverse derivation of the potion.


    Back in his bedroom, Lynn rested.


    Early the next morning, Lynn took out the vial of reagent, and the liquid inside had almost entirely disappeared, leaving only a ck seed at the bottom of the vial.


    Lynn poured out the seed and activated the Whip of Thorns spell with the seed in his palm.


    As the Whip of Thorns activated, a crack appeared on the ck seed in his hand, and in the next moment, a slender vine extended from the opened crack.


    With the continuous infusion of mental energy into the spell framework, the length of the Whip of Thorns kept extending until it reached its limit at nearly ten meters.??


    Under Lynn¡¯s control, the vine moved through the air like a poisonous snake, weaving and traversing, akin to an additional arm.?


    This seed was good¡ªit was much more proficient than the others Lynn had worked on in the past half month. The feedback from the previous seeds felt somewhat raw to Lynn.


    However, this particr seed had no such rawness¡ªit felt incredibly smooth to operate.


    The magic book of the ¡®Whip of Thorns¡¯ mentioned that if it were an ordinary seed, it would be rtively stiff to manipte with magic.


    However, if it were a seed containing extraordinary power, it would be very flexible to manipte.


    Because the essence of this spell was to activate the power contained within the seed.


    The power contained in ordinary seeds was insufficient. Forcing activation could easily harm the foundation of the seeds, and the strength of the resulting thorn vines would also be insufficient.


    However, there would be no such drawbacks with extraordinary seeds.


    <em>So, from the feeling of maniption, has this seed undergone a sessful mutation? It¡¯s just not clear what specific mutation has urred.</em>


    Lynn proceeded to conduct several tests, assessing aspects such as flexibility, healing speed, toughness, hardness of thorns and spikes, and other special abilities.


    In terms of flexibility and toughness, it was only at an ordinary level, slightly outperforming regr thorns but still far from meeting the standards of extraordinary seeds.


    Apart from that, the thorns growing on the vine were rtively hard, capable of leaving a white mark when dragged across iron.


    Lastly, concerning special abilities, Lynn discovered through experiments on mice that the activated thorns from this seed possessed a paralyzing effect.


    It seemed to have a somewhat redundant effect.


    ?Lynn pondered the situation. He already possessed the spells Sleeping Curse and the Mental Shock.


    The paralyzing effect of this thorn seed somewhat duplicated the effects of his mastered spells.


    However, it wasn¡¯t a significant issue. This Whip of Thorns could be considered an ¡°area attack.¡± Its attack range could be seen as a form of group attack.?


    The other two spells were both single-target control spells, so it couldn¡¯t be considered aplete duplication.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    Lynn thought there would be some time before he could develop a suitable mutated seed, but surprisingly, it happened so quickly.


    Lynn held the extraordinary seed in the palm of his hand¡ªthe Whip of Thorns magic book didn¡¯t mention that it could only be paired with one seed. This seed could be kept for future use. When better seeds became avableter, it could be reced.?


    Bowa woke up early. Before, Lauren worked as a baker and often workedte at night because many people needed to eat fresh bread in the morning. The sleep quality of Bowa, who lived with him, was not very good, and she would be awakened early every day.


    Looking at the awakened Bowa, Lauren squatted down, gently stroking Bowa¡¯s hair.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Do you want to sleep a little longer? I can call youter,¡± Lauren said.


    ¡°No need. It¡¯s just right to get up and make breakfast for you.¡± Bowa stretched out her arms from the quilt, embraced Lauren¡¯s neck, and opened her eyes wide, meeting his orange vertical gaze with an affectionate morning kiss.


    With a face blushing from being held back, Bowa gently patted Lauren¡¯s shoulder and, after letting go, scolded him, ¡°Have you not yet realized the length of your tongue?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, my dear. I couldn¡¯t control it just now,¡± Lauren replied, gazing affectionately at Bowa.


    Supporting her waist, Bowa got up from the bed. ¡°What do you want for breakfast this morning, mushroom fish soup, or pan-fried steak?¡±


    ¡°Pan-fried steak. I remember you like that too,¡± Lauren said.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lauren hesitated a bit.


    ¡°Do you have something to say to me? I¡¯ve said it before, no matter where you go, I will follow you. I am your wife, forever,¡± Bowa said, looking into Lauren¡¯s eyes.


    Lauren informed her about the master¡¯s task.


    ¡°Lauren, are these materials important to him?¡± Bowa asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lauren nodded. He only knew that the master had inherited some skills from that wizard and needed to conduct some experiments. Fortunately, it seemed that the master wouldn¡¯t conduct experiments on humans, at most using some white mice.


    ¡°Then I will definitely help him find these things. You know, at that time, I thought I would never see you again. Since he saved you, he is my great benefactor,¡± Bowa said, stroking Lauren¡¯s face.


    Lauren lowered his head, holding Bowa firmly in his arms. ¡°I love you, my dear.¡±


    Bowa, with Lauren¡¯s cold and scaly body, although she was initially frightened by Lauren¡¯s appearance, she strangely found Lauren¡¯s current look inexplicably cute as she became more familiar with it.??


    Tall, robust, powerful, and with those dignified vertical pupils.


    In the Fragrant Orchid Pharmacy, thergest old pharmacy in Bangor Port, there was an old doctor who charged reasonable consultation fees. Many locals liked toe here to buy medicine.


    However, with the recent shipwreck incident, Fragrant Orchid Pharmacy had be much quieter.


    A red-haired woman, wrapped in a scarf and wearing a needle cap, entered the pharmacy. ¡°Hello, do you have Blue Kingflowers for sale here?¡±


    ¡°I think we don¡¯t have that medicinal material¡ªI haven¡¯t heard of it,¡± the girl behind the counter shook her head.


    ¡°Blue Kingflowers? What do you want that for?¡± The old doctor, sitting in a chair and reading a book while wearing reading sses, turned his head. He lowered his forehead, revealing his eyes under the sses as he looked at Bowa.


    ¡°My nephew is sick, and a local farmer from our hometown prescribed this,¡± Bowa said in a mixed Northern ent.


    The old doctor frowned, ¡°Blue Kingflowers were used some years ago, but they¡¯ve been hard toe by in recent years.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Bowa asked in confusion.


    ¡°This medicinal material was already rare, but in the past two years, someone has been buying it up. Our pharmacy¡¯s inventory has beenpletely bought out. If you want, you can bring your nephew here, and I can take a look. You don¡¯t necessarily have to use the folk prescription,¡± the old doctor said.


    Bowa furrowed her brows, then mentioned a few other medicinal herbs.


    Among them, five were avable, except for thest one, the Fake Silver ore.


    ¡°We are a pharmacy. If you want this kind of stuff, you¡¯ll have to find someone on the ck market,¡± the old doctor said.


    ck market?


    Seeing the woman¡¯s confusion, the old doctor sighed and continued, ¡°Fake Silver ore can be deceptively simr to real silver. Some unscrupulous traders like to pass off inferior goods, sometimes secretly mixing Fake Silver ore into silver.


    ¡°So, you can¡¯t buy this stuff openly in the market. If you want to buy, you have to go to the ck market.¡±


    After thanking the old doctor, Bowa went to various pharmacies in the port to inquire, but there was no trace of Blue Kingflowers. In the end, she had to return with the medicinal ingredients.


    Borg opened the door, looking at the unfamiliar red-haired woman outside with confusion. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Lynn. He helped mest time, and I want to express my gratitude with a small gift,¡± Bowa said with a smile.


    ¡°Wait a moment. Let me ask my brother,¡± Borg politely replied.


    Borg then went upstairs and knocked on Lynn¡¯s door, interrupting his meditation.


    ¡°Sure, you go ahead and study. I¡¯ll fetch it myself,¡± Lynn said, heading downstairs and epting the medicinal materials from Bowa. ¡°Thank you,¡± he added politely.


    ¡°No need to be so formal, benefactor. By the way, there are two materials you need that I couldn¡¯t find. One is said to be avable only in the ck market, and the other is not sold in the market. The old doctor mentioned that someone is buying it up,¡± Bowa informed him.


    <em>Someone is buying it up?</em>


    Lynn contemted in his mind. Blue Kingflower was the main ingredient of this reagent.


    The main ingredient is the crucial core material for the efficacy of the potion. While other secondary ingredients can be substituted with those having simr or equivalent effects, the main ingredient is irreceable.


    <em>Someone is buying Blue Kingflowers. Does that mean someone knows the purpose of Blue Kingflowers?</em>


    Maintaining a calm expression, Lynn thanked Bowa and turned to leave. However, halfway through, Lynn suddenly stopped. He sensed someone observing him in the shadows.


    With enhanced mental strength, Lynn¡¯s perception of obvious and intense gazes became more acute. Although amon human trait, this innate sixth sense became stronger with increased mental strength.


    Abruptly turning his head, Lynn nced at the distant corner of an alley. A figure wearing a hat paused for a moment before disappearing from view.


    <em>Is he being watched?</em> Lynn thought to himself.


    He had mentally prepared himself for such situations when procuring items rted to extraordinary medicinal materials.


    In the alley, a figure sprinted swiftly. After turning a corner and reaching the main road, Benji felt a sense of relief amidst the bustling crowd. Regardless, the person couldn¡¯t possibly approach him on the busy street.


    Suddenly, he collided with someone wearing a trench coat. Thest thing he heard was a low, obscure syble.


    Overwhelming drowsiness swept over him, and he copsed into the arms of the person he had just collided with.


    ¡°Oh, buddy, I understand what you¡¯re going through. Don¡¯t cry. Later tonight, let¡¯s go grab a drink.¡±


    The person in Lynn¡¯s arms leaned against him, wearing a hat as if two close friends were embracing. Lynn, supporting him with one hand, guided him into a nearby alley, gently patting his back as they walked.


    Since he was already out, Lynn thought he might as well visit an old friend.


    At the old port, Big Goldtooth smiled with a stiff expression, observing the unexpected guest.


    ¡°Little Fatty, not weing old friends?¡± Lynn was surprised.


    ¡°Wee? Of course, wee,¡± Big Goldtooth forced a smile, looking more awkward than if he were crying.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    ¡°I need to borrow a ce from you¡ªthest time felt quite convenient,¡± Lynn stated.


    ¡°Brother, please feel free!¡± Big Goldtooth took out the key from the drawer and then eagerly led Lynn to the basement.


    Typically, he used the basement to torture and extract confessions from those who defied him. asionally, it served as a public punishment space for disobedient underlings, intended to intimidate others.


    He skillfully locked the person¡¯s hands with a chain.


    Big Goldtooth tactfully exited, even closing the door behind him.


    <em>Pa pa pa</em>¡ª


    Crisp ps echoed in the cold, damp basement.


    Observing the person still red-faced and unconscious, Lynn retrieved a steel needle from the ¡°torture instrument¡± hanging on the adjacent wall.


    Contemting which part to target first¡ªfingers or limbs¡ªLynn arrived at a satisfactory answer half an hourter.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not deceiving me. I¡¯ll have a doctor treat your injuriester. If I find out you lied, I¡¯ll be back,¡± Lynn affectionately pinched his cheek.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie. Everything I said is true,¡± Benji, who was chained, mumbled to himself continuously.


    ¡°Really? I can give you another chance¡ªotherwise, the pain won¡¯t be limited to this,¡± Lynn warned.


    ¡°Really!¡± Benji nodded frantically, revealing every piece of information he knew.


    ¡°I believe you,¡± Lynn said gently.


    ?Benji breathed a sigh of relief, but the expression of surviving a disaster froze in that moment.


    Because the next moment, a ssh of Acid Missile hit his face.


    This guy named Benji knew Lynn¡¯s address, and leaving him here might provide Big Goldtooth with some information. To be on the safe side, Lynn had to eliminate the witness.


    Once he left Bangor Port and arrived at a new ce, no one would know about his family anymore.


    All the smiles on Lynn¡¯s face disappeared. It felt like it had been a long time since hestughed. Today, when he suddenly smiled, his face felt a bit stiff. He rubbed his face, wondering what was going on.


    Luck seemed to be on his side¡ªhe unexpectedly caught a big fish.


    Lynn recalled the information Benji had shared earlier.


    Unexpectedly, there was a suspected wizard in Bangor Port. The wizard was named Roger, ording to Benji. Roger was Benji¡¯s distant cousin with whom he used to y in the town when they were kids. Later, Roger¡¯s parents went to Bangor Port for business and opened a pharmacy.??


    Benji thought their rtionship would gradually fade away as he heard that his distant cousin¡¯s family business was booming. However, one day, his cousin sent someone to find him and brought him to Bangor Port.


    He discovered that Roger had undergone significant changes. He liked to stay in a dark room with the curtains always drawn. Many things Roger found inconvenient to do were assigned to him.


    However, Roger also gave him a lot of money, an unimaginable amount. Later, as his cousin¡¯s business grew, although he knew there might be problems, such as many secret shops or pharmacies changing owners behind the scenes in Bangor Port, his cousin asked him to purchase Blue Kingflowers. He also instructed him to pay attention to other people who deliberately bought Blue Kingflowers.


    ording to a crucial clue provided by Benji, during one delivery to Roger, he inadvertently noticed that Roger¡¯s outstretched hand seemed only like bones. From that point on, Benji suspected that his cousin might be under some kind of witchcraft.?


    It was possible that he was possessed by a legendary demon. Benji became even more cautious around his cousin.


    Lynn thought of more possibilities¡ªthe need for Blue Kingflowers, and a hand that seemed like bones.?


    Based on feedback from his knowledge of mutation, Lynn knew Blue Kingflower was a rtivelymon main ingredient. Many low-level potions rted to mental strength would use it. Additionally, Blue Kingflowers were said to have a greater effect on undead creatures, such as Lichs, or wizards transformed through undead transformation rituals, and more.


    Rubbing his chin, Lynn pondered the specific strength of a Lich. He wasn¡¯t clear about that, as the provided knowledge only briefly mentioned Lichs.?


    Regarding wizards transformed through the undead transformation ritual, Lynn knew a bit more. Despite the various drawbacks of the undead transformation ritual, it undeniably had a substantial effect on a person¡¯s lifespan. Many wizards supposedly underwent the ritual when their natural lifespan was nearing its end, achieving a form of alternative immortality.


    From Benji¡¯s ount, Lynn learned Roger¡¯s address.


    If he was going to take action, today was the best opportunity. Putting himself in Benji¡¯s shoes, there was no way the other party wouldn¡¯t be suspicious if he didn¡¯t return home for a whole night.


    So, if he wanted to make a sneak attack, he had to do it early, the sooner, the less exposure!


    Lynn turned and left the basement.


    Going upstairs to find Big Goldtooth, Lynn asked if he knew about Fake Silver ore.


    ¡°Boss, do you need silver coins? I happen to have some here,¡± Big Goldtooth cautiously inquired.


    ¡°Oh, I originally just wanted some Fake Silver ore, but since you also have silver coins, give me some of those as well,¡± Lynn said nonchntly.


    Big Goldtooth almost wanted to p himself.


    <em>Why bother asking so many questions!</em>


    Lynn gave Big Goldtooth a deep look. ¡°Prepare more¡ªI¡¯lle to collect in a couple of days.¡±


    After saying that, Lynn left the old port.


    Only after confirming that Lynn had truly left did Big Goldtooth breathe a sigh of relief. The look Lynn gave him just now seemed as if he had seen through his little thoughts. However, he was truly innocent¡ªhe didn¡¯t intentionally test whether Lynn wanted silver coins or Fake Silver ore. It was just a professional habit, and he regretted it after saying it.


    Fake Silver ore was not something he had in stock at the moment, but he knew where to find it.


    It seemed like a significant amount of <em>blood </em>would be spilled.


    In the room, only Big Goldtooth¡¯s sighs remained.


    He had thought about revenge, but he truly had no way. During this time, he secretly consulted trustworthy individuals and found out that the cost of hiring someone to take action was even higher than what Lynn took from him. Moreover, if he couldn¡¯t guarantee a one-hit kill to eliminate the monster lurking underground, it was better not to act at all.


    Anyway, he was just a tool man, and the other party wouldn¡¯te looking for him if they had no demands.


    Unable to resist, he decided to lie low.


    Exiting from the old port, Lynn first returned to the backyard of the house next door.


    Before long, Lauren descended from the wall like a gecko.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of using the front door? Why is everyone into wall climbing these days?¡± Lynn joked.


    ¡°I feel stifled staying at home all the time,¡± Lauren scratched his head. He didn¡¯t know why, but whenever he saw stairs and walls, he couldn¡¯t resist choosing the wall.


    ¡°Stifled? I think next time you can stifle the other sounds a bit,¡± Lynn remarked lightly. With his enhanced physical fitness, he also had his troubles. Previously, he asionally meditated in his bedroom, but now, unless it was daytime, he was basically meditating in the Alchemy Laboratory at night.


    ?Lauren chuckled.


    ¡°Master, do you have something to do?¡± Lauren asked.


    ¡°Going to deal with a nuisance,¡± Lynn patted Lauren on the shoulder.


    Having this towering two-and-a-half-meter meat shield by his side gave him a sense of security. Humans always seem to have an inexplicable pursuit of size.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    ¡°Start by adding 200g of centa water, then introduce 40g of ground and dried Blue Kingflower pollen, 26g of golden chicken powder, and finally, drop in 4 eyeballs of the rotting rats, topped with 50g of ashes from a gue victim.¡±


    In the dim dungeon, Roger meticulously adjusted the potion in his hands. In his deep, cavernous eye sockets, a faint burning soul me flickered.


    The blue and yellow powders poured into the vial of reagent filled with murky transparent liquid, gradually turning into a gruesome green hue.


    When the rat eyeballs fell into the potion vial, there were no sshes as if this gruesome green potion had some kind of absorbent quality, slowly engulfing the eyeballs.


    <em>Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle</em>¡ª


    Strong bubbles emerged from the surface of the rat eyeballs, and the entire vial of reagent boiled.?


    White and yellow ashes were slowly poured in.


    The still-boiling reagent gradually solidified, turning into a jelly-like, viscous paste.


    Roger ced this vial of reagent on the adjacent rack¡ªa neat row of ten or so vials of reagent lined the shelf. From left to right, the color of the reagents deepened, solidifying.


    Roger took out the rightmost vial of reagent, giving it a gentle shake.


    After confirming the quality, he took a white piece of paper, pouring the contents of the reagent onto it.


    What spilled out was a tea-green stick-like substance, resembling green bean cake.


    Roger leaned in to smell, and a green phosphorescence emanated from the tip of his nose.


    Supporting himself with his hands on the table, he tilted his body backward. ¡°Not bad, this rotten rat gue powder is getting more authentic.¡±


    <em>Giggle, giggle.</em> A skeleton mouth emitted an eerie sound.


    <em>Thud thud thud, thud</em>¡ª


    Outside came a knocking sound, three long and one short.


    Roger set down the powdered medicine in his hands, knowing that the only people who knew his residence were his cousin and the exclusive intermediary for his transactions.


    Moreover, the knocking code for the two parties was different¡ªhis cousin used three long and one short, while the intermediary used one short and three long.


    The monthly trade for the rotting rat gue powder took ce at the end of each month, and there were still several days left until month-end, so it should be his cousin knocking.


    Roger hastened his steps to the other side of the dungeon, ascending the damp staircase. He circled around the aisle on the other side of the staircase, reaching the higher racks. From here, he had a clear view of the scene below.


    With a quick nce, Roger confirmed that it was his cousin without a hat.


    He had warned his cousin not to wear a hat whening here¡ªotherwise, the hat would obscure half of his face from this angle. However, he hadn¡¯t disclosed the reason behind this instruction.


    Roger descended and hurriedly returned to his chair, casually snapping his fingers.


    From behind the wall in Roger¡¯s room, a massive humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall, with a bulky and patched-up appearance, walked out. Its belly was disproportionatelyrge, making it look exceedingly bloated.


    Lynn recognized the situation and was prepared to unleash a spell the moment the stone door opened to catch the intruder off guard. However, through his mental perception, he sensed a strong corpse stench and a repulsive negative energy emanating from the creature behind the door. It shouldn¡¯t be Roger but one of his crafted stitched abominations.


    Lynn remembered Benji mentioning that his cousin would asionallye to open the door. If his cousin opened the door, it meant that there was something his cousin needed him to do. When there was nothing for him to do, the stitched monsters he created would open the door. Benji was quite sarcastic when he talked about this, almost wishing to transform into a righteous figure to harshly criticize his own wicked cousin.


    Lynn retreated to a distant corner, preparing to observe discreetly. At this moment, Lynn was wearing a gray wizard cloak given to him as a gift from Angley through the ring. Lynn had experimented with it a long time ago¡ªthe most significant effect of this wizard cloak was that it constantly maintained a one-ring spell on its surface: Shield Spell.


    The cloak generated an invisible force field to protect the wearer from energy damage. As a one-ring spell, Lynn found its defensive capabilities trustworthy.


    If the shield were to be broken, the wizard would need to supply mental energy to operate the Shield spell framework within the wizard cloak, allowing it to recharge. Alternatively, magic stones could be used to quickly recharge it, as magic stones contained abundant energy, greatly enhancing the recharging efficiency.


    As the door slowly opened, a tall and putrid creature stood silently behind it.


    ¡°Enter, go¡ª¡± Complex sounds emanated from the humanoid creature¡¯s throat, as if a ry of channels had split into several. Chaotic and disorderly noises emitted from the mouths on its face, neck, and palms.


    Abomination and stitched monsters were not the same kind of monsters, and Lynn spected that this was not an abomination¡ªotherwise, it would have likely detected him at this distance.


    The abomination was indeed a formidable undead creature,posed of numerous dismembered and shattered corpses. It possessed self-growth capabilities, allowing it to consume body parts to enhance its size or physical strength. Furthermore, this race could awaken various undead spells.


    On the other hand, stitched monsters, despite having a more ¡°petite¡± physique,ck mastery over spells. Their only means of intimidation lies in their strength surpassing that of ordinary humans and their frightening appearance.


    The intriguing characteristics of abominations have attracted many wizards to research them, leading to the development of advanced abomination species. In the field of mutation studies, there was considerable information on artificially created stitched monsters like abominations.


    The knowledge of level one mutation studies was vast and far from being merely basic. As Lynn¡¯s understanding of mutation studies deepens, so did his knowledge of magical nts, monsters, and mutated creatures within the wizarding world. Mutation studies focus on the mutations of these nts and animals.


    The mirrored image of ¡°Benji¡± walked toward the dungeon.


    The stitched monster swayed behind, its body trembling, and its swinging arms asionally ovepped with the reflection of Benji. Fortunately, the dungeon was rtively dim, and the stitched monster had low intelligence.


    Lynn trailed behind, infiltrating the dungeon. The air was thick with a foul stench, and the dimly lit dungeon only had a few whale oilmps burning on support pirs.


    The floor was uneven, with puddles of water in several ces. Lynn carefully avoided these water-filled pits as he stealthily moved forward.


    The odor in the air, resembling that of countless dead rats, was almost overpowering. Lynn wondered how that creature could endure staying in such an environment, even after turning into an undead. Although he understood that the sensory perception of undead beings changes after transformation, this level of alteration seemed somewhat exaggerated to him.?


    Cautiously approaching a column, Lynn estimated the distance between the two.


    About forty to fifty meters apart, ruling out the Acid Missile, as its attack range was limited to around thirty meters. The Sleeping Curse wouldn¡¯t be that effective against undead creatures, and the Whip of Thorns, with its short range of ten meters, was also out of the question.


    Perhaps a Minor Fireball spell would suffice.


    To avoid alerting the enemy, Lynn didn¡¯t use mental energy to lock onto Roger. He relied solely on physical senses.


    As the fireball condensed and shot out, the entire process took only a second.


    From a distance, Roger had just noticed that Benji was acting strangely when arge, spherical fireball from the shadows flew toward him!


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Roger instinctively tried to utter an incantation to release a spell, but the speed of his incantation couldnt match that of the fireball.


    He only managed to pronounce one syble when the Minor Fireball mmed into him.


    <em>Boom!!!</em>


    The stitched monster had half of its arm sted off, and the sttered mes ignited Rogers ck robe.


    The stitched monster, not far in front of Roger, instinctively used its arm to shield its master from the iing spell when it saw the fireball approaching.


    Good, it hurts. All the mouths on the stitched monster let out a collective wail. Dont be afraid, protect, protect, Ill protect you.


    The stitched monster turned around and spoke to Roger again, its multiple mouths producingyered voices.


    Roger halted the spell on his lips, preparing to retaliate against the assant who had ambushed him!


    Lynn hadnt expected the stitched monster to willingly shield the wizard from the spell. Didnt they say stitched monsters had low intelligence? Yet, here was one disying such loyalty.


    Roger chanted an incantation for a while, and in the next moment, a ball of ck light emanated from in front of him. The ck light then expanded outward, forming a ck semicircr shield that firmly enveloped him at the center.


    This ck shield absorbed all light, making it impossible to see the specific situation inside.


    Lynn only knew that his illusion had been shattered.


    What kind of spell was this? A defensive spell?


    Are you one of those nobles sent to silence me? Rogers hoarse voice echoed from within the ck shield. Whats this? When you needed me, you purchased the gue powder, and now that the epidemic is spreading beyond control, you want to silence me?


    Roger emitted a creepyughter.


    Lynn didnt expect to hear a shocking secreta revtion that, for the Erdolu Kingdom, was earth-shattering. The devastating gue sweeping through the northern territories originated from the hands of the person before him.


    Lynn remained silent. While he came to eliminate the person, it wasnt because of the gue. The revtion of the gues origin only made Lynns mission to kill him less psychologically burdensome.


    Seeing no response, Roger thought he had seen through everything.


    I had already guessed that this day woulde for me. The hoarse voice emanated from the ck shield.


    Lynn furrowed his brow, continuing to concentrate on murmuring the incantation in a low voice.


    A fireball gradually took shape in front of Lynn, a scorching and searing sphere of mes burning fiercely.


    Youre not ying fair! Rogers furious voice echoed from within the circr shield.


    After that, Roger fell silent, apparently concerned that Lynn might pinpoint his exact location through sound recognition.


    A hint of surprise flickered in Lynns eyes. If he couldnt see inside from the outside, he assumed the reverse would also be true. However, that wasnt the case.


    Observing the outside from within was possible with this spell. Lynn could now make some educated guesses about the general effects of this spell.


    The opponent was likely just an apprentice wizard, primarily wielding zero-ring spells. Zero-ring spells were generally single-effect spells, aspound spells, due to theirplexity, typically fell outside the realm of zero-ring spells.


    So, the effect of this spell was likely to create a one-way concealment of the casters locationa rather practical spell. As Lynn pondered this, he chanted the final syble.


    This time, without the concern of a sneak attack, Lynn unabashedly unleashed his mental energy. However, he soon realized that after his mental energy entered the ck circr shield, he perceived two distinct targetsonerge and one small.


    Aiming for the smaller target, Lynn swiftly cast a Minor Fireball spell, resembling an orange meteor streaking through the air.


    Roger had hidden behind the stitched monster, and once again, the stitched monster took the hit for him.


    Simultaneously, Rogerpleted his incantation.


    Lynn observed a gray ray flying towards him from the ck shield, but a transparent barrier stopped it a few feet from his body, leaving no trace of its existence.


    Lynn continued casting spells for the fireball, unbothered by the predictability of the spell sequence. As long as it worked, he didnt care about the routine.


    He refused to believe that the stitched monster could withstand several of his fireballs.


    After all, this was a spellMinor Fireball spell, not a mere lighter.


    The stitched monster was nothing more than a bulky monster stitched together from human or animal corpses.


    Foul-smelling corpse oil, rancid fateachponent was a highly mmable substance.


    Lynn could already smell the strange, burnt odor of fatbustion.


    And another fireball shot out.


    The third hit on the stitched monster.


    Ah, it hurts, it hurts so much! The wail of the stitched monster echoed.


    A gray ray shot out from the ck circr shield toward Lynn, only to be entirely blocked once again by the transparent barrier.


    The two of them were like two low-defense chickens pecking at each other. You throw a spell, and I throw one too. However, one of the chickens was equipped with gear that didnt belong to its level.


    Seeing his spells ineffective and the stitched monster taking a beating, seemingly on the brink of destruction, Rogers furious voice echoed.


    Damn it, stop! Stop it! Ill give you anything you want.


    Lynn seemed oblivious to Rogers plea and continued chanting the incantation.


    A new fireball materialized in front of him.


    A figure dashed out from the ck circr shield.


    It was Roger.


    Behind Roger, a raging fire burned, with a massive hole blown into its abdomen. Its body was riddled with burning craters, and molten fat, still ame, trickled down from the stitched monster, dripping onto the ground.


    With itsst remaining hand, the stitched monster reached out to Rogers shoulder. Protect, protect you.


    The mes in the eye sockets of the skeleton flickered as he ran ahead, indicating that his mood was far from calm. Rogers irritable voice shouted at the stitched monster behind him. Who the hell asked you to protect? Youre just a puppet I created, a stitched monster. Youre not heryoure just my meat shield!


    The stitched monster halted, its blood-soaked face showing confusion. Its voice suddenly softened. Protect Mom just wanted to protect you.


    Youre not her! My mom died a long time ago. Youre just a substitute I made from her corpse! Roger screamed in despair.


    He thought he could justify using it as a substitute, finding sce in the pain of losing loved ones.


    He believed he could make it charge into battle for him without any psychological burden, even serving as a human shield.


    But hearing those clumsy yet stubborn calls beneath the simr face, he realized he couldnt do it.


    It wasnt true that turning into an undead wizard meant acquiring a cold, heartless interior, immune to external influences.


    The substitute also wants to protect you. The stitched monster stood behind, rubbing its small hands in confusion, speaking softly after a while.


    Roger turned to look at Lynn, My fate is in your hands, but I have a request. Spare it a way out. Its weak and has no potentialit poses no threat to you.


    Pausing for a moment, Roger continued, As a reward, I can give you the entire inheritance I obtained. This inheritance is unique to me, and if I die, youll only gain two experimental materials at most.


    Roger stared straight at Lynn, the mes in his eye sockets burning intensely.


    Lynn pondered for a moment, Alright, but I have a condition too. I want to see the inheritance first.


    Roger nodded in silence, then raised his right hand and reached for his eye sockets.


    He then seized his own soul me and forcibly pulled it out.


    In a sudden instant, the breath on Rogers body weakened to thest thread.


    The mes in his eye sockets shrank to the size of pinpricks, almost extinguishing.


    Rogers skeletal frame swayed, emitting a friction sound.


    Following Rogers control, the soul me in the palm of his hand gradually transformed into a gray bead.


    Here, I hope you keep your promise. Roger tossed the bead to Lynn.


    The next moment, Rogers skeletal frame copsed with a resounding crash.


    The stitched monster stared at the scattered bones, bewilderedly surveying its surroundings. It sat on the ground, desperately cramming the broken bones into its belly, attempting to fuse them back together.


    However, it failed. Its abdomen remained empty, with only a massive hole. The bones it tried to cram in fell out from the other side.


    Painful, so painful. The stitched monsters shoulder, adorned with a womans face sewn with several threads, uttered a hollow voice.


    Lynn observed the stitched monster. His spells were ready, awaiting any sign of hostility from the monster.


    The stitched monster, finally cradling Rogers skull, pressed its face against it, just like the first time they met twenty-eight years ago. Mom is uselessMom will be with you.


    Like a machine suddenly losing power, the necromantic energy in the stitched monsters body rapidly dissipated.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    Master, youre amazing! You took care of both of them all by yourself, Lauren ran over from the dark side as they met.


    As soon as they met, Lauren immediately showered him with ttery.


    Lynn remained silent.


    Thinking the master might be upset, Lauren hurriedly apologized. He had sneaked around from behind, circled arge distance, and was preparing to ambush from the rear when unexpectedly the enemies surrendered!


    Too spineless!


    Its okay, Lynn waved his hand.


    It was just that the scene from earlier made him, the instigator, feel a bit heavy, but it would probably get better after a while.


    Bending down, he picked up the gray soul bead from the ground.


    From the stitched monsters final performance, it might have recovered some memories from its lifetime, perhaps even carried some lingering attachment from its previous existence. However, it didnt matter anymoreeverything had dissipated into thin air.


    The soul bead was a crystallization of memories recorded in a soul.


    The collector could repeatedly read the memories inside, much like recalling memories. However, just like memories, the more frequent and extensive the recollection, the more iplete the contents became.


    Walking to the table, Lynn found several pieces of drafting paper with various materials neatly categorized in ss or porcin vials beside them.


    After checking, he was pleased to see that the Blue Kingflowers he needed had been ground into powder. This wasnt much of an issue, it even saved a step in the process. He just hoped this guys craftsmanship wasnt too shoddy and that the grinding was fine enough.


    After careful observation, Lynn was satisfiedthe grinding was very fine. The amount of Blue Kingflowers here was enough to make at least twenty vials of Mutation Mental Energy Recovery potions.


    With this potion, he would have his mana potion in the future.


    He took note that these experimental instruments were well-preserved.


    When Lynn was casting spells just now, he consciously avoided this area, and so did Roger.


    The two wizard apprentices were surprisingly in sync when it came to protecting the experimental instruments. There was a set of specialized grinding tools on the table, and Lynn picked up a shiny white grinding rod made from who knows what kind of bone.


    Lynn sat down, asking Lauren to keep an eye on their surroundings.


    cing the soul bead on his forehead, a tingling sensation emanated from the spot.


    In his mind, images unfolded like scenes on arge movie screen, rendering everything before him vividly real.


    Like fleeting shadows, memories shed before Lynns eyes. Eventually, he finished reading all the memories. There werent many life recollections of Rogerperhaps he intended to bury these memories with him in the dust. Instead, various inheritances filled the pages.


    Taking out a piece of paper, Lynn transcribed the contents of Rogers memories onto it.


    Rogers inheritance was rtively intact and not overlyplicated.


    It was undoubtedly the inheritance of an undead wizard.


    This undead wizard was a third-level wizard apprentice.


    He had a total of 17 forms, a wealth of knowledge about necromancy, information on creating undead creatures, and a total of eleven spells.


    The gue he created originated from one of the formsRotten Rat gue Powder.


    The rotting rats were mutated rats bred through a Gu<sup>1</sup> cultivation method, harboring contagious toxicity. Through the forms modtion, they ultimately evolved into a gue capable of widespread dissemination.


    From the scattered memories, Lynn also understood Rogers motive for creating the gue.


    During his mothers journey to procure medicinal materials in a northern city, she caught the attention of a noble from the Marquis family, who coveted her wealth. Subsequently, a robbery ensued.


    All their wealth was plundered, and his mother, in an attempt to protect their possessions, was killed by the assant. He, too, sustained severe injuries. In a critical condition, he and his mothers lifeless body were thrown into a mass grave. Through unforeseen circumstances, he inherited the inheritance of the undead wizard, and in order to survive, he underwent the transformation into his current form.


    For revenge, he unleashed the gue on the Marquis territory. However, after waiting for a long time, there was still no news of the Marquis death.


    Later investigations revealed that within these noble territories were beings with extraordinary powers. While the gue killed many of the Marquis subjects, it proved impossible to take down the Marquis himself.


    So, he began creating undead creatures. However, these creatures were only effective against ordinary peoplebreaking into the Marquis territory to kill him was still an insurmountable challenge.


    Eventually, another nobleman, who had a longstanding feud with the Marquis, found him through subtle clues and approached him for cooperation.


    Much of the crucial information came from the nobleman cooperating with him.


    That fool, I always feel like hes being used, Lynn shook his head.


    Roger was indeed an unfortunate guy solely focused on revenge. Over the years, he had dedicated himself to seeking vengeance, not even having the time to create magic items ording to the memories.


    Most of his time was spent learning knowledge and crafting gue potions and undead creatures.


    As for spells, Roger had only learned threeDark Energy Ray, Light of Darkness, and Organ Preservation. Meditating for three years, Rogers mental strength could only sustain him to cast five spells in a short time. Learning a single spell took almost a month, so after acquiring three spells, he decided not to learn more. After all, one Dark Energy Ray was sufficient to im the life of an ordinary person.


    Other than these memories, there wasnt much valuable loot.


    Lynn observed and learned along the way, including the sight of the stitched monsters he encountered in the vige during his initial migration south.


    All of this indicated that the experimental results of Roger hadnt been used on enemies by the nobleman he cooperated with, but rather for some other purpose.


    Even the so-called adversarial rtionship between the Marquis and the nobleman who cooperated with him couldnt be confirmed.


    Lynn cleared up the experiment table ced in the central hall and transferred it to the Alchemy Laboratory. Then, in the dungeons, he ced Rogers undead materials into the Alchemy Laboratory.


    However, there were some things Lynn found hard to ept.


    For example, looking at the foul-smelling pit before him, housing hundreds of filthy and damp giant rats. Each rat wasrger than the average rat. Besides the living rats, the dead ones outnumbered them, with many revealing eerie white bones, and decaying maggots wriggling in their flesh.


    Lynn averted his gaze.


    If he were to ce these things into the Alchemy Laboratory, theboratory would probably be unusable.


    Using the little remaining mental energy, Lynn cast two Minor Fireball spells into the pit, incinerating all the rats inside.


    Roger had left fourteen tubes of Rotting Rat gue PowderLynn didnt need those rats anyway.


    Anyway, if there was a need forrge-scale cultivation, the methods for cultivation were already stored in his mind.


    After leaving the dungeon, Lynn returned home.


    First, he meditated to restore his mental strength. Tonight, he had expended a considerable amount of mental energy, but fortunately, through this period of meditation and daily practice, Lynns mental strength had made significant progress.


    After a night of meditation, Lynn was pleasantly surprised to find that his mental strength seemed to have be more solid. Once his mental strength was restored, Lynn lit an oilmp and ced it on the table. He bowed his head to transcribe the contents of the soul bead.


    For unclear content, he would read it again using the soul bead and continue transcribing. As the use of the soul bead was limited, Lynn took advantage of every opportunity to memorize all the knowledge inside, starting with the most concise and essential forms.


    By the time morning arrived, Lynn extinguished the oilmp, opened the curtains, and let the sunlight in from outside.


    Phew, Lynn shook his hand, feeling a bit sore.


    But he had to quickly remember the contents, mainly the eleven spells that Roger remembered. Among these eleven spells, apart from one one-ring spell, the remaining ten were all zero-ring spells, and except for the Sleeping Curse, all were spells he hadnt collected before.


    Faced with so many spells, even Lynn felt a bit overwhelmed. Learning all of them would take a considerable amount of time, even for him.


    As for the one-ring spell, it required more than 400 nodes.


    Lynn only nced at it, and his scalp tingled. Theplex and challenging structure of the spell was far beyond theparison of zero-ring spells.<ol><li>TL/N: In ancient China,  (yng g) refers to the practice of nurturing or breeding poisonous insects, particrly for the purpose of using them in various mystical or harmful ways. The term is often associated with a form of folk Taoist sorcery or ult practices. Practitioners believed in harnessing the power of venomous creatures, such as snakes, scorpions, or insects, and using them for both offensive and defensive purposes, such as creating poisons or curses. This concept is rooted in traditional Chinese folklore and mysticism and is not a scientifically validated or endorsed practice. </li></ol>

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    As Lynn organized Rogers inheritance, his mind was filled with contemtion.


    What he was sorting through wasnt the inheritance of a formal wizard, but the knowledge passed down from a third-level undead wizard apprentice. Lynn couldnt help but marvelno wonder they say that effort is more critical than talent in the wizarding profession.


    From the knowledge he was organizing, Lynn could roughly deduce the arsenal of a third-level wizard apprentice, including the various methods, spells, and hidden cards at their disposal.


    Of course, the ability to grasp so much knowledge might also be rted to being an undead wizard apprentice. After bing undead, ones lifespan became more extended, naturally allowing for more time and energy to read and study.


    Lynn went through all the spells.


    Ten zero-ring spellsSleeping Curse, Dark Energy Ray, Organ Preservation, Light of Darkness, Bright Magic, Restoration, Poison Gas Ssh, Touch of Fatigue, Switch, Communication.


    A one-ring spellTerror.


    Many zero-ring spells were small-powered general spells or functional spellsindeed, this was the initial purpose of inventing zero-ring spells. Initially, these zero-ring spells were called zero-ring tricks.


    Learning functional zero-ring spells might not necessarily provide a significant boost inbat effectiveness, but they certainly enhanced ones style.


    Dark Energy Ray was the beam that Roger released on himself. Its effect was straightforward: causing destructive damage with dark energy to the target it hit, with reduced damage to dark or undead creatures.


    Organ Preservation allowed the organ affected by this spell to maintain its activity for 24 hours. It was generally used to preserve active spell materials or experimental materials, as many substances decayed quickly, leading to a loss of efficacy.


    Light of Darkness was the spell Roger initially cast, creating a 50-foot radius ck sphere that blocked external vision while allowing those inside to see without obstruction.


    Bright Magic, at first nce, led Lynn to think it was a shbang spell. However, upon closer examination, Lynn discovered that Bright Magic was not what he had guessed.


    Bright Magic imposed a constant glowing effect on a target for a certain duration.


    This target could be a lifeless object or a living being, or even just a specific part of a body!


    Restoration was a spell used to repair objects but cannot affect living beingsit could only be applied to lifeless entities.


    The more intricate andplex the object, the more challenging the restoration process bes.


    However, it was possible to perform multiple repairs on the same item.


    Lynn discovered that Restoration required a whopping 86 nodes, making it the zero-ring spell with the highest node requirement he had ever encountered.


    The abundance of spell nodes might be rted to the somewhat unreasonable restorative capabilities of Restoration.


    Next was the Poison Gas Ssh spell, which generates a dense poison mist in a fan-shaped area. This poison was deadly to ordinary people, but its effectiveness was less ideal against extraordinary beings.


    Touch of Fatigue creates a negative energy tentacle that injects negative energy into the targets body, thoroughly triggering a sense of fatigue, causing instant exhaustion and weariness.


    Simultaneously, the spell had a significant impact on wizardsits most prominent feature was the ability to increase the mental energy consumption of the target during movement.


    Thest two spells were Switch and Communication. Switch could open a closed lock or close an open one within a certain range, even if the wizard forgets to bring the key.


    However, its worth mentioning that Switch can only open physical locks and cannot unlock conceptual or magic locks and traps.


    Communication, when cast, allows the wizard to transmit their voice into the designated targets ears, functioning simrly to a voice transmission spell, but limited to a maximum of 5 seconds of sound.


    The final one-ring spell, Terror, based on the inherited memories, was a group expulsion/ control spell.


    Once the spells were organized, especially the spell frameworks remembered, Lynn spent two whole days at home.


    If only there were a spell to directly convert thoughts in my head into text, Lynn sighed.


    The speed of handwriting was truly slow, and it was tiring. If there were no simr spells, Lynn would definitely create one after bing a wizard.


    After organizing the inheritance, Lynn began to meditate. Perhaps due to the increased mental activity in the past two days, Lynn found that the efficiency of his meditation had surprisingly improved.


    After half a day, he sessfully condensed a new earth ring, gaining a 0.1 increase in mental strength.


    In the evening, Lynn went to the port and obtained Fake Silver ore from Big Goldtooth.


    Big Goldtooth surprisingly provided him with over ten kilograms of Fake Silver ore, but Lynn didnt bother with the silver coins. The coins were of no use to himthest time he mentioned needing them was merely to intimidate Big Goldtooth and prevent him from making baseless spections.


    Back in his room, Lynn eagerly entered the Alchemy Laboratory.


    The potion Lynn most wanted to create was the Meditation eleration Mutation potionthis was the experience bonus potion.


    This potion would elerate his meditation speed, allowing him to meditate more efficiently every day.


    Once in the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn started crafting the potion


    After three busy hours, inside theboratory, Lynn, fully focused, carefully dripped thest drop of pure silver liquid into the reagent vial. As the silver liquid merged with the milky solvent, it disappeared without a trace.


    After about a minute, tiny specks of silver light appeared on the surface of the milky solvent, as if it had donned a silver robe. It lingered for nearly 10 seconds before dissipating.


    Ten seconds well, that should be considered satisfactory, Lynn murmured to himself.


    The most crucial step in creating the Meditation eleration Mutation potion was the final one.


    This step allowed for the most straightforward assessment of the potions qualitythe Silver sh.


    The image of the potion wearing a bright, sparkling silver robe was precisely the Silver sh.


    It was considered eptable if itsted more than 8 seconds, and reaching 20 seconds was considered perfect.


    However, the fact that Lynn could seed in creating this new potion on the first attempt made him somewhat proud.


    Afterward, he cleaned up theboratory andpleted his daily task.


    After resting for a few hours and adjusting his state, Lynn took out the crafted potion.


    Leaning in for a sniff, Lynn discovered that the potion had a somewhat rubbery smell. <em>Why did it have to smell so unpleasant</em>


    Lynn hesitated for a moment but quickly became determined. He knew exactly what materials he had added to the potion he made himself. Even if there were issues, it wouldnt be lethal to him.


    He drank it all in one gulp.


    Lynn felt as if his entire being had ascended, his thoughts continuously diverging, and his body floating lightly


    As the meditation time concluded, Lynn opened his eyes, and a sense of astonishment flickered within them.


    Just yesterday, he had only managed to meditate and add a new earth ring to his mental sea. Yet, today, he had added another one. Normally, there should be a buffer period between each addition, but the potions effect had bypassed this buffer period entirely.

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    This time, when you arrive on the Wizard Continent, remember to contact your fourth great grandfather<sup>1</sup>. He went to the Wizard Continent long before you, and there have been asional updates over the years. It is said that your fourth great grandfather has be a legendary wizard. Listen to him carefully, and strive to be an esteemed wizard yourself.


    Several luxurious carriages stopped in front of the mansion, and a dignified and elegant man instructed his son.


    Seated across from him was a young man with refined attire and fair features. The blond-haired young man nodded to indicate his understanding.


    As the young man descended from the carriage, several simrly dressed youths of the same age apanied him.


    Judging by their appearance, they belonged to the same family. Once the carriage departed, these well-dressed youths, who didnt seem like ordinary people, couldnt contain their excitement and began discussing their aspirations for the Wizard Continent.


    Tomorrow, well directly visit the local noble, the leading blond-haired youth said.


    Hans, this Bangor Port is just a viscountdo we really need to go? I dont understand. We are marquises. Marquis family members dont visit viscounts, one of the youths expressed his confusion.


    Hans shook his head, Even if its just a viscount, we cannot break the rules.


    In the evening, the steward drove the carriage, taking Hans alone to the pharmacy to visit Roger.


    The wizard who is connected to the family lives here? Hans asked, looking at the dungeon in front of him.


    Yes, the steward replied respectfully. It was his responsibility to maintain contact between Roger and the family.


    Hans nodded, preparing to recruit thismoner wizard.


    Hans wore a somewhat arrogant expression. He believed that, after hearing about his background, this lucky peasant would undoubtedly be eager toe and kiss his boots.


    Their House of Golden Wind had many members with wizard talents throughout generations. Many were sent to the ship bound for the Wizard Continent. Although they heard that the Wizard Continent was harsh, their family had numerous members, and a few fortunate ancestors were sure to stand out.


    In recent years, these noble wizards had also developed some experience among themselves. They heard aboutpetition on the ship to the Wizard Continent and possible encounters with various unexpected challenges andpetitions along the route.


    At such times, if some wizards could form alliances, their survival rates would be higher. Additionally, there was said to be a crucial selection on an indter, and having cannon fodder at a critical moment could help them achieve better rankings.


    Hans gaze flickered, and his eyes burned as he stared at the dungeon.


    He recalled the techniques his father had taught him. What kind ofnguage should he use to deceive these ignorantmoner wizards?


    As therge door opened, Hans and the steward entered the basement. Finally, when they reached the end of the path and saw the open door, the steward sensed something amiss. In the dungeon, they discovered the lifeless body of the stitched monster and the scattered bones.


    Dead, the steward said with a solemn expression.


    Hans was perplexedthe follower prepared by his family was already gone without his permission?


    How dare this damned peasant die without my permission, Hans cursed.


    ***


    As spring arrived in Bangor Port, this somewhat chilly port city seemed to warm up in an instant.


    People on the streets were no longer seen wearing heavy coats or cotton clothes.


    As the date of the fleets arrival approached, many nobles suddenly appeared in Bangor Port. These high-spending nobles, apanied by numerous attendants, significantly boosted the citys consumption capacity.


    On thest day, the progress of the Earth Ring Meditation technique was about to reach one hundred percent.


    Standing in front of the mirror, Lynn seemed a bit absent-minded.


    This outfit looks good, and it fits you perfectly, Anikamented on Lynns clothes.


    During this period, Lynn had informed his family about his impending departure. As the farewell date approached, although his family didnt mention it, Lynn could sense the faintly suppressed atmosphere. To avoid intensifying this mncholy mood, Lynn stopped bringing up the topic.


    However, every few days, Anika would present Lynn with a newly sewn outfit. Some styles were even slightlyrger than his current size, as she believed Lynn would grow taller and would eventually fit into them.


    Before reaching level 20, each level-up only required 100 points of general experience. However, once Lynn reached level 20, the required experience points increased tenfold, causing his level progression to stagnate.


    Nevertheless, the improvement from the first 20 levels had significantly enhanced Lynns overall capabilities.


    Whether it was the talent for meditation or the augmentation of his physical fitness and mental strength attributes, the gains were substantial.


    In the past few months, Lynns most significant advancement had been in mutation studies.


    Since reaching level 2 in mutation studies a month ago, Lynns mind had been flooded with a vast amount of knowledge.


    The breadth of knowledge Lynn had acquired was extensive, epassing a vast array of mutation knowledge. Lynn was confident that he had established a very solid foundation for his understanding of mutation.


    However,cking a reference point forparison, Lynn couldnt determine the exact depth of his proficiency. What he was certain of, though, was that the life upation at level 2 was an entirely different entity from the level 1 life upation.


    Comparing the two felt akin to the difference between a graduate student and an elementary school student.


    Many issues Lynn had faced before reaching level 2 were swiftly ovee through his dedicated study after the breakthrough.


    Lynn


    Level: Level 20 (0/1000)


    Physical Fitness: 6.97


    Mental Strength: 17.7


    Mastery:


    Earth Ring Meditation (99%)


    Life upation:


    Level 2 Mutation Studies (7.5%) (0/100)


    Level 1 Bloodline Studies (18%) (0/10)


    Level 1 Alchemical Studies (43%) (0/10)


    Level 1 Undead Studies (55%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 1970


    From the inheritance, Lynn had mastered several zero-ring spellsDark Energy Ray, Organ Preservation, Light of Darkness, Bright Magic, Restoration, Switch, and Communication.


    Some of these spellscked substantial damage but had excellent utility.


    Over the past few months, Lynn had also practically absorbed all the knowledge from the books in the Alchemy Laboratory and the inheritance in the soul bead.


    In terms of knowledge, Lynn believed he was not inferior to many wizard apprentices. The spells he had mastered met the standard of a second-level wizard apprentice.


    In the evening, as Lynn immersed himself in meditation, something extraordinary urred. Suddenly, beyond the existing ny-nine earth rings in his mind, a new earth ring manifested. The entire chain glowed with a golden radiance, and intricate runes illuminated his mental space, resembling a gxy in subtle motion.


    Countless intricate nodes emanated light, ultimately converging into a spell framework shaped like a chain. Adorning it were hundreds of densely packed nodes, and Lynns mind received feedback on the details of this spell.


    One-ring spellEarth Ring.


    Spell Effect: Generates an Earth Ring to imprison the target, subjecting it to the influence of gravity while simultaneously sealing its magical power.


    This marked Lynns mastery of his first one-ring spell, and it seemed to be more than just a simple acquisition of the spell. Lynns gaze deepened as he raised his right hand, fingertips glowing with a golden light that shimmered brilliantly.


    Authors Note: A new map will be released soon, and my health was finally feeling better.<ol><li>TL/N:


    -Fourth great grandfather; from the original Chinese text, it was written as  ( ti yy de ti yy ), literally means great grandfather of a great grandfather. Also written as great-great-great-great-grandfather.


    -ording to Wiki, to avoid a proliferation of greats when discussing genealogical trees, one may also use ordinals instead of multiple greatsthus a great-great-grandfather would be the second great-grandfather, and a great-great-great-grandfather would be a third great-grandfather, and so on.


    -Also, ording to the photo below, the great grandfather of a great grandfather was in the 6th generation, with four greats, hence the fourth great grandfather. </li></ol>

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    The chain moved swiftly at Lynns fingertips, yet he didnt expend much mental energy because he hadnt infused an excessive amount into the spell framework to sustain it.


    If casting a spell using 1 unit of a constant standard mental energy produces a power of 1, Lynn had only consumed 0.1 units of the constant standard mental energy. The potency of the spell was merely less than a tenth of its potential.


    The spells power could be adjusted ording to the amount of mental energy Lynn chose to invest in it.


    Was it because he thoroughly mastered this spell through the step-by-step process of meditation? Could thisplete mastery be attributed to the meticulous control he had over this spell? Lynn pondered these questions, realizing that this might be the essence of the meditation technique.


    Since he meticulously constructed the spell framework through meditation, it seemed to function effortlessly when employed. Lynn thought that he might find answers from his teacher.


    Getting up, Lynn donned the wizard cloak. The gray wizard cloak felt remarkably smooth and warm, and its material was unknown to him. Constantly enchanted with a defensive spell, it provided a sense of security as Lynn walked through the streets.


    Its time to visit the teacher, Lynn decided.


    Afterward, he conducted a brief spellcasting experiment to determine the spells potency. A one-ring spell typically required up to 10 units of standard mental energy. With a magic staff, the mental energy consumption could be halved, requiring only 5 units to cast the spell.


    Through experimentation, Lynn gauged the effectiveness of the one-ring spell. When Lauren was subjected to the full force of the Earth Ring, he found himself immobilized, unable to move freely, and experiencing significant interference and restrictions.


    Arriving at the teachers residence, Lynn noticed the open gate in the courtyarda sign that his teacher was already aware of himing. Stepping inside, he pushed open the door to find teacher Angley seated on the sofa by the firece on the ground floor.


    Teacher, Lynn spoke up.


    Have youpleted the Earth Ring Meditation technique? Angley inquired, looking at Lynn.


    I have, Lynn replied respectfully.


    A bit slower than I anticipated, Angley remarked casually.


    Teacher, I have some questions Id like to consult you about, Lynn began.


    Go ahead, Angley said, closing the book in his hands.


    Ive sessfully meditated using the meditation technique you taught me, and Ive constructed the spell framework. However, Ive noticed that this spell is somewhat different from the ones I construct through regr meditation, Lynn hesitated.


    If you can discern the difference, youre already ahead of many, Angley nodded in appreciation.


    Long before ancient times, the meditation technique used by wizards differed from the current one, Angley exined.


    Please, go on, teacher.


    In the distant past, wizards employed meditation techniques that focused solely on enhancing mental strength, Angley said. However, many wizards found this to be a wasteful use of their time, as constructing a spell framework itself is a time-consuming process. Some wizards believed that most of a wizards time shouldnt be squandered on constructing spell frameworks. Consequently, a transformation urred, and modern meditation techniques have been refined. The improved techniques not only enhance mental strength but also construct the spell framework simultaneously after a sessful meditation.


    Lynn nodded in understanding.


    At first, some wizards considered this approach a waste of time, and there were concerns about the instability of the purified mental strength obtained through the new meditation technique, Angley continued. However, certain academies conducted experiments and discovered that, in the early stages of a wizards development, apprentices utilizing this new meditation technique could master several crucial spells more effectively than those using the old technique. Moreover, there was no subsequent impact on a wizards mental strength. Consequently, this new meditation technique gradually gained poprity.


    Lynn nodded, indicating his understanding.


    Furthermore, the proficiency of spells obtained through meditation far surpasses those constructed through spell frameworks, Angley added.


    Do you think mastering a spell is as simple as constructing the spell framework? Angley smiled.


    Isnt it? Lynn questioned, puzzled.


    Of course not, Angley began, Constructing the spell framework merely signifies that you have mastered the spell and can release it.


    In reality, even for the same spell, there can be significant differences when it is cast, Angley continued, raising a finger.


    As he spoke, a ball of bright light emanated from Angleys fingertip, illuminating the somewhat dim living room with its warm glow. The brightness of the light at Angleys fingertip seemed to adjust autonomously, transitioning from dim to bright and then back to dim.


    Being able to freely adjust the power of a spell is what constitutes a more proficient mastery of it. Sometimes, the effectiveness of a spell depends on the amount of mental energy expended rather than the spell itself, Angley exined.


    Youve already mastered the Earth Ring Meditation technique, and it seems your mental strength should have reached the standard of a second-level wizard apprentice, Angley remarked.


    Compared to noble wizard apprentices who have been exposed to meditation from an early age, youre not far behind. Your talent would be consideredmendable even on the Wizard Continent, Angley added.


    Theres only half a month left until the fleet arrives at the port. Prepare yourself during this time, and when the timees, board the ship directly.


    Lynn was momentarily puzzled. How did teacher Angley know the exact arrival time of the fleet? Moreover, wasnt it mentioned earlier that it would take five months? Now, theres still a month and a half until the agreed-upon time, yet teacher Angley stated that the fleet would arrive a month early.


    Now that youvepleted the Earth Ring Meditation technique, take this new meditation technique, Angley said, his ring shing.


    In the next instant, a new magic book appeared.


    Lynn took the magic book from Angleys hands and then saw Angley, who was sitting on the sofa, waving his hand in a gesture of dismissing people away.


    Leaving the room with the magic book, Lynn returned home. He took out the book, and the cover borerge charactersHellfire Meditation Technique.


    Upon flipping open the magic book, there werent many pages insidethe first page disyed a dynamic image.


    Lynn was intrigued, it was his first time seeing such a moving picture. On the image, a stone giant burning with emerald-green mes stood on a scorchednd.


    In the next moment, the image of the stone giant gradually distorted and transformed into aplex star map.


    The star map disyed countless stars interconnected, forming an incredibly intricate pattern.


    As Lynn observed the celestial tapestry, he couldnt help but wonder if this meditation technique represented a spell and, if so, what level of spell it might be.


    Staring at the myriad stars, Lynn felt a headacheing on after just a cursory nce. Attempting to delve into the subsequent content, he realized the magic book seemed fused together, making it impossible to turn the pages. Unless he resorted to using brute force to tear the pages apart, it appeared that he wouldnt be able to ess the content beyond.


    It seemed he wouldnt be able to glimpse theter content until he had started the meditation technique.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    Having acquired the new Hellfire Meditation, Lynn began to familiarize himself with it, only to discover that the difficulty of this meditation technique surpassed that of the Earth Ring Meditation by several levels.


    After almost half a month of grappling with it, he finally managed to grasp the basics. Lynn also came to understand the significance behind the Hellfire Meditation.


    As he turned the pages of the book, scrutinizing the contents, Lynns expression gradually became strange.


    Damn price! Lynn couldnt help but curse aloud.


    He had suspected that Angley, who always talked about price, didnt mention anything about the price this time. It turned out this pit was waiting for him here!


    My dear disciple, Lynn. By the time you read this, I assume you have already started the Hellfire Meditation. At this point, I have left Bangor Port, looking forward to the possibility of meeting again in the future.


    I used to be amoner wizard, but now I am affiliated with the Abyss Wizard Academy on the Wizard Continent. The Hellfire Meditation you are practicing is a general meditation technique of the Abyss Wizard Academy. You will receive additional points when assessed at the academy.


    The Abyss Wizard Academy was founded in the sixth Wizard Era and has a history spanning an entire wizard epoch. We have multiple branches in the multiverse, and our motto is Conquer, Invade, War. The academy has extensive coborations with the Abyss ne in various aspects, including joint invasion practical courses.


    I understand that questions may arise in your mind regarding whether you are suitable for our academy. However, I can assure you that I have seen some shining points in you that you might not have discovered yourself. Your essence harbors the soul of one aspiring for conquest.


    In the Abyss Wizard Academy, apart from seasoned old wizards, we also have amiable foreign instructors descending from the Abyss.


    The academy offers a total of four hundred and sixty-nine disciplines, including Alchemy, Bloodline, Undead, Abyss, and Warfare. If you cant find a discipline within this broad spectrum that suits your interests, the Abyss Wizard Academy is more than willing to assist you in creating one!


    Of course, Im not forcing you, but my dear student Lynn, you should know that if a non-academy student masters the meditation technique of the Abyss Wizard Academy, it will undoubtedly be a very bad thing. So whether you are willing to continue learning this meditation technique depends on your own choice.


    <em>I knew there was something fishy about suddenly getting a meditation technique. The difficulty of this meditation technique is not even in the same league as the previous Earth Ring Meditation!</em>


    It turned out that the previous Earth Ring Meditation was just a generic one, while this Hellfire Meditation belongs to a formal academy meditation technique.


    As a wizard apprentice without any background, Lynn had no other choice but to learn the Hellfire Meditation.


    Lynn remained calm, realizing he now had two options.


    One option was to continue learning the Hellfire Meditation and subsequently join the Abyss Wizard Academy. The other choice was to abandon the Hellfire Meditation, letting the acquired introductory knowledge dissipate from his mind.


    Did the Abyss Wizard Academy have dealings with demons? He licked his lips. Who hadnt heard of the notorious reputation of the Abyss?


    Countless talents resided within, and their eloquence was unparalleled. The Abyss was a grand stage, and if you had the courage, you should step onto it.


    Since Lynncked any significant background, joining any wizard academy made no difference to him. The academy was merely a tform, and a wizards essence was the pursuit of truth.


    Of course, all this hinged on the assumption that the Abyss Wizard Academy wasnt a pitfall. Lynn decided to gather more information before making any decisions.


    In the past few days, Lynn made some final purchases in Bangor Port. To be well-prepared, he had discreetly acquired various seasonings and longsting food items over the months.


    After all, nobody knew how long the journey would be on the ship. To ensure long-term readiness, Lynn even brought some soil into the Alchemy Laboratory and nted a few pots of sweet potatoes and potatoes.


    Lauren, Im preparing to leave, Lynn told Lauren.


    The moon hung bright in the sky as Lauren sat on the rooftop, slightly bewildered but nodding in understanding.


    How long will we go this time? Lauren inquired.


    We? Lynn paused, then looked deeply at Lauren. You can stay.


    This statement wasnt a mere probe. Over the course of these days, Lynn and Lauren had grown closer. Lynn was the only one who understood how Lauren had transformed, and Lauren was one of the few lizard-man who knew Lynn could wield magic.


    Are you not nning to take me with you? Lauren suddenly stood up, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.


    Lynn was taken aback and fell silent for a moment. Thats not what I meant.


    What am I supposed to do if I stay here? Am I going to walk the streets selling bread, with everyone treating me like a monster? Only you wont reject me, Lauren said.


    He understood that only the wizard who had transformed him would ept him.


    The ce Im going to is different from Bangor Port, Lynn said. It will be even more brutal there. We can maintain a transcendent status here, but not there. Well have to climb up from the bottom, and you might even risk your life.


    Then we climb up slowly. Its not like Ive never lived at the bottom before, Lauren said firmly.


    Lynn smiled. Alright, since you want to go, thene with me.


    By the way, Master, can I bring another person? Lauren asked.


    This isnt a game of house, Lynn refused without hesitation.


    I asked Bowa, and she said shes willing to undergo transformation, Lauren said, looking into Lynns eyes.


    Shes willing to undergo transformation? Lynn was surprised.


    In the context of this era, very few people would entertain such thoughts, and Bowas mindset could be considered quite forward-thinking. However, considering that this woman could ept Laurens current appearance, Lynn felt it wasnt entirely unthinkable.


    If it were just an ordinary person, they would undoubtedly be a burden. But if they were willing to undergo a wizards transformation


    For a wizard, there were many ways to make an ordinary person no longer ordinary. Even for Lynn at this moment, there were plenty of methods. Level 2 mutation studies gave Lynn more solutions to deal with this kind of issue.


    In that case, you can stay in the Alchemy Laboratory when the timees, Lynn said.


    In the next few days, Lynn went to the new port of Bangor Port every day, waiting anxiously. He was worried about missing the fleet, even though he didnt know what the captain or the ship looked like.


    But soon, Lynn realized he was overthinking.


    <em>Sometimes, when something is about to happen, you just know it.</em>


    At the far end of the sea, an unexpected thick fog suddenly enveloped the entire port.


    Heavy leaden clouds hung ominously overhead, and a howling gray mist, dense as a sandstorm, obscured the once-clear sky, transforming it into a gloomy overcast day in the blink of an eye.


    Is Lynn outside in this dreadful weather? Anika anxiously inquired, her attention drawn from the dining table towards Hamilton.


    Big brother has gone out again. He left early this morning, Borg reported in a low voice.


    Lynn had been uncharacteristically different these days. He, who typically confined himself to his room, had been departing frequently during the daytely. In the evenings, he made time to be with his family, engaging in conversations.


    Hamilton looked out of the window with a worried expressionthis man had already anticipated something.


    Anika, where are you going? Hamilton turned, noticing Anika already dressed in a coat and holding an umbre, preparing to leave.


    Turning back, Anikas eyes were filled with sadness. I want to find Lynn.


    Hamilton was silent, stood up, and took the umbre from Anika and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder. You two stay at home. Borg, keep an eye on your sister, Hamilton instructed, stopping Borg, who was ready to follow them.


    Borg, feeling somewhat aggrieved, had no say in the matter.


    Finally here. Lynn purchased an umbre from a newsboy, discreetly surveying his surroundings. Near the new port, dozens of scattered carriages were parked, and some tourists or travelers stood around the new port. The dockworkers continued their diligent work of loading and unloading cargo, undeterred by the adverse weather.


    In the distance, a ship over a hundred meters long sliced through the heavy mist, its icy and hard cyan serpent head prow seemingly alive, with two glowing green eyes emitting mes and sharp fangs facing forward.


    Despite its massive hull, the ship moved as agilely as a graceful bird, docking silently at the pier without making a sound.


    Numerous heads appeared along the side of the massive brown ship, and many curious gazes were cast down from the vessel, scrutinizing this newly arrived dock.


    A series of tiered gangnks descended from the deck, extending all the way to the shore of the pier.


    People in the carriages parked at the pier started moving, and many on the dock had the same intentionto board this ship.


    However, it was evident that boarding the ship wasnt as straightforward as it seemed.


    Lynn witnessed a person ahead of him, climbing the gangnk, suddenly scream and tumble down thedder, falling back onto the dock.


    As Lynn followed, stepping onto the long gangnk, various illusions appeared before his eyes, apanied by an array of noises echoing in his ears.<hr>


    Support this Trantion!


    Small donations, your kind support and generosity really helps a lot and keeps me motivated in bringing more content! Thank /eness

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    Lynn, wake up quickly. Youve been sick for several months. When are you going to wake up? His mothers voice echoed in his ears.


    Lynn, have you finished your work? Mr. Chen asked you to send him the reports.


    Get up and take the experiment. Who allowed you to sleep so early?


    Fear, does it stir the deepest corners of ones heart?


    Lynn halted, carefully listening to the fears lurking in the depths of his heart. What exactly were these fears?


    Worries about all of this being an illusion, fears that everything was merely a dreamwas this the thing he feared most in the depths of his heart?


    Lynn couldnt help but smile.


    As it turned out, deep down, he wasnt afraid of bing a wizard. His true fear was the possibility of not bing one.


    The fear of losing power, was that really his deepest fear?


    Lynn ced his right hand on his chest, feeling the faint heartbeat within. Ear-piercing noises created various illusions around him, even making Lynn feel a bit irritable. Lynn steadied his mind, dispelling the distracting noises that affected his inner peace.


    When he looked around again, the illusions had disappeared. Thick fog enveloped the surroundings, and the deck was only a dozen steps away.


    Lynn quickened his pace, steadying his resolve, and with determined steps, he boarded the deck.


    As Lynn stepped onto the deck, he noticed many eyes scrutinizing him. There were people of various ages on the deck, apanied by older attendants. Could you bring attendants to the Wizard Continent?


    Lynn lowered his umbre, standing in ce and looking back at those who boarded the ship behind him. His eyes flickered as some people looked at him with indifferent eyes, while others seemed to be hunting for prey among the neers. Those nces made Lynn ufortable, so he silently memorized the appearances of these people.


    He had promised his teacher to deal with everyone boarding the ship from this port, so he needed to remember everyones faces. Since it was about remembering faces, he might as well memorize a few extra.


    Lynn responded to those stares with cold, piercing eyes. The hostile nces around him diminished. Indeed, in an unfamiliar environment, youd only be respected if you asserted yourself.


    After waiting for about two hours, therge ship anchored at the port finally began to move. The sails billowed, and thedder on the dock retracted as the ship slowly departed from the port.


    As the ship sailed on the sea, there was little sensation of rockingwalking on the deck felt as stable as being onnd.


    Lynn sensed something and turned to look at the entrance on the other side of the new dock, where a carriage timed its entrance into the port.


    The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and two hurried figures emerged from it.


    Lynn stared for a long time, turning back only when the dock disappeared at the horizon, his left hand supporting the edge of the ships side.


    Farewell, Bangor Port.


    The ship entered the open sea, and the surrounding fog gradually dissipated. The distant sea horizon seemed endless.


    Neers, there are some rules you need to understand. After the ship sailed on the sea, some young men and youngdies who had gathered on the side of the ship approached.


    We are all going to the Wizard Continent, and we might be ssmates in the future, so dont break the rules. Someone spoke up.


    Hmph, were all students, what rules are there? What, do people from other kingdoms still want to stand on the head of our Erdolu Kingdom? The leader, a young man dressed in a luxurious purple-gold robe, said.


    Nobles who boarded the ship from Erdolu Bangor Port recognized this young man, and many stood behind him.


    Really rude and barbaric little ce. Someone chuckled softly.


    Intermittentughter came from the side.


    This is not a set of rules we establishedits rules personallyid down by Lord Harin, for you folks from small ces.


    Onboard, there are only three rules. First, do not harm the crew. Second, do not randomly kill people. Third, choose your own bed. If Lord Harin is in a good mood, he mighte and find you.


    After saying this, the speaker ceased talking, turning instead to discuss in hushed tones with the friends around. Just by looking at their expressions, there was a sense of amusement, as if watching a joke.


    Harin?


    Hearing that name, Lynn felt like he had heard it somewhere before.


    Suddenly, Lynn finally recalled where he had heard this name.


    In the notebook left by his teacher, Angley, there was mention of someone named Harin. If even his teacher had be a wizard, it shouldnt be too surprising that his old friend had also be an official wizard. The only question remained whether it was a coincidence or if they were the same person.


    Retrieving his thoughts, Lynn entered the cabin, seeking a ce to rest and settle. With the uncertain duration of the voyage, finding a suitable room was a priority.


    From his pocket, Lynn pulled out a wooden stick<sup>1</sup> and cast a Bright Magic spell on its tip. The brightened tip illuminated the scene inside the cabin.


    The surroundings werent damphowever, all the doors on the first floor were closed. Red carpets adorned the floor, and various patterns were painted with oil paint on the surrounding walls.


    Lynn walked to the end, then stepped on thedder and descended to the second floor of the cabin. The air on the second floor was slightly more humid, and the floor and walls were made of wooden nks without any patterns. Every few meters, there was a frame with a single portrait hanging inside. All the doors to the rooms on the second floor were closed.


    <em>Creak</em>


    Suddenly, a door on the side of the second floor swung open. In the light, Lynn noticed a pale-faced, seemingly teenage girl with blonde hairing out from behind the door. The girl eyed Lynn warily, hesitated for a moment, and then followed him.


    Next was the third floor, surprisingly revealed as a dining hall. This space was considerablyrger, with many vacant seats visible. Moreover, the ceiling of this third floor was higher than thebined height of the two floors above.


    The footsteps trailing behind Lynn separated upon entering the third floor, finding an empty seat nearby.


    She knocked on the table, and Lynn sensed a faint energy fluctuation.


    Hey there, dear youngdy, what would you like to eat? came a voice from nearby.


    Lynn turned around and noticed that in front of the girl, on the table, a palm-sized miniature man, had appeared at some point.


    Lynns gaze flickered slightly. Since this floor was mostly empty, he found an avable seat and sat down. He then knocked on the table.


    Energy fluctuations emanated from the tabletop, apanied by a fleeting blue glow. A palm-sized miniature man appeared on the table.


    With humanoid features, dressed in woven clothes and a hat, looking quite delicate. Lynns knowledgepared the creature to the information stored in his mind, identifying it as a Bahov Elf.


    A naturally spell-proficient elf that twinkles, the Bahov Elves enjoyed cooking food and possessed their own civilization and heritage.


    Dear sir, may I ask what youd like to eat? the summoned Bahov Elf asked.


    Id like to know more about the rules on this ship, Lynn said.


    Oh, didnt anyone inform you? The Bahov Elfs expression suddenly fell. Im just a Bahov who loves cooking. Okay, okay, dont point your magic staff at me. Its not some secret, Ill tell you.


    After listening to the Bahov Elfs exnation, Lynn gradually gained an understanding of the rules on this ship.


    Generally, the rules on this ship could be divided into two categories.


    The first type was the basic rulesstrictly no damaging or destroying the ship, no harming the ships crew, and no interfering with the ships navigation in any way.


    ording to the Bahov Elf, who imed to have been on this ship for nearly a century, he had seen many batches of students.


    The second type of rules depended on the official wizard apanying the ship. These rules were entirely based on the wizards mood.


    For instance, some wizards disliked noisy sounds, so everyone on the ship had to adhere to a certain decibel level. Those who exceeded the standard would be thrown into the sea to feed the fish.


    Some wizards were obsessed with cleanliness, while others had peculiar fetishes. Every time the ship docked at a port, they would go ashore to buy some ves.


    This time, the official wizard named Lord Harin had essentially stayed in his room since boarding, rarelying out. He strictly prohibited others from disturbing him. ording to the Bahov Elf, this voyage was considered rtively rxed.


    Simr to his teacher Angley, were they both shut-ins?


    Lynn secretly thought in his heart.<ol><li>TL/N: In the raw chapter, it was literally written as  mgn: wooden stick, as opposed to before in the previous chapters  fzhng: magic staff. </li></ol>

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    ording to the Bahov Elf, apprentices on the ship needed to fight for sleeping positions in the cabins.


    The only fortunate aspect was that food and water on the ship were free. At any time of the day, apprentices coulde to the kitchen and summon the Bahov Elf by knocking on the table to ce orders.


    Besides the Bahov Elf, there were also ghost sailors and talking picture frames in the corridors among the ships staff.


    How long does a typical journey take to reach its destination? Lynn asked the Bahov Elf.


    It takes about two years. Every time Ie out, the flowers I nt bear fruit twice. So, one year results in one harvest, making it a total of two years, the Bahov Elf scratched his head. Do you want something to eat?


    What do you have to eat here? Lynn asked.


    Most kinds of food are avable. But if you have a hankering for hometown cuisine, you can tell me how to make them. I love trying new foods, the Bahov Elf on the table said.


    Hometown cuisine.


    After thinking for a while, Lynn said, Then, lets have some grilled meat.


    Sure, sir. How much would you like? Our food cant be taken out of the restaurant, and wasting food is not allowed. If you waste food, the next time youe to the restaurant, we will heat up the leftovers for you until you finish them. However, reheated food usually doesnt taste as delicious, the Bahov Elf exined.


    300g will be enough, Lynn said.


    All right, sir. The Bahov Elf disappeared in a blink of an eye.


    After the Bahov Elf left, Lynn sat at his seat, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.


    Two years.


    If the ship was traveling from the starting point, including the round trip time, it meant a one-way journey would take only a year.


    It was unclear whether it was a return journey or a new departure, and Lynn wasnt sure how much time was left. If there were still two years left, the time ahead seemed quite lengthy.


    Those noble wizard apprentices who set out from Bangor Port might know how much time it would take to reach their destination.


    <em>Bang</em>


    A blue light shed before his eyes, and the Bahov Elf appeared on the dining table holding a dinner te that was many timesrger than himself.


    A te of fragrant grilled meat appeared on the dining table. Sir, please enjoy your meal.


    The Bahov Elf lifted his bean-sized chef hat, bowed to Lynn, and then disappeared in a sh.


    Lynn tasted the food and understood why the wizards notes praised the Bahov Elf as a natural-born chef. The taste was indeed excellent, and the food was exceptionally delicious.


    Descending to the fourth floor, Lynn finally found a vacant room with a key inserted into the door lock. He chose an avable room, noticing four empty beds inside.


    There was a faint musty smell in the air, suggesting that not many people usually stayed here. Lynn pulled the key, entered the room, and settled in.


    At night, the corridor outside echoed with noisy sounds, including some arguments. Soon, there was a knock on the door.


    Lynn opened his eyes, nced at the door being knocked, then closed his eyes, choosing to ignore it. However, the knocking didnt cease.


    After a while, Lynn got up, took his magic staff, and opened the door.


    After all that knocking, what took you so long to open the door?


    Outside the door, several individuals were standing. Observing that it took Lynn quite a while to answer the knock, the tall man behind the leading youth expressed his dissatisfaction.


    I am Anousheh Pratt, dered the young wizard at the forefront, apanied by several other youthful wizards outside the door.


    The leading wizard was familiar to Lynn, the one who wore a purple and gold robe on the deck earlier. Lynn knew his name well.


    Pratt was the name of the royal family of Erdolu Kingdom. The young man in front of Lynn should be a member of the Erdolu Kingdom royal family.


    The top two floors should have already been upied by those wizards who boarded first. Those living on this floor should be the ones who boarded from Bangor Port. Away from home, we alle from the same ce, and unity is essential, Anousheh said. Many of our royal ancestors joined the Wizard Academy, and some ancestors have be official wizards. You may not know this, but in the Wizard Academy, it is very challenging for ordinary wizard apprentices to be official wizards.


    Wizard apprentices who want to be official wizards need to acquire a vast amount of knowledge. Learning spells and conducting experiments require a considerable fortune. Among wizards, ordinary gold and silver are useless. Wizard transactions are done with magic stones. Ive established Erdolu Wizard Apprentices Mutual Aid Alliance. If youre interested, you cane and listen. Moreover, in the Erdolu Wizard Apprentices Mutual Aid Alliance, you can engage in knowledge or material transactions. The location is in room 108 on the first floor.


    After finishing his speech, Anousheh politely closed Lynns door and prepared to leave.


    I would like to inquire about how much longer we will be on this ship, Lynn asked.


    Turning halfway, Anousheh paused and turned back, smiling, It will probably take about half a year more.


    Lynn watched Anoushehs retreating figure and closed the door.


    In contemtion, Lynn considered the six-month timeframe. If he devoted himself to meditation, achieving the standard of a third-level wizard apprentice in terms of mental strength during this period should not be difficult. He had already amassed a sufficient quantity of spellsten zero-ring spells and one one-ring spell.


    However, the shortage of experimental materials was a hindrance. He could only conduct about twenty experiments before exhausting his supplies. Without materials, experiments would be impossible, and progress in his daily tasks would stall, hindering the umtion of experience.


    Nevertheless, there was still a way. If he couldnt perform experiments in mutation studies, that didnt mean he couldnt in undead studies. Undead studies only required corpses as the primary material, and Lynns eyes turned dark.


    Over the next few days, Lynn spent his time mostly in meditation, with brief intervals for meals. He also took a moment to check out the Mutual Aid Alliance that Anousheh mentioned, but after a single visit, he never returned.


    The so-called Mutual Aid Alliance turned out to be filled with empty promises and deceit. Fellow wizard apprentices bombarded Lynn with various tteries, asking him to reveal his wizard inheritance or conduct experiments on their behalf. Some even hoped he would be their follower.


    Their rewards were promises of Lynn being allowed to follow their family ancestors upon reaching the Wizard Continent, gaining ess to more knowledge.


    For an ordinarymoner wizard who acquired wizard inheritance by sheer luck, these offers might be believable. However, with memories spanning two lifetimes, Lynn found these enticements rather naive.


    <em>Boom</em>


    On the dark sea, a vessel, light and seemingly ethereal like a ghost ship, sliced through the waves, swiftly moving on the surface. Suddenly, the ship violently shook, as if colliding with something. Waves surged around it, and the ships speed plummeted.


    Two wizard apprentices sitting on the deck observed bright lights floating on the dark sea. Unexpectedly, a water wave shot up from the sea. In the next moment, one wizard apprentice sitting on the deck was pierced through the chest. Witnessing the scene, hispanion couldnt help but let out a terrified scream, shattering the quiet atmosphere on the ship.


    Meanwhile, in the Alchemy Laboratory, a soft light illuminated the room. Lynn, who was conducting experiments at the table, put down the reagent in his hand. Standing beside the statue of the Sea God, sealed by Angley, the surface of the statue began to producerge blue bubbles.


    A faint salty scent emanated from the Sea God statues position.<hr>


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    Small donations, your kind support and generosity really helps a lot and keeps me motivated in bringing more content! Thank /eness

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    Lynn noticed the anomaly with the statue but refrained from touching it recklessly.


    Instead, he maintained a safe distance and simultaneously stowed away valuable items from theboratory into his spatial ring.


    The statue emitted a low murmuring sound, causing Lynn to squint and furrow his brows.


    In the next moment, the statue produced a piercing, sharp sound.


    Lynn covered his ears, quickly exerting thest bit of strength to store the statue in the spatial ring. Only after the statue disappeared from sight did Lynn breathe a sigh of relief.


    If it werent for the spatial ring, he might have met his demise.


    Externally, numerous whirlpools appeared on the sea surface, affecting the ships speed significantly.


    This is a wizards ship! How dare you obstruct a wizards ship! You damned foolish sirens, do you want to experience another massacre? On the ship, a transparent, blue-glowing Captain Ghost stood on the deck, angrily shouting at the sea.


    With his voice, a greenntern lit up on the ships mast, illuminating the surrounding sea.


    The wizard apprentices who had been drawn to themotion on the deck observed the scene clearly.


    On the dark and profound sea, numerous humanoid creatures floated on the surface.


    These humanoid creatures possessed fish-like gills on their heads, their eyes reflecting a bright glow in themplight. Their upper bodies were bare, covered in tough scales. With hair resembling seaweed, these humanoid beings bore a striking resemnce to humans in terms of facial features, except for the fish-like gills and humanoid scales. Their other features, including the five senses, closely resembled those of humans.


    Some of them held long tridents in their hands, while others wielded curved des. In the distant sea, there were even some humanoid creatures mounted on sea beasts, akin to knights of the sea, circling the ship in groups.


    At this moment, these humanoid creatures surrounded the ship, hesitating to attack yet unwilling to disperse.


    These are sirens, intelligent beings that live in the sea, remarked a knowledgeable wizard apprentice.


    Why are they intercepting our ship? Have these sirens gone mad? eximed a frightened wizard apprentice.


    On the nearby decky the lifeless body of a wizard apprentice.


    The young wizard apprentice hailed from a distant kingdom, his chestnut curls now drenched and lifeless, framing a face with delicate features. However, the liveliness had drained away, leaving behind a gaping hole in his chest.


    Pierced by some sharp object, there was no visible weapon, only his clothes soaked by the relentless sea.


    Nureth is dead. These cursed sirens killed Nureth, one apprentice eximed with shock and anger.


    These sirens dared to attack wizards. They must be out of their minds. I heard that wizards once massacred and captured these sirens. They only dared to hide in the ocean trenches. Now, they dare toe out and attack wizards.


    They need to be taught a lesson.


    Go inform Lord Harin. If an apprentice dies, Lord Harin will surely punish these sirens.


    The apprentices engaged in heated discussions, voices echoing on the deck.


    Quiet,manded the Captain Ghost on the deck.


    From the very first moment of the incident, he had sent ghost sailors to notify the apanying Lord Wizard. However, for some unknown reason, Lord Harin had yet to make an appearance.


    Cough, cough, cough. A faint cough emanated from the direction of the ships cabin.


    How did someone die? a gloomy voice from behind inquired. Someone whispered that Lord Harin had arrived, and the cacophony on the deck instantly ceased.


    A middle-aged wizard, withvender hair, thick beard, a hawkish nose, and slender eyebrows, emerged from the cabin nonchntly.


    Walking at a measured pace, he reached the deceased apprentices body on the deck. The ice melted into water, pierced through the heart by an ice crystal spear. Impressive uracy. This was the work of a skilled marksman, Harin observed the sea with a detached tone.


    No ones answering? Harins lips curled, but the smile bore an icy coldness.


    Daring to attack the enrollment ship of the Wizard Academy but not daring to show yourselves? It seems the Siren n in the ck Turbid Sea needs to experience a massacre, he added.


    I was the one who did it, esteemed wizard. The sirens scattered across the water, as a leading female sirenmounted on a sea beastemerged from the ranks.


    We didnt know in advance that this was a ship recruiting students for the Wizard Academy. We sincerely apologize, Lord Wizard. We are willing to offerpensation, said the alluring and well-proportioned female siren.


    The treasures worshipped within our n have been stolen, and the thief used illusions to escape in this direction. We thought the thief was on this ship, the female siren humbly exined.


    The female siren felt helpless. Had she known this was a ship recruiting students for the Wizard Academy, she would never have attacked it. The vast expanse of the ocean stretched endlessly, and for them sirens, as sea beings, there were almost no powers within the sea that they could not afford to offendexcept for wizards.


    She never expected to collide directly with a ship recruiting students for the Wizard Academy. Such luck was truly unfortunate.


    Harin remained expressionless, aware that these sirens had be increasingly arrogant in recent years, taking advantage of their ability to live in water and their intelligence. Many sirensmunities had been taken in by wizards as affiliated ns.


    Because they became affiliated with wizards, their status rose significantly, and over time, these sirens became more audacious.


    However, this was a ship transporting new students for the Wizard Academy, not just anyone.


    Take a hundred corpses and leave them heremy experimentcks a bit of materials, Harin said indifferently.


    Upon hearing Harins request, the sirens erupted in chaos.


    On the sea, waves rolled, and sea beasts lurking beneath the surface exposed their backs, patrolling in groups.


    A multitude of sirens appeared densely around the surrounding sea. In the distance, the sirens sparkling eyes resembled the stars in the night sky, creating an illusion of being surrounded by a legion of sirens.


    At this moment, the wizard apprentices even had the illusion of being surrounded by a legion in the sea.


    The atmosphere became tense, and the wizard apprentices on the deck nervously watched the scene unfold.


    This was the open seaif the ship sank, they would be likembs to the ughter.


    Very well, Lord, the leading female siren promptly agreed to the request without hesitation.


    The female siren leader raised her right hand, and in the next moment, arge number of robust sirens personally took action.


    Within an instant, hundreds of sirens were ughtered, and the sea surface was stained with blue blood. Soon, strong siren warriors brought the corpses onto the deck.


    Following that, the female siren leader, apanied by numerous sirens, retreated into the sea.


    The sirens, densely scattered across the vast expanse of the surrounding sea, vanished beneath the waves, sinking into the depths where one could no longer discern their multitude.


    The vortex that had ensnared the ship silently dissipated, allowing the vessel to continue its course forward.


    With a subtle silver glow emanating from his right hand, Harin extended his arm, causing all the siren corpses on the deck to disappear in the next moment.


    Leader, why should we yield even if there are wizards on that ship? This is our home turf, and we have so many warriors around. Even if there are real wizards


    In the depths of the sea, a robust siren warrior questioned with iprehension.


    The female siren leader cast a deep gaze upon him. How does our Siren npare to its peak power?


    Not even close, the siren warrior shook his head.


    During their peak, the Siren n had established a formidable empire on the ocean floor, boasting advanced professions, taming numerous deep-sea behemoths, and possessing multiple elite legions.


    However, the Siren n in the ck Turbid Sea now was a far cry from their peak.


    Having just one apprentice die who hadnt even joined the academy allows room for reconciliation. But if we dare to attack a ship recruiting academy students, the price will be our ns corpses scattered across the field, the female siren leader stated.


    Even though she knew the escapee likely had taken refuge on the ship, it was evident that the wizard was prepared to shield that person. She had no choice unless she desired to plunge the Siren n into a full-fledged war with the wizards.

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    Emerging from his room, Lynn learned about the significant events of the previous night while having a meal in the dining hall. The Alchemy Laboratorys soundproofing was indeed formidable, leaving Lynn somewhat regretful for missing out on so many experimental materialsst night.


    If only he had been present, Lynn mused, he could have killed a couple of sirens as materials. What a missed opportunity.


    Lynn felt a bit greedy. Was it merely the gills on their faces that allowed them to thrive underwater, or were there other factors at y?


    Suddenly, an announcement echoed through the ship, carried by a hovering Bahov Elf with a trumpet-like device. Lord Harin is seeking an assistant for hisboratory. Those interested can register with Captain Ghost. Requirements include a background in mutation studies, boldness, and meticulousness in keeping theboratory tidy. Registration is open only for today.


    Excitement buzzed among the wizard apprentices dining in the hall. Lynn overheard their conversations.


    I knew something good would happen during this voyage.


    Its just strangewere almost at our destination, and now Lord Harin decides to recruit an assistant.


    Perhaps it has to do with the numerous corpses Lord Harin obtained yesterday.


    With so many siren corpses, who knows how many experiments can be conducted.


    Bing an official wizards assistant was a coveted dream for many wizard apprentices, and a swarm of them rushed towards Captain Ghost to register.


    Lynn, keeping his head low, calmly finished his meal before getting up. The registration deadline was today, and whether he registered now or a bitter made little difference. Besides, with the multitude of people registering, queues would form, and patience was required.


    Arriving at the captains quarters, Lynn intended to find Captain Ghost, only to discover a gathering of people outside the cabin. The narrow corridor leading to the captains quarters was packed with a dense crowd, making it nearly impassable.


    After waiting for a while, Lynn noticed that the people ahead werent moving. Peering ahead, Lynn observed several individuals blocking the entrance to the captains quarters, showing no intention of entering.


    Merely standing at the entrance, blocking the way.


    Lynn quickly understood the intention of these peopleby obstructing the registration area, no one else could sign up. If no one registered, then only those few individuals would bepeting for the position.


    Lynn had no intention of giving way. Since it was a fairpetition, he was determined to vie for the spot.


    Participating in the experiments of an official wizard daily meant getting a chance to tidy up theboratory! With so much time spent on the ship, Lynn couldnt afford to waste it.


    Give way. Lynn said, moving toward the captains quarters.


    People on either side squeezed in the corridor, but Lynn extended his hands and pushed those blocking the way.


    The people along the path felt a tremendous force pushing them, directly against the edges of the corridor.


    Someone, observing Lynns physique, couldnt help but curse in a low voice, Is this guy a half-orc? His strength is incredible.


    So rude, no trace of noble etiquette at all.


    This guy doesnt seem to be a noble. ording to those who boarded at Bangor Port, he seems to be just amoner.


    Amoner?


    Hey, kid, are you sure you want to participate? Think it over before making a decision, this isnt something someone of your status should be involved in, a wizard apprentice sneered from behind.


    Lynn turned around, looking puzzled. Isnt Lord Wizard Harin recruiting people? He didnt specify any restrictions. Why cant I go in?


    Hahaha, none of us dares to sign up. Whats your identity? Just amoner wizard wanting to eat swan meat. How audacious, someone scoffed with disdain.


    Ignoring thements, Lynn turned and entered Captain Ghosts room.


    Seeing Lynn act so arrogantly, a wizard apprentice took out his magic staff from his robe and aimed it at Lynn.


    However, Lynns movements were faster than the apprentices incantation. He swiftly grabbed the magic staff and delivered an elbow strike to the apprentices nose.


    Ouch.


    The guy holding the magic staff heard a crisp sound from his nose, and blood gushed out, prompting him to crouch down, covering his nose.


    Lynn looked at the magic staff in his hand and casually stowed it in his pocket.


    Dont point magic staff at me, Lynn said coldly. If it werent for ship rules prohibiting murder on board, with just this small movement, Lynn could have easily broken the guys neck.


    Lynns gaze was indifferent, his spellcasting was swift within three steps, and his punches urate and quick within three steps.


    His overall physical fitness, six times that of an average person, made it easy for him to break a wizard apprentices neck within three steps, even without formalbat training.


    These wizard apprentices hadnt expected Lynn to actually dare to act alone against so many of them. They were momentarily stunned, hesitating to make a move.


    Looking at each other in disbelief, they watched Lynn enter Captain Ghosts room.


    The captains room wasnt spacious, with an oil painting portrait hanging on the wall.


    Captain Ghost sat by the window, gazing out at the ocean, looking somewhat lonely.


    Lynn spoke up, Im here to register.


    This is a test from Lord Harin, Captain Ghost said, taking out a parchment scroll from the drawer and cing it on the table, next to a pen with a feather attached.


    Lynn spread out the parchment scroll on the table. Illuminated by the oilmp on the table, he scanned the contents of the parchment scroll.


    The difficulty of the questions was even simpler than Lynn had anticipated. He quickly answered all the questions on the parchment.


    Captain Ghost remarked, Youre quite fast in answering.


    Then, holding the answers, Captain Ghost stood up and disappeared on the spot.


    Ill go inform Lord Wizard Harin for you.


    His form transformed into a ghost, passing through the wall.


    In no time, Captain Ghost returned to the room from the wall.


    Lord Harin said you passed the assessment. Tomorrow morning, go to room 101 to find Lord Harin, Captain Ghost said.


    Lynn thanked Captain Ghost and felt no great surprise. The content on the parchment wasnt difficult.


    Exiting the room, Lynn noticed many wizard apprentices outside.


    Who allowed you to answer the questions just now? You better pray you didnt passotherwise, your days on this ship will be difficult, a wizard apprentice blocked Lynns way.


    Lynn thought these noble wizard apprentices might have something wrong with their brains. Perhaps growing up in a life of ttery and sycophancy had cultivated this arrogant attitude in them. If all wizard apprentices were like this, Lynn seriously questioned how these wizards managed to defeat gods.


    If youre not convinced, go talk to Lord Wizard Harin yourself, Lynn said, toozy to argue with these fools.


    Having said that, Lynn pushed through the crowd, leaving the corridor and returning to his room.


    Back in the room, Lynn contemted the questions from earlier.


    Whether it was his illusion or not, he felt a sense of familiarity with the questions Wizard Harin presented, as if he had seen them somewhere.


    After pondering for a moment, Lynn took out a notebook from his ring. Looking at the contents, he suddenly knew why it felt familiar.


    Many of the topics used for assessment on the parchment were mentioned in the notebook.


    No wonder he found the content of the parchment so simple and strangely familiar.


    This made Lynn more suspicious of Wizard Harins identity. He was increasingly convinced that this Wizard Harin was acquainted with his teacher, Angley.


    Before, his teacher could know the specific arrival time of this ship at Bangor Port, perhaps rted to this Wizard Harin.


    However, since his teacher hadnt mentioned it, Lynn wouldnt rashly establish a connection with this Wizard Harin. If he mistakenly got involved with the wrong person, it could be troublesome.


    The next day, Lynn went directly to Wizard Harins room.


    Outside Wizard Harins door, Lynn saw several figures standing there.


    As Lynn approached, the gazes of these individuals fell upon him.


    It seems youve secured the position of Lord Harins assistant this time, the red-haired wizard on the far left remarked to Lynn. His face bore a somewhat gloomy smile, but he extended his right hand, saying, Im Bhim Buxton. You can call me Bhim. It looks like you have a rich understanding of mutation studies. I hope we can exchange knowledge sometime.


    Not one to refuse an outstretched hand and a friendly face, Lynn shook hands with Bhim in response.


    Apart from Bhim, there were several other wizards nearby. Lynn also spotted Anousheh among them.


    Being able to stand together with Anousheh, seemingly on equal status, Lynn could roughly guess the identities of these people.


    Initially expecting trouble, Lynn soon realized that these people had merelye to introduce themselves. It seemed they were here just to see who had secured the position of Wizard Harins assistant.


    It seems our Erdolu Kingdom is about to produce a formidable wizard. We might have a chance to coborate, Anousheh said to Lynn.


    Sure, Im open to coboration if the opportunity arises, Lynn replied, thinking about something and nodding in agreement to Anousheh with a smile.


    Afterward, Lynn knocked on the door and, upon receiving permission, entered Wizard Harins room.


    This room seemed to have undergone some kind of spatial magic, as the space inside was several timesrger than Lynns own room.


    In this expansive room, a brilliant array drawn with blue blood adorned the nk floor.


    The lifeless bodies of sirens were arranged in various poses on the ground, forming a door<sup>1</sup>.<ol><li>TL/N: The corpses were arranged in the Chinese character (  mn = door ). </li></ol><hr>


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 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    Have you ever heard of sacrificial rituals? The man with his back turned to Lynn was undoubtedly Wizard Harin.


    This marked Lynns first encounter with Wizard Harin.


    With a head ofvender curls, dressed in an exquisite robe, and features tinged with a hint of gloomhooked nose, thin lips.


    Ive heard of it, Lynn replied.


    In colloquial terms, sacrificial rituals involve specific magic ceremonies where offerings are made to powerful entities in exchange for feedback. In some worlds, sacrifice is also referred to as offerings or tributes.


    Entities epting sacrifices are typically formidable beings, with asional exceptions.


    The items sacrificed are generally those favored by the revered life, including but not limited to life itself, souls, flesh and blood, and faith.


    Sacrifices are usually categorized into random sacrifices and specific sacrifices.


    Random sacrifices involve offering to any unit from multiple dimensions. The entities epting these sacrifices are either powerful beings or races endowed with unique talents. This type of sacrifice carries a significant probability of failure, yet paradoxically, many wizards are enthusiastic about employing random sacrifices as a method of fishing.


    On the other hand, specific sacrifices typically target a designated entity. Such sacrifices, as long as the precise ritual is followed, generally do not fail due to the predetermined target. However, specific sacrifices have stringent requirements for sacrificial materials. If the sacrificial offering can satisfy the entity being sacrificed to, its good, but if not, its a disaster.


    Lynn shared his knowledge about sacrifices with Harin.


    Hmm, a very textbook answer, remarked Wizard Harin with a somewhat soft voice, resembling a piece of plush silk.


    This is a sacrificial ritual, and the target is a demon, Wizard Harin waved to Lynn.


    Approaching, Lynn stood behind Wizard Harin.


    Sirens, in fact, have little value as experimental materials. Many experiments rted to sirens have been conducted. Sirens are intelligent beings created by the Sea God, and these intelligences created by gods are naturally favored by demons, exined Wizard Harin.


    You practice the Hellfire Meditation technique? Harin asked Lynn.


    Yes, Lynn admitted.


    He wasnt sure where he had given himself away, perhaps practicing the Hellfire Meditation made him give off some kind of special attraction.


    Lynn secretly thought in his heart.


    Wizard Harin smiled, though the smile on his face seemed a bit scary to Lynn.


    Then we should be in the same academy. I am currently a teacher at the Abyss Wizard Academy, Wizard Harin said meaningfully.


    Wizard Harin was also a wizard from the Abyss Wizard Academy?


    Lynns heart was initially startled, but then he considered that Angley was also a wizard from the Abyss Wizard Academy. Considering the possibility that the two might know each other, it didnt seem impossible.


    Wizard Harin briefly mentioned this and then shifted the topic, not pressing Lynn on how he acquired the Abyss Wizard Academys meditation technique.


    However, after this discussion, Wizard Harin became somewhat more amiable toward Lynn.


    Well, its a good opportunity to broaden your horizons and witness a sacrifice, Wizard Harin said, chanting an incantation as he spoke.


    The sacrificial array in front of Lynn emitted a faint purple light, bing increasingly dense and tinged with a bloody, sulfurous odor as time passed. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and sulfur.


    The siren corpses, arranged in a fixed posture, gradually turned ck, solidifying together, forming a ck gate. In the center of the gate, a rotating crimson vortex appeared, revealing a figure.


    Standing nearly three meters tall, with six arms, an oppressive figure emerged slowly from the sacrificial array.


    As Lynn observed her specific appearance, he couldnt help but marvel.


    This was a woman with six arms on the upper body, and her lower body transformed into a snakes tail covered in sharp spikes on crimson scales. She had pointed ears, shining eyes with dark yellow snake pupils.


    Upon seeing her, Lynn felt as if a dense darkness had appeared before him. An intense aura of evil emanated from this six-armed snake demon.


    Simultaneously, an extremely violent killing intent instantly filled the entire room.


    This was an adult six-armed snake demon!


    Lynns expression changed slightly, and he quickly discreetly moved behind Wizard Harin.


    Thebat strength of Abyss demons was notoriously strong among professionals of the same level. Generally, it required an entire professional adventure team to challenge an Abyss demon of the same level.


    This was because Abyss demons typically possessed powerful racial talents and evolutionary abilities, making them natural warriors forged in constant battles and killings.


    Moreover, many higher-level demons typically possess the racial talent to summon other demons.


    On the surface, you might think youre only facing a higher-level demon, but in reality, you soon find yourself confronted by a group of demons.


    The six-armed snake demon undoubtedly belonged to the category of higher-level demon races.


    So, a wizard summoned me. The six-armed snake demon, after being summoned, surveyed the surroundings with a hint of disdain, finally casting a slightly contemptuous nce at Harin, extending reddish tongue.


    I require a demon proficient in tracking or assassination for a trade with your ns leader, Harin said without hesitation.


    If you need someone proficient in tracking and assassination, I believe I fit the criteria, the six-armed snake demon said with a cold smile.


    In the next moment, the figure of the six-armed snake demon gradually faded, blending into the surrounding shadows within Lynns sight.


    Harin nodded, A six-armed snake demon skilled in shadow lurking, indeed quite rare.


    Theres another wizard on the ship. Your task is to assassinate that wizard. Since you are skilled with a dagger, all you need to do is leave a wound on him, Harin said, taking out a silver dagger from a ring.


    In the void, the figure of the six-armed snake demon gradually materialized, and an arm emerged from the air to take the dagger from Harins hand.


    Lynn felt numb. He sensed he might have overheard something he shouldnt have. Could he be silenced to keep the secret?


    This is the capability of our Abyss Wizard Academythe ability to negotiate with Abyss demons and even temporarily recruit and hire them. While others who summon demons need to worry about demonic bacsh, our academys wizards dont face such concerns, Wizard Harin exined. Tidy up the experiment table. Ill be going out for an errand for a bit. As long as you stay in this room, youll be safe.


    After Wizard Harin left the room, Lynn observed his surroundings.


    This Wizard Harins attitude towards him seemed oddly better than expected, but Lynn didnt dwell on it. Instead, he honestly cleaned up the experiment table.


    However, the chaotic arrangement of experimental materials on the table gave Lynn a strange sense of dj vu. After tidying up everything on the table, Lynn noticed that Wizard Harin hadnt returned.


    As Lynn looked at the demon-summoning array in the room, a curious itch gnawed at him.


    <em>Ill just take a look and not mess with anything. Learning a bit about how this demon sacrificial array works should be fine.</em>

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    <em>Ill just take a look, not going to mess with anything.</em>


    Lynn approached the demon sacrificial array, hands tucked into his pockets, curiously examining the sacrificial array. He observed the intricate patterns on the ground and the door that had transformed into a ck statue. Unsure of what constituted the primary elements, Lynn decided to memorize everything.


    Hey, dear little friend, what are you looking at? A deep, raspy, and charming voice suddenly echoed in his ears.


    Lynn nced around but found no one nearby. He continued observing the demon sacrificial array before him.


    Smart little wizard, I believe you already know who I am, the charming voice continued.


    Lynn couldnt help but roll his eyes, he had a good guess about the speaker. With a demon sacrificial array present, who else could it be but the legendary demon or devil?


    Sorry, I dont want to know who you are, Lynn replied, stepping back.


    Engaging in conversation with demons could easily lead to trouble if carelessthere was a spell called Bewitchment, after all. Wizard Harins sacrificial array was still active, a fact that surprised Lynn. He couldnt help but mentally scolded Wizard Harin for being so careless.


    A demon sacrificial array was still active, and wasnt even bothered to be closed. It was just left sitting here without considering the safety of a weak and simple little wizard like him!


    Lynn made up his mind that no matter what the other party said, he wouldnt pay attention. As long as he ignored the other party, there shouldnt be any problems.


    He hadnt even enrolled yet, and even if there was some kind of cooperation between the Abyss Wizard Academy and the Abyss demons, it had nothing to do with him at the moment.


    I mean no harmI merely sensed a fresh and interesting soul and couldnt resistmunicating with you, the demon on the other side chuckled.


    .


    <em>Thank you for your review, a fresh and interesting soul.</em>


    I sensed the scent of Hellfire Meditation from you. Perhaps in the future, we could be partners. Rest assured, I mean you no harm, the demon said.


    Well, that would be ideal, Lynn replied.


    However, I think we could engage in some cooperation. What do you think? the demon suggested.


    I dont see anything worth cooperating on, Lynn responded.


    There are many demons in the Abyss, but demons who can sign cooperation contracts with wizards are rare. On the one hand, some of our kind are not very bright, they only know how to fight and kill. On the other hand, there are too many demons in the Abyss, but wizards are limited, the demon exined with a hint of frustration.


    So, we also face quite a bit ofpetition, but unlike those dim-witted demonpanions, I understand one thingI fully endorse the principle of eating to satisfaction and eating well every time, the demon reasoned with Lynn.


    For you wizards, sometimes you need demons as experimental materials or require demon legions to help you conquer certain nes. After all, only a savior who appears in times of crisis can better capture peoples hearts. If you need, we can have a little cooperationlike creating a savior identity for you. A brave wizard defeated the evil demons, banishing them back to the Abyss, but the demons may return at any time. Thus, the great wizard, invited by the indigenous people, protects their safety, the demon borated.


    Listening to the demons eloquent exnation, Lynn couldnt help but notice the demons skilled maniption. It seemed like wizards engaged in this kind of thing quite often.


    Anyway, for us demons, we only need souls, flesh and bloodother things are not attractive to us. You see, countless lesser demons are born in the Abyss Mother River every day. Low-level demons are our biggest consumables. No one knows how many demons there are in the Abyss, so Abyss demons never disdain having more partners, the demon continued.


    Its easy for you to find partners, isnt it? Lynn remarked, knowing that intelligent beings coveting the power of demons were not umon in this world.


    But not many are qualified to be our partners. Not just any cat or dog can be ourpanion, the demon said with a hint of pride.


    To be brought into theboratory by Harin as an assistant now and perhaps in the future bing an official wizard shouldnt be difficult. After all, I can perceive the potential of your powerful soul, the demon added.


    While Lynn knew that the demon on the other side was praising him, the words still sounded a little bit weird to him.


    To express my sincerity, Im willing to offer a small initial investment to my future partner, the demon spoke up.


    In the next moment, the demon sacrificial array in front of Lynn reactivated. The central teleportation array gradually illuminated.


    Lynn slowly stepped back, holding onto his magic staff, one hand ready on the doorknob, prepared to escape at any moment.


    As the summoning arrays radiance gradually dissipated, on the ground in the center of the demon sacrificial array appeared a vial containing blood, sealed in a ss vial. Additionally, there was a half-broken horn next to it.


    Many demons in the Abyss have a bad temper. Im afraid of offending my esteemed future guest, so I wont give you a living creature. This is a vial of blood essence from a Horned Demon. Demons blood possesses a powerful infectious force. Of course, being a wizard, you should know better than a rough demon like me how to make use of demon blood essence, the demon on the other side said, emitting a deep chuckle.


    As for the broken horn beside it, its my token. If next time you want to trade with demons, you might consider me, the demon continued.


    Harin and I are old partners in cooperation. He understands my reputation the best, the demon said.


    Whats there to understand the best? The door, which had been closed, suddenly opened.


    Lynn turned his head and saw Wizard Harin walking in, followed closely by the figure of the six-armed snake demon. A man in a wizard robe was carried on the shoulders of the six-armed snake demon.


    Upon entering the room, Harin looked towards the demon sacrificial array.


    My dear partner, is the assistant you needed this time satisfactory? Lancy is the six-armed demon I trust the most, and her strength will surely not disappoint you, the demon on the other side of the demon sacrificial array emitted a deepughter.


    Not bad. Lets continue our cooperation next time. However, please refrain from casually influencing my assistant, Harin said.


    Hahaha, I merely made a small investment, chuckled the demon.


    The task isplete, you can go back now, Harin said to the six-armed snake demon.


    Lancy, the six-armed demon, nced at Harin, ced the person she was carrying on the ground, then swayed her snake tail and walked into the demon sacrificial array. In a burst of light, she disappeared from her original spot.


    The demon sacrificial array on the ground copsed, and the ck charred corpse gradually solidified, consumed bit by bit by the vortex, ultimately disappearing entirely on the spot.


    You did well, dealing with demons requires constant vignce, Harinmented.


    Those things are the investment from Sarth. Its up to you whether you want to ept it or not, Harin added.


    Sarth, was that the name of the demon hemunicated with?


    Lynn respectfully replied, Ill follow the teachers decision.


    Hmm, you can stay if you want Harin said, then paused abruptly.


    He turned around, his deep eyes staring directly at Lynn. When did you figure it out?


    Teacher, appearances can change, but your habits of arranging experimental instruments wont. Besides, many of the questions on the parchment were also in the notebook. From the beginning, you didnt intend to deliberately hide your identity from me, Lynn calmly stated.<hr>


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 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61


    Hahahahahaha. Harin, or rather, Angley, the wizard withvender curls, chuckled deeply as his shoulders shook slightly. As expected of my clever student.


    Lynn, you truly have impressed me, Harin turned to look at Lynn.


    Angley indeed did not purposely conceal his identity, but whether Lynn could figure it out was entirely up to him.


    But from now on in public ces, you should call me Harin, Harin spoke.


    However, Lynn was curious. Were Harin and Angley really the same person, or had Angley reced the original Harin?


    For ordinary people, it might be challenging to conceal their identities. But for a wizard, obtaining two identities simultaneously didnt seem impossible.


    Seemingly perceiving Lynns confusion, Harins ring emitted a sh of light.


    In the next moment, a figure in a ck robe appeared in front of Lynn.


    Cheeks almost as thin as skin and bones, deeply sunken eye sockets, an aura that was gloomy and profound.


    Upon seeing this familiar figure, Lynns pupils contracted suddenly.


    He understood. The earlier doubts in his mind were now instantly exined. The Angley he had interacted with was just a puppet, a living person couldnt be stored in a spatial ring.


    This also exined why he had never seen Angley rest or sleep, why Angley, upon arriving at Bangor Port, always sat on the first floor in the same posture every time Lynn went to see him.


    And the Bahov Elf mentioned that Harin stayed in his room after boarding the ship and rarely came out.


    All the truths connected like a thread.


    So, manipting two puppets simultaneously would be exhausting.


    <em>Then, did you ever regard me as your student?</em>


    <em>My teacher, Angley.</em>


    Lynns emotions towards Angley wereplex.


    Focus on your own tasks, Lynn. As Ive said, this is merely a fair transaction. Just dont forget the agreement you made with me. Angley, d in a ck robe and lowering his head, slowly raised it. His cold gaze swept around, pausing momentarily on Harin.


    Lynn was momentarily stunned, then nodded at Angley. I understand.


    Take this, Angley walked over, picked up the Horned Demons blood essence and the broken horn from the ground, then handed them to Lynn.


    Dont misuse demon blood. The blood essence of the Magma Octopus I gave you before is best used as experimental material, not on yourself. Although bing a Bloodline Wizard grants decent spellcasting abilities in the short term, it doesnt offer significant long-term benefits. Angley cautioned.


    Understood, teacher.


    Angley then approached the fallen wizard on the ground, stripping off all his clothes and essories.


    Any inconspicuous item on a wizard might be a magic item, so dont underestimate any wizard, even if they seem to have lost their ability to resist, Angley remarked to himself.


    In the next moment, a blue light appeared in Angleys eyes, and a faint blue spellnded on the wizard lying on the ground.


    The wizards body twitched slightly, and the next moment, in vition of the normal order, he flipped over and sat up.


    The wizard sitting on the ground lowered his head, his eyes nk, appearing as if he had lost consciousness.


    What item did you steal? Harin asked.


    Sacrificial item from a siren, a broken trident, the wizard muttered.


    Where is the item? Harin inquired.


    In my spatial ring, the wizard continued muttering.


    Angley toyed with the looted essories in his hand. The wizard had three ringsa ruby ring, a silver ancient-looking ring, and a blue one iid with an emerald.


    Where do youe from? Harin asked.


    Forest of Bones Wizard Tower, the wizard mumbled.


    Forest of Bones Wizard Tower? But as far as I know, wizards from the Forest of Bones mostly transform into Undead Wizards, Harin said. Next time,e up with a better excuse.


    Angley, standing nearby, suddenly reached out, lifting his right hand and cing it on the wizards skull.


    The wizard, who was already dazed, instantly rolled his eyes upward, leaving only the whites visible.


    By the way, no need to secretly prepare spells. Your fluctuating mental energy is more conspicuous than fish swimming in a pond, Harin chuckled.


    It doesnt matter where hees from. Knowing what he stole is enough. Anything in a wizards possession bes my loot, Harin took the ring handed over by Angley, closed his eyes for a moment, and immediately the ring with a blue base and an emerald emitted a faint glow.


    In Harins hand appeared a hefty trident.


    It was a weapon with only half of its handle and a three-pronged tipa robust and ancient-looking weapon with a copper-green color.


    Yet another wizard trying to get something for nothing, Harin yed with it, smiled, and tossed the trident to Lynn.


    Lynn instinctively caught the broken trident, feeling its weight in his hand. Even with his physical strength, the trident gave him a substantial sense of heaviness.


    This was definitely not something an ordinary person could handle.


    This thing should be rted to the Sea God, Harin said.


    Actually, the truly valuable items of those gods have mostly been plundered by great wizards. However, in recent years, there are always some wizards attempting to find treasures from the remnants of those gods, Harin said casually.


    They are questioning the judgment of those great wizards.


    Harin looked at Lynn. But this thing is not entirely useless. Your statue might be interested in it. Why not try summoning it.


    Lynn took the Sea God statue from his storage ring and ced it on the ground.


    After summoning, the Sea God statue showed no reaction.


    Why? Does the God of Tides and Sea Monsters, Maesys, need me to personally call out your names to respond? Harin scornfully remarked to the statue.


    After a moment of silence, the summoned Sea God statue began to emit a faint blue light. In the quietude, Lynn seemed to hear the voices of the tides and the roars of deep-sea behemoths.


    A fantastical ne seemed to descend from the void, but it was ultimately just an illusion.


    Lynn stared intently at the statue.


    There was curiosity and excitement in him.


    <em>Is this a god?</em>


    This statue could actuallymunicate with the legendary gods. However, where did the powers of these godse from?


    Wizard, you are not qualified to converse with me. Your power is far inferior to those great wizards, a deep voice echoed from the other end of the statue or perhaps from another realm within the vast ocean.


    Once known as the most active god in the ocean, now trapped in theher realm, relying on the statue to slowly spread faith and gather power. Its truly pitiful and sad. I wonder when the strength will ever be regained, Harin said with profound meaning. Dont you want this trident?


    This trident is not my divine possession. It has no use for me, the statues voice echoed from the depths.


    If it truly has no use, then you wouldnt respond to my call. For you in your current state, every response to a summon consumes a considerable amount of power, doesnt it? Harin said slowly, like a devil tempting a mortal.

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62


    Damn you wizards, always so despicable and cunning, the voice of Maesys, the God of Tides and Sea Monsters, echoed ominously from the depths.


    Clearly, the feeling of having ones inner thoughts guessed was not pleasant.


    This is the power of knowledge, Sir God, Harin smirked slightly, his right hand resting on his left shoulder, leaning forward.


    Without knowledge, I wouldnt know the purpose of this trident, nor could we have struck this deal. Its like certain antique dealers in the mortal realm who can find treasures in what others see as junk. To those without insight, such items are always just junk. So, knowledge is wealth.


    Maesys fell silent. I dont want to argue these matters with you wizards. What do you seek from me?


    Its not about what I can gain, but about what you can offer me, Harin replied. Godhead, divine me, divine upation<sup>1</sup>, divinity, and divine power represent the five fundamental powers of the gods. Godhead is the cornerstone of your existence, and I assume you wouldnt want to split your Godhead. Divine upation is useless to us, as they are for naught without the other four divine powers. Moreover, divine upation is significant to you, so what you can offer us aspensation is divine me, divinity, and divine power.


    Divine me is impossible for you to have, Maesys refused. Without faith, having divine me is useless to you.


    Then, divinity it is, Harin seemed to have anticipated this and said.


    Alright, a strand of divinity. Maesys said.


    One strand is not enough, I want five strands of divinity, Harin demanded.


    Grabbing the lions share! And do you really dare to ask for so much of my divinity? Arent you afraid of being assimted by me, wizard? Maesys said with a meaningful tone.


    Divinity is the essence of a god, and each gods divinity is unique. Mortals can absorb divinity to acquire a gods traits and even elevate their essence fundamentally. However, its dangerous because divinity epasses the personality and beliefs of the god. Fallen gods can potentially nest in those who absorb their divinity.


    Why not? This trident, revered by the Siren n for an extended period, contains the power of faith. If you use your divine me to transform it into divine power, it will undoubtedly be worth it because both you and it are Sea Gods. Although Im not a god, my understanding of gods is not shallow. Conversion rates for items rted to the same god or divine upation are not low, Harin exined.


    Maesys fell into a prolonged silence. Why did this wizard have such knowledge of gods? That was a story from an unspeakable past.


    Three strands of divinity, that is my bottom line, Maesys dered. umting divinity is no easy feat for me. Since being sealed, it takes me a long time to umte even a single strand of divinity.


    Four strands, if you want our cooperation to continue in the future, Harin asserted.


    Damn it, Im at a loss in this deal! Maesys eximed in frustration.


    The statues eyes emitted a blue light, projecting a blue-hued projection into the room. In the next moment, four points of golden blue light flew out from the blue projection, drawing closer, transitioning from illusion to reality.


    Gradually, they transformed into four strands of golden blue mist hovering in the room.


    Pleasure doing business, Sir Maesys, Harin handed over the trident. As he let go, the trident floated in the air.


    The surrounding air was filled with an azure projection, and as the azure light intensified, the ambient light deepened. Lynn looked towards the window, where the blue-hued projection reflected on the window continuously undted, as if plunging into the depths of the ocean.


    Just like this, the trident slowly faded into the void before Lynn and the others, captured by some force.


    Outside, the ship sailing on the sea became slower, as if bogged down in a quagmire.


    Captain Ghost in the captains quarters sensed something amiss and quickly came out to the deck.


    After the previous incident, no wizard apprentices dared to stay on the deck at night. The empty deck, at the ships bow, only had the standing figure of Captain Ghost.


    Standing on the deck, Captain Ghost surveyed the surroundings. Suddenly, he froze, a look of astonishment and fear appearing on his face.


    He had been the captain of this ship for a long time, traversing this route many times. Due to the special identity of this ship, he had rarely encountered any trouble on his journeys, but he never expected such an incident on this voyage.


    The surrounding sea was bright, the deep sea in the distance was profound in the pitch-ck night, and the dark waves rolled incessantly.


    However, the sea around the ship emitted a vast azure light.


    The surrounding storm gradually subsided, and the bright light under the ship persisted for a long time before gradually dissipating.


    Captain Ghost regained control of his body. As the one in control of this ghostly ship sailing on the sea, Captain Ghost had been subjected to a special spell cast by a wizard, permanently imprisoning him on this ship.


    Although he had lost some freedom, he gained greater security.


    However, in that fleeting moment just now, Captain Ghost felt like his entire body had lost control.


    It felt like being under the scrutiny of the king of the deep sea.


    However, what frightened him was not the feeling of being scrutinized but whaty beneath the ship.


    Standing at the ships bow, he saw it clearly. The blue light under the ship just now was not some environmental phenomenonit was a blue eye.


    A colossal creature, only its eye visible, dwarfing many inds, appeared beneath the ship in that fleeting moment.


    Harin stored Angley in the spatial ring. Then, he took out four purple crystals and separately collected the four strands of gas floating in the air into the purple crystals.


    After being absorbed into the crystals, these purple crystals gradually transformed into pure gold.


    This is your reward, Harin handed one of the pure gold transparent crystals to Lynn.


    Although Lynn didnt know the specific function of divinityit might be too distant for himbut it didnt prevent him from recognizing the preciousness of this strand of divinity.


    After all, I borrowed your statue tomunicate with Maesys, Harin remarked.


    For you, this is definitely a very precious material, even for many wizards, it is extremely rare. So, youd better keep the information about possessing a strand of divinity hidden. Otherwise, your troubles will definitely not be few, Harin advised.


    Understood, Lynn ced the crystal imbued with divinity into the spatial ring.


    Theboratory is well cleaned up. Come to myboratory at this time tomorrow, Harin casually mentioned.


    Lynn left Wizard Harins room and returned to his own room.


    Suppressing his inner curiosity, Lynn first entered the Alchemy Laboratory and then took out the crystal imbued with divinity from the spatial ring.


    As this crystal, filled with divinity, was brought out, the two Iron Earthworms that had been lying quietly in the corner of the Alchemy Laboratory suddenly became excited. They wriggled over like two loyal dogs, and the emotion of eagerness continuously transmitted from the wristband<sup>2</sup> to Lynn.


    Master, what is this? Lauren eximed in astonishment, looking at the crystal of divinity in the masters hand. Lauren felt his body couldnt help but tremble, and an extremely strong desire overwhelmed his will.


    TL/N:<ol><li>-Divine upation seems more fitting in the overall book context, previously first mentioned in chapter 44 as priesthood, now fixed. </li><li>-Wristband will now be used instead of bracelet. Changes were also made in chapter 20, 30 and 34. </li></ol><hr>


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 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63


    How do you feel now? Lynn noticed Laurens unusual state and inquired.


    I dont know, but this crystal has a strong attraction to me. I feel like my entire body is calling out, Lauren said breathlessly.


    Well, let me study this thing thoroughly first, Lynn replied.


    Lauren closed his eyes, suppressing the inner craving.


    Lynn turned his head, observing the scales on Laurens chest that slightly raised. It seemed that this crystal, filled with divinity, had a strong attraction to beings with bloodlines like Lauren.


    But why didnt he feel that attraction himself?


    His slender fingers casually yed with the crystal of divinity. In the candlelight, the divine crystal reflected a deep gold in Lynns dark eyes.


    Divinity was a rare material, and even though Lynn currentlycked the qualifications to research it, it didnt mean he wouldnt in the future.


    Although his understanding was limited, Lynn knew that directly bestowing divinity upon someone was the most rudimentary use.


    Five fingers closed, and a silver glow emanated from the silver-gray ring on Lynns index finger, causing the crystal of divinity to disappear into his palm.


    In the following days, Lynn, aboard the ship, entered Wizard Harins room daily to coborate on experiments. Perhaps intentionally cultivated by Harin, Lynn sometimes assisted in minor auxiliary steps, such as peeling off certain materials.


    Unfortunately, this level of participation in experiments didnt count as part of his daily tasks, which Lynn found regrettable. It seemed that only experiments he personally led would be considered daily tasks.


    Upon learning that Lynn had be Wizard Harins assistant, many wizards on the ship bombarded him with temptations, invitations, and even threats.


    However, the temptations from these people were too low-level, and Lynn expressed that any seasoned public servants wouldnt sumb to such tests.


    He neither explicitly rejected anyone nor clearly epted the solicitation from any faction. With the support of the current most influential figure on the ship, Wizard Harin, Lynn didnt need to worry about pleasing others.


    This rhythm made Lynn quitefortable.


    Coborating with Harin on experiments, Lynn discovered that Harin was researching an experimental potion rted to the bloodline mutation of lizard-men.


    This bloodline mutation potion could be directly consumed, causing the body to undergo mutations and transform into a lizard-man upon ingestion. Simr to the potion that caused Laurens mutation into a lizard-man, Harin was currently researching an advanced version.


    Building upon the form used for Laurens potion, Harin aimed to create a more diverse range of mutated lizard-men. For instance, there were aquatic lizard-men capable of breathing underwater and lurking in depths of hundreds of meters. There were also gliding lizard-men with thin bat-like wings between their arms and torso, allowing them to glide from high ces.


    In addition, there were stone-skinned lizard-men with tough skin and resistance to low-level spells, as well as stealthy lizard-men capable of simple optical invisibility.


    These diverse variations of mutated lizard-men were also cost-effective to produce, giving Lynn the impression that Harin wasnt just creating a cheap war weaponhe seemed to be attempting to establish a species with a rich and varied lineage.


    However, Lynn felt detached from these developments. He didnt probe into Harins intentions in creating mutated lizard-menhe was just an assistant, focusing on his assigned tasks.


    During the experiments, Harin didnt withhold information from Lynn. As Lynn assisted Harin in the experiments, he inadvertently grasped the intricacies of creating these mutated lizard-men.


    Harin praised Lynn for his natural talent in the field of mutation studies.


    I have to admit, youre truly a genius. Your talent in mutation studies exceeded my expectations. Students with talent can thrive anywhere. If you specialize in something, youll find it easier to earn magic stones than ordinary people. Many aspects of life in the academy require magic stoneswhether for advanced courses, purchasing experimental materials, cultivating familiars, or obtaining opportunities to explore other nes. Dont underestimate the importance of magic stones, Harin advised.


    Cultivating familiars? Lynn was confused.


    Yes, cultivating familiars. Whether developing other nes or conquering them, youll need a sufficient number of familiars or servants, Harin exined. Are you nning to manage a country or even a world all by yourself?


    Lynn understood Harins point. Even wizards, on the path of learning and research, wouldnt have enough time to manage territories or resources. At such times, reliable subordinates were crucial for wizards to delegate responsibilities.


    For wizards dedicated to exploring the mysteries of reality, cultivating subordinates happened to be a task that wasnt overly challenging. Sometimes, incidental experimental results could yield powers that others could only dream of.


    Bringing Lauren and Bowa along had been somewhat idental, but Lynn considered it a stroke of luck. Trust, after all, was elusive and ephemeral. Lynn never believed in love-at-first-sight loyalty, he believed that time alone could prove everything.


    Through the months of interaction with Lauren, Lynn felt that, for the time being, Lauren was worthy of a certain degree of trust. A person who treated his wife with such kindness couldnt be all bad. Lynn also understood why he saw many noble wizard apprentices apanied by their own entourages.


    These attendants were likely to be the backbone or confidants of these wizard apprentices in the future. Many of them were professionals, nurtured from a young age, wielding extraordinary abilities. Before the wizard apprentices matured, they might even serve as bodyguards or sworn protectors.


    Granting power wasnt difficult, considering potential and lifespan werent taken into ount. This was Lynns insight after continuous learning and research. What was challenging was how the beings wielding that power would remain loyal to the wizard who bestowed it upon them.


    Thus, wizards devised master-servant contracts and other simr abilities to address this issue.


    The ship is about to arrive. We have at most two days before reaching our destination, Harin remarked, gazing out of the window.


    Lynn nodded, his eyes flickering subtly.


    He thought about the deal he made with Angley. I understand.


    Over these past few months, Lynn persisted in daily meditation, making significant progress in the Hellfire Meditation technique. Unlike the straightforward progress of the Earth Ring Meditation, the Hellfire Meditation didnt manifest its advancement as directly. However, this wasnt a major issue for Lynnhe could visually observe the specific progress through his attribute panel.


    In his mind, the vague outline of a greenish mountain range gradually took shape.


    Actually, I wasnt nning to reveal my identity at the beginning, Harin suddenly said, still gazing out the window.


    Lynn stood in ce, listening to Harins soliloquy.


    But your talents and intelligence showed me more possibilities. So, I marked the subsequent price for this gift of destiny, Harin murmured to himself. Sometimes, choices are more crucial than efforts. Good luck. I hope to see you at the Abyss Wizard Academy.

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64


    Lynn inspected the gains he had umted during this period.


    The most significant gain was the general experience points, which had increased from 1970 to 3970.


    If he used all of them to level up, adding the experience he could gain in the next two days, advancing by four levels would be no issue.


    However, Lynn hadnt leveled up since the required experience points had increased tenfold. He was uncertain how theprehensive physical fitness would differ after level 20.


    Previously constrained by the scarcity of general experience points, now he had the opportunity to try.


    Deducting a thousand general experience points, from level 20 to 21, the physical fitness increased from 7.05 to 10.05, and mental power from 21.7 to 24.7.


    A threefold improvement in overall qualitiespared to an average person. Although the experience points cost had increased tenfold, the enhancement in physical fitness had also increased by the same factor, maintaining the overall ratio.


    Lynn secretly thought to himself, feeling quite satisfied. He might not have gained, but at least he hadnt incurred any losses.


    Moreover, with another level-up, Lynn attempted meditation and found a noticeable improvement in efficiency. This apparent boost reminded him of the gains he experienced when he first obtained the panel.


    Lynn


    Level: Level 21 (0/1000)


    Physical Fitness: 10.05


    Mental Strength: 24.7


    Mastery:


    Earth Ring Meditation (Mastered)


    Hellfire Meditation (8%)


    Life upation:


    Level 2 Mutation Studies (8.4%) (0/100)


    Level 1 Bloodline Studies (25%) (0/10)


    Level 1 Alchemical Studies (43%) (0/10)


    Level 1 Undead Studies (75%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 2970


    In terms of mental strength, he had already reached the standard of a third-level wizard apprentice, and the mastered spells met the requirements.


    ording to Harin, Lynns proficiency in mutation studies was no less than many veteran third-level wizard apprentices in the academy.


    Lynn felt quite emotional hearing this. Only when he reached the level of a level 2 mutation studies did he truly understand what it represented. To be considered not inferior to many veteran third-level wizard apprentices in the academy at this level was surprising. Were the requirements for apprenticeships so high now? Wizards were indeed a group of ambitious individuals.


    In addition, during this period, Lynn mastered all the spells he knew. Previously, in Bangor Port, he had learned most of the necessary spells, leaving out a few zero-ring spells due to functional redundancy.


    With a lot of free time on his hands, Lynn took the opportunity to master all the zero-ring spells and learned the one-ring spell, Terror.


    The ship gradually docked along the shoreline.


    Many wizard apprentices stood along the edge of the ships deck, gazing at the distant horizon where thend extended infinitely.


    From the deck, the mountain range on thend ahead was faintly visible, towering into the sky. Thick clouds obscured the upper half of the mountains. Unknown bird-beasts circled above the ind, and the lush primal forest emanated a wild aroma.


    You will survive on this ind for one month, and within that time, you must reach the mountains summit, Wizard Harin emerged from the cabin, his wizard robe billowing in the sea breeze.


    This promation stirred amotion among the wizard apprentices. While some were already aware of the exam question, many were not. The apprentices on the ship were a mix of nobles andmoners, roughly split in half.


    Unlike Bangor Port, where the majority of those boarding the ship were noble wizards, here, there were quite a fewmoner wizards embarking on the journey.


    Shielding his eyes from the somewhat ring sunlight with his right hand, Lynn gazed at the endless stretch ofnd. Was this an ind or a continent? He mused, noting the vastness.


    The challenge now was how to locate the noble wizard apprentices who had boarded from Bangor Port on this expansivend. Missing even a few of them could jeopardize the entire transaction.


    The sound of whistling ropes filled the air as they soared through the wind, automatically released from the mast, behaving like agile snakes beforending on a prominent rock by the shore, spinning twice before fastening securely.


    Therge ship tilted slowly, then gently docked along the shore. An open areay ahead, adorned with a continuous row of houses.


    Each structure exhibited a different architectural style, some exuding a rich, distinct vor. Some buildings were adorned with many bone decorations, while others disyed animal heads. Some structures resembled dungeons, while others were surrounded by a profusion of flowers and nts.


    In the midst of these structuresy a street resembling a market. asionally, a few silhouettes could be seen strolling along the streets.


    The shipsdder slid down perfectly onto the shore, and Harin was the first to descend from the deck. The wizard apprentices followed suit, disembarking from the ship.


    Today, youll rest here for the night. Gather in the open space outside early tomorrow morning, and Ill announce the rules. Each of these buildings represents a wizard faction. Essentially, the wizard factions from the entire East Archipgo region are present. The styles and specialties of each faction differ, and you can acquaint yourselves with them. However, keep in mind that the choice is mutual. Even if you have a preferred faction, it doesnt guarantee that the faction will choose you, Harin let out a low, sinisterugh.


    The wizard apprentices dispersed. For these young wizards, anything rted to wizards can easily draw their attention.


    As Lynn approached, he noticed ques resembling self-introductions in front of many buildings in the open space.


    Curiosity guiding him, Lynn walked through, discovering that most factions here had a suffix indicating a wizard academy.


    Examples included Greenwood Wizard Academy, Bone Tower Wizard Academy, and Natures Heart Wizard Academy. However, a few factions opted for a wizard tower suffix instead of an academy.


    Each wizard faction had an introduction disyed behind them. Lynn quickly gathered some insights.


    Factions with a wizard academy suffix mainly focused on apprentice training. They housed numerous mentors, with most wizard academies boasting a long history. These factions highly valued innate talent, and students graduating from wizard academies either paid a considerable tuition fee or worked for the academy for a set period.


    Because much of the knowledge in wizard academies was discounted, obtaining the opportunity to learn so much outside was nearly impossible with just a few magic stones.


    Factions with a wizard tower suffix seemed more like merit-based or point-based guilds, excelling in practical experience. After brief training, apprentices gained richbat experience to aid their growth.


    However, this was just a broad distinction. Each wizard faction had many detailed sub-divisions.


    Some specialized in undead research, others in dark magic, and some excelled in nature-based spells


    Curiously, Lynn couldnt find the Abyss Wizard Academy among them. Was this region not within the domain of the Abyss Wizard Academy, or did they disdain recruiting apprentices here?


    Mulling it over, Lynn acknowledged the vastness of the wizarding world. There were undoubtedly more ways for wizards to recruit apprentices than just the ship he boarded.


    Hey, kid, hand over all the benefits you received from Wizard Harin. Now, theres no one here to protect you. Lynn found himself surrounded by arge group of wizard apprentices, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.


    Their gazes were unfriendly, and some held magic staffs aimed at Lynn. Among them, Lynn recognized several familiar faces.<hr>


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 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65


    Seeing the familiar faces closing in around him, Lynns eyes lit up.


    Well, well, unexpectedly, there were old acquaintances among them.


    He had been wondering how to find them, and here, this group of <em>good </em>friends hade to him on their own.


    Thinking of the rules aboard the shipno arbitrary killing allowedLynn realized that now, having disembarked, that rule was null and void. He suspected these wizard apprentices shared the same sentiment.


    Lynn nced back.


    A few wizard apprentices conveniently obstructed Lynns view.


    No need to look, Wizard Harin left after disembarking, Lynn observed as the voice emerged from the crowd, belonging to a finely dressed, fair-faced young man with blond hair.


    This young man appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen.


    Are you the leader of these people? Lynn asked, subtly tightening the wizard robe he was wearing.


    The blond-haired youth confidently responded, Not exactly a leaderwere just like-minded friends. Let me introduce myself. Im Hans, from the Morning Glory Marquis family.


    Hearing the family name, Lynn couldnt help but curl up the corners of his mouth.


    Why are you smiling? Hans looked embarrassed.


    Nothing much, just happened to think of something amusing, Lynn peculiarly restrained his emotions.


    In the Erdolu Kingdom, the Morning Glory Marquis family symbolized honor, divination, love, calmness, and illusion.


    So, the Morning Glory Marquis family posed no issues. Still, when Lynn heard the marquis title, he couldnt help but find it amusing.


    I see you smiling. Hans seemed somewhat angry. Can I interpret it as mocking the reputation of our House of Morning Glory?


    No, you misunderstood, Lynn smiled, waving his hand.


    What I meant was that youre too close to me. As Lynn spoke, he spread his hand, raising it high. A powerful mental wave emanated from the center of his palm, expanding outward.


    Dark, semi-transparent sound waves rippled outward, creating undting waves that instantly covered an area of about thirty meters in diameter.


    Within this range, all the wizards were instantly assaulted by a powerful shockwave, apanied by a roar from the depths of their souls, akin to the howl of a monstrous beast.


    The one-ring spellTerror!


    The intense area-of-effect spell instantly deterred all the wizard apprentices within its range.


    <em>Boom</em>


    Hans chest was adorned with a ne that emanated a silvery starlight grid-shaped barrier, protecting him in the center as the ripples from the Terror spell met this silvery shield.


    Between the two, a fierce friction arose. The ripple of Terror spell collided with the silvery starlight grid-shaped barrier, generating intense feedback on the surface of the barrier, causing it to ripple like waves on water.


    Buzzing sounds echoed.


    <em>This spells casting speed is really slow</em>, Lynn mused inwardly. He had discovered a special techniquespeaking different words while actually secretly preparing a spell in his mind. Although this dyed the casting time of the spell, it made it more covert.


    Of course, it would generate a strong mental fluctuation during the operation of the spell framework in the mind. If there were wizards with keen perception around, they could detect it. However, this group of wizard apprentices evidentlycked such abilities.


    Lynn had been secretly preparing this spell since the moment he realized he was surrounded by these people.


    Apart from Hans, two other noble wizard apprentices had magic essories on them that provided protection. However, the protective ability of these two apprentices magic essories was evidently inferior to the one on Hans.


    After barely neutralizing most of the damage, the magic essories on the other two wizard apprentices were also damaged.


    However, the Terror spell, now significantly weakened, only caused these two noble wizard apprentices to have weak legs and sit down on the ground. They didnt faint like the other wizard apprentices around them or shiver in fear on the ground.


    The effect of the Terror spell is to subject all units within the area to a mental check for fear. Those who fail the check will experience fear, manifested as weakness in limbs, mental confusion, as well as symptoms like chest tightness, difficulty in breathing, sweating, stomach difort, trembling, numbness in limbs, and even a sense of impending death. People with poor psychological resilience may exhibit madness, running aimlessly, talking to themselves, and other abnormal behaviors.


    Of course, if the mental strength was too fragile, the bodys self-defense mechanism would cause the person affected by the Terror spell to directly faint.


    Lynns ring shed with two discreet silver lights.


    The next moment, two huge Iron Earthworms appeared alongside Lauren.


    Descending into reality, under Lynns cold and emotionlessmand, the Iron Earthworms and Lauren indiscriminately ughtered the wizard apprentices in the vicinity who had lost the ability to resist.


    Without spells and devoid of resistance, these wizard apprentices and their followers were as fragile as paper.


    Lynns right hand reached behind him, grasping a hard object, and swiftly pulled it out, pointing it at Hans not far away.


    If there was any wizard apprentice in the surrounding who still maintainedbat capability, it would be Hans.


    The magic essories on his body shielded him from the area-of-effect spell, Terror, but he also fell into a temporary silence, needing to recharge before being able to use it again.


    Hans took out a silver-tipped magic staff from his pocket, adorned with a red ribbon.


    Obscure incantations simultaneously emanated from both of them.


    Hans forehead began to bead with sweat, his eyes locked onto Lynn.


    Meanwhile, a smile gradually appeared on Lynns face, apanying the final syble.


    The air distorted at the tip of the magic staff, and a spark ignited the surrounding air, rapidly expanding into a zing fireball.


    In an instant, the fireball, now formed, hurtled towards Hans.


    Simultaneously, Hans had just finished uttering the final syble of his incantation.


    His magic staff emitted a frigid aura, and under the sunlight, an arrow-shaped ice crystal aimed at Lynn.


    However, the Minor Fireball was already speeding towards him.


    <em>Boom!!!</em>


    The Minor Fireball collided violently with the ice crystal arrow. The two spells shed in mid-air, and the explosive shockwave instantly sent Hans flying.


    <em>Sorry, I chanted the spell half a second faster than you. On weekdays, Ive been secretly practicing my oral skills just for this moment.</em>


    <em>Young man, your incantation speed is not as fast as mine. What do you have topete with me in spellcasting!</em>


    Lynn infused his mental energy into the magic staff. The next moment, a rolling mass of acidic fluid condensed and took shape.


    Acid Missile!


    Seeing the iing Acid Missile, Hans, who had just crawled off the ground, turned pale. In a panic, he rolled to the side like a donkey avoiding a kick.


    It was evident that Hans, from the House of Morning Glory, underwent rigorous training.


    Though the rolling motion might have looked unsightly, at least it proved highly effective.


    He managed to dodge the majority of the Acid Missile, with only a portionnding on his legs.


    The noble robe he wore immediately corroded, emitting billowing white smoke. Simultaneously, his legs suffered the effects of corrosion.


    The young man let out a wretched scream, copsing to the ground. The excruciating pain from the strong acid corrosion caused him to writhe on the ground.


    Seizing the opportunity while he was vulnerable, Lynn continued chanting an incantation. This time, he cast Mages Hand, and not just any Mages Hand, but the most powerful version infused with the maximum mental strength, consuming 0.5 standard mental energy per second.


    While other spells had distinct trajectories and were susceptible to evasion, Mages Hand, which could move freely, wasnt as easily avoidable.


    A colossal transparent hand materialized above Hans head, and without any hesitation, it descended heavily onto his skull.


    The handsome face of the blond-haired youth instantly transformed into a pool of mutted flesh.

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66


    Apologies, but this is just self-defense, Lynn said fluently, his face showing no hint of remorse.


    When these noble wizard apprentices approached him, intending to plunder the benefits they might have gained from Wizard Harin, the fate of these noble wizard apprentices was sealed.


    Anyway, they were all his targets. The sooner they died, the sooner they could be reincarnated. Reincarnating early meant being two seconds ahead of others.


    Besides, Lynn wasnt particrly concerned about notions of justice and evil. Through the experiences on this journey, the boundaries between good and evil had gradually blurred in Lynns eyes.


    Perhaps the so-called notions of fairness and justice were merely the anthems of the victors.


    The official wizards area wasnt far from the back street, and since they hadnt intervened at the start, and still werent intervening, it either meant they couldnt be bothered with such matters, or some rule prevented them from intervening.


    Themotion here didnt attract the official wizards from the buildings. However, it did draw the attention of many wizard apprentices who rushed to the scene.


    The continuous screams and the intense scenes of massacre fascinated many wizard apprentices, who watched from a distance, asionally gasping in shock.


    However, those who didnt know the whole story only dared to observe from afar, refraining from rashly getting involved.


    In the eyes of these onlookers, Lynn wasbeled as ruthless.


    Among them were a few figures who looked on with disbelief, their eyes fixed on the gruesome spectacle.


    That headless corpse looks somewhat familiar.


    Familiar? Thats Hans. Someone recognized the identity of the corpse.


    Why would they fight with Lynn?


    I think I know the reason. Hans invited quite a few people to plunder Lynns belongings, but I wasnt interested, so I declined, Andina, with her azure eyes, gazed curiously at Lynn.


    In fact, she had crossed paths with Lynn once before. She recalled it only after Uncle Dempsey told her about it on the ship.


    Back then, Lynn was sitting at a table diagonally across from hers in that little tavern. However, she considered him an ordinary person at the time, so she didnt pay much attention. Reflecting on it now, she found it amusing that she had passed by a wizard apprentice in such an environment.


    Dempsey stood behind Andina, looking into the distance with aplex expression as Lynn, resembling the Grim Reaper, harvested the lives of those noble wizard apprentices.


    Many of the noble wizard apprentices were familiar to Dempsey. As one of the three knights under the Duke of Cuckoo Flowersmand, even though he was a servant of the House of Cuckoo Flower, his status was high. Having followed the contemporary Duke of Cuckoo Flower since childhood, he received courteous treatment from some minor nobles.


    He had encountered many of those noble wizard apprentices. During the few months in Bangor Port, many noble wizard apprentices came to visit the youngdy. Due to their status as wizards, even if they were just apprentices, their words were filled with arrogance.


    Although Dempsey wasnt well-versed in the wizarding world, he understood one thing over the yearspride was ones own enemy.


    Sure enough, these noble wizard apprentices ultimately paid the price for their pride.


    This short-sighted fool, Anoushehs face looked grim as he clenched his fist.


    Hans had actually mentioned his desire to seize Lynns wealth and knowledge long before, but Anousheh vehemently rejected the idea at the time. He believed that it wasnt worth offending a potentially talented wizard apprentice for such a trivial gain.


    It would be better to befriend Lynn, there would be more benefits in the future.


    As a member of the royal family with innate wizarding talents, he received the best education in the kingdom from a young age. From the beginning, he was destined to board this ship and arrive in this world vastly different from the kingdom. The royal family had trained and demanded him ording to the standards of a true wizard.


    If Lynn could miraculously be an official wizard, Anousheh spected that he might request the royal family to grant noble titles to Lynns descendants to secure Lynns friendship.


    ording to Anoushehs understanding, the Duke of Golden Lion had obtained his title in a simr manner. The Duke of Golden Lion wasnt a noble at the founding of the kingdom and hadnt even achieved significant feats. The kingdoms historical records had very few mentions of the Duke of Golden Lion.


    But since the Duke of Golden Lions family produced a stunning genius, he became a true heavyweight.


    Therefore, a significant portion of thend to the west of the kingdom was bestowed upon the descendants of that genius, supposedly to win his allegiance.


    The fact that Lynn had gained Wizard Harins appreciation and be his assistant undoubtedly showcased extraordinary potential. Although many people had boarded the ship, Anousheh knew that the vast majority of wizard apprentices here would likely remain apprentices for life.


    They would never have the opportunity to be true wizards, and their destinies would be dedicated to striving to be genuine wizards.


    Anousheh knew which attitudes to adopt to make friends with certain people and which rtionships to exploit. However, all of this had been ruined by this fool, Hans.


    Anousheh stared coldly at Hans lifeless body before shifting his gaze to the other Erdolu Kingdom noble wizard apprentices who were being massacred.


    He realized he had to step forward. A loose alliance had long formed between the noble wizard apprentices who hailed from the Erdolu Kingdom and the noble wizards. His status dictated that he must protect this group. Allowing the fresh blood of this alliance to be wantonly massacred by an outsider, regardless of the reasons, would greatly impact the reputation and authority of their royal family. Even if it meant offending a potential genius who might be a wizard in the future, Anousheh couldnt allow it.


    Anousheh retrieved a magic staff with a pine and gold wire iy from his pocket and raised it, pointing it towards Lynn not far away.


    He decided to calm both sides down and then resolve the situation slowly. If things couldnt be resolved peacefully, Anoushehs eyes shed with a hint of cold determination.


    Lynns body tensed, sensing danger on a subconscious level. Turning his head, Lynn found Anousheh in the crowd, aiming a magic staff at him.


    Watching the gray-white mist condensing at the tip of Anoushehs wand, Lynn recognized the spellit was the zero-ring spell, Sleeping Curse.


    Sleeping Curse.


    Lynn understood the Sleeping Curse. He wasnt sure if his wizard robe could withstand the Sleeping Curseelemental spells of the molding system could provide protection, but Sleeping Curse seemed tock direct offensive power. If his wizard robe malfunctioned and failed to protect him, it could be troublesome.


    However, the Sleeping Curse also had its weaknesses. Like the Minor Fireball spell, it was a targeted spell, and once released, the trajectory couldnt be altered.


    Theoretically, as long as ones speed was fast enough, it could be avoided.


    Lynn focused on the Sleeping Curse. The moment the spell was released, he pushed off with his legs like a nimble leopard.


    In the next instant, Lynns body rolled agilely to the side.


    The gray-white mist brushed past him, disappearing straight into the ground.


    At that moment, the burst of physical fitness disyed by Lynn astonished many noble wizards watching. Even the physical fitness of extraordinary knights might not beparable to this.


    Remarkable physical fitness, said Dempsey, the one-eyed man with an eyepatch, in a solemn tone. This level of physical fitness surpasses most knights he knew.


    Anousheh saw Lynn avoid his spell, and his expression became somewhat surprised. However, he quickly regained hisposure, recognizing that the depth of Lynns capabilities was beyond the reach of ordinary noble wizard apprentices.


    Lynn had concealed his abilities quite deeply. Wizards rarely had significant weaknesses, especially as they grew more powerful. During the apprentice stage, most focused on enhancing their mental strength and magic skills, with physical fitness taking a back seat. It wasnt that they disregarded physical fitnessit was mainly due to limited lifespan and energy. These considerations typically arose after bing official wizards with extended lifespans.


    Witnessing Lynns knight-level physical fitness, Anousheh, whose surprise attack had failed, spoke, attempting to reason with him, Lynn, they were in the wrong, but killing Hans is enough. He has paid with his life. I hope you can make your subordinates stop. Some of them have elders who have be official wizards. You wouldnt want to attract the attention of official wizards, would you?


    Thest sentence carried a subtle threat.


    Lynn raised his left hand,manding the blood-soaked Iron Earthworm to abruptly halt its movements. Using its lower body for support, it stood in ce, raising its body high. Its chrysanthemum-shaped mouthparts opened, revealing sharp saw-like teeth emitting hot breath.


    Lynn knew that the deal offered by Angley wasnt as simple as it seemed. However, before taking action, Lynn had anticipated this possibility. With so many ancestors of these noble wizard apprentices boarding the ship, not all of them could be trapped in the apprentice level. There would inevitably be a few lucky ones or exceptionally gifted individuals who would be official wizards.


    Right, the standard for bing an official wizard seemed to be Lynn recalled a question he had asked Wizard Harin a month ago.


    He remembered Harins responsea standard of 100 points of standard mental strength, passing the official wizards sublimation ceremony, producing a talent spell, owning a wizard tower, and having a small legion of followers or adherents. The legions minimum standard was having a reasonable mix of professions and the ability to independently conquer a conventional small kingdom. This was the true standard for an official wizard.


    It was precisely due to these cumbersome requirements that many third-level wizard apprenticesnguished in this stage throughout their lives.


    <em>I just want to quietly carry out my daily tasks</em>. Lynn silently uttered in his heart. He swiftly swung down his left hand, and the Iron Earthworm transformed into a killing machine once again.


    <em>But my deal isnt over yet. Missing the chance to massacre so many of you at once I truly wont be able to sleep at night</em>. Lynns eyes gleamed with swirling murderous intent.


    TL/N: They actually belong to Duke of Cuckoo Flower as opposed to Duke of Luan Tailbloom as previously tranted in chapter 16. It has been fixed. Chapter 33 also mentioned more details on all the three dukes of the kingdom.<hr>


    Support this Trantion!


    Small donations, your kind support and generosity really helps a lot and keeps me motivated in bringing more content! Thank /eness

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67


    If you dare toy a hand on us, arent you afraid of the wizards retaliation? The noble wizard apprentice, now slumped on the ground, eximed in shock and anger.


    Perhaps you overestimate your own status, Lynn replied coolly.


    Compared to those truly powerful wizards, wizard apprentices were inconsequential, as inconsequential as a handful of kindling.


    Youre making enemies with Wizards Mutual Aid Alliance of the Erdolu Kingdom by attacking us, Anousheh said with a displeased expression, having lost so many people before the academy selection even began.


    The deed was done, and there was no way for him to kneel and beg for mercy.


    Lynn remained unfazed, he never regretted what he had done.


    Anousheh gritted his teeth. He knew this incident was extremely rare, even whenpared to previous boarding events. As the leader this time, such a major oversight would undoubtedly lower his standing in the eyes of his elders, affecting his interests.


    If Hans were still alive, he would definitely give that fool a harsh lesson.


    Andina, lets join forces to deal with him. After releasing so many magic spells, he must be running low on mental strength, Anousheh said to Andina.


    Andinas beautiful eyes nced at Anoushehs suggestion but didnt reply.


    Anousheh ground his teeth. I owe you a favor and a magic item.


    Andinas eyes lit up. Uncle Dempsey, Sister Dolores, I need your help.


    Dempsey frowned slightly, silently sighing to himself. He felt that the youngdy might have made a wrong decision. He wasnt keen on antagonizing Lynn, given his high regard for the young man.


    Compared to these nobles who, though educated, were more naive, Lynn, with his decisive killing and unwavering nature, could achieve great things if things went smoothly.


    Unless they could ensure Lynnsplete elimination, if he managed to escape, they would need to be prepared for potential retaliation at any time.


    However, Andina had already promised the prince, and Dempsey, as her servant, wasnt in a position to question his masters decisions.


    Yes, he said.


    Dempsey stared intensely at Lynn in the distance, his lone eye burning with determination. If he was going to make a move, he had to make sure to take down this person. He unfastened the sheath at his back, revealing a pair of dual longswords that could be disassembled.


    He had earned the title of Storm Knight in the North due to the incredible speed of his dual swords, swift as a storm!


    <em>ng</em>


    The swords rang out as they scraped against each other, sparks flying. Dempsey kept his eyes fixed on Lynn, then, like a fierce tiger, lunged toward him.


    However, before he could get close to Lynn, a towering figure intercepted him. A meteor hammer swung towards Dempsey, and he had to use his dual swords to parry and slide backward.


    Looking at the lizard-man blocking him, Dempseys expression remained unchanged.


    His body slid left and right, as he continued to agilely maneuver, rhythmically thrusting his two swords forward. Lauren, relying on the lizard-mans enhanced dynamic vision, struggled to keep up with Dempseys rhythm but seemed unlikely to hold out for much longer.


    It seemed that his stored experience points would have to be used. Lynn, observing the battle, turned his attention to Lauren, who was falling behind. Although Lauren was strong, hisck ofbat experience was evident against Dempsey.


    Although relying on the attack range of the meteor hammer, Lauren managed to haphazardly block Dempsey temporarily. However, as time passed, trouble was bound to arise.


    Lynn made a quick decision, investing all 3000 general experience points into leveling up.


    Level 2124.


    Physical Fitness: 10.0519.05, Mental Strength: 24.733.7.


    The mental energy that had been consumed by more than half suddenly increased sharply. The consumed mental energy would naturally not be restored, but the newly gained mental energy would not dissipate. The most significant improvement was in his physical fitness, nearly doubling his previous capabilities.


    This unparalleled boost in speed allowed him to outrun the group of inexperienced wizard apprentices, making it impossible for them to catch up. While assessing the battlefield, Lynn also kept an eye on Anousheh, while incessantly chanting spells. He used a Minor Fireball spell to deflect the frost rays Anousheh had unleashed. The collision of the two zero-ring spells collided and dissipated in the air.


    Then Lynn rolled awkwardly to evade the me arrow shot by Andina. Watching the gaping hole left in the ground behind him, Lynns mind raced. He had the upper hand in the surprise attack that allowed him to massacre the defenseless noble wizard apprentices, but now he faced two noble wizard apprentices simultaneously. It wasnt that hecked confidence in defeating them, but he couldnt be certain if there were hidden enemies among the onlookers.


    The crowd was vast, and those who were spectators a moment ago might be assants in the next. Lynn couldnt guarantee that he could always perfectly dodge spells in the heat of battle. The wizarding world was filled with strange and diverse spells.


    Lynn decided that once he settled down, he would thoroughly study defense and survival skills. Just as Lynn scanned his surroundings, a faint blue arc suddenly shot out from an inconspicuous corner of the crowd. Lynn realized at thest moment, but his body couldnt keep up. The speed of the electric arc was too fast, and it struck Lynn in an instant.


    A transparent barrier appeared a few feet away from Lynns wizard robe, and the electric arc dissipated into ashes in the void, neutralized by the power of the transparent barrier.


    Damn, theres really a sneak attacker! Lauren, lets go. Lynn cursed.


    Following the direction of the spell, Lynn looked at a freckled young man with short red hair. Lynns eyes were filled with hostility. <em>Kid, I remember your face.</em>


    He had anticipated the possibility of unscrupulous apprentices attempting to ambush him, so he had always kept a portion of his attention on the others around him. However, this lightning spell was too fasteven though he saw it, his body couldnt react quickly enough.


    Lynn swiftly ran towards the nearby forest, chanting incantations incessantly. Due to the sprint, the rhythm of casting spells was affected, slowing him down a bit. Several zero-ring spells flew towards him, but they were all countered by the transparent barrier outside Lynns wizard robe.


    However, Lynn could sense that the remaining power in the shield spell of the wizard robe was dwindling. At most, it could withstand one or two more zero-ring spells.


    Light of Darkness. Lynn unleashed a spell that Roger had once cast. Ayer of ck film spread rapidly, forming a semicircr, inverted dark area with a diameter of thirty meters.


    This area conveniently connected Lynns current position with the dense forest.


    Upon receiving Lynnsmand, Lauren promptly retreated. Dempsey firmly engaged with Lauren, and in the end, Lauren, who had endured a sword strike to his back, escaped into the area shrouded by the Light of Darkness.


    The other wizard apprentices were unaware of the effect of the Light of Darkness. Apart from casting spells, they hesitated to enter the covered area. Finally, another apprentice who was spectating recognized the Light of Darkness and exined its effects.


    However, by the time this apprentice spoke, Lynn had already run into the woods, disappearing into the dense forest.


    Witnessing Lynns formidable performance and ruthless tactics, with no one leading, nobody dared to pursue. Moreover, Lynns speed during the recent escape was too rapideven if someone wanted to chase, they wouldnt catch up.


    Perhaps a few knights could keep up, but chasing alone without wizard support would be suicidal.


    Instead of making a direct escape into the woods, Lynn withdrew Lauren and the two Iron Earthworms that emerged from the ground back into the Alchemy Laboratory. He then changed his position and observed the surroundings discreetly.


    Anousheh was busy organizing the bodies of the remaining noble wizard apprentices from the Erdolu Kingdom. Other wizard apprentices, realizing that there was no more good show to watch, gradually dispersed.

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    After waiting for a while and realizing that there was no chance of another ambush, Lynn retreated into the forest.


    The forest was filled with tall trees, their trunks covered in moss, and the ground slightly damp with rainwater-soaked dposed leaves.


    Lynn walked deeper into the woods, using his mental strength to ensure that there was no one around. He carefully concealed the Alchemy Laboratorys Rubiks Cube under the decaying leaves, then opened the true form of the Alchemy Laboratory and entered.


    Spending the night in the primitive forest outside was not asfortable as enjoying the warmth of a small bed inside the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Upon entering the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn immediately caught a whiff of a strong smell of blood. Lauren was crouched on the ground, and arge pool of blood had umted beneath him.


    Bowa was squatting behind Lauren, carefully stitching up his wounds in distress.


    Lynn walked over and examined the situation. A gruesome wound had been shed across Laurens back, and the scales on the surface of the skin near the wound were shattered.


    The scales on Laurens body were extremely tough, even a musket might not be able to harm them. The knight who wielded two swords and managed to shatter the scales was no ordinary swordsman. Lynn touched the wound, the broken scales around the wound indicated that they were crushed by a powerful force.


    The flesh around the wound was torn, and even the ribs on his back were visible. One of the ribs, directly impacted, had a small crack.


    Ill take care of it, Lynn said, crouching down and taking the needle and thread from Bowa.


    As Lynn looked at Laurens wound, he contemted the methods to modify them. Oh no, treat the injury.


    Almost sumbed to his upational disease, Lynn recalled the various experiments and potions rted to mutant lizard-men he had conducted in Harinsboratory.


    As he saw Laurens familiar, bloodied lizard-man body, Lynn couldnt help but think of those mutated lizard-men he had dissected.


    Quickly, Lynn treated the wound, stitching it up with a neat and smooth line following the muscles texture.


    The wound is stitched up, Lynn said, standing up.


    Try not to engage in strenuous activities recently, Lynn emphasized.


    I havent been doing anything strenuous, Lauren scratched his head.


    Lynn nced at Lauren. Dont turn myboratory into a nursery, creating a litter of half-lizards before we even get to the Wizard Academy.


    Laurens face instantly turned awkward, his gaze wandering, scratching his bald head, unable to suppress a silly grin.


    Lynn shook his head and then sat on the bed to begin meditating.


    He needed to recover his mental strength quickly.


    For a wizard, ensuring the abundance of mental strength was essential to maintaining a sense of security!


    On the other side.


    Inside a snowy white building, Harin sat across from a young wizard with luxurious attire, shoulder-length golden hair, and an exceptionally handsome appearance.


    Youve been sitting here for five hours and thirty minutes. If you have nowhere to sleep, I can lend you my room, Diasterdan said helplessly.


    Is that young apprentice your student? You seemed to care about him so much. Diasterdan asked curiously.


    Whats it to you? Harin nced at him.


    Diasterdan smiled.


    Since youve stopped me, Ill give you this face. The deceased noble wizard apprentices outside had no connection to him. The only one who was rted to him by blood, Andina, was so distant, spanning over a dozen generations, that it was as thin as paper.


    The only thing that caught his interest was Andinas wizard talent, which was barely decent. If she was willing to put in effort and had some luck, there was a slight chance for her to be an official wizard.


    Andina was fine, but he couldnt be bothered to care about the others.


    However, I am curious. With your personality, why would you care so much about a wizard apprentice? Is he perhaps your illegitimate child?


    Thats not right either. Before Harin could respond, Diasterdan shook his head.


    If he were an illegitimate child, he wouldnt appear in the Erdolu Kingdom. He would directly participate in the Abyss Wizard Academy assessment through internal channels.


    Theyve invited you several times to join the Erdolu Wizards Mutual Aid Alliance. After all, you were once a wizard who emerged from the Erdolu Kingdom. In the wizarding world, there are many organizations like ours, some based on ethnicity, others on countries or regions. Joining our Erdolu Wizards Mutual Aid Alliance would provide you with channels for trade and exchanges of resources, Diasterdan said. This time, they entrusted me to extend the invitation to you.


    Youre quite talkative this time, Harin replied with a cold tone.


    Diasterdan chuckled, Oh, Ive been conducting experiments all these years, secluded for too long. Whenever I see a living person, I cant help but ramble. You dont mind me talking too much, do you?


    Harin sensed something and suddenly turned his head to the left.


    To the left was a wall, empty and barren.


    Following Harins gaze, Diasterdan also looked, Oh, the apprentice you value has returned. What is he up to?


    On the other side of the street, a tall and thin man in a ck wizard robe, wearing a mask, walked into the street with somewhat stiff steps.


    The pure golden mask had two holes only at the eye position.


    Behind the holes, a pair of dark eyes were hidden under the hood of the wizard robe, scanning the surroundings slowly.


    This was Lynn, who, after meditating to restore his mental strength, had spent a little time crafting a golden mask for himself.


    There werent many materials in theboratory, only some useless gold.


    The internal part of this golden mask was engraved with simple runes, capable of slightly disrupting mental probing.


    However, it was only a slight interference, and if someone insisted on forcibly probing Lynn regardless of his feelings, he wouldnt be able to stop them.


    Of course, generally speaking, wizards wouldnt be so impolite as to pry into others unless there were conflicts.


    Lynn stopped in his tracks, looking at the familiar red short hair not far away in the wall corner.


    Now it was already midnight, and most wizard apprentices didnt have spatial items. They could only find a ce near the buildings to rest for the night.


    Fortunately, it wasnt raining tonight, and the moonlight was hazy, creating a quiet night.


    Lynn sighed inwardly.


    <em>After being attacked tactically, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. So I stayed up all night long to restore my mental strength. How can you still manage to sleep peacefully?</em>


    <em>Since you enjoy resting so much, why not have a good eternal sleep?</em> Lynn extended a hand from beneath his ck robe.


    Subtle fluctuations of mental energy circted


    In fact, just as Lynn had spected, some had considered the possibility of Lynn returning, but they found it somewhat absurd.


    Moreover, they were still resting near the wizards building, and even Lynn, as audacious as he might be, wouldnt dare to engage in wrongdoing right under the noses of wizards.


    <em>Boom!!!</em>


    The explosion sound of a Minor Fireball spell tore through the night sky.<hr>


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 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69


    Lynn gazed at the Minor Fireball spell that exploded like fireworks not far in front of him.


    The Shield spell trembled violently, sending ripples through it more intense than any previous tremor. It seemed that even among zero-ring spells, the Minor Fireball spell ranked high in terms of lethality.


    On the ground not far away, the young man with short red hair had just had his neck broken by Mages Hand.


    As a sneak attacker, Lynn would never foolishly use the Minor Fireball spell, which is both illuminating and conspicuous. After all, he wasnt preparing to ambush just one person.


    Although he had mastered more than a dozen spells, most of them were functional or non-lethal spells. Examples include Bright Magic, Restoration, Touch of Fatigue, Switch, Communication, Light of Darkness, and so on. Even the two one-ring spells he possessed, Terror and Earth Ring, were primarily for restraint and control, with almost zero direct lethality.


    Apart from Acid Missile, the only spell that could kill instantly was the Minor Fireball spell, and, in special circumstances, the Mages Hand.


    However, Acid Missile wasnt an instant kill, and the strong corrosive damage from the spell would undoubtedly elicit screams from the victim that could wake others.


    Therefore, Lynn used the Mages Hand, covering the victims head with a giant hand, much like twisting a bottle cap.


    But where did this Minor Fireball spell came from that hit him instead?


    Lynn followed the direction of the Minor Fireball spell.


    He saw a familiar face at the end of the alley in the distanceAnousheh.


    Anousheh sighed deeply and looked at the Shield spell outside Lynns body with aplex expression.


    Defensive magic items that could automatically activate the defensive Shield spell were very precious, especially for wizards at the apprentice level like them.


    Even he didnt possess such a valuable treasure.


    This type of defensive magic item could protect one in many critical moments.


    Did you guess I woulde back? Lynn remarked.


    I couldnt be entirely certain, your decisive style of action just made me somewhat prepared, Anousheh replied, leaning to the side with a magic staff in hand.


    Lynn reflected, acknowledging that he had indeed underestimated these nobles.


    While they mightckbat experience, having received the kingdoms finest education since childhood, their thinking might be somewhat rigid at times, but fundamentally, they were the kingdoms elite who had received the best education in the current era.


    I warned them about the possibility of you returning to attack at night. Some agreed to be cautious, but now it seems that Perlus, that fool, overlooked my words, Anousheh said.


    In the beginning, I actually wanted to be friends with you, Anousheh continued, Unfortunately, things often take an unexpected turn.


    Behind Anousheh, several wizard apprentices followed him out.


    The door of the neighboring room suddenly opened.


    Wizard Harin and a handsome, blond wizard stepped out of the house.


    Dont cause too much trouble. Its time for everyone to rest. If you disturb a wizard on this street with a bad temper, youll have to bear the consequences yourselves, Diasterdan, following behind Harin, spoke.


    This matter ends here, Harin nced at Diasterdan behind him and said.


    Anousheh fell silent. In reality, another noble wizard apprentice had died on their side, but now, with two wizardsing out and dering the matter over, it seemed to be settled.


    Youre not his match. This little guys mental strength has already reached the level of a third-level apprentice, right? Quite impressive talent, Diasterdan chuckled.


    A third-level wizard apprentice!?


    Anoushehs heart tightened, feeling somewhat bitter. He was only at the level of a second-level wizard apprentice himself, still a small distance away from bing a third-level wizard apprentice. He had been trained by wizards since childhood.


    Using the juice of mugwort-leaves to cleanse his body and promote mental growth, and consuming the best dietary supplement daily.


    During the growth process, he underwent various exercises of willpower and received education from teachers in the royal academy.


    Even so, he was still far from bing a third-level wizard apprentice. Stories and rumors he heard since childhood fueled his desire to step onto that ship. The wizard apprentice who had instructed him described that if the Erdolu Kingdom was a barren countryside, then the Wizard Continent was a magnificent and fantastical Demon Kings Castle, full of danger and opportunities.


    Only on the Wizard Continent could he receive better and more professional education.


    So, he had been preparing for this moment since childhood. Yet, after nearly a decade of effort, the result told him that the mental strength of amoner wizard was higher than that of a noble wizard who had received specialized education since childhood.


    Very well, Lord. Lets put an end to this matter, Anousheh said in a low voice.


    Lynns mind racedif he decided to run, Anousheh would have a hard time stopping him. However, now that Wizard Harin had emerged and dered an end to the matter, Lynn pondered whether it referred to tonight or the entire transaction.


    Follow me, Wizard Harin said, seemingly sensing Lynns confusion, and walked towards the distance.


    After a moment of hesitation, Lynn followed Wizard Harin. A beam of light shed from Wizard Harins ring, and in the next moment, a metallic building appeared on the empty ground.


    The building was square, and there was only one door on the side facing them. Harin entered, and Lynn followed him inside.


    The interior was vast, lined with rows of bookshelves, each holding numerous books. The corridors between the shelves extended far into the distance.


    Seeing so many books, Lynn couldnt help but widen his eyes.


    Many of these are not magical books. They were gifts from humans in another ne after I helped them repel demons. They include a lot of local customs, humanities, and geography. However, they serve well to fill the shelves, Harin exined.


    Lynn, thinking about the demon lord named Sarth who had revealed secrets to him, suddenly felt that Harins mention of repelling demons might not be so serious.


    Our transaction is concluded, Harin stated.


    Huh? Although Lynn had some guesses, hearing Harin say these words still left him puzzled.


    A trade should be fair, Harin exined. I guided you onto the path of a wizard, and in return, you eliminate some people for me. Thats the mutual agreement between us.


    But just now, Diasterdan also made a deal with me, the blond wizard you saw. One of the side deals was to ensure Andinas safety, Harin calmly recounted. So, there was a conflict between the two transactions.


    Lynn remained silent for a moment. I can spare her life separately.


    No, a deal is a deal, and theres no room for mid-course changes, Harin looked at Lynn. You must remember thiswhen the chips of a trade are ced on the scales, any movement of the chips will tilt the bnce.


    Harin spread his hands.


    So our transaction concludes, but of course, its just our personal deal. As for any other decisions you make, thats none of my concern.


    Lynn fell silent for a moment, then nodded. I understand.


    However, let me offer you a friendly piece of advice. Among the people you killed, some of their elders have be official wizards. Although the blood ties between them span countless generations, and the kinship is thinner than clear broth, they are still their descendants. Your conspicuous actions in public may attract the attention of someone who values their reputation, and they might cause trouble for you. Or, there might be more wizard apprentices trying to please them and thus target you.


    So, I suggest you considering to the Abyss Wizard Academy. The atmosphere here is different from most other wizard academies. Once you experience it, youll understand, Harin advised.


    But that was a great opportunity, Lynn remarked.


    I know. If I were in your shoes, I might have made the same choice, Harin said, looking at Lynn with appreciation.


    If previously it was only because of Lynns innate talent, now it was because of his character that Harin admired. With his personality, it might not take long for him to fit in seamlessly at the Abyss Wizard Academyhe was a natural troublemaker.


    The Abyss Wizard Academy needed this kind of talent.


    TL/N: Last week (week 11) owed chapters Friday release (1/2)

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70


    High and dense branches of towering trees held a crow with jet-ck feathers transfixed, staring intensely at a metallic house not far away.


    The door creaked open, and a slightly pale, cold-faced, and slender young man emerged from the house. The young man suddenly turned his head to lock eyes with the crow, slipping his right hand into his pocket.


    After a moment, he swiftly withdrew a magic staff from his pocket. Sensing trouble, the crow spread its wings, ready to take flight. However, in the next instant, a powerful shock stiffened its wings, and the world spun around it. The crow tumbled from the tree to the ground, its one remaining eye fixed on the nearby earth.


    Footsteps approached, growing louder.


    Until a pair of ck, hard-leather boots kicked up gravel on the ground and appeared in its line of sight.


    Weird, I had crows following me when I just left the forest. Now theres another one, a red-eyed crow. Are there only red-eyed crows around here? Lynn picked up the crow from the ground.


    Looking at the red-eyed crow, Lynn discovered something. His expression changed slightly, and he used his fingers to pry open the feathers on its abdomen, finding an eyeball in its abdominal cavity.


    Caw! The crow emitted a painful cry.


    Lynn extended his fingers, plucking the eyeball from its abdomen. The bloodied eyeball rotated slightly on his fingertip. Lynn squinted and leaned down to sniff. It carries the scent of modification.


    Muttering to himself, a meaningful smile appeared on his pale face.


    He seemed to know how he had exposed his tracks.


    Yes, his deal with Angley was over.


    But that only meant his deal with Angley had concluded.


    The sky was slightly clear, and the weather was pleasant.


    Arge number of wizard apprentices gathered in the open space outside the street. Subsequently, a chorus of amazed gasps echoed across the venue.


    All eyes turned towards the rear mountain, where the lush forest from yesterday had transformed overnight into a towering stone maze.


    Tall walls rose likeyers of mountains, extending all the way to the middle of the ind, where a towering peak soared above the sea of clouds.


    In just one night, the world had changed, and no one knew exactly when the transformation had urred.


    Behind Harin stood a group of small, pointy-eared goblins with a fearful and trembling expression, their skin tinged with yellow-green hues.


    These goblins wore simple, dirty clothes, resembling a bunch of radishes just plucked from the soil, covered in mud.


    This ind trial is different from the previous ones, Harin surveyed the surroundings and began speaking. This time, not only the people on your ship will participate, but there will also be some special contestants.


    Your performance inside will be observed by wizards outside. If you perform well, some academies might extend an olive branch to you. Each of you will lead a goblin this time, Harin exined.


    Listen carefully, I will only say this once. Each of you will lead a goblin, and you have one month to climb to the top of the mountain through the maze.


    In the maze, there will be monsterirs. If you can conquer theseirs, you will gain some resources and points. Plundering is also allowed in the maze. If you encounter other apprentices, you can plunder their resources and points. Moreover, everything you gain in the maze can be brought out of this trial.


    Lord Wizard, may I ask what the points are for? a wizard apprentice raised their hand and inquired.


    Points represent your achievements. At the same time, points can be exchanged for magic stones. In the wizarding world, magic stones are like hard currency. Honestly, Im a bit tempted, youngds andsses, Harins face showed a gloomy smile.


    Some noble wizard apprentices eyes lit up.


    They knew the value of magic stones.


    Somemoner wizard apprentices, though unaware of magic stones at first, couldnt help but get excited when someone exined it to them.


    Choose a goblin for yourself, Harin said.


    Behind Harin, the goblins, huddled together, looked at the approaching wizard apprentices in terror.


    Lynn also stepped out of the crowd. It was like choosing merchandise, and of course, he had to hurry to pick one before all the good ones were taken.


    Passing by Harin, Lynns eyes coincidentally met Harins.


    Their gazes then shifted away as if they were strangers.


    Harin coughed twice.


    Lynns eyes fell on the second goblin closest to him. It was an elderly goblin.


    The wrinkles on its face were more than the other goblins, hunched over with a frail and bony chest, almost protruding ribs.


    Its you, Lynn pointed his finger at this goblin.


    I want this goblin too. I actually had my eye on it earlier, a voice came from the side. A wizard apprentice with a smiling face looked at Lynn. He didnt know which goblin was good or bad, but he knew that it was enough that Lynn had a good rtionship with Harin. He had two wizard apprenticepanions beside him.


    Get lost, Lynn suddenly reached out, grabbing the neck of the wizard apprentice he didnt know and lifted him high before mming him onto the ground.


    <em>Boom</em>


    Dust scattered.


    Then, Lynn pulled out his magic staff from his pocket and viciously smashed it against the fallen wizard apprentices temple.


    <em>Crack</em>.


    The temple caved in directly.


    It seemed he wouldnt survive.


    The surrounding wizard apprentices paused, all looking at Lynn. The magic staff could still be used like that?!


    Not far away, Anoushehs pupils contracted, seemingly thinking of something, and looked at Lynn with trepidation.


    Dont act cheap, I hate cheap people the most, Lynn calmly shook the magic staff, removing the blood like he had done something insignificant.


    Lynn was increasingly inclined to solveplex problems with simple methods, of course, under the condition that he had the confidence to solve the problem, not recklessly.


    For example, now, no one stepped forward to speak up for the dead wizard apprentice.


    Do you know him?


    Lynn looked at the other two people beside this wizard apprentice.


    Dont know. Not familiar, just passing by. The other two wizard apprentices quickly shook their heads.


    Youe with me, Lynn turned back to look at the old goblin.


    The old goblin nced fearfully at Lynn. It felt that Lynn might be a cruel master, but it had no choice.


    Harin turned his head, surprised that Lynn chose the oldest goblin, even though there were strong young ones behind.


    But the old goblin had more experience than the young ones. It could only be said to have advantages and disadvantages.


    Do you understand what Im saying? Lynn asked.


    I understand, the old goblin replied, trembling.


    We have undergone training, learned thenguage of the gods, the old goblin said.


    Thenguage of the gods? Was he being treated like a god by this old goblin? It was probably because the wizards who captured these goblins showed their power at the time, and the subsequent training process had an impact.


    What can you do?


    I can weave ropes, sharpen tools, and select ores, the old goblin replied truthfully. Seeing Lynns furrowed brow, the old goblin hurriedly continued, I can also cook soup, wash clothesI can do any kind of work.


    Okay.


    Lynn rubbed his forehead. Why did it feel like he had acquired a burden? What exactly was being tested in this challenge?<hr>


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    TL/N: Last week (week 11) owed chapters Friday release (2/2)

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    Lets talk over there, Lynn nced up at the mountain, where wizard apprentices had already begun their ascent.


    Once they were away from the crowd, the elderly goblin prostrated on the ground, with forehead touching the earth.


    My name is Bu, and I am honored to be chosen by the emissary of the gods, the old goblin said.


    Emissary of the gods?


    Yes, indeed. These are themands bestowed upon us by the great gods, the old goblin exined. We are toply with all the orders of the emissary of the gods, for that is the price we must pay for the gods to resurrect us.


    Resurrected? So, youve experienced death? Lynn inquired.


    Yes, but the great gods saved me, Bu said, eyes filled with awe.


    Reviving from death was impressive. Perhaps there was a divine upation rted to death or life.


    Have you seen the gods?


    I havent. The great gods are beyond my sight. However, I worship Lord God Byger, the God of the Goblin Territory and Peace, every day.


    The God of the Goblin Territory and Peace? It sounded like an impressive title.


    However, did this god have the divine upation of resurrection?


    Lynn pondered in his mind.


    Moreover, this shouldnt be a powerful god. From the prefix, it seemed to be a god of racial belief, with the divine upation focused on territory and peace. Therger the territory of the goblin race under its guidance, the more internal conflicts there were within the goblin n, and the more prosperous the development, the stronger the gods divine power.


    But given that goblins themselves were not a powerful race, based on what Lynn knew, the goblin race was currently in a declining environment.


    Of course, even the weakest god was still a true god.


    A god of this stature coborating with these wizards in the trial of a wizard apprentice seemed peculiar in every way.


    Lynn felt that Bus talk of resurrection might not necessarily be true, the old goblin might not have truly experienced death but perhaps only encountered an illusion.


    Lynn quickly considered the strength of the goblin n. He shook his heada trade seemed unlikely, and coercion might indeed be more likely.


    When you faced death, what did you see? Lynn inquired.


    I was plunged into darkness. I could see everything around me, but I couldnt control my body. Then, I saw the emissary of death taking my soul. However, the great Lord Byger sent down a divine light, driving away the emissary of death, and my soul returned to my body, Bu recounted.


    Hmm, Lynn nodded, deep in thought.


    Several people had already started climbing the mountain.


    Are you the oldest among these goblins? Lynn asked.


    Among the living goblins, I am likely the oldest. I have lived for sixty-three years, and those selected goblins are all my fellow n members, Bu said.


    They all had their souls taken by the emissary of death, and then coincidentally, they were all saved by your god? Were you trained after being selected and brought here? Lynn reiterated.


    Bu fell silent, and once again, bowed while kneeling on the ground. It seems that our n identally provoked a monster, and it was the great god who saved us.


    Sixty-three years were considered old among goblins, given their slightly shorter lifespanpared to humans.


    Get up. You dont need to kneel anymore. Can you give me a brief introduction to your n? Lynn was worried that the old goblin would faint from kneeling for too long due to poor blood cirction.


    Bu stole a nce at Lynn and cautiously said, We are a small n of the goblin race, and we worship the great Lord Byger, the God of Goblin Territory and Peace. We use this worship to resist the monthly blood tide. Our n was once prosperous, boasting professions like goblin zealots, goblin knights, and goblin engineers. However, many of these inheritances were lost, and we could only survive by hiding in the underground tunnels of the mines.


    Blood tide? Did such a thing exist in the wizarding world?


    In other words, there are no extraordinary professions among the other goblins? Lynn asked.


    No, Bus head shook.


    Lynn nodded. If there were no extraordinary professions, it didnt matter which goblin he chose. After all, these goblins wouldnt be able to break through the maze, and he nned to use them as cannon fodder bait.


    From what Lynn knew, the goblin race was an intelligent and cunning species.


    They belonged to a diminutive humanoid species, with pointed ears and skin usually of yellow or yellow-green hue, their appearance far from the aesthetic norms of humans.


    Their reproductive abilities were excellent, they were naturally adept at engineering and alchemy. Some powerful goblin civilizations even formed empires.


    However, it was said that the goblin race had once faced a major catastrophe, after which they never fully recovered.


    But thanks to their intelligence and racial talents, goblins became servants to wizards, achieving a rather unconventional achievement of proliferation.


    Not far off, several wizard apprentices were sporadically entering the mazes entrance.


    Lets go. Well enter the maze too, Lynn said.


    Lynn didnt continue questioning Bu, he realized that no matter how much he asked, he wouldnt get much useful information. Sometimes, knowing too much wasnt meaningful either.


    Stepping into the maze, they found three paths at the entrance.


    To the left and right were two corners, while the middle led up a steep slope. The ground was ordinary soil, with stubborn weeds and scattered footprints.


    Lynn observed his surroundings using his mental strength but found that the stone walls had a certain absorption effect on mental energy, preventing him from prating them.


    After some observation, Lynn chose the middle path with the fewest footprints.


    Most likely, many wizard apprentices had gone to explore the left and right paths, and few had ventured directly upward.


    After walking for a while, the surroundings remained tall stone walls, but the farther they went, the more repetitive the walls became. After several turns, they found themselves surrounded by stone walls when they turned back.


    Lynn took out a nk notebook and a pen from his spatial ring and sketched the route he had taken.


    As long as the maze didnt change, he wouldnt get lost.


    Hmm? Lynn noticed something.


    There was a hole under the left wall, about the size of a standard door.


    It was pitch-ck inside, making it impossible to see the scene beyond. However, there were several footprints leading into it.


    It seemed someone had already entered ahead of them.


    Well go inside and take a look. You follow me. Lynns eyes flickered as he walked into the doorway. It was a narrow and lengthy passage, with burning candles ced at intervals along the walls on either side.


    After walking for about a hundred meters, the passage suddenly opened up into a spacious hall.


    The air was thick with the scent of blood.


    In the center of the hall, a group of monsters d in crude armor and wielding weapons were casually tearing apart two barely recognizable corpses, sttering viscera and blood everywhere.


    Bear Bear goblins, Bu behind Lynn eximed in horror as they watched the monsters patrolling the hall.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    Their broad noses, small eyes, pointed ears, and backward-leaning foreheads made them look much like ordinary goblins, but they towered over them by more than twice the height, appearing even stronger than human warriors, resembling bear-men draped in bear skins.


    Unlike the bald heads of regr goblins, these massive creatures had a roughyer of brown or yellow fur simr to that of bears, giving them the appearance of some sort ofrge goblin-like creature.


    They resembled the bear goblins<sup>1</sup> mentioned in books.


    Are these bear goblins? Lynn asked Bu behind him in a low voice.


    Esteemed emissary of the gods, they are indeed bear goblins, a group of greedy and brutal individuals, Bu reverently replied.


    Bear goblins, Lynn recalled the descriptions of these creatures in his mind.


    They were a subspecies of the goblin race, falling into the category of goblin-like creature. They were robust and cunningdespite their towering stature, they excelled in stealthy maneuvers. They were fond of ambushing enemies, and the extraordinary professions they often transitioned to were rted to assassins and killers. Weaker bear goblins tended to hunt in groups, while stronger individuals preferred solo hunting.


    So, a simple way to gauge the strength of bear goblins was to see if they hadpanions around them.


    If there were none, and one encountered a lone bear goblin in the wilderness, it was definitely a formidable hunter capable of surviving alone. Bear goblins skilled in wilderness survival were adept at climbing, hiding, listening, sneaking, scouting, and reconnaissance. They were ruthless when ambushing enemies.


    Of course, there were also a few bear goblins who liked to enve their fellow goblins and hobgoblins to form ns. These inherently cruel creatures had strong aggressive tendencies.


    Lynn noticed something peculiarhe stood in the passage, logically speaking, the bear goblins in the hall ahead should have turned their heads and noticed him.


    But they hadnt looked in his direction from beginning to end at all.


    It seemed


    It seemed that these bear goblins hadnt noticed his presence at all.


    Lynn counted them carefully, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.


    There were a total of six bear goblins.


    Some of them bore injuries, most likely inflicted by the wizard apprentices who had entered earlier.


    Lynn narrowed his eyes, grasping his magic staff firmly in hand.


    He began preparing a spell.


    Since these bear goblins couldnt detect him in this position, he decided to start with a one-ring spell.


    Thinking about it, both Terror and Earth Ring spells were viable options.


    One caused widespread fear, while the other immobilized targets within its range.


    Dealing with bear goblins, who were known to be bullies, Terror would likely be more effective.


    The potency of spells like Terror depends on two factors. On one hand, it relies on the casters mental strength, and on the other hand, its influenced by the targets personality.


    A semi-transparent ck ripple gradually condensed at the tip of his magic staff.


    Bu discreetly raised its head, gazing in awe at the power gathering at the tip of Lynns magic staff.


    So, the emissary of the gods was a powerful spellcaster. Bu had mistakenly thought the emissary of the gods was a fierce warrior.


    Terror.


    The quivering, transparent ck ripple expanded outward.


    Within the confined space of the hall, the ripples piled up and reverberated incessantly.


    The bear goblins who had been roaming the hall trembled, their legs instinctively attempting to flee, but their weakened limbs forced them to kneel on the ground instead.


    A ferocious Minor Fireball spell then crashed into the bear goblins.


    Their tough fur was instantly sted apart, sparks flying as scorching mes spread along their fur.


    The bear goblins recoiled in pain, their small yellow eyes widening in terror as they nced in Lynns direction. Then, scrambling on all fours in a panicked frenzy, they tried to lie down to smother the mes. But the fire on their bodies was too intense, no matter how hard they tried, they couldnt extinguish it.


    Surviving a hit from a Minor Fireball spell? These bear goblins truly were resilient.


    Lynn narrowed his eyes. This time, instead of casting another Minor Fireball, he unleashed a Poison Gas Ssh spell.


    A greenish mist spread rapidly, soon enveloping the entire hidden hall.


    At this moment, footsteps echoed from behind, signaling the arrival of another wizard apprentice.


    Lynn turned around, observing the wizard apprentice behind him who appeared to be amoner wizard.


    The apprentice, apparently recognizing Lynn, shivered slightly, forcing a stiff smile on his face. I didnt know you were in here, I thought it was empty, he stammered before hastily leaving the hall.


    Watching him depart, Lynn redirected the spell he had been silently chanting onto the bear goblins.


    Dark Energy Ray.


    A beam of ck light struck the nearest bear goblin.


    The bear goblin shuddered, itsplexion visibly darkening as the dark energy invaded its body. The excessively concentrated dark energy would have negative effects on any normal creature the moment it entered the body.


    But this guy seems tough, and it looks like the direct damage isnt significant, Lynn remarked thoughtfully, observing the shuddering bear goblin.


    It seemed that the power of a zero-ring spell was stillcking. It could inflict considerable damage to ordinary people or wizards with poor physical qualities, but for such tough units, the damage from zero-ring spells was less apparent.


    Lynn continued preparing spells. With his current mental strength and the aid of his magic staff, he could cast five zero-ring spells in quick session.


    Moreover, with potions to restore his mental strength, there was no need to be overly conservative with zero-ring spells.


    Earth Ring.


    Lynn casted another one-ring spell, aiming it at the bear goblins.


    Golden chains materialized before him, swaying and swirling like serpents in the air.


    With a mentalmand, the golden chains flew towards the bear goblins. They pierced through each creature like sharp swords before disappearing into the ground.


    The ground trembled, soil broke open, and the heavy earth-colored transparent chains firmly locked all the pierced bear goblins in ce.


    The bear goblins, who had been running around in panic because of the Terror spell, stumbled and found themselves trapped in ce as the transparent earth-colored chains emerged from the ground.


    Comparing Earth Ring to Terror in terms of control, it seemed that Earth Ring might be even more effective than Terror?


    However, Earth Ring spell not only required preparation time but also had a casting process.


    If others ran fast enough to evade, the Terror spell could be cast faster.


    Once the bear goblins were bound, Lynn summoned two Iron Earthworms and Lauren from the Alchemy Laboratory to assist him in dealing with all the bear goblins.


    After disposing of all the bear goblins, Lynn instructed one Iron Earthworm to guard the entrance.


    There were no other exits inside, so Lynn first stored all the bear goblin corpses in his spatial ring.


    Having grown ustomed to living in poverty, he couldnt bear to waste any materials.


    Suddenly, the floor in the middle of the hall copsed into a circr pit. Shortly after, the circr pit rose again, revealing a hefty wooden chest in the center of the hall.


    This should be the resource reward for conquering the monsterir, as mentioned by Wizard Harin.


    Lynn pondered.


    Looking at therge wooden chest, roughly two meters long and wide, and one meter high, Lynns mind was slightly agitated, wondering what might be inside.


    Approaching, he opened the chest.


    Inside therge chest crouched two green-skinned, long-eared, shriveled-looking goblins. They gazed up imploringly at Lynn with big, tearful eyes.


    The smile on Lynns face suddenly stiffened.


    <em>I went through all that trouble to kill six bear goblins, and my reward is two little goblins?</em>


    Pull them out, Lynn said to Bu.


    Bu pulled out the two goblins and untied the ropes binding them.


    Thank you, emissary of the gods, for saving us. We are willing to serve the emissary of the gods with all we have, the two goblins said, bowing down and kissing Lynns boots.


    Hmm, Lynn responded nonchntly.


    He then looked to the bottom of the chest, where he found four small itemstwo iron tokens resembling badges, a roll of parchment, and a thin piece of paper.


    He picked up the four items.


    The piece of paper listed the effects of the other three items, and on the back, there was aplex symbol with the inscription 50 points.


    The parchment was a training manual for the extraordinary profession of goblin wanderer.


    The other two tokens were inheritance tokens for two goblin engineers, both disposable items containing the amount of knowledge a standard junior goblin engineer could possess. As long as they were used on creatures of goblin blood, all the knowledge contained in the inheritance token could be gradually absorbed within ten days.


    <em>In other words, as long as there are enough inheritance tokens and goblins, I can gain arge amount of goblin engineers in a short period? Although they are only junior goblin engineers, many basic processes can be entrusted to them. Moreover, these junior goblin engineers can continue to be trained.</em>


    <em>For any wizard apprentice, these are invaluable helpers, arent they?</em> Lynn pondered as he toyed with the tokens in his hand.


    He seemed to understand the rules of this maze now.


    At the moment, these goblins seemed to have low value, but if he could obtain many inheritance tokens, these goblins might be a considerable force.<ol><li></li></ol>

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73


    Go ahead and use it, Lynn tossed one of the junior goblin engineer tokens to Bu. He didnt mind having more goblin followers himself. Then he exined how to use it and its effects to the old goblin.


    Bu waspletely stunned by this tremendous surprise.


    A goblin engineer! To goblins, this was a profession that was engraved in their bones, one that would be envied and revered by their fellow nsmen.


    Its greatest dream had always been to be a goblin engineer.


    Lynn didnt give away the other token, for those in power feared not the scarcity of numbers, but the inequality.


    Although Bu had just started following him,pared to the other two goblins, it had been with him the longest.


    Granting it the inheritance token of a junior goblin engineer was also a statement, evident by the fact that the eyes of the other two newly recruited goblins turned from yellow to green.


    Bu ced the junior goblin engineer token on its forehead. The seemingly solid token melted like molten iron, eventually transforming into a small ck hammer held in Bus palm. Finally, a ck mole appeared on Bus forehead.


    Finally, Lynn turned his gaze to the Goblin Wanderers Training Manual.


    <em>Goblin Wanderer</em>


    Wanderers are scouts, infiltrators, spies, or wanderers roaming the wilderness.


    Theirmon trait is versatility and adaptability. Generally, wanderers are good at cunning tricks. They excel in stealth, opening treasure chests, avoiding traps, gaining the trust of enemies, or stealing a targets wallet.


    Experienced wanderers possess extraordinary abilities. They can walk briskly on steep cliffs, are proficient in bows and crossbows, rapiers, and daggers; skilled in stealth, quick reflexes, and possess excellent assassination skills. Furthermore, although wanderers are not proficient in spellcasting, they still possess some shadow magic as they wander in the darkness.


    Wanderersplementary magic:


    Trap Detection, Shadow Stealth, Sound Suppression.


    Wanderers weapon proportions:


    Rapier: The optimal length should be the length of the users arm, the width should not exceed 1/20 of the length, and the weight should not exceed 1/10 of the users single-handed strength. The material used to forge a rapier should maintain a certain flexibility, allowing the sword tip to bend more than ny degrees without deforming to be qualified.


    Dagger: The optimal length should be about 1/3 of the users arm length, the width should not exceed 1/8 of the length, and the weight should not exceed 1/10 of the users single-handed strength. The material used to forge a dagger should be kept hard.


    Lynn scanned through the manual carefully, reading from top to bottom.


    The Goblin Wanderers Training Manual was very detailed, covering everything from the introduction of wanderers to the model of wanderers weapon forging and the wanderers transformation ritual, all written clearly and concisely.


    However, the magic of goblin wanderers is different from the spells of wizards.


    The magic of goblin wanderers has a limit on usage.


    After using a spell once, sufficient rest is needed before the same spell can be cast again.


    Lynn finished reading it and discovered the reason.


    It was because the casting ability of goblin wanderers was actually obtained through a transformation ritual.


    One of the important steps of the transformation ritual was to connect to the wizardwork.


    Each time the casting ability was borrowed from the wizardwork by the caster.


    Lynn found it somewhat familiar; it resembled the magicwork of the goddess of magic.


    Could it be that the wizards had created a knockoff version?


    The magicwork had its pros and cons. In fact, many wizards needed to rely on the magicwork to cast spells because the magical elements in nature were inherently chaotic and vtile. They permeated every bit of matter, manifesting in various forms of energy in the multiverse. They were like a group of untamed wild horses or a stubborn and rigid rock. Without enough strength, it was difficult to control these unruly elements, or they might simply ignore yourmands.


    The greatest use of the magicwork was to ensure that mid-to-low-level professions could cast spells steadily and continuously. As for those powerful beings, they didnt need to bother with such troubles to cast magic.


    The magicwork was a transit filteringwork. It was said that the magicwork infiltrated every corner of the natural world, and there was almost always the presence of the magicwork.


    They were the bridge between spellcasters and the elements of nature.


    Through the magicwork, lower-level spellcasters could easily cast spells. Of course, while it was easier, the consumption of mental energy still urred. Casting spells required mental energy. To ensure the health of the casters body and maintain the stability of the magicwork, professions had a limit on the number of times they could cast spells at each level.


    Simply put, it was possible to cast spells without relying on the magicwork, but this method was prone to idents and had high difficulty requirements.


    And the path that wizards took was to not rely on the magicwork for casting spells.


    For most professions, as long as they could cast spells, it was enough. Asking them to slowly understand the principles of spells and elements was too painful a task.


    This was Lynns understanding of the magicwork, but the wizardwork was something he had heard of for the first time, likely something concocted by a powerful wizard.


    Lynn nced at the transformation ritual, realizing hecked many of the required materials.


    However, there should be a chance to find the materials needed for the transformation ritual in the treasure chests of other monsterirs.


    <em>Lets continue, sweeping through the other monsterirs.</em>


    He instructed the three goblins to follow him closely.


    Then, two Iron Earthworms burrowed into the ground. Except for the walls, the paths in the maze were all made of earth, allowing the Iron Earthworms to burrow underground.


    However, feedback soon came from the Iron Earthworms that they could only burrow about fifty meters underground before hitting an invisible barrier. Beyond that depth, the ground seemed imprable, causing them dizziness upon impact.


    You guys go into the Alchemy Laboratory first, and once inside, dont touch anything, Lynn thought for a moment, worried that these three goblins might die from AOE, so he decided to take them into the Alchemy Laboratory.


    These three skinny goblins had nobat power at all. It was estimated that a single one of them wouldnt even be able to beat a strong farmer.


    As Lynn continued forward, he soon found another entrance simr to the previous one.


    Upon entering, however, he discovered that the monsterir had already been taken down. The ground and walls were covered in traces of spells, and the bodies of the monsters were nowhere to be found. It seemed that the other party had used spatial items to remove the monster corpses from their.


    Narrowing his eyes in thought, Lynn cast a Minor Illusion Spell, creating a decoy of himself ahead.


    Then, Lynn himself followed from a distance. If only he could cast invisibility or stealth spells, it would be even more perfect, Lynnmented.


    After advancing for a few hundred meters, Lynn encountered another fork in the path, with one path leading left and the other right.


    Left for the front, right for the back, Lynn decided.


    He took out a coin from his pocket, tossed it into the air, and let it fall to the ground. The coinnded heads up. In that case, lets continue to the left.


    ncing at the footprints on the ground, he noticed that there were significantly fewer footprints on the left sidepared to the right.


    Just as Lynn had walked a few hundred meters, he heard faint sounds ahead. Then, he sensed that his illusion shattered, evidently struck by an external force.

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    Through the feedback from the Iron Earthworms, Lynn learned that there were five disturbances on the ground after the corner ahead.


    However, Lynn also realized that he had been exposed. The shattered illusion not only informed him of the malicious presence ahead but also alerted the five individuals ahead of his existence.


    Five disturbances meant five individuals.


    On his side, there were only four units withbat capabilities, including the Iron Earthworms and Lauren.


    If he could train the goblin wanderers, he would have an additional group of scouts to go ahead and gather intelligence. They couldunch surprise attacks to disrupt the enemys rhythm and buy time.


    Lynn quickly formted a n after pondering for a moment. He created another Minor Illusion Spell and sent it forward while preparing his Earth Ring spell. The range of the Earth Ring spell was much farther than that of the Terror spell.


    Using the Terror spell might not be able to scare all of them at once.


    As the illusion turned the corner, it was immediately met with an extremely thin beam of electric energy. From the side, there was a ssh of acid and a sharp arrow pierced through the illusion. Finally, there was a dazzling sh like a lightbulb, illuminating the stone wall brilliantly.


    The illusion was shattered in an instant.


    Faintly, Lynn heard voicesing from around the corner, saying things like Another illusion? Unbelievable. Dirty tricks.


    Seizing the opportunity, Lynn leaned out and exposed half of his body, throwing his Earth Ring spell.


    The chains of the Earth Ring pierced through the bodies of the five individuals and then disappeared into the ground.


    The thick, translucent chains of illusion restrained the five individuals.


    Lynn quickly scanned the area. There were three individuals dressed as wizards, as well as an entourage dressed as an archer and another as a swordsman.


    After identifying the positions of the five individuals, Lynn retreated, narrowly avoiding an arrow that flew past him.


    The Earth Ring spell could only restrain their positions, but it didnt affect their actions like spellcasting or shooting arrows.


    Damn, this seems to be a one-ring spell. It will take time to break free, one wizard apprentice recognized that the spell under him waspletely different from the zero-ring spell.


    Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet copsed, and a gaping mouth opened, spewing out from the soil. The Iron Earthworms leaped out of the ground, swallowing the lower bodies of the two wizard apprentices directly into their bellies.


    Their lower halves were devoured in one bite, leaving the two wizard apprentices with only their upper bodies lying on the ground. Their hands wed forward, trailing long streaks of blood behind them.


    The other three, witnessing this scene, turned pale. Finally, they understood how to break free from the chainsas long as they had no legs, they could escape.


    Lynn summoned one of the goblins he had subdued earlier from the Alchemy Laboratory. When I signal you, run out, but remember to evade, Lynn instructed the goblin.


    The goblin, whose name Lynn didnt know, nodded tremblingly.


    Standing beside Lynn, Lauren hesitated for a moment before volunteering, Master, I can also go out. Im tough and can take a beating.


    Not necessary yet, Lynn replied sinctly.


    Lauren quickly nodded and turned back to keep watch behind them. In this maze, they had to be cautious not only ahead but also behind.


    After preparing a new spell, Lynn gave the goblin a nod.


    The goblin caught on quickly and rushed out, clutching its head. But soon after, a sharp arrow flew out from the corner towards the goblin.


    Following closely behind was a rolling glob of acid.


    Feeling a weight on its shoulder, the goblin was hit on the arm by the arrow, causing it to stumble and fall to the ground while running forward.


    The acid flew a distance beforending not far from the goblin.


    Lynn turned and stepped out, aiming a Minor Fireball spell at thest remaining wizard apprentice.


    The apprentice, bound by the Earth Ring spell, became an easy target in the brilliant explosion of mes, reduced to ashes.


    With no more wizard apprentices, only thest two entourages remained.


    The swordsman among them continued to struggle. His longsword was covered in a thinyer of energy as he swung it continuously, trying to cut through the chains on his feet, managing to create some small nicks.


    However, considering the thickness of the chains, it would still take him some time to break free.


    The injured goblin approached slowly, clutching its arrow-pierced arm.


    Not bad, Lynn said, tossing another goblin engineers inheritance token to the goblin.


    It was a well-deserved reward.


    The archer was about to continue shooting arrows, but he was swallowed up by the ground as an Iron Earthworm emerged from the earth.


    Lynn felt that the tactic ofbining the Earth Ring spell with the Iron Earthworms was quite effective.


    Lynns gaze fell on thest swordsman.


    This swordsman seemed to be quite mature, perhaps nearing forty. He had a circle of beard on his cheeks, a sturdy build, and was d in finely crafted leather armor. His gaze was steady.


    Noticing Lynns gaze, the swordsman paused his futile actions.


    There was no fear in his brown eyes.


    Please allow me to choose a dignified death, the swordsman said calmly.


    Very well, Lynn agreed without hesitation, positioning himself behind Lauren.


    The swordsman raised his longsword high and shed it across his own neck.


    A spray of blood sttered, and the swordsman fell.


    These entourages were all part of noble estates, carefully trained from a young age as servants. Their loyalty to the nobles was unparalleled, and under normal circumstances, they would not surrender.


    Looking at the bodies strewn across the ground, Lynn felt like something was missing. He looked around and suddenly realized that he hadnt seen their goblins yet.


    There should have been at least three goblins with the wizard apprentices. Even if something unexpected happened midway, it was unlikely that they would all die, unless they had some spatial items to carry the goblins.


    Narrowing his eyes, Lynn inspected the bodies of the three wizard apprentices.


    He instructed the Iron Earthworms to regurgitate the swallowed bodies of the wizard apprentices.


    The bodies, covered in mucus, fell to the ground.


    You two, search the bodies and take off all their ornaments and belongings, Lynn instructed Lauren and the injured goblin.


    Then, Lynn turned to look at the nearby entrance.


    Inside should be the monsterir.


    It was likely that these people were nning to explore this monsterir, or perhaps they had just finished exploring and wereing out, only to run into Lynns illusion.


    Lynn instructed the Iron Earthworms to continue burrowing underground. The Iron Earthworms could sense ground vibrations, making them adept at detecting footsteps. They were perfect for surveince.


    Master, heres everything, Lauren said, having stripped the wizard apprentices of all their belongings and neatly arranged them on the side, not even leaving out their clothes.


    One of the items immediately caught Lynns eye, resembling a miniature house model. It looked like a forest cabin, about the size of a palm, and appeared exquisitely crafted.


    Beside ity a sheet resembling an instruction manual.


    Lynn nced at the contents.


    The name of this wooden house model was Goblin Cabin.


    By channeling mental energy into it, the goblin cabin could be activated. It would then expand proportionally, allowing goblins to enter and live inside. Inside, there was also a simple workbench for the goblins to engage in handicrafts. Furthermore, each goblin cabin could amodate up to 20 goblins living inside, but it was best to have around 10 goblins for the healthiest living conditions.


    In addition to the goblin cabin, there were also two bundles of materials stored in leather.


    These were precisely the materials Lynn had been longing for, the ones needed for the goblin wanderer transformation ritual not long ago.

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75


    In addition to these findings, there were also two spatial essories for storing items.


    One was a brass-colored emerald ne, and the other was an intricate bracelet, slightly stained with blood. Lynn took out some water and cleaned off the bloodstains.


    Then he ced them together with the spatial item he had found from the broken ring-like object in the monsterir not long ago.


    He nned to examine the contents of these spatial essories slowly when he rested at night.


    Lynn continued to walk towards the depths of the maze.


    As he delved deeper into the maze, the number of intersections increased, and the likelihood of encountering other wizard apprentices decreased.


    Hundreds of people were dispersed in this vast maze, and as Lynn ventured further, it felt as though he was a drop of water merging into arge pond.


    Lynn discovered a pattern in the monsterirs: there was basically one every few kilometers.


    The monsters in theseirs were random, but the number of monsters encountered in theirs so far was notrge, and their strength was not formidable. They were not even as fierce as the bear goblins Lynn had encountered before.


    For Lynn, the greatest benefity in replenishing his stock of monster corpses, while also gaining practical experience in dealing with these creatures.


    For a wizard apprentice who had studied mutation up to level 2, the allure of these various monster corpses was even greater than that of the few magic items he had obtained.


    In the evening, Lynn settled down in a recently cleared monsterir.


    He infused mental energy into the goblin cabin, then ced the palm-sized structure on the ground.


    After two seconds, the goblin cabin expanded continuously, like an inted balloon.


    It eventually transformed into a two-story wooden cabin about seven or eight meters high.


    The wooden structure had doors, windows, and a chimney.


    Inside the cabin, there were many goblins crammed together, and their sharp and noisy voices could be heard through the windows.


    Lynn opened the door, and the goblins poured out.


    Leading them was Bu, whom Lynn had temporarily appointed as the leader of these goblins.


    Behind Bu was Stone, who was wrapped in gauze around its<sup>1</sup> shoulders.


    Stone was the name Lynn bestowed upon the second goblin.


    As for the remaining goblins, they were nameless; their original names had been discarded, and they were now designated as Goblin 01, Goblin 02, Goblin 03, and so on.


    Removing their names was akin to removing their individuality, in turn fostering their collective identity.


    Only goblins who had performed great feats were eligible to receive independent names bestowed by the emissary of the gods Lynnthis was the firstmand Lynn had given them as part of his brainwashing.


    At the same time, Lynn also used a system of merit-based distribution for food.


    Of course, primarily it was because there wasnt enough food on him at the moment.


    Lynn looked at the rows of goblins before him, showing a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.


    On this journey, coupled with the five goblins from the goblin cabin he had captured from the three wizard apprentices, he now had a total of sixteen goblins.


    These little dwarfs were like children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, finding it difficult to stand still and maintain a standard posture.


    They would asionally scratch their buttocks, scratch their waists, shake their legs, or wiggle their shoulders.


    Stay still and maintain your posture for ten minutes, Lynn said sternly.


    Hearing Lynns stern voice, the goblins quickly sped their hands together on both sides of their hips. But after a while, some goblins couldnt help but make some small movements.


    After ten minutes, the goblins finally breathed a sigh of relief, and their movements became more pronounced, although there were still a few goblins who, seeing Lynn remain silent, continued to maintain their posture.


    A few minutester, Lynn pointed to several goblins. You, you, you, and you,e out.


    The other goblins watched gleefully as these four namedpanions were singled out, knowing that being called out was definitely not a good thing.


    Follow me to undergo the goblin wanderer transformation ritual.


    Originally a bit nervous about being named, the goblins who heard the words of the emissary of the gods were excitedly screaming.


    Seeing this scene, the other goblins eyes turned green with envy.


    Because these four behaved the best just now, so I rewarded them, Lynn exined.


    He needed to quickly convert these acquired resources into actualbat power. He believed that today, not only himself, but many other wizard apprentices were also undergoing transformation rituals.


    As they progressed further, the influence of other wizard apprentices also grew stronger.


    So, in this initial stage, Lynns requirements for rewards would be lenient. However, after the maze ended, Lynn would definitely not be so generous with rewards for transformation rituals, because by then, he would be spending his own money to buy resources!


    Currently, these resources were all rewards from the maze. Now, it was necessary to cultivate fighting strength as quickly as possible to reap more benefits in the maze.


    After finishing speaking, Lynn turned around and began to arrange the formation for the goblin wanderer transformation ritual.


    The goblin wanderer transformation ritual required sprinkling a raw material called lightstone powder on the ground, then drawing a specific magic array.


    The raw material package contained lightstone powder.


    Lynn hadnt studied magic arrays, and he didnt understand the meaning of the mysterious symbols on the magic array he drew, but that didnt prevent him from meticulously replicating them one-to-one based on the magic array images in the goblin wanderer training manual.


    After nearly half an hour of drawing, the magic array was finallypleted.


    However, there were several minor issues that arose during this process. Lynn noticed that the angles of several areas were slightly off, so he made repeated adjustments.


    As Lynn looked at the magic array before him, he couldnt help but ponder a question.


    All the other raw materials in the ritual were consumables, unlike lightstone powder, which could be modified repeatedly. If the ritual failed, wouldnt that mean wasting a portion of the raw material?


    The sess rate of this transformation ritual didnt seem to be one hundred percent.


    Lynn began the second step, being extremely careful with each action.


    He poured the blood of the Shadow Arachnid into several specific areas of the sacrificial ritual formation.


    The blood of the Shadow Arachnid was blue, and as it soaked into the white powder, it dyed that area blue.


    Then came the third step, and the fourth step


    Looking at thepleted transformation ritual magic array before him, Lynn felt a deep sense of aplishment.


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, even with his physical condition, he was exhausted. This kind of intense and meticulous work was extremely physically demanding.


    Whos going in first? Lynn asked the four goblins.


    While the other goblins hesitated, the smallest and most timid-looking goblin among them suddenly stepped forward.


    Ill do it!


    This goblin was shorter than the others by about a head, but its eyes were different from the others. While the other goblins had eyes that were beige or dark yellow, its eyes were a rare orange-red.


    Then its you.


    The goblin walked into the formation.


    Lynn closed his eyes and recited the incantation ording to the steps in the manual.


    As the cryptic incantation echoed in the hall, the transformation ritual magic array on the ground suddenly lit up with a dazzling light!


    In the depths of his mind, Lynn felt as though his consciousness and the transformation ritual magic array were somehow connected.


    Across the vast expanse, Lynn sensed a vastwork, a web that obscured the stars and covered the sun and moona vast, omnipresentwork.


    His soul seemed insignificant before this vastwork.


    Then, a trace of power separated from this vastwork and responded to hismunication.


    The surrounding air changed ordingly.


    It was an ancient and sharpnguage, like a grand tribal ritual, with a deste and barbaric aura permeating it, mixed with a faint taste of metallic rust.


    The transformation ritual formation suddenly lit up, illuminating the hall, and a beam of light enveloped the goblin in the transformation ritual magic array.


    Within the transformation ritual magic array, the visible body of the goblin undergoing the ritual, shrouded in light, underwent visible changes. Its limbs became longer, and its height increased slightly.<ol><li>TL/N: The goblins were called [ it :  ] by the author, instead of [ he/him :  ] or [ she/her :  ]. Previous errors fixed. </li></ol>

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76


    As the light gradually dissipated, what appeared within the formation was a tall and slender goblin.


    This goblin had a robust skeletal structure, with long limbs, and a pair of pale red eyes that stared intently at the ground.


    Its lips curled up almost to the roots of its ears, revealing sharp teeth that gleamed with a cold light.


    Master, this goblin mimicked Laurens way of addressing and knelt on the ground, prostrating itself at Lynns feet.


    Lynn was momentarily taken aback, then a slight curve formed at the corner of his mouth as he looked down at the goblin on the ground.


    From now on, your name shall be Redeyes, temporarily leading all the wanderers, Lynn dered.


    Thank you for bestowing a name, Master. Redeyes is willing to devote everything to Master, Redeyes humbly replied.


    It was evident that this goblin, now named Redeyes, was quite adept.


    However, its only temporary. The capable rise, the weak fall. If you fail to perform adequately, you will be dismissed, Lynn stated casually.


    Master, please rest assured! Redeyes raised its head, speaking with determination.


    Hmm. Lynn emitted a sound of agreement from his nostrils.


    It took quite some time to transform the remaining three goblins into goblin wanderers.


    However, these goblin wanderers were not yetplete, as theycked weapons and equipment.


    Moreover, although they had learned magic, their proficiency was certainly not high, quite different from professional goblin wanderers.


    Just like when Lynn first began mastering spells, there was a stark contrast between his spellcasting then and now.


    Both the speed of spellcasting and uracy, as well as the timing of spellcasting, had made significant progress.


    Only through continuous training could the proficiency of spells continue to improve.


    As Lynn looked at the four goblin wanderers, crouched on the ground with their toes curled, their eyeballs rolling around, he prepared to test their spellcasting abilities.


    First, lets test your spellcasting abilities.


    Lynn held the Goblin Wanderer Training Manual in his left hand, and the first spell being Trap Detection.


    This test was impossible since there were no traps for them to detect.


    Cast Shadow Stealth, Lynn ordered.


    As the words fell, the four goblin wanderers walked to the nearby wall corner.


    As they chanted the incantation, their bodies gradually faded.


    Little by little, they disappeared into the shadows of the wall corner, making it impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye.


    Lynn attempted to use his mental energy to scan, and under his mental scan, he noticed a dense shadow energy in the corner of the wall, much denser than the surrounding shadow energy.


    Of course, this didnt necessarily mean anything. In fact, the concentrations of various energies in nature were not uniformly distributed.


    Different regions naturally had different concentrations of various elemental energies.


    For example, near a volcano, fire elemental energy would be abundant, while in the ocean, water elemental energy would be denser.


    However, when Lynn carefully observed the four dense shadow energies with his mental energy, he noticed something unusual.


    It was like nting a seed of suspicion in someones mind; no matter how they behaved, they would always seem suspicious.


    Lynn found a very vague boundary within the shadow, forming a barrier with the surrounding shadow energy.


    This barrier was very fuzzy and might be difficult for ordinary people to detect.


    But for a powerful wizard with strong mental energy, it was observable.


    However, ones subjective consciousness yed a significant role. If one ignored their subjective consciousness, it would be easy to overlook this shadowy detail.


    Next, the Sound Suppression spell was tested.


    Lynnpared the distinctions between Sound Suppression when activated in Shadow Stealth state versus its operation when visible to the naked eye.


    Although theoretically the same, perhaps there was a visual deception effect caused by Shadow Stealth.


    So, Lynn still felt that footsteps were lighter in the stealth state.


    Shadow Stealth couldst for a maximum of 30 minutes.


    Sound Suppression did notpletely eliminate all sound but formed a small soundproof membrane on the surface of the body.


    This small soundproof membrane could limit the sound produced to some extent within the membrane.


    For example, sounds like the friction of clothes, footsteps, heartbeat, and so on


    The sound restriction of this spell was limited to 60 decibels.


    The concept of 60 to 70 decibels was roughly equivalent to the sound of normal conversation.


    In other words, as long as no sound exceeded the volume of normal conversation, there would be no sound transmitted.


    This spell was quite reasonable; even if in stealth state, engaging in casual conversation with nearbypanions would expose this spells limitations.


    Following that was the final spell, Venom Extraction, which involves imbuing a weapon with ayer of poison or manually applying a certain poison to enhance its toxicity.


    At the first stage, the extraordinary profession of goblin wanderer mastered only four spells.


    Apart from the Trap Detection, which could be used five times daily, the other three spells could be used twice a day.


    Then came the goblin wanderers own attributes: strength, agility, and stamina had all significantly increasedpared to ordinary goblins.


    This increase in strength noticeably boosted theirbat capabilities.


    Next up are the weapons for the goblin wanderers. Lynn has already handed over the weapon models to Bu, tasking him with trying to craft the weapons as quickly as possible.


    While Lauren went ahead to teach these goblin wanderers the basics of their daily tasks, Lynn entered the Alchemy Laboratory.


    It was time to see what was inside all those spatial items. Lynn first picked up the ne.


    He infused his mental energy into it.


    Lynn perceives a faint and feeble mental imprint, belonging to the original owner.


    However, with the owners demise, this mental imprint had grown even fainter.


    After effortlessly erasing the mental imprint, Lynn infused his own mental imprint into it to examine the contents.


    The space within the ne wasntrge, roughly equivalent to arge storage box.


    Most of the contents were misceneous items, with clothes being the most abundant.


    Exquisite garments and essories upied nearly half of the space, followed by three exquisite small boxes ced in the corner.


    Lynn summoned a goblin to help him open the boxes.


    The first box revealed a soft red satin lining at the bottom, beneath whichy a partially broken magic stone, missing half a tooth.


    Judging by how carefully it was stored, this half-broken magic stone had been cherished by its original owner.


    The second box contained an intact medicinal material resembling tuber fleeceflower<sup>1</sup>.


    Through his mental energy, Lynn sensed rich wood elemental energy within this medicinal material, indicating it was some kind of magical nt.


    The third box held a metal emblem. After observing it for a while, Lynn found nothing unusual except for faint elemental energy fluctuations on the surface.


    Lynn then proceeded to open the remaining two spatial items.


    To his surprise, one of the spatial essories contained a broken ax-shaped weapon.


    Although itcked a handle and half of the de, the weight of the weapon suggested that after recasting, it could effortlessly produce several sets of weapons for the goblin wanderers.<ol><li></li></ol>

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77


    Unfortunately, there were no magic books or potion resources inside the spatial essories, presumably exhausted during their time on the ship.


    These wizard apprentices werergely trained by their families, relying on substantial resources, including magic books and other supplies, which belonged to the family rather than individuals.


    Upon boarding the ship, they likely couldnt take along family resources, as that would hinder their familys ability to train future generations.


    Moreover, resources like potions are typically consumed as needed, so individuals wouldnt carry too much with them. From what Lynn understood about the kingdoms magic resources, they were scarce.


    As for the knowledge of wizards, it was all stored in their heads, considered the safest ce by many. Sadly, these three individuals didnt have the habit of taking notes, much to Lynns disappointmentapparently, he had encountered three <em>earnest </em>people.


    Therefore, the spatial essories mostly contained odds and ends. In the ring-like spatial essory, Lynn found a mysterious item stored in a red-painted boxhemp rope, candles, leather handcuffs, a riding crop a wide array of tools.


    It was evident that the owner of the ring had diverse interests and hobbies, exploring a wide range of pursuits.


    So, Lynn tossed the box and its contents into a corner of the hall, hoping some lucky soul would appreciate it. Among the discarded items were also noble garments; Lynn didnt like the idea of wearing clothes others had worn.


    However, when these items were left in a corner of the hall, they were quietly snatched up by several sneaky goblins.


    In the corner, two goblins clumsily dressed in noble robes, coupled with their yellow-greenrge heads, looked mismatched.


    Next to them, another goblin was struggling to open arge red wooden box.


    After checking the spatial essories, Lynn tossed the ne-like spatial essory to Lauren. This is for you.


    Master, how do I use this? Lauren asked curiously.


    Lynn exined the usage to Lauren.


    With a pair of big lizard eyes, Lauren stared at the ne in his hand.


    Seeing his flushed cheeks, as if exerting great effort while squatting, Lynn patted his shoulder. You keep trying, Ill go meditate.


    Returning to the Alchemy Laboratory, Lynn began todays meditation.


    Several hourster, when the efficiency of his meditation had noticeably diminished, Lynn concluded his meditation session for the day.


    Feeling a slight increase in his mental strength, though not significant, it was typical for a normal wizards daily meditation. In fact, many wizards didnt even achieve this level of increase in mental strength through daily meditation; for most, it was merely a routine.


    Lynns talent wasntcking, otherwise Angley wouldnt have found him amidst the sea of people.


    Combined with the talent boosts he received during each level-up, Lynns talent had reached a considerable level.


    When he emerged from the Alchemy Laboratory, Bu had been waiting outside for quite some time.


    Lord emissary of the gods, the sample of the rapier has been crafted, Bu said, presenting a rapier with both hands.


    Let me see, Lynn said, taking the rapier Bu had crafted.


    Lynn gestured its length; the rapiers length was just right for the goblin wanderer.


    Gripping the rapiers hilt and swinging it to the right, a sharp piercing sound filled the air, a silver electric sh streaked by, tearing through the air.


    Bu looked on in awe at this scene; the lord emissary of the gods had formidable explosive power.


    Otherwise, it wouldnt have produced such a sharp sound.


    Then, Lynn tested its flexibility and hardness on the corpse of the bear goblin. He was satisfied; it could inflict significant damage on the bear goblin, leaving marks even on its bones. At this stage, the rapiers damage capability was sufficient.


    Lord emissary of the gods, this is another dagger crafted by someone else. Weck the raw materials to craft a crossbow for now, Bu said.


    What else is needed for the crossbow? Lynn asked.


    We stillck raw materials with strong sticity and toughness to make the string, Bu replied.


    This should do, Lynn thought, taking out the longbow used by the archer from the storage ring.


    There was already a bowstring on the longbow.


    Im not sure about this, Master, Bu said, fiddling with the bowstring, feeling its resilience.


    The bows sticity mainly depends on the bows deformation, and the bowstrings sticity requirements are not high, Bu exined cautiously.


    Understood, Lynn nodded, diving once more into the spatial essories to find his target. Soon enough, heid his eyes on an unfamiliar beast tendon. However, its limited length, barely exceeding a meter, meant it could only serve for crafting one bow at most, though it could yield two crossbows.


    Will this suffice?


    Bu tested it before nodding in approval. Indeed, it will.


    Then lets craft a few crossbows, Lynn decided.


    Crossbows,pared to bows, were easier to wield. The distinction between bows and crossbowsy in their energy efficiency. Crossbows required less strength to operate and boasted high uracy at short distances. However, their effectiveness at longer ranges dependedrgely on the quality of the crossbow itself.


    Bows, on the other hand, offered greater potential. The arc of a bows trajectory determined its ability to execute a wider array of techniquespared to a crossbow.


    Given that Lynns squad of goblin wanderers consisted entirely of novices, it was evident that they would be better suited to the more user-friendly crossbows.


    With idle time on his hands, Lynn joined the team in crafting weapons for the goblin wanderers. He melted down the damaged axe and discovered it was forged from aposite metal stronger than anticipated. From its remains, he produced ten sets of rapiers and daggers.


    Simultaneously, the beast tendon was divided to create three shortbows, along with a plethora of arrows and four sets of lightweight leather armor.


    Completing all this before dawn, Lynn distributed the crafted equipment among the goblin wanderers.


    Apart from Redeyes, the other three were designated Goblin Wanderer 01, 02, and 03. Due to the shortage of one crossbow, they decided to determine, through a game of chance, who would temporarily forego it. In the end, Goblin Wanderer 03, with a small piece missing from one ear, won this concession.


    As the dawn began to break, Lynn resumed his exploration of the maze.


    This time, in addition to Iron Earthworms and Lauren, four more goblin wanderers trailed cautiously along the walls.


    Lynn recalled the training manuals mention of goblin wanderers being adept at concealing their movements in the wilderness, but in this maze stripped bare except for the walls, the sight of four goblin wanderers skulking along the edges seemed somewhat odd and creepy.


    Looking up, there were only towering stone walls on both sides and the section of sky cut out overhead.


    As he pressed onward, Lynn pondered his progress. On the first day alone, he had managed to capture 18 goblins. If he maintained this efficiency, without factoring in the potential difficulty spikes of future monsterirs or the prospect of shes with other wizard apprentices for loot, he could reasonably expect to capture at least five hundred goblins by the time he reached the mountain summit a monthter.


    Feeding, watering, and managing such arge number of goblins every day would undoubtedly be a Herculean task.


    For now, he relied on the provisions he had initially purchased from Bangor Port to temporarily sustain these goblins, barely managing to keep them fed and hydrated.


    However, if the number of goblins continued to increase, his meager supply of food and water would certainly prove inadequate.


    He could only hope that the rewards within the monsterirs ahead would solve this problem.


    Master, theres a monsterir entrance up ahead, Redeyes reported, returning from scouting ahead to inform Lynn.

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78


    Emerging from a narrow passage, Lynn proceeded forward with two goblin wanderers leading the way.


    Redeyes took the lead, iming that as the temporary captain, it should shoulder the responsibility of the most dangerous path. Lynn found this small goblins assertiveness admirable. These monsterirs seemed to follow a consistentyout. Most of them featured a narrow passage leading to arge hall where the monsters resided quietly, awaiting either the apprentices attack or their own raid.


    Upon entering the hall, Lynn was greeted by thunderous snoring.


    In the center of the hally a towering monster, its grotesque appearance highlighted by its dark green skin, oversized nose, and protruding pair of tusks. Draped in crude animal skins patched together from various species, the monster clutched a massive club adorned with sharp spikes. Despite its rudimentary appearance, there was no doubting the lethal potential of this beastly figure, which, even while lying on its side, stood nearly as tall as a human.


    A troll!


    Its a troll.


    The goblin wanderers appeared somewhat panicked, even fearful.


    Redeyes, too, seemed nervous upon spotting the troll, but quicklyposed itself.


    Master, trolls are the natural enemies of our goblin n, Redeyes exined through gritted teeth.


    Natural enemies?


    Yes, its true. Our goblin race resides in the wilderness, and besides us goblins and some other natural species, the most numerous are the trolls, Redeyes remarked.


    Trolls reign supreme in the wilderness. While a lone wandering troll may not pose much of a threat, encountering a hunting party of trolls is a different matter altogether. We can only pray that these trolls dont spot us. Wherever a group of trolls hunts, nothing grows, and everything living is captured to be devoured.


    Redeyes breath quickened as it spoke of the troll hunting parties.


    Were trolls that formidable?


    ording to his knowledge, the Wizard Continent harbored a diverse array of species. Some were native, while others were brought by wizards from afar.


    Trolls were indeed renowned monsters, but they still had a considerable way to go before bing the overlords of the wilderness. The wilderness wasnt merely representing a deste expanse; it epassed rugged and wild territories beyond the areas where humans thrived. Itprised variousplex terrains like forests, swamps, tundras, and mountains.


    In this vast wilderness resided various legendary beasts such as dragons, powerful mutated wyverns, wild behemoths, and subspecies of titans. In the presence of these formidable legendary beings, trolls were mere novices.


    It seemed that Redeyes previous ne was not part of the Wizard Continent but another ne within the multiverse, where trolls were indeed the top predators of the wilderness.


    Ill handle this, Lynn announced, retrieving his magic staff to cast a spell.


    Sleeping Curse!


    A gray-white mist drifted toward the troll, whose snoring grew even louder.


    Uncertain if the Sleeping Curse had taken effect, Lynn cast the spell twice more on the monster.


    With three rounds of Sleeping Curse, it should have been able to sleep a little longer.


    Since the use of a Terror spell might easily awaken the troll from its slumber, Lynn opted for an Earth Ring spell.


    He then directed a transparent chain to emerge from the ground, securely binding the trolls legs.


    With these preparations made, Lynn cast a Touch of Fatigue spell on the troll.


    You lot, go in first and poison the arrows, Lynn instructed.


    Four goblin wanderers cautiously entered the monsterir, activating the spell Venom Extraction to coat the arrows with poison. The prospect of hunting down a troll filled them with excitement and anticipation.


    Lynn kept his gaze fixed on the troll lying on the ground, its eyes still tightly shut. He aimed and directlyunched an Acid Missile spell at its eyes!


    <em>Sizzle</em>


    Amidst the acrid smoke and a deafening roar, the troll was jolted awake by intense pain.


    Its eye sockets were a mass of flesh and blood, with even the upper half of its skull corroded into a gaping hole. Yet, despite this, new flesh continued to regenerate at a visible rate.


    Rising from the ground, the troll swung its massive club in a frenzy.


    The club whipped up gusts of wind, mming into the ground and leaving behind a sizable depression.


    <em>Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!</em>


    Three arrows soared through the air, aimed at the trolls head.


    Dealing with a tough, thick-skinned behemoth like a troll, the best tactic was to strike at its vulnerable spots, especially considering its current head injury.


    Hearing the whistling of the arrows, the blinded troll instinctively swung its massive club, intending to run, but the Earth Ring spell tightened around its legs, anchoring it in ce. One arrow was deflected by the swing, but the remaining two, sharp and merciless, found their mark in the trolls skull.


    A shudder ran through the trolls massive frame as a blinding crimson light suddenly emanated from its body. A thick mist of blood poured out of its pores, enveloping it in a crimson haze.


    In this state, the trolls ears twitched, then, without hesitation, it hurled its club like a projectile!


    Roar!!! The trolls visage twisted into a ferocious expression as it unleashed an angry roar.


    With a deafening crash, bricks and stones shattered in a corner, and amidst the spraying debris, a goblin wanderer was impaled on the wall.


    Its upper bodypletely embedded into the wall, reduced to a bloody pulp.


    Almost simultaneously, a reddish-orange me streaked through the air, the Minor Fireball spell urately striking the trolls head.


    Explosive mes scattered in all directions.


    The trolls body trembled, the massive creature, towering over two adult men, crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.


    Watching the fallen troll, Redeyes let out an excited shriek, leaping up and rushing over, brandishing its slender rapier frantically at the trolls neck. Strange, guttural cries escaped its mouth, its tear-filled eyes gleaming crimson with excessive excitement.


    Observing the trolls lifeless form, Lynn was amazed. Dealing with this monster was indeed challenging. If not for the multitude of spells prepared in advance, his team might have struggled against it.


    And this was just one troll. Hed heard that trolls tended to congregate.


    It was unimaginable what a group of trolls, let alone a horde, could do if theyunched a full-scale assault.


    In the center of the monsterir, the ground sank slowly before rising again momentster, revealing a three-meter-long ck treasure chest.


    Approaching and opening the treasure chest, Lynn found three items inside along with a points scorecard with a description of the three items.


    One was a miniature fountain model about a meter in diameter, resembling a fountain statue.


    Another was a ck-covered book with the words Troll Manual written on the front.


    And there was also a manual on the transformation into an extraordinary profession of the goblin mad hatter shamans.


    Setting aside the fountain model, Lynn flipped open the Troll Manual.


    Trolls are dangerous, evil, aggressive, and barbaric creatures. They have built a civilization of trollsposed of ns and possess great adaptability, thriving in various harsh environments. Their malleable bodies undergo different evolutions in different harsh environments.


    Trolls attach great importance to their offspring and regrly expel or execute individuals threatening n stability, banishing them to the wilderness, where most wandering trolls originate.


    Ordinary adult trolls can reach heights of over four meters, but due to their hunched posture and habit of dragging their hands, most ordinary trolls appear to be only about three meters tall.


    These voracious trolls never feel satiated and can devour arge pig every day. They also possess powerful regenerative abilities; even if limbs are severed, cing the broken limb at the wound site can quickly heal it, or they can expend a great deal of energy to rapidly regenerate new limbs.


    Reading this, Lynn clicked his tongue. Such potent healing abilities? If the battle had dragged on, that blinded eye of the troll might have regenerated!


    Lynn marveled at the trolls formidable vitality.


    If the trolls healing ability could be thoroughly studied, or if the special factors brought by this powerful talent could be isted and bestowed upon other creatures, the mortality rate of his retinue could be significantly reduced.


    To deal with trolls, one must exhaust their physical strength. When a troll is starving, its regenerative ability is greatly diminished. Alternatively, destroying its severed limbs to force it to expend more energy in creating new ones is also a good method.


    A portion of trolls in troll groups awaken spellcasting abilities. These trolls with awakened spellcasting abilities are often heavily cultivated within their ns and typically hold higher positions in troll society.


    Additionally, trolls have numerous advanced professions: Troll Guardians, Troll Bloodseekers, Troll Wandering Warrior, Troll Mountain Warriors, Troll Wrath Messengers, Troll Overlords, Troll Dragon yers.


    The subsequent content was extensive, including a detailed introduction to each advanced profession of the troll and their weaknesses.


    Lynn merely skimmed through it hastily before closing the book.


    Hed take a closer look at it when he had more time at night.

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79


    Aside from the Troll Manual, there were two other items: one was a Portable Detachable Fountain Structure, and the other was a transformation manual for another goblin profession, the Goblin Mad Hatter Shaman.


    The former resolved a small issue that had been bothering Lynn. That was the issue of drinking water in goblin food and water supplies.


    This portable fountain could be ced anywhere, and it would automatically absorb moisture from the air, continually converting it into clean water, thus perfectly solving the water source issue.


    Though appearing magical, the structure was actually the result of alchemy.


    Upon careful examination, Lynn detected traces of alchemy, but many of the techniques were too advanced for his current level.


    After a brief inspection, Lynn put it away.


    Then came the final item.


    Goblin Mad Hatter Shaman.


    This was a special group within the goblinmunity, possessing naturally strong mental strengththus, transforming to this profession required goblins with powerful mental strength to meet the standard.


    Among the goblinmunity, professions that mastered spellcasting were rare, as most goblins preferred to follow the footsteps of alchemical technology.


    The origins of the goblin mad hatter shaman, an extraordinary profession, traced back to a particr ne. A group of goblins who had eaten cursed mushrooms identally awakened powerful energy. Unable to guide this power properly, these goblins who failed to control this power were feared and ostracized by their nsmen.


    Over time, they gradually learned to harness this power in a peculiar manner.


    When casting spells, their bodies would be enveloped in green lightning, serving as their signature. The magic they wielded was imbued with intense instability, potentially leading to secondary explosions, and this instability could also cause some form of mutation in the magic they cast.


    If they overutilized the power within them, goblin mad hatter shamans risked losing control, potentially turning themselves into a pile of mush.


    Goblin mad hatter shamans had limited learning abilities due to the frequent hallucinations that clouded their minds, severely affecting their ability to think critically and research magic.


    Goblin Mad Hatter Shaman supporting magic:


    Minor Lightning, Blessing of Encouragement, Radiant Impact.


    Transformation requirements into the Goblin Mad Hatter Shaman profession: A mental strength level reaching the standard of 5 points, and one Evil Moonshroom.


    Transformation ritual:


    (Image)<sup>1</sup>


    The goblin spellcaster looked to be a rather decent extraordinary profession within the goblin race.


    Indeed, there was a distinction between magic and spells.


    And the two were easily distinguished.


    Spells could be cast continuously as long as the casters mental energy was sufficient.


    Magic, on the other hand, had a limit on the number of times it could be cast per day, determined by the level of the casters profession.


    Crossing through numerous mazes, traversing vast seas of clouds.


    Atop the lofty peak of the mountain in the sky, arge pce sat on the t mountain summit.


    Inside the pce, a circle of densely packed oval mirrors floated in midair.


    Each mirror projected a scene, showing real-time dynamic images of various apprentices in the maze.


    In the middle of the pcey a long banquet table. Wizards of various temperaments strolled leisurely on either side of the table, casually selecting ingredients from the feast.


    On the tabley a variety of ingredients, some cooked, some raw, and others even more peculiar. In a fruit te emitting a faint frosty mist, arranged to resemble a stream, snow-white crystal shells were scattered on both sides of the clear stream. Pebbles were washed by the water flow, emitting a gentle luster. The shells were slightly open, and a milky-white figure d in a shell bent down to drink water, its face filled with contentment.


    A fork descended from above, urately impaling the figures body, apanied by a slight scream, as the impaled figure fell into the gaping mouth.


    <em>Burp</em>~


    After a casual belch, the wizard began his serious work for the day.


    Hey, anyone interested in guessing wholle out on top with the most points in the end? Im taking bets here, grinned a chubby wizard with a small mustache.


    Not interested.


    The wizard who had been tapped on the shoulder responded with a cold face.


    Dont be too hasty in making decisions. In addition to the normal betting odds, the winner will also receive an extra 1,000 ml of Styx Water from me.


    <em>Cough</em>, you can tell me the rules.


    I knew youd be interested, said the chubby wizard with the small mustache happily.


    Heres the list of all thepetitors this time.


    Competitors?


    The wizard furrowed his brow and looked up at the suspended mirrors overhead.


    In fact, the wizards in the pce basically paid no attention to these things above their heads, even though they had been hanging there all day.


    In the eyes of many wizards, this was just childs y.


    It was just a bunch of apprentices having fun; they were only responsible for recruiting andpleting the contract with the person.


    If I bet, can I also get 1,000 ml of Styx Water if I win? A passing wizard suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning his head with interest.


    Of course, but you can only bet on one apprentice at a time, and the value of a single bet cannot be less than 100 magic stones. Otherwise, if you bet a little on each apprentice, then my Styx Water would be given away for nothing, Graham joked.


    Ill bet on that kid then. I bet that kid will have the most points in the end, so Ill wager three hundred magic stones. Harin pointed to a mirror in the upper right corner.


    Graham followed Harins gaze.


    Are you sure its him?


    Whats the matter, cant I bet? Harin said.


    Of course, its just that I didnt expect the famous Seventh Demon Wizard to value amoner so much. I thought you would choose other wizard apprentices. After all, this branch venue is specially allocated by the Mechanist City, and many forces that received the news early have sent apprentices here. Graham said.


    This ce was not the only enrollment point on the Wizard Continent, but one of many enrollment points on the vast Wizard Continent.


    For the vast Wizard Continent, there were various ways for major powers to recruit students.


    Well, fortunately, Ive long heard that the star diviners, the leaders of this generation of the Ster Array Wizard Academy, are always idle and like to open bets. It turns out its not just a rumor, Harin said casually.


    Haha, many famous wizards havee this time. Ill get back to work. Graham waved to Harin with a smile and then turned and left.


    Harin watched Graham leave, squinting slightly.


    Graham came from the Ster Array Wizard Academy, and the most famous thing about the Ster Array Wizard Academy was that group of wizards who liked to study divination and the stars.


    And Graham, who ranked first among many divination wizards of this generation, though very famous, was not known to many for what he looked like. Outside rumors spread that he was a wizard with peculiar quirks.


    Although there were still 29 days left before the summit, some entities could catch a glimpse of a corner of many future possibilities in advance. Harin felt that Graham might see something, otherwise why would he appear at this venue?<ol><li>TL/N: As it is, no actual image was provided by the author in the raws. Up to readers imagination ig..? </li></ol>

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80


    But his probing just now didnt reveal anything unusual from Grahams expression.


    This guy was indeed a divination student, Harin thought. He believed that all the damned wizards who studied divination had also taken a course called Expression Management.


    Turning back, Harin looked at the mirror where Lynn was. He had already moved on to the next monsterir.


    He was somewhat hopeful that Lynn could secure the top spot, as it would prove his judgment.


    On the other hand, the top position wasnt easy to snatch.


    If it were just the people of the ship they boarded, Harin thought Lynn getting to the top wouldnt be difficult.


    But after the Mechanist City intervened, the apprentices involved this time were not just from this ship anymore.


    It had been eighteen days since they entered the maze.


    Lynn looked up at the thick clouds overhead, and the road ahead led straight into the vast sea of clouds.


    Surrounded by towering walls, he didnt know where he was, but byparing the increasingly closer clouds and the gradually dropping temperature, Lynn could roughly estimate his position on this mountain.


    With the increasing number of goblin followers, the snowballing development made it more efficient to break through the monsterirs along the way.


    This also allowed Lynn to fully appreciate the convenience of cultivating followers; sometimes, it was much easier than fighting alone.


    In the rear, the monsterirs didnt even require Lynn to take action personally. A group of eager goblins armed with weapons and d in armor rushed into the monsterirs like a group of adventurers rushing to defeat a demon lord.


    During the process of raiding the monsterirs, there were casualties among the goblin followers, but raiding theirs continuously yielded new goblins and resources to cultivate them. Moreover, the closer they got to the mountain summit, the richer the rewards, so the number of goblin followers continued to grow steadily.


    If it werent for the alchemy building he had obtained a few days ago called the Magical Delicacy House, Lynn probably couldnt even afford these goblins.


    The harvest and pattern along this road made Lynn vaguely perceive that the examiners seemed to be consciously training their ability to cultivate followers.


    If so much resources were spent just to develop the talent of a group of apprentices in cultivating followers, it would be too extravagant.


    At least Lynn didnt think this group of wizard apprentices was worth the cost.


    Unless the Wizard Continent was really rich to the point of overflowing with resources, and there was nowhere else to use them.


    Combining his impression of Angley, whom he had met before, Lynn believed that wizards were clever people who wouldnt engage in unprofitable business.


    His gaze fell on the goblin followers around him.


    A total of sixteen goblin wanderers d in leather armor cautiously moved forward along the wall.


    Two goblin mad hatter shamans wearing pointed hats and holdingrge rounded wooden staffs were protected in the middle by a group of goblin warriors.


    The faces of these two goblin mad hatter shamans were full of wrinkles and swollen water blisters, their eyes were wandering, and their lips were trembling, muttering incessantly.


    The goblin mad hatter shaman had a first-level magic with a casting limit of 10 times per day, which could be used on any magic they mastered, and this limit would permanently increase as they advanced.


    However, the advancement of the goblin mad hatter shaman was not easy. Each advancement required a trial of manic hallucinations! If they failed the trial, the goblin mad hatter shaman would bepletely insane.


    Finally, there were a total of forty goblins protecting the goblin mad hatter shamans and Lynn in the middle, wielding small round bucklers in their left hands and small spears in their right.


    These were thest goblin extraordinary professions Lynn had newly acquiredGoblin Warrior.


    The transformation requirements for goblin warriors were very low, and they had strong adaptability, allowing them to subsequently transform to arge number of warrior professions. Of course, even if they transformed into a goblin warrior, they still needed a raw material called the Goblin Warriors Soul and a specific transformation ritual formation.


    For Lynn, who already had a team of goblin followers, Laurensbat power was now somewhat insignificant. As someone with different bloodlines, he couldnt transfer to the unique extraordinary professions of the goblin race. Now he had gone from a vanguard scout to Lynns personal secretary.


    Although his strength had declined within the team, Lauren didnt mind, but instead felt happy for Lynn.


    Lord emissary of the gods, there are traces of other teams on the other side of the crossroads ahead, Redeyes hurried back to report the intelligence to Lynn respectfully.


    Of the four goblin wanderers who were originally there, only Redeyes remained. The other three goblin wanderers had sacrificed themselves in the process of raiding the monsterirs.


    Only Redeyes not only survived but also rapidly gainedbat experience.


    Now the word temporary in front of its title of goblin wanderer captain has been removed.


    How many? Lynn asked.


    Redeyes lowered its head, counting on its fingers to recall.


    Initially, Redeyes couldnt count, so Lynn taught it how to count, and now it could count from one to a hundred.


    Sixty-seven, Redeyes said.


    Sixty-seven goblins?


    Lynn instinctively squinted his eyes; that was definitely a considerable number.


    Even the goblins that underwent transformation rituals he controlled numbered only fifty-eight, including those withbat abilities simr to ordinary human soldiers, like the goblin warriors.


    There are five humans, Redeyes continued.


    Five humans? There should be entourages among them. After experiencing the practicalbat training in the monsterirs of the maze for these past dozen days, these wizard apprentices should have greatly improved theirbat experience.


    Lynn pondered; it seemed that the other side should be a group of cooperating wizard apprentices.


    So, these goblin followers should also belong to the five humans. Along the way, they explored the monsterirs.


    But since Redeyes discovered them, they might also have goblin wanderers and have found traces of his own team.


    In the maze, if it were any other noble wizard apprentice, there might still be a chance for peaceful resolution.


    But if it were him, that was hard to say.


    He had ughtered so many noble wizard apprentices before. In front of this group of noble wizard apprentices, if there was such a thing as affinity, he would probably be in the negative.


    Plus, in thiswless maze, there were no restrictions on killing.


    If he showed signs of fatigue when encountering them, they would surely not hesitate to take advantage of the situation.


    Suddenly, Lynn raised his head, and a ck crow flew over the corner at the end of the maze.


    Lynns eyes flickered slightly; he seemed to know who the other party was, never expecting it to be an old <em>friend</em>.


    The team continued forward, with only one path now. Either they avoided it, or they continued forward. Contact with the other party was inevitable, unless Lynn was willing to follow them and scavenge. But Lynn believed that as long as they werent stupid, they would never let him lead arge group of goblins following them.


    At the three-way intersection ahead, the other party had been waiting at the intersection for a long time.


    Looking at Anousheh standing in the pile of goblins, as well as Andina standing on his left side, surrounded by two men and a woman, an older knight, the man who had shed a sword on Laurens back, and a woman dressed as a mage.


    Lynns gaze paused on Dempsey for a moment before finally settling on Anousheh.


    What a coincidence, meeting here, Lynn said.


    Hahaha, Anoushehughed heartily.


    It was all just a misunderstanding. With the help of Lord Diasterdan, the misunderstanding has been resolved, Anousheh said, pointing to Andina beside him. Speaking of which, its quite a coincidence. Lord Diasterdan became an official wizard sixty years ago, and that lord also happens to be a direct ancestor of Andina.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    Anousheh looked towards the goblins behind Lynn.


    Compared to their own team, the number of goblins wasnt much less.


    If a conflict were to ur now, both sides would suffer heavy losses even if one side emerged victorious.


    Observing the orderly management of so many goblins following Lynn, Anousheh couldnt help but to admire.


    Theres only one path ahead. Why dont we explore together? We can split up when wee to a fork, Anousheh suggested.


    Sounds good, Lynn nodded.


    You wont suddenly release spells to ambush us, will you? Anousheh suddenly turned back, half-jokingly.


    Lynn chuckled at the question, spreading his hands innocently. Why would I? Do you mistrust me that much?


    Anousheh burst intoughter. I was just kidding.


    He didnt believe Lynn would attack them again, especially after the matter had been resolved by the two wizards Diasterdan and Harin.


    Terror.


    A ck aura spread outward from Lynns palm.


    Shameless! You despicable, bottomless pig!


    Anoushehs eyes widened. He hadnt expected Lynn to be so audacious, even after the wizards had intervened personally. A silver starlight grid appeared around his neck, shielding him.


    The Terror spell created strong trembling ripples, its shrill buzzing echoing incessantly.


    It was that ne again. Lynn licked his lips,menting that it should have been his spoils. Last time, he was forced into the forest before he could loot the bodies and im his prize. What a missed opportunity.


    As the Terror spell was released, apart from Anousheh and Andina, who each had a magic essory to ward off the spell, all the other goblins and followers were plunged into fear.


    And those goblins, after being subjected to the Terror spell, scrambled madly, kicking their legs in the air.


    For the goblins, the effect of the Terror spell seemed particrly pronounced.


    Many goblins scattered and fled, some even dropping their weapons.


    Meanwhile, the three human extraordinary beings standing beside Anoushehthe two knights legs went weak, barely supporting themselves with their swords, while the woman dressed as a mage copsed in shock, a smelly liquid seeping from between her legs.


    The Terror spell activated the deepest fears within the target, eliciting their most primal instincts of fear.


    Everyone harbored their own fears or apprehensions, and the best way to counteract the Terror spell was either to use other spells to neutralize it or to have a strong enough mental fortitude to resist its effects.


    Andinas silver earring on her earlobe emitted a bright light, forming a silver-gray shield in front of her to block the Terror spell. However, the surface of the shield was also struck by the Terror spell, causing a crack that almost split the shield apart from top to bottom.


    Kill. Lynn waved his hand, and the goblins behind him surged forward like a green wave towards Anoushehs team.


    <em>If you can withstand spell attacks, can you withstand physical attacks as well?</em>


    Lynns eyes flickered slightly as he realized that Redeyes, who had been hiding nearby, wasmanding two goblin wanderers to charge towards Andina with it.


    Redeyes pulled out a short crossbow from behind and continuously shot arrows at Andina.


    Andina evidently hadnt reacted to Lynns sudden attack and was taken aback by the arrows. She stumbled backward in shock.


    Fortunately, the floating shield in front of her seemed to have automatic defense capabilities, blocking these three arrows for her.


    But the shield also suffered significant damage, and the cracks on its surface gradually spread, seemingly on the verge of falling apart.


    Redeyes drew a slender rapier from behind, stealthily merging into the shadows of the surrounding goblins. Smaller than the other goblins, it nestled in the shadows of the crowd like a fish in water.


    Are you really going against the orders of Lord Diasterdan? He said the matter was over, damn it! Anousheh looked around at his own side, where the goblin followers, rendered defenseless by their fear, were being mercilessly ughtered. He, filled with grief and indignation, couldnt understand Lynns thinking.


    That matter is indeed over. Lynn took out his magic staff, condensing a Minor Fireball in front of Anousheh.


    But this time, its another matter entirely. I wouldnt dare disobey the orders of the wizard, Lynn said calmly.


    Regardless, until he knew whether those wizards had the ability to observe them in the maze, he had to maintain appearances.


    Anoushehs face turned red with rage. He wanted to ask what this new matter was about, but seeing the fireball continually condensing at the tip of Lynns magic staff, he didnt dare let his guard down, chanting spells hastily in his mouth.


    <em>Damn it, why is this guy casting spells so quickly!</em>


    Anousheh, nervous, nearly stumbled over a syble, his face turning red with effort.


    The fireball at the tip of Lynns magic staff shot out.


    Minor Fireball! At thest moment, Anousheh finallypleted his spellcasting.


    Two fireballs exploded in front of him, their shockwaves knocking him down.


    Lynn also noticed that his fireball not only crushed the opponents fireball in the head-on collision but also the residual force struck the opponent. Although the magic shield protected him from harm, the shockwave still sent him flying.


    It appeared that it wasnt merely a trick of the mind. In fact, with Lynns mental strength steadily increasing, he began to sense that the spells he cast now held more potencypared to those cast in the past when his mental strength was weaker.


    But he had never had a suitable reference point.


    Plus, this increase in power wasnt obvious, so Lynn just buried his doubts in his heart.


    But this time, there was a clear answer inparison.


    The same spell, yet his spell crushed the opponents. It seemed that as his mental strength grew, the power of the spells he cast would also increase.


    From Lynns perspective, it was like his mental strength had turned him into a strong attraction body. Casting spells was like a process of attracting energy from the surrounding nature, and the attraction body would draw more energy from nature.


    Lynn even suspected that when his mental strength reached a certain level, casting low-level spells would be as simple as eating and drinking.


    Anousheh, getting up from the ground, hurriedly asked, What on earth offended you?


    Hes my dear friend and rtive. Lynn hugged Lauren beside him and said with sorrow, Butst time, he was stabbed in the back by that persons sword and almost lost his life. I can temporarily forget my own grievances, but I will never forget the injury my friend suffered.


    Lauren, being hugged, couldnt help but touch his own back. Was it really that serious?


    But hearing that his Master was willing to avenge him, Lauren was still very moved. He felt that he hadnt chosen the wrong person.


    Anousheh wanted to say something but hesitated.


    He looked at the lizard-man beside Lynn, feeling very puzzled. He was just a lizard-man, not particrly handsome-looking, and he was a male. Hisbat power was also mediocre. Was it worth it for such a lizard-man?


    If its just him, I think we can sit down and talk. Im willing to hand him over, Anousheh said, pointing to Dempsey behind him. How about it? Ill hand him over to you for disposal. Please stop those goblins.


    Andina looked at Anousheh in bewilderment.


    Dempsey was not only her follower but also like her uncle. He had protected her since she was young, and she absolutely didnt want to hand him over.

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    Andina thought of something and took out a slightly yellowed scroll from her storage ring.


    This scroll was different from normal ones. Its surface was covered with intricate patterns, looking very exquisite. At the same time, there was a faint energy aura on its surface, which was the energy in the air naturally attracted by this scroll.


    <em>Ding</em>


    Two goblin wanderers appeared behind Andina, wielding daggers and thrusting towards Andinas back.


    The silver-gray shield floating behind Andina seemed to be a prophet, immediately floating to her back.


    The horizontal shield blocked the attacks of the two daggers.


    But almost at the same time, a figure appeared in front of her, a rapier fiercely thrusting from the side!


    As if prating soft leather, the delicate white neck was pierced by the cold de, piercing from the front neck all the way through the back neck.


    Hot blood sttered backward from the tip of the rapier.


    Youngdy!


    Dempsey witnessed the scene with fury burning in his eyes. If looks could kill, that goblin would have been in countless times by him already. Standing aside with his sword, he suddenly drew the long sword in his hand, covering the surface of the long sword with ayer of dark blue aura, and threw it towards Redeyes.


    Redeyes drew out its rapier, rolling back to avoid the sword.


    The rapier was pulled out of Andinas neck, spurting out a stream of red blood. Andina covered her neck in pain.


    The two goblin wanderers behind her continued to wave their daggers. Although the strength of the goblin wanderers was not superior, their speed was their innate advantage.


    <em>Bang</em>


    The silver-gray shield finally couldnt bear the weight and shattered into countless fragments, disappearing into nothingness.


    Andinas eyes shed with determination. She was ready to tear open the magic scroll, even if it meant death, she would make that despicablemoner pay the price.


    Suddenly, the fist that Redeyes was holding loosened, and a vine, like a poisonous snake, shot out from its tightly clenched left hand, wrapping around Andinas wrist.


    SpellWhip of Thorns.


    As a spell that could entangle and attack, Lynn had never revealed the fact that he could use this spell.


    During this period of experimentation, Lynn discovered that he didnt necessarily need to personally hold the thorn seed to cast Whip of Thorns.


    As long as he was within a certain distance, he could remotely control the thorn seed.


    This gave Lynn more tactical options.


    Of course, the controlled Whip of Thorns also had its weaknesses. It didnt have roots, so although it could entangle andsh, it was difficult to effectively restrain without a point of leverage at its other end.


    Now, with the thorn seed held by Redeyes hand, it fiercely pulled it back, causing Andina to stumble and fall to the ground in embarrassment, her golden hair falling into the dust.


    Her delicate wrist was covered in blood from the thorns spikes.


    With only one hand, she couldnt tear open the magic scroll.


    Ha! Redeyes rushed forward, kicking the magic scroll away, and the rapier shed against Andinas neck with force, severing more than half of her head, including skin and flesh.


    Andina! Dolores cried out like a bloodied cuckoo, letting out a piercing scream.


    It was over. Andina was dead!


    Youre a madman, Anoushehs face changed abruptly. He had said there was an official wizard behind Andina, yet he dared to kill her.


    Even daring to kill Andina, he didnt think his status as a member of the royal family was much more special than that of Andina at this moment.


    Goodbye, Lynn said calmly.


    The two goblin mad hatter shamans beside Lynn sniffed the air filled with blood and let out excited screams.


    The top of the magic staffs,rger than their heads, emitted dense electrical sparks. With the buzzing of the arcs, two beams of electricity shot from the top of their magic staffs towards Anousheh.


    Anousheh didnt even have time to cast a second spell.


    The two small lightning bolts arrived in an instant, their violent light crackling, apanied by faint explosions.


    Anousheh wanted to resist, but facing Lynn and the two goblin mad hatter shamans, he was ultimately corroded by a flying Acid Missile.


    Master, Redeyes returned with a head in its hand, seeking praise.


    For goblins, if they hunted down valuable prey, they liked to chop off the preys head as a trophy.


    It was also a way to show off.


    However, considering Andinas identity, Lynn felt it was better not to go too far and just kill her.


    Well, dig a hole and bury it.


    Dont kill the remaining goblins for now. See if they can be surrendered. If they can surrender, keep them. If they cant, go down and apany them. Lynn said.


    Yes, Master! Master is truly wise and brave. Under the Masters leadership, we have actually defeated enemies who outnumber us! Redeyes praised.


    Lynn shook his head, walked to Andinas headless corpse, and squatted down to search, taking out all the misceneous items and valuables from her body and cing them aside.


    The most important of these was the earring she wore on her ear.


    This should also be a piece of magic armor.


    And it could withstand the Terror spell once, and then resist so many physical attacks before being shattered. This magic armor was definitely not bad.


    The only regret was that it was a somewhat feminine earring, which might not be suitable for himself to wear.


    Later this evening, he would take some time to see if he could make slight alterations to the earring, maintaining its functionality while giving it a more masculine appearance.


    Suddenly, Lynn realized the importance of learning alchemy. It could be quite useful for selling off stolen goods!


    No, wait, he corrected himself. His thinking was wed. How could this be stolen goods? It was clearly his familys cherished heirloom.


    <em>Your earring is feminine, while mine is masculine.</em>


    In the wizarding world, there were so many spells, it was normal to have simr defensive spells.


    Master, all the goblins surrendered, but those two humans not only refused to surrender but also killed our two goblin warriors, so theyve been dealt with, Redeyes hurried over to inform Lynn.


    They all surrendered? Lynn was somewhat surprised.


    Yeah, Redeyes nodded.


    After a moment of silence, Lynn shook his head. It seemed that goblins could only fight when the odds were in their favor, but considering the goblins nature and character, it was understandable.


    He had thought there might be some who would rather die than surrender, but now it seemed that character wouldnt change much even after undergoing transformation rituals.


    Perhaps sensing Lynns thoughts, Redeyes patted its chest and said, I only pledge allegiance to Master. I am Masters dog. If you die, I definitely wont surrender.


    Clean up the battlefield, Lauren. Go and collect the loot from the corpses, Lynn instructed Lauren.


    Lauren had been by his side the longest and was already proficient in the task of searching corpses.


    ***


    Wizards Hall.


    Diasterdan looked at the image in the mirror, taking a sip from a ss of wine. His expression revealed no joy or anger.


    This kids character is like mine, decisive in killing, Harin said with his hands behind his back, a smile appearing on his cold face.


    I now tend to believe what you said. He might indeed secure the top spot, Diasterdan remarked.


    But I am curious. If he really does secure the top spot, will he join the Abyss Wizard Academy, or will he join the Mechanist City? Diasterdan said cryptically.

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    Thats none of your concern, Harin replied, his gaze fixed on the mirror without turning back, his lips curling slightly in a cold arc.


    Suddenly, Harin remembered something. His brows furrowed imperceptibly, and after a moment of contemtion, he took out a demon-shaped emblem from his pocket and held it in his palm. After a while, a crimson light illuminated the eyes of the demon emblem in Harins hand.


    I heard that the Mechanist City this time seems to be rted to their n with their artificial alchemy gods, Diasterdan remarked.


    It has nothing to do with us, Harin said casually, returning the emblem to his pocket. This matter is not something we can participate in. Its something the Mechanist City has been nning since the beginning of the seventh wizard era, involving numerous great wizards and legendary wizards. Its best for us to stick to invading other nes honestly.


    You make a valid point. The idea of mass-producing artificial alchemy gods is utterly mad, Diasterdan eximed.


    Wizard Harin, may I have a word? a voice came from behind.


    Harin turned around to see an unfamiliar wizard.


    I am from the Por Forest Wizard Tower. My name is Flott.


    Whats the matter?


    I have a nephew who has long admired the Abyss Wizard Academy but has never had the opportunity to join, Flott said humbly.


    And then?


    That person is my nephew. Would you mind evaluating his performance? Flott pointed to one of the images in the mirror.


    Harin nced at it briefly before retracting his gaze to continue observing Lynn. This is the Abyss Wizard Academy, not a rubbish dump. If he meets the standards, I will naturally ept him.


    Flottsplexion turned pale, but he managed to force a smile. Okay, thank you for your time.


    Some other wizards who had been prepared to approach for a conversation halted their steps upon witnessing this scene.


    Watching Flotts retreating figure, Diasterdan couldnt help but chuckle softly. You really dont mince your words.


    Hes just a first-level wizard, and if he truly has talent and strength, he doesnt need to take this shortcut, Harin said indifferently.


    The Abyss Wizard Academy itself was a wizarding academy open to the public for enrollment. He weed all talented and ambitious wizards, as long as they met the criteria.


    Wanting to take a shortcut meant that one didnt meet the criteria, and if they werent rtives or close associates, why would he take the risk of recruiting a student who didnt meet the criteria?


    Diasterdan shook his head. He didnt approve of Harins way of doing things. While it might be straightforward, it also easily offends people. If it were him, even if he disagreed, he wouldnt refuse so tantly.


    After counting the corpses and loot on the ground and resting in ce for a while, Lynn continued to explore forward with a group of goblins.


    The path ahead gradually became shrouded in thick fog, and visibility gradually decreased. They should have reached the sea of clouds, and the journey ahead should be quick, Lynn estimated.


    The dense fog around had a certain barrier effect on mental energy, making Lynn even more cautious.


    By nightfall, Lynn found a recently cleared monsterir to rest in. The terrain of the monsterir was conducive to camping at night, as they only needed to guard the sole entrance.


    Taking out the Magical Delicacy House, Lynn wondered why the wizard who had made this alchemical creation had chosen such a strange name.


    This was a structure used to make food, requiring only mental energy and resources to operate.


    Whether it was nt matter or the flesh of some kind of animal, or even soil, could be used to make food.


    The food produced could be consumed directly, including food made from soil, but this kind of food generally had one issue.


    That was, itcked nutrition. It could turn most things into edible food to fill ones stomach, but it couldnt provide nutrients.


    Here, nutrition refers to whether the raw materials used in cooking contain abundant energy or beneficial substances for the body.


    Inside the Magical Delicacy House, which was about the size of a thatched hut, some goblins were working together to pour yellow y into a container resembling a pot, then closing the lid.


    Then Lynn infused mental energy into it. After injecting about 5 standard points of mental strength, the container started to operate.


    This yellow y could produce a kind of food that was yellow all over, like a pancake. It had a slightly bitter taste with a hint of sweetness. Lynn had tried a biscuit with a coffee vor made from it before, which was the best way to fill the goblins hunger.


    The goblins squatted in front of the Magical Delicacy House, waiting for the food to be made. Meanwhile, Lynn entered the Alchemy Laboratory to tally up the days harvest.


    Taking out two pieces of magic armor essories, Lynn also took out the remaining ores, extracted the ore powder, and modified the appearance of the magic armor.


    After bustling for nearly half an hour, the work was finally done.


    Lynn looked at the finished product with great satisfaction. Indeed, having a few extra skills came in handy at crucial moments.


    Daily taskpleted: Experiment (1), Conduct a simple alchemy experiment.


    Completion: Qualified.


    Reward: 10 general experience points, 1% progress in alchemical studies.


    This earring isnt bad. Lynn changed the color of the earring from its original to ck, while also altering its shape into a hexagonal star.


    Lynn didnt mind wearing the earring. After all, the structure of this magic armor was designed as an earring, and the magic matrix engraved inside had roughly fixed its structure. Changing the structure was beyond Lynns current alchemical abilities.


    The earring was inscribed with a one-ring spell called Protective Shield.


    The Protective Shield could form a shield to resist damage when the wearer was subjected to spells or physical attacks. Once the damage reached its limit, the shield would break. Additionally, the Protective Shield could only block damage from one direction.


    The other magic armor was a ne inscribed with a spell called Starlight Protection Net. The defense provided by the Starlight Protection Net was moreprehensive than the Protective Shield. Even among one-ring defense spells, this spell had outstanding defensive capabilities.


    Moreover, this magic armor had an additional function. When its energy was depleted, the ne could automatically absorb starlight from the sky to restore its energy, essentially allowing for self-repair.


    Lynn dyed the ne a different color, changing it from silver-white to ck.


    Heirlooms should retain the same color after all.


    After examining their rings, Lynn found that apart from some misceneous items, most of them didnt contain anything valuable.


    Whatever valuable items they had were likely already used. The only unused item was the magic scroll that Andina failed to use earlier.


    Lynn examined it but couldnt discern the spell inscribed on it. Unfurling the scroll, he found the incredibly intricate patterns on it to be headache-inducing.


    This was beyond his field of knowledge. Neither alchemical, nor mutation, nor undead studies had anything to do with this magic scroll.


    But judging from Andinas previous reaction, what was sealed inside should be a damage-type spell. Lynn decided to keep the magic scroll. If the need arose, he could simply find a goblin wanderer and let it tear open the scroll behind the enemy when the time came.

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    Strangely, from the moment Lynn started ascending until he reached the mountain summit, he hadnt encountered anyone else. Apart from the asional monsterir along the way, Lynn had essentially cleared out every obstacle, eliminating all the monsterirs he came across.


    Was it because there werent many wizard apprentices left? But then again, he hasnt killed that many himself. Gazing at the mazes exit ahead, Lynns face was etched with confusion.


    He remembered Wizard Harin mentioning earlier that there would be some special contestants, but so far, he hadnte across any. Perhaps they were on a different track.


    Upon reaching the summit, Lynn surveyed his surroundings. He had arrived rtivelyte, and by the time he reached the summit, many people had already gathered there.


    The summit was an expansive in, evenrger than he had anticipated.


    In the center stood a grand pce with a pronounced metallic style.


    The outer walls of the pce were made of some special alloy.


    On the summit, arge number of people were present, with countless individuals seated on the ground.


    Fortunately, the open space on the summit was vast, so even though there were many people, there was still plenty of room.


    Curiously, Lynn looked around and noticed that there seemed to be quite a lot of people on the summit.


    Groups of goblins ranged from dozens to hundreds, dispersed into various teams.


    Different teams were scattered in different areas.


    Lynn silently counted, realizing that there were at least hundreds of teams on the summit.


    Assuming each team had at least one wizard apprentice, there were at least hundreds of wizard apprentices on the summit.


    The noisy chatter echoed across the vast open ground of the summit. If one goblin was like a sharp duck, then a group of goblins was like a flock of ducks. And on the summit, Lynn felt as though he was amidst a nest of ducks.


    It wasnt until evening when the pces tightly closed gates finally opened, and a wizard d in white robes emerged from within.


    This white-robed wizard had half of his face covered by a metallic skull, while the other half was draped in human skin. Blue mes burned within the eye sockets of the metallic skull.


    Everyone, please take out your scorecards, the wizards voice wasnt loud, but it was clear, resonating throughout the entire summit area.


    Subsequently, the wizard lifted his robe, and from beneath it flew countless dark shadows.


    In an instant, they soared into the sky, blotting out the sun. The pping sounds reverberated in the night sky. Lynn looked up, and the swirling mass of shadows overhead seemed to transform into a metallic storm.


    Lynn took out all the papers with points imprinted on the back from his spatial ring.


    The swirling metallic storm above had already begun to rain down a multitude of shadows.


    One of them flew towards Lynn, drawing closer and closer.


    As it neared, Lynn could see more clearly.


    It was a metallic bat with two wings, bathed in a ghostly blue hue. Its color had only appeared ck from a distance.


    The metallic bat grasped the paper with its ws and then darted back into the sky, merging into the swirling storm above.


    The points have been tallied. Each person can use their scorecards to redeem items. The list will be announced shortly, the white-robed wizard announced. As he spoke, the swirling storm overhead receded like a receding tide, flowing back into the wide sleeves of the wizard.


    Lynn couldnt help but take a few more nces. No matter how he looked at it, the thin figure of the white-robed wizard didnt seem capable of concealing so many metallic bats.


    With that said, the white-robed wizard returned to the pce.


    Several wizards also emerged from the pce.


    Upon seeing the wizards, some apprentices hurriedly approached them.


    In the crowd, Lynn spotted Harin, who waved to Lynn from a distance.


    Lynn also noticed another wizard apprentice approaching Harin, but Harin seemed somewhat impatient, saying something to the apprentice before thetter waited off to the side.


    Quickly, Lynn led his goblin followers over. As they drew closer, Lynn noticed the gaze of the nearby apprentice fixed upon him.


    Teacher Angley, Lynn said.


    Harin furrowed his brow. From now on, call me Harin outside.


    Alright, Wizard Harin, Lynn said.


    Harin gave Lynn a deep look. Whatever you say.


    You didnt manage to clinch the first spot this time, Harin said to Lynn.


    Lynn wasnt surprised why Harin knew the answer.


    It was quite normal for official wizards like them to have more information than wizard apprentices.


    I know. Its a bit of a shame. I found out that challenging monsterirs is the slowest way to earn points. The fastest way to umte points is to directly snatch them from other wizard apprentices, Lynnmented. He hadnt encountered any wizard apprentices during thest third of his journey.


    If only he could have snatched a few more waves, his points would definitely have been higher, and he wouldnt have ended up just in fourth ce.


    Because the gap between him and the first ce wasnt that big.


    Lynn felt a bit regretful, but it was okay.


    Because there wasnt much difference between the rewards for first ce and his, except for an extra spot to enter the Mechanist City, a wizard faction.


    Judging by the discussions among the wizard apprentices and the reactions of some wizards on the scene, the Mechanist City should be considered a major force even in the wizarding world.


    But the name sounded a bit formal, and it seemed this faction had made significant achievements in alchemical studies.


    Although Lynn was proficient in alchemical studies, he didnt want to specialize in just one field.


    Lynn was interested in wizarding subjects like bloodline studies and mutation studies.


    Maybe in the future, he would even create his own field of study.


    Lynn was curious. If he were to create his own field of study in the future, would the daily tasks also provide him with knowledge in this self-created field?


    If not, did that mean the knowledge behind that door also had its limits, and he would need to create new knowledge himself?


    Well, heres your student identification, Harin said, taking out a white demon emblem from his pocket and handing it to Lynn.


    Lynn took the emblem and noticed that it felt somewhat like bone.


    As a sharp sting shot through his fingertip, a drop of blood dripped onto the emblem, and the mouth of the white demon emblem slightly closed, emitting a low, sinisterugh.


    Lynn warily released his hand.


    It just records your personal information. From now on, youre a student of the Abyss Wizard Academy, Harin said.


    <em>Is it that simple?</em>


    Lynn looked at the white demon emblem in his hand.


    You can carry this emblem with you from now on. It represents your identity. Itll be much more convenient for you to enter the Abyss with this emblem, Harin said.


    As soon as Lynn heard that it would be much more convenient to enter the Abyss, he hurriedly put it away.


    In a while, go see what you can exchange for. You can exchange for anything youre interested in, Harin said.


    Pausing for a moment, Harin added, If you dont find anything you like, you can exchange everything for magic stones. Among wizards, magic stones are like hard currency. After exchanging, we can set off.


    Lord Wizard Harin, may I join the wizard faction you belong to? a wizard apprentice who had been standing nearby for a long time approached, casting an envious nce at Lynn before addressing Harin.


    Youre not qualified, Harin directly rejected.


    But I ranked third in points, higher than him, the apprentice said somewhat unwillingly.


    Harin just smiled meaningfully at the words.


    You ranked third because your abilities are at that level, while he ranked fourth because his points were only enough for fourth ce.


    <em>My points are only enough for me to get fourth ce?</em>


    Upon hearing these words, Lynn was instantly stunned. He suddenly realized why he hadnt encountered any other wizard apprentices along his wayter on.


    <em>You wizards with your thick eyebrows and big eyes are actually involved in shady dealings too!</em>

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    Lynn hesitated, words on the tip of his tongue, only to be held back.


    Whats on your mind? Harin nced at Lynn.


    Nothing, Lynn shook his head.


    Thepetition for the top spot is fierce. Its a challenge you may not be ready for, Harin remarked.


    Understood, Lynn nodded. At this point, there was no use inining. Besides, he was just a wizard apprentice. Even though he had some rtionship with Wizard Harin, there were more wizards than just Harin in the academy.


    Seeing Lynns understanding demeanor, Harin nodded approvingly.


    However, teacher, points can be exchanged for magic stones. With fewer points, Ill have fewer magic stones. I feel quite pitiful. Are you just going to watch as your student is mistreated? It seems like fate for amoner apprentice like me without any background to be bullied, Lynnmented.


    Harin knew Lynns character too well. This mischievousd was always looking for benefits. Do you think every yearspetition is the same as this one?


    Isnt it? Lynn was surprised.


    Of course not. Moreover, each time, the participating wizard factions also depend on their mood. The selection process in my day was different from this one, Harin exined.


    A bunch of neers who havent officially entered the wizarding world yet can exchange points for magic stones, and you should be grateful to encounter the generous Mechanist City, he continued.


    Is Mechanist City that wealthy?


    Harin chuckled. No, its just that they have mastered the technology to produce artificial magic stones, so they have plenty. But when ites to true prosperity, there arent many factions that can match our Abyss Wizard Academy.


    I understand, Lynn nodded deeply in agreement.


    Resources, apart from being recyble and renewable, the quickest way to umte them is through plundering.


    In some countries of his previous life, it was through this that they umted their first and second buckets of gold for rapid development.


    Compared to plundering resources, when Wizard civilization encountered Abyss civilization, it was like dung beetles following stink bugsbirds of a feather flocking together.


    And one acts as the good cop, the other the bad cop. They cooperate quite seamlessly, probably selling off entire nes and still helping count the money.


    After you arrive at the Abyss Wizard Academy, I will rmend you for a special experimental project. Of course, whether you can participate in this project depends on your performance, Harin said.


    Teacher, what are the criteria for starting an experimental project alone? Lynn asked. As an assistant, he wouldnt receive any rewards, and he had bigger ambitions.


    Only official wizards at the lowest level can apply for projects themselves. Bing an official wizard is not something you can consider at the moment, Harin replied.


    Dont aim too high. Whether you can join the experimental project is still uncertain. Normally, only third-level wizard apprentices who excel in this field have a chance topete, Harin said. You can learn a lot from these experimental projects, which will also be helpful for your future. Moreover, there will be additional rewards after the project seeds, some of which are targeted rewards, such as raw materials for building wizard towers.


    Hearing about the raw materials needed to construct a wizard tower, Lynns interest was piqued. In his current pool of knowledge, he hade across the concept of wizard towers, a familiar entity.


    A wizard tower is a multifunctional structure that expands and even undergoes recasting as the wizard grows in power. It serves as aprehensive buildingbining functionalities such as a fortress, research facility, living quarters, and even a mobile fountain of blood. Within their wizard tower, a wizards power would be greatly amplified.


    However, as wizards specializing in the construction of wizard towers vary in their expertise, the types and functions of these towers also varied. However, every aspect rted to building a wizard tower hinted at one thingexpensive.


    It was said that constructing a wizard tower could drain the savings of any wizard, as it was akin to home renovation, with no upper limit.


    Thank you for your guidance, teacher, Lynn said, preparing to assess the situation before making a decision. Observing the other wizard apprentices around him, he couldnt help but feel a little emotional. But I dont think there are manymoner wizard apprentices who can make it to the mountain summit. Most are noble wizard apprentices.


    From their attire and demeanor, it was easy to distinguish between wizard apprentices ofmoner and noble origins.


    Mostmoner wizard apprentices were not as proficient at this stagepared to their noble counterparts.


    After all, the elite education and training that nobles received from a young age were not something thatmoner wizards who were fortunate enough to obtain the wizard inheritance could easily surpass.


    Harin fell silent for a moment. Because this is a screening process. After entering the maze, you can avoid most dangers by heading straight to the mountain summit or selecting suitablepanions to explore monsterirs together.


    There are various ways to screen apprentices, but the most important thing is to be able to recognize oneself.


    Lets go, Harin led Lynn into the pce, where they found the staff in charge of exchanging points.


    The administrator responsible for exchanging point resources was an entourage of a certain wizard from the Mechanist City.


    He was very courteous and handed a resource list to Lynn.


    On it, Lynn saw high-concentration yellow jasper raw ore, with 10 kilograms of the raw ore requiring only 10 points, the same cost as exchanging for one magic stone.


    The yellow jasper was the raw material needed to make Iron Earthworms, and after this period of use, Lynn found Iron Earthworms to be quite a decent alchemical monster.


    With its ability to burrow underground, it proved useful in many situations.


    However, its individual strength needed improvement, and Lynn nned to enhance thebat effectiveness of the Iron Earthworms when he had timeter on.


    May I take a look at the raw ore? Lynn inquired.


    The administrator nced at Harin beside Lynn and then replied, Of course.


    Soon, the yellow jasper ore was brought over.


    Lynn inspected it.


    Inside the raw ore, the rate of yellow jasper was roughly between 50% to 60%.


    If he could extract the yellow jasper himself and grind them into powder, he could make a profitpared to directly purchasing 5 kilograms per magic stone finished yellow jasper powder on the market.


    Ill take 500 kilograms of yellow jasper raw ore, and can I also see 10 kilograms of amethyst raw ore? Lynn asked shyly yet politely.


    In the end, Lynn purchased arge amount of raw ore and went back.


    It had to be said that the quality of the raw ore produced by the Mechanist City was indeed good. As long as he put in some time for processing, it was more profitable than buying directly from the market.


    While Lynn was making the purchase, Harin asionally chimed in with some suggestions about the market prices of finished ores.


    After Lynn and Harin left, a wizard apprentice waiting behind stepped forward.


    Rubbing his hands together, the wizard apprentice politely asked, Hello, may I see the Onyx Luminescent Scales raw ore?


    The administrators face darkened. Get lost, take it or leave it!

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Far from the pce, Harin led Lynn to a clearing on the edge of the mountain summit, extending his five fingers towards the open space. With a sh of his ring, a spatial fluctuation urred, and in the next moment, a massive oval-shaped airship appeared before Lynn.


    This airship, measuring over a hundred meters in length, looked extremely eerie, adorned with many demon patterns painted in red and ck hues on its surface. The most striking feature was the strange tree growing on its gas bag.


    Tree branches, resembling python coils, entwined the surface of the gas bag, while the dark green semi-transparent gas bag resembled a massive blister.


    Harin boarded the airship with Lynn. As Lynn approached the airship, he noticed that the roots entwined around the gas bag at the top were alive!


    Branches thicker than waistlines seemed to pulsate with life.


    Seeing Lynn approach, the brown bark of the branches suddenly split open, revealing arge mouth full of sharp teeth underneath.


    Dont be afraid, its just a bit mischievous. Its mentality is simr to that of a four or five-year-old girl. It loves being touched by others the most, Harin shrugged, patting Lynns shoulder to reassure him.


    A faint smile appeared on Lynns indifferent face as he gently stroked the deeply cracked bark of the tree.


    <em>Squeak</em>


    The touched branches trembled slightly, emitting a low squeak like that of a mouse.


    What a cute little fellow, Lynn chuckled softly.


    One of the branches entwined around the gas bag loosened, then slowly moved towards Lynn, gently wrapping around his arm and chest.


    It seems it doesnt dislike you, Harin remarked from the side.


    Who could resist such a little cutie? Lynn exchanged a nce with Harin, and they both smiled at each other.


    As they boarded the airship, Lynns goblin followers were arranged in a specially designated amodationpartment, which was spacious enough to amodate themfortably.


    Take a seat. The airship is quite fast; we should reach our destination in about half a year, Harin invited Lynn to sit down, pouring him a ss of water.


    The airship was fast? And it would take half a year to reach their destination?


    Lynn suddenly became curious about the size of the wizarding world he was in.


    Harin noticed Lynns confusion. The world where we wizards reside is known outwardly as the Continent of Vanquished Gods.


    Vanquished? Lynn thought the name seemed fitting, considering the pitiful state of the gods in the Wizard civilization.


    The Continent of Vanquished Gods is vast. The ind chain where you grew up in the Erdolu Kingdom is referred to academically as the Third Ind Chain in the Sixth District of the Eastern Outer Ring of the continent.


    Teacher, does that mean the ind we just left belongs to the Continent of Vanquished Gods? Lynn inquired.


    Not exactly, Harin exined. Thats just arge ind in the First District of the Eastern Outer Ring, rtively close to the Continent of Vanquished Gods. When we reach the Continent of Vanquished Gods, youll be able to sense the difference between it and the outer ring.


    Our Abyss Wizard Academy is located near the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Continent of Vanquished Gods. Do you know why its called Abyss Crossing?


    I dont know.


    Because it is said that as long as you reach the bottom of the Great Rift Valley, you can enter the Abyss. Initially, this was the bridgehead for the Abyss to invade the Continent of Vanquished Gods.


    Lynn understood. From being a bridgehead for invasion, it had now transformed into a demonic technical academy for training wizards. It sounded quite intriguing.


    The only answer to two rogue civilizations being able to shake hands and make peace is singr: when both sides possessparable strength, or when the cost of destroying each other outweighs the benefits.


    In fact, the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley breeds arge number of demons. It simtes the environment of the Abyss inside. You should have the opportunity to go inside, but hunting inside the Great Rift Valley is not allowed. The demons inside are the private property of the academy. You can only hunt with the academys permission, Harin exined.


    Is this some kind of demon protectionw? Lynn asked.


    It was the first time Harin had heard of such a term, and he paused for a moment before a smirk appeared on his cold face. Something like that. But every year, there are wizards who sneak in to capture demons for experimental materials. If caught, the entire academy will be notified and criticized.


    Seeing the smile on Harins face, Lynn felt like he might have done such a thing.


    These wizards thinking indeed could not be approached from a normal persons perspective, fortunately, Lynn was rtively normal, and he felt somewhat fortunate.


    Teacher, I remember that the white-robed wizard amodated many metal bats in his body. Could it be that he modified spatial technology within his own body? Lynn asked.


    Yes, but not exactly. Harin shook his head.


    Im not exactly sure about the specifics of the operation. I havent delved much into alchemical studies, but it should involve transformation of a certain organ, then expanding the space within the transformed organ, and then keeping these metal bats inside, essentially creating a box within the body, Harin exined.


    In reality, the limitations of such transformations are substantial, and advancing to a higher level wizard bes even more challenging. As one progresses, each wizards path bes increasingly unique. While early paths may be replicable, thepanionship dwindles as one delves deeper, Harin did not forget to advocate for his mutation studies. Thats why I say mutation studies are the most promising.


    The constraints of alchemical studies are too significant; many paths have already been trodden to great heights. However, mutation studies delve into the essence of biological mutation and evolution. Everything undergoes continuous mutation during evolution. We constantly discover new dimensions, new life forms, which means we are continually uncovering new paths. Therefore, this direction is filled with vibrant vitality.


    Listening to Harins teachings, Lynn realized that he was still at the foundational stage, where he could heed the advice of those who came before him, as they were experienced. However, blind obedience wasnt an option; some things required personal experimentation.


    As the airship began to ascend, Lynn, seated by the window, gazed down as the inds below gradually diminished in size.


    Outside the window, the scenery grew increasingly elevated, and the airships speed surpassed his expectations, with thendscape outside rapidly receding.


    In the future, when you be an official wizard, you can also apply to be a recruitment mentor. Youll ride the enrollment ship around the Third Ind Chain in the Sixth District of the Eastern Outer Ring, Harin said.


    Recruitment mentors receive subsidies, and its also considered rare leisure time. Sometimes, its good to give yourself a break when youre too stretched, Harin poured himself a ss of water.


    As a recruitment mentor, you still have some privileges. For example, when you reach a certain port, you can have the ship dock there for a few days. If youre tired, its good to asionally visit your hometown, Harin added.


    Seated across from Lynn, Harin turned his head to look out the window. It was the first time Lynn had seen a hint of nostalgia in Harins eyes, though it passed fleetingly.


    Alright, theres a simpleboratory on the airship, and you can choose any empty room to rest. Therge room at the end of the corridor is mine. If you need anything, just knock, Harin said.


    Arrange your own time during this period, he waved his hand.


    On Harins airship, Lynn spent a period of tranquil life.


    Besides meditation and practicing spellcasting daily, he devoted the remaining time to studying and improving the Iron Earthworms.


    Lynn allocated all the general experience points he gained during this time to alchemical studies.


    In the subject of alchemical studies, Lynn made remarkable progress. As he advanced, Lynn discovered that alchemical studies truly lived up to its name with the inclusion of gold in its title. He found that mastering this field could be very convenient for earning extra ie.


    Moreover, the essence of alchemical studiesy in material creation, which, in a sense, was quite simr to material science.


    Many of a wizards imagination and creativity relied on alchemical materials to manifest.


    Lynn didnt want to be restricted in this regard in the future; therefore, he needed to master it himself.


    However, the greatest achievement during this period was Lynns sessful improvement of the Iron Earthworms.


    This also counted as Lynns first achievement in alchemical studies.


    Now, the name Iron Earthworm was no longer appropriate; Lynn renamed it Iron Serpent No. 1.


    The Iron Serpent No. 1 had a diameter barely half that of an Iron Earthworm.


    Yet its length stretched to twice its original size.


    In terms of flexibility and hardness, it surpassed the Iron Earthworm by more than ten times, as tested. Additionally, it could freely move in soil with low-energy concentration and had a broader perception of ground vibrations. During the manufacturing process, Lynn added certain elements of mutation studies.


    With Harins consent, Lynn transnted the invisibility gene from the lizard-men into the Iron Serpent.


    This further increased its danger and lethality.


    ording to Harins evaluation, the Iron Serpent created by Lynn was somewhat interesting among the alchemical creatures made by apprentices. Harin particrly appreciated Lynns application of mutation studies to alchemical creatures.


    Were almost there; thats the Abyss Wizard Academy ahead. What youre seeing now is the outer court; the inner court isnt visible to the naked eye.


    Standing side by side in front of the window at the front of the airship, Harin pointed towards the continuous array of buildings ahead.


    Looking out, Lynn saw the vast expanse of buildings ahead, extending from one end of the in to the other, resembling a gigantic city looming over the in.


    Within the city, there were even mountains and rivers, with buildings of various styles coexisting.


    In reality, over the past few days, Lynn had the feeling that he had arrived in the territory of some power.


    At night, he noticed several giant objects floating in the sky likepasses, each with a diameter of at least a thousand meters. They resembled colossal bronze statues of sun coronas suspended in the sky, emitting a faint purple glow under the moonlight.


    As the airship crossed the city boundary, it finally descended slowly onto a square in the central area.


    Ever since Lynn approached thend four months ago after crossing the ocean, he knew why Harin had said he would naturally sense it when they reached the Continent of Vanquished Gods.


    Upon entering the Continent of Vanquished Gods, Lynn found that the surrounding energy became milder and more orderly. This gentle and orderly energy was more conducive for wizards or magical creatures to perceive and utilize the energies of nature, fostering the development of extraordinary civilizations.


    Upon arriving at the Abyss Wizard Academy, Lynn found that the surrounding energy became even more orderly, and the energy density in the surrounding air was more than double that of the outside world. In this abundant environment, even experiments would be more stable.

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    This is the registration office of the Abyss demon academy. Your academy identity has already been recorded through your emblem. However, there are some basic details we still need from you, Harin led Lynn into a two-story hall.


    The hall was bustling with wizard apprentices. Some wore white demon emblems prominently disyed on their attire.


    Otherscked emblems, and upon seeing Lynn escorted in by Harin, many of the apprentices seated nearby cast envious nces.


    Harin guided Lynn to a lounge area inside and instructed him to wait there, promising that someone would arrive shortly. Then Harin departed for elsewhere.


    No sooner had Lynn settled in than the door swung open, admitting a graceful figure enveloped in a fragrant breeze. She strode into the lounge and settled directly on the couch opposite Lynn. With a seductive posture, her scarlet gowns neckline plunged low, revealing delicate, snowy cleavage.


    You must be Lynn, the new student brought by Lord Harin. What a charming young man you are, the subus across the couch purred, her crimson eyes blinking. Her slender, pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips, revealing a yful fang.


    Judging from the pair of small goat horns atop her head, her ck wings, and the heart-shaped tip of her long tail, she was a pure-blooded subus from the Abyss.


    Lynn closed his eyes; although shutting his eyes couldnt entirely block out the subus allure, being in close proximity to such a creature meant being constantly ensnared by its charm.


    It was said that the Subus Lord of the Subus n controlled one of theyers of the Abyss, and her achievements were nothing short of remarkable. She had provoked jealousy and skirmishes among countless Abyss Lords, who vied for her affections, even engaging in battles and derations of love across the Abyss expanse. Rumor had it that even Lord of the Abyss were smitten with her, although no demon dared toe forward and substantiate these ims.


    Student Lynn, heres your personal form. Please fill it out, the subus across from him pushed the form toward him.


    Lynn took the form and a pen.


    The information to be filled in was straightforward; besides name, he needed to specify his mental strength and proficient subjects.


    Under the proficient subjects section, there were many categories, each with a small square box next to it for ticking.


    How do I fill in the standard mental strength? Lynn inquired.


    He could directly view his own attributes, so he was curious how other wizards tested themselves.


    We have a mental strength testing device, the subus retrieved a small instrument from her pocket, resembling a thermometer, with markings on its side.


    As long as you infuse your mental energy into it, it can check. Youll feel dizzy once your mental strength expenditure reaches 80% of your total, so its safe. You wont faint from exhaustion, the subus exined gently.


    Everyone goes through the test? Why didnt you bring it out initially? Lynn asked.


    Because apart from this, there were also some other ways to test your mental strength, such as judging your total mental strength roughly based on the number of times you cast spells, said the subus.


    Alright, then I wont test it either, Lynn picked up the pen and directly wrote 21 on the paper.


    Exceeding 20 met the minimum standard for mental strength attribute of a third-level wizard apprentice; his actual mental strength had already reached 37.7.


    However, it didnt state how much exceeding the standard would merit a magic stone reward. If there were indeed rewards, he could always test againter.


    Next, Lynn focused on the proficient subjects listed behind.


    After a moment of thought, he ticked the boxes for mutation studies and alchemical studies.


    These were his only life upations currently at level 2.


    Undead studies and bloodlines studies were only at level 1. Although he knew some basics, Lynn felt he still had a long way to go before truly excelling in them.


    Is there anything else? Lynn inquired.


    Thats all, the subus smiled. You were brought here by Lord Harin, and you already have the student emblem.


    Identity confirmation should be no issue, but there are some rules I need to inform Mister Lynn about in advance. It is strictly forbidden for academy wizards and apprentices to fight each other within the Abyss Wizard Academy. If there are conflicts, you can apply to resolve them in the dueling arena. Apart from that, try to refrain from usingrge-scale disruptive spells within the academy premises. Because many wizards conduct experiments here, if a spell disruption affects other wizards experiments, the academy will dispatch inspectors to investigate and mete out punishment.


    Which areas do you refer to as the academys premises? Does the entire city belong to the academy? Lynn asked, voicing his curiosity.


    Thats correct. The areas within the Enve Walls coverage are considered part of the academys premises, the subus replied.


    Upon seeing Lynn hesitate, the subus smiled and said, If youre not familiar with the area, you can wait for me to finish work, and Ill apany you to explore the boundaries of the academy.


    Hes such a big guy, recognizing a wall shouldnt be difficult, the lounge door swung open as Harin entered, his tone chilly.


    Following behind Harin was an administrator, but even from a distance, Lynn could smell the strong scent of sulfur emanating from him, along with the red-tinged pupils, unmistakably indicating a demon disguised as a human.


    The subus seemed quite afraid of the administrator walking behind Harin, quickly adjusting her expression upon seeing him.


    Hes the administrator of the service hall and has been here for ten thousand years. You can call him Toby, Harin said to Lynn.


    From Harins attitude, Lynn could tell that this demons strength was definitely not weak. Lynn politely addressed him, Mister Toby.


    Haha, being valued by Wizard Harin, you might be a wizard in the blink of an eye. And Harin, Ive been here for ten thousand and forty years, Toby said, sizing up Lynn. If you encounter any trouble in the outer court, you cane to me. After all, Ive been around for many years and know quite a few people. Most of the time,ing to me should solve most problems.


    Thank you, teacher, Lynn said gratefully, knowing that Tobys willingness to help was likely due to Harins influence.


    Ive told you not to call me teacher. Were not in a mentor-apprentice rtionship; you were just my assistant on the ship for a while, Harin said lightly.


    After a moment of silence, Lynn nodded. Alright, Lord Wizard Harin.


    Toby then stepped forward knowingly, hisrge palm open, revealing a key and a card.


    The key is for your residence, and Ill have Fura take you thereter. This card is my business card. If you need anything, just light it, Toby exined to Lynn.


    By the way, hand me his form, Harin instructed the subus.


    The subus quickly handed the form to Harin.


    Taking the form, Harins gaze first fell on the value of Lynns mental strength. When he saw the figure of 21 points for mental strength, Harins eyes narrowed for a moment, but his lips couldnt help but curl upwards.


    Then, Harin continued to look down the form, noticing Lynns proficiency in alchemical studies and mutation studies.


    Harin took out his own ck demon emblem and stamped it next to mutation studies, leaving a demon emblem imprint.


    Lynn was amazed; he had never realized the emblem could be used like this.


    It seems that Wizard Harin highly approves of your mutation studies. This is his endorsement of your proficiency in this field, Toby said, crossing his hands in front of him. With this certification, itll be much easier for you to participate in experiments or enroll in certain restricted courses rted to mutation studies in the future.


    Lynn only now realized the additional function of this imprint. It was akin to getting an endorsement.


    Alright, everythings done. Lets go to your amodation, Harin urged. I need to return to the wizard tower once were finished here.


    Fura was another subus.


    Compared to the subus who handed Lynn the form earlier, this one named Fura was less than five feet tall, barely reaching Lynns chest.


    With her waist-length pink, silky hair and delicate, sweet doll-like face, she wore a ck princess gown. However, her expression was quite serious, hardly resembling a subus.


    Even her horns were small, and her wings were tiny.


    Harin nced at this subus, seeming to recognize something, giving her a deep look but saying nothing.


    Hello, please follow me, Fura said, taking the key and leading the way.


    Walking behind her, Lynn noticed her small wings pping as she walked.


    Were they fake?


    Lynn scrutinized them carefully and realized they were indeed artificial demon wings. Did subi without wings even exist?


    Fura led the way for about twenty minutes until they reached their destination.


    Then, she earnestly introduced Lynn to his living area and his rights.


    Apart from the three-story townhouse they were in, there was also a vast plot ofnd, 300 by 300 feet, belonging to him. He could freely modify or build structures on it, or even reshape the terrain, but the condition was not to disturb the surrounding residents. Comints would require rectification.


    However, building tall structures or castles in the sky that affected the light of neighboring residents was not allowed without consulting them first.


    Although Lynn didnt know how expensive the housing prices were in the outer court of the Abyss Wizard Academy, such arge plot ofnd within a twenty-minute walk from the city center couldnt be cheap.


    Lynn knew he truly owed a debt of gratitude for this favor.


    My task isplete, and if youre satisfied, I hope youll give me a perfect score. Fura crossed her hands and performed a courtly gesture, then, as if performing a magic trick, produced arge evaluation form and a pen from her pocket.


    Lynn took the evaluation form and pen, giving it a cursory nce.


    Professionalism, Adherence to Regtions, Service Orientation, Technical Competence, Patience and Attention to Detail, Standardized Service.


    Lynn checked all the boxes.


    Seeing Lynn tick all the boxes, Furas eyes brightened, and the corners of her icy lips couldnt help but twitch in excitement. She quickly contained her joy, biting her lip to suppress the smile.


    Thank you for your evaluation! Fura said happily, taking the evaluation form and pen before leaving.


    Come on in and take a seat, Harin said to Lynn.


    The two entered the house, finding all the basic furnishings present, which Lynn could rece if unsatisfied.


    Closing the doors and windows, Harin gestured for Lynn to sit down.


    Ill be returning to the inner court soon. I might have to go into seclusion for a while, but he wants to see you, Harin said to Lynn.


    Lynns gaze flickered slightly; he should know who he was in Harins words.


    With a sh of the ring in Harins hand, Angleys figure appeared beside him as expected.


    Wearing a wizard robe, Angleys cloudy eyes swiveled slightly, his stiff neck following suit, before his gaze settled on Lynn.


    Seeing these two individuals with simr cold and enigmatic gazes standing before him, Lynn knew they had something important to discuss with him.

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    Its actually him whos been wanting to meet you, Harin said to Lynn. Actually, were two sides of the same coin, and yet not.


    Youve shown great promise during this time. Youve done well, progressing from amoner to where you are now. Youve been much luckier than I was back then, Angley said slowly.


    Youve always been curious about our rtionship, Harin remarked.


    Shut up! Let me speak, Angley interrupted Harin, clearly annoyed at being interrupted.


    Then go ahead, Harin scoffed, then pushed the door open and left.


    Dont mind that guy, Angley said. Let me tell you a story, and youll understand.


    One hundred and fifty years ago, in a small vige in the Erdolu Kingdom, there lived a young boy. The people of the vige called him Strange Angley because he often sat alone in a corner, muttering to himself and sometimesughing at nothing.


    The vigers looked down on him, but his sister understood him, believing that there were truly two people living in his head, calling them big brother and second brother.


    Later, Angley, the one who went up the mountain, identally found an inheritance of a wizard apprentice. He was talented and easily learned the knowledge within the inheritance, bringing his sister along to learn with him. Unexpectedly, his sister had more talent than he did, making faster progress in meditation than him.


    He was happy, and the siblings agreed to keep their ability to use magic hidden, as at that time, the kingdom had a suppressive attitude towards non-noble extraordinary beings. Women who could use magic were used by nobles of being witches, forced to serve the nobles or burned alive.


    Their inheritance recorded a ce called Bangor Port, from which one could board a ship to the Wizard Continent. For the two siblings who had only lived in a vige and had at most visited a town, the Wizard Continent described in Bangor Port was the beautiful ce they had dreamed of every night.


    Finally, the two siblings arrived at Bangor Port and waited for three years before finally boarding that ship. On the ship, they met a noble wizard apprentice. The noble wizard apprentice was witty, knowledgeable, and unlike other noble apprentices, he didnt disdain the siblingsmoner background. They treated him as a friend.


    But who would have thought that this so-called friend wouldter betray Angleys sister in order topete for a treasure? Although they managed to save her life, Angleys sister was cursed.


    To treat his sister, the two personalities in Angleys head took turns using their body: one attended sses and earned money during the day, while the other studied mutation and curses at night.


    Listening to this, Lynn already knew who the other personality in Angleys head was. He couldnt help but turn his head to look at the closed door.


    He hadnt expected that Angley and Harin had such a rtionship. And from the looks of it, they had somehow separated the personalities and even created another body.


    But what puzzled him was, ording to the story Angley told, wasnt Angley supposed to be the primary personality, and Harin the secondary one?


    Compared to my indecisiveness, Harin is more suited to survive in the wizarding world. And it was my wrong decision that led to believing in that person, resulting in my sisters current condition, Angley said despondently.


    If you do wrong, you have to pay the price. I warned him from the beginning that person wasnt good, but he insisted on trusting himself, so I turned him into a puppet and made him do all the dirty work, Harin said as he walked in from outside.


    Youre right, Angley smiled.


    And her Lynn was curious about the sister they mentioned. How was she doing now? Was the curse removed?


    He thought of the lizard he hadst seen, it had been a long time since then. Could it be that it was teacher Angleys sister?


    Harin seemed to have guessed Lynns thoughts. That one is one of my students. Due to a failed experiment, she ended up in her current state. Every once in a while, she loses her sanity, but then gradually regains it. However, Ive found a solution.


    Anna is still alive, but her situation isnt good, Harin said, his expression turning grim.


    So, teacher Angley sought me out and asked me to kill all the noble apprentices from the Erdolu Kingdom who boarded the ship, Lynn realized.


    Putting himself in the shoes, if his own sister, who he depended on for everything, had such an experience, not only the egg yolk would scatter, even the earthworms in the soil would be dug out and chopped vertically.


    Thest time Diasterdan contacted me for cooperation, the n was temporarily changed. I wont tell you the specifics. You should know that there are divination techniques and certain methods among the wizards that can make people reveal the truth. The more you know, the worse it is. However, as for those noble apprentices, if you kill them, there wont be any serious consequences, Harin said.


    Teacher, are there really so many inheritances for wizard apprentices? Lynn asked, voicing his doubts.


    Of course not, Angley shook his head.


    In the Wizards Council, theres a position called the Truth Spreader, Angley mentioned another ce.


    Wizards seek the truth, Lynn said.


    Exactly. The Truth Spreader spreads the seeds of truth. Like dandelions, these seeds fly everywhere, seeking out people with wizarding talent and coincidentally falling into their hands. The one I obtained years ago was also one of these seeds, Angley said.


    Lynn suddenly realized, no wonder


    Why was it that there were few wizard apprentices one encountered in the Erdolu Kingdom, but there were quite a few at the final dock in Bangor Port?


    These seeds contain records of boarding information, and every ten years, the fleet will harvest this batch of sprouted seeds.


    Most newly acquired wizard apprentices spend most of their time studying and receiving the inheritance. In situations where their strength is insufficient, they tend to stay low-key and rarely venture out, making them difficult to encounter.


    Of course, there are all sorts of personalities in the world. There are those who venture out as soon as they acquire the wizard inheritance, but these individuals either get recruited by nobles or meet unfortunate ends. There are a few who manage to survive, but their situations are probably not favorable, as they mostly live in hiding.


    Because the power of wizards during the apprentice stage is not exaggerated, a well-prepared army can easily crush them.


    Assessment of character is probably also a threshold for wizards to select seeds.


    Lynn, weve known each other for almost a little over a year now, Angley said.


    441 days, Lynn replied.


    I see parts of my past self in you, Angley said somewhat nostalgically.


    Young Lynn was much more decisive than you were, Harin bluntly exposed Angley.


    Angley responded calmly, Thats why I said parts.


    If only I had your quick wit back then, Angley chuckled and shook his head.


    I wont reminisce then, lest someone mock me again.


    You, myst piece of advice for you in the wizarding world: you may resort to any means for resources, but never forget to pursue the footsteps of truth.


    Good luck, kid, Angley chuckled softly.


    Teacher Angley, may I apply to be your student? Lynn asked.


    Angley shook his head, Im afraid I dont have the time. Ill be quite busy in theing years. If you be my student, it will only dy your progress. Ill keep an eye out for the experiment youre involved in. Oh, and there are official wizards whoe out to teach every day in the outer court. Each lesson costs one magic stone as tuition. The content of the lesson will be announced a week in advance, so you can prepare in advance.


    Teacher, are there no free lessons? Lynn asked, puzzled.


    There are, but you probably wont need them. Those are free knowledge for beginners. The truly valuable knowledge will require payment. Actually, what you can learn with one magic stone is quite worth it. The real value of this knowledge has already been paid for by the academy in advance, Angley exined.


    Theres also a task board in the service hall where some tasks posted by the academy or official wizards can be found. The rewards vary, so make sure to check what the reward is when taking a task.


    Besides the task board, there are many other ways to earn magic stones, such as selling potions, assisting in experiments, or selling homemade magic items. But it depends more on your own abilities.


    Lastly, Ive brought your goblin followers here. These goblins are resilient, and the weather in the outer court is always mild, so even if they live outdoors, they wont encounter any problems.


    Wishing you good luck, young man.


    Watching the backs of Harin and Angley as they left, Lynns mood wasplicated. Through gradual contact, Lynn discovered that Angleys seemingly cold demeanor was just a facade; perhaps after experiencing much, he became indifferent to certain things, but deep down, he still had a soft spot.


    As Lynn emerged from the room, he saw the goblins bustling on the open ground.


    Some goblins squatted on the ground, bored, while others knocked their heads, telling them not to move around.


    Bu and Redeyes maintained order.


    Master, Redeyes ran over when he saw Lynning out.


    Youll stay here for a night. Tomorrow, Ill send someone to fix your residence.


    Looking at the 223 goblins on the open ground, since they had already been brought here and they also had value, Lynn had no intention of giving them up.


    One of the conditions for advancing to a first-level wizard is to cultivate a legion of followers.


    Now, he could start working towards that direction.


    These goblins also had their uses. After all, they were a race with wisdom, and many of them had also transformed into extraordinary professions.


    Although they were just goblins, they were also goblins who had transformed into extraordinary professions.


    Moreover, goblins generally had higher talents in alchemical studies than other races. Lynn nned to select some of them to be his assistants.


    Tomorrow, he would find someone to n and design his residential area and also inquire about the situation in the outer court.


    Although Angley had told him how to survive, there were still many details that hadnt been rified.

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    The next morning, Lynn arrived at the service hall bright and early.


    Expecting a rtively empty space at this time, Lynn was surprised to find it packed to the brim upon arrival.


    The most conspicuous feature of the task hall was a whole wall on the right side upon entering, presumably the task board mentioned by Angley. Covered in task orders, the wall was surrounded by apprentices. A subus approached, clutching a small stack of papers, recognized by Lynn as the same subus who had attended to him yesterday.


    Tearing down all the old tasks from the wall, the subus reced them with new ones. Lynn squeezed through the crowd to reach the center.


    With a physical fitness approaching 20 points, Lynn easily parted the apprentices crowding the sides.


    Seeing Lynns familiar face, the subus who was prepared to leave offered a slight smile and waved in greeting.


    The separated apprentices grumbled but refrained from causing any trouble. This was the service hall; no one dared to cast spells here, as those who dared had basically be fertilizer for the magical nt gardens.


    Lynn quickly scanned through the tasks.


    Acquire 10 well-preserved Blue Silver Grass nts, Procure two attractive elf ves (gender unspecified), Need a wizard proficient in undead studies to assist with an experiment, Acquire poison potions.


    The tasks were diverse, covering a range of types, but most required purchasing something.


    The rewards varied greatly, with some offering raw materials while others paid in magic stones.


    Lynn thought for a moment and requested to see Toby at the front desk.


    Im sorry, but Lord Toby isnt avable today without an appointment, the receptionist elf girl gently replied, blinking her big sparkling eyes.


    Retrieving Tobys business card from his ring, Lynn presented it to the receptionist. Upon seeing the card, the elf girls demeanor changed immediately. Please wait a moment.


    Putting a seashell-shaped tool to her ear, she inquired and soon ryed the response to Lynn. Lord Toby is currently out on a business trip. Could this evening work for you?


    Sure, Lynn replied. It wasnt urgent anyway; he just wanted to inquire about some information regarding the wizard tower.


    Excuse me, friend, but you seem a bit lost. Are you new around here? Can I help you with something? a stout wizard approached, followed by a ck-hairedpanion.


    Im Jim, but you can call me Honest Jim, the stout wizard introduced himself.


    Lynn, Lynn replied.


    Wizard Lynn, Ive been in Demon City for thirty years now. I know every nook and cranny of this ce like the back of my hand. Since youre new here, let me give you a detailed tour. Dont worry; it wont cost you a thing, Jim offered, patting his chest.


    Thepanion beside initially had some doubts about why his good friend became so enthusiastic, and even called himself Honest Jim. <em>Who didnt know that your nickname is Miserly Iron Rooster?</em>


    Immediately after, he suddenly realized, looking at Lynn with a somewhat fervent gaze.


    Shall we go to the lounge inside and chat? Lynn suggested. He remembered that the lounge inside was essible to apprentices of the Abyss Wizard Academy.


    As for going outside, Lynn decided against it; he wasnt familiar with the area outside, and it would be awkward if he ended up getting lost in the alleyways.


    From his hometown all the way here, thest thing he needed was to get knocked out in an alley the next day.


    Um, my friend and I arent eligible to enter the lounge inside, Jim said awkwardly.


    Arent you both apprentices too? Lynns gaze fell on the wizard robes worn by Jim and hispanion. Were these two not wizard apprentices?


    We are, but were not apprentices of the Abyss Wizard Academy, Jim exined.


    Lynn pondered for a moment, then understood.


    So, Demon City refers to this entire area? Lynn asked.


    Exactly. Many people like to call this ce Demon City because its the closest spot on the Wizard Continent to the Abyss and demons, Jim exined.


    Are there many apprentices from the Abyss Wizard Academy in Demon City? Lynn asked.


    Quite a few. Every year, apprentices from various avenuese to Demon City. Unlike some wizard factions outside that admit students at regr intervals each year, Demon City epts apprentices and wizards all year round for 13 months, but the requirements are quite strict, and many people dont meet the standards, Jim said. Those who can enter the Abyss Wizard Academy are talented wizard apprentices, and many of theme with skills. Very few areplete novices who have just started learning about wizards.


    Wizard Lynn, youre probably not aplete novice when ites to being a wizard, are you? Jim asked.


    Lynn shook his head, his expression unreadable.


    So, the third-level apprentices who have the potential to be official wizards rarely show themselves. They usually stick to their own circles, either collecting experimental source materials when theyre out or seeking more knowledge when they hit a bottleneck. Most wizards spend the majority of their time studying and researching, so those who are out and about every day are mostly like usclearly not the most talented, but still striving apprentices, Jimmented.


    ncing to the side, Lynn observed the hall packed with apprentices. They clustered around the task board, like temporary workers waiting to be recruited.


    Some apprentices had torn wizard robes, simply patched them up and continued wearing them. There were also wizard apprentices with white beards holding magic books, bowing their heads and quietly discussing with young apprentices whose faces were still youthful.


    Some pairs or trios coborated to take on tasks involving source material gathering, hastily leaving the hall.


    Demon City has many foreign wizard apprentices like us. Theyre all here seeking opportunities to break through to be official wizards. After all, the Abyss Wizard Academy is a major force, and opportunities here are undoubtedly more abundant than in ordinary ces. Some people also aim to try entering the Abyss Wizard Academy, Jim coughed twice.


    My sources are quite reliable. If you need any magic source materials, I can inquire through my channels for you. If you have something to sell, I can also help you find suitable buyers.


    Do you happen to know any construction experts? Lynn inquired.


    Of course, I have a friend who specializes in construction business. The buildings they construct are of excellent quality. If you have any specific requirements, you can tell them. After the experiment, they can extract memories from the construction period to ensure the safety of your building, Jim exined.


    Is there really a spell like that? Lynn found it unlikely that apprentices could delve into spells involving memory extraction.


    Indeed, but its not a wizard; its an earth elemental, Jim rified.


    An earth elemental. Lynn assumed that memory extraction ability must be an innate racial talent of its species.


    How does your friend charge for their services?


    The fees are quite reasonable, based on the area andplexity of the building you need. However, their fees might be slightly higher than market prices, but the quality is guaranteed, and confidentiality is ensured, Jim replied.


    That sounds good. Help me contact them, and Ill discuss it with themter, Lynn nodded.


    Alright, Mister Lynn. Normally, there would be a brokerage fee, but since this is the first time you have be my client, Ill waive it this time, Jim said earnestly.


    Hm, Lynn nodded, and Jim turned to leave.


    Seeing the conversation between Lynn and Jime to a temporary halt, the ck-haired wizard standing nearby spoke up promptly, Mister Lynn, hello, Im called Liszt. Im a potion master, and I am proficient in many basic magic potions.


    Magic potion studies was not an obscure field of study; many wizards were skilled in crafting magical potions.


    Ill keep you in mind if I need anything, Lynn replied.


    In the mortal world, many people talked about wizards who could brew all sorts of strange bubbling green liquids.


    Magic potions served various functions, including healing, poison, utility, and explosive properties.


    Im not here to promote my potions; I hope to be your follower, Liszt said.


    A follower?


    Yes, Im already thirty-eight years old this year, and Ive just barely be a second-level wizard apprentice. Without opportunities, I may never be an official wizard in my lifetime, and then Ill have to find a way to perform the transformation ritual to extend my lifespan, Liszt said with a bitter smile.


    I cant help you be an official wizard, Lynn declined.


    But you surely will in the future, Liszt insisted.


    Do you believe in me just like that, even though weve just met?


    We have indeed just met, but Ive known Jim for five years, and I trust his judgment, Liszt said seriously.


    Jim is a broker; he knows many people in Demon City. His resources are extensive. In the past, he has also seen other apprentices from the Abyss Wizard Academy, but he has never shown such respect to anyone like he does with you this time.


    Lynn thought for a moment, figuring it must have been yesterday when Wizard Harin brought him in, and perhaps Jim saw him when Toby, the administrator from the service hall, escorted him out.


    Otherwise, he couldnt imagine why an ordinary wizard apprentice like himself would be valued.


    Let me look into it first before I say anything, anyway, you know Jim, dont you? Lynn didnt directly agree, giving a vague answer.


    Alright, by the way, Lord Lynn, here are the potions I made. You can check their quality. Liszts spatial ring shed, and the next moment he produced three bottles of potions and handed them to Lynn.


    Lynn took the potions and put them back into the spatial ring. Are you familiar with the surroundings?


    Upon seeing Lynn directly put the potions back into the ring without even looking at them carefully, Liszt paused for a moment, a hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes. Nevertheless, he managed to force a smile. Im very familiar with the central city area. Ive been in Demon City for eight years now. However, Demon City expands every year, so there may be some areas on the outskirts that Im not very familiar with.


    Walk with me, Lynn walked ahead, with Liszt falling half a step behind him.


    No need to be so formal; lets just treat it as a casual stroll between friends, Lynn said, cing his hand on Liszts shoulder.

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Alright, but Lord Lynn, you really kept a low profile, admired Liszt.


    How so? Lynn chuckled.


    You havent even worn the apprentice emblem, Liszt pointed out.


    Do I need to? Lynn wondered.


    Yes, its better to wear it. Because Demon City isnt actually very safe, Liszt exined.


    I remember Demon City doesnt allow conflicts, Lynn said.


    Thats only for conflicts between apprentices and the official residents of Demon City. If you dont have the apprentice emblem or official residency proof, youre not protected. Even if youre killed, you only need to paypensation, Liszt said.


    Is that so? Lynn thought of the protection of citizens and nobles in Rome, where there were many ves who were fundamentally not treated as human beings.


    Guided by Liszt, Lynn explored the central district thoroughly.


    Along the way, he also entered some shops to inquire about market prices.


    After half a day, Lynn had a good understanding of the situation.


    Many industrial chains in Demon City were veryplete, ranging from magic armor to various magical nts, high-energy ores, magic potions, alchemical items, and even sales of magical creatures.


    Moreover, the prices were stable. The prices of many mid-to-low-level resources were within a certain range. Of course, quality also determined the price, and some raw materials with exceptionally good quality were much more expensive than others of the same kind.


    Returning to the service hall, Lynn saw Jim and a conspicuously tall figure standing by the entrance, waiting.


    Sorry for the wait.


    Jim quickly said, We just arrived a moment ago.


    Mister Lynn, this is my friend, Mountain. Its given itself the name Mountain, Jim enthusiastically introduced the towering earth elemental standing beside him to Lynn.


    The earth elemental was a humanoid life form constructed from rubble, with many fragments floating in yellow mist, swirling and rotating like nebe. These yellow mists constituted its essential life structure.


    Mister Mountain, Lynn greeted.


    Hello, Mountain replied, its voice sounding like two pieces of hard rock rubbing against each other.


    Lets go to my ce first and discuss how to build. I have some ideas, Lynn suggested.


    Jim knew he wouldnt be able to listen to the discussion about building, so he said, Lord Lynn, this is mymunication conch. If you need anything, just contact me through it.


    Jim handed Lynn a small conch-like object.


    It looked a bit like the conch used by the elf receptionist yesterday.


    How much? Lynn asked as he took themunication conch.


    Its free, aplimentary gift. It would be great if youre willing to keep my contact information, Jim said.


    How does it work? Lynn found the palm-sized conch quite intriguing.


    Jim took out a simr conch from his pocket.


    When the two conches approached each other and their tentacles touched lightly, a thread of light emerged from the shell openings.


    The two tentacles touched gently in mid-air, then retracted.


    Theyve left their respective scents. If you want to contact me, just tell it when the timees. The usage is very simple; just inject your mental energy into it, Jim exined as he returned themunication conch to Lynn and waved his hand. Looking forward to continuing our cooperation next time.


    On the way back to his residence, Lynn noticed that Mountain seemed to float when walking.


    Although the legs resembled those of a humanoid, its movement seemed unrted to these legs.


    The floating earth elemental hovered behind Lynn like a ghost.


    The two arrived at Lynns ce.


    Mountain seemed to sense something and turned its head to look towards the backyard.


    Walking around the corner of the house to the backyard, Lynns eyes darkened at the sight before him.


    The backyard was filled with numerous dug-up holes, resembling rat burrows.


    Many goblins were energetically digging into the earth.


    What are you all doing? Lynn asked, somewhat surprised.


    Bu rushed over, looking somewhat nervous as it nced at Lynn. Master, were digging shelters. We goblins dont care much about living quarters; as long as we have a hole or a cave, its enough. You dont need to spend money on building houses for us.


    Lynn fell silent. Digging like this makes it difficult for me to build structures on the ground, and this utilization is too low. Let them stop for now.


    Bu realized the mistake and hurried to instruct the goblins to stop.


    You goblins are quite considerate, came a teasing voice from afar.


    Following the source of the voice, Lynn saw that the neighbor next door, across a small river, had erected a tower over ten meters high. At the top of the tower was a small window and a balcony, where a white-haired young woman sat in a rocking chair, holding a small teacup in one hand and a biscuit in the other, watching Lynns direction with amusement.


    Lynn couldnt be bothered and averted his gaze.


    Seeing Bu, who was nervously looking down, Lynn knew it was uneasy. Finally, he spoke up, Next time, consult me before doing something like this.


    Yes! Bu lifted its head, its eyes bright, and assured loudly.


    Mister Mountain, lets go inside and talk. I have a rough idea about the construction, Lynn said.


    Lynn and Mountain returned to the house and discussed for about an hour.


    Finally, they settled on a suitable n.


    Ive never heard of this architectural style of yours, but there are some aspects that can be learned from, Mountain remarked.


    Then Ill trouble you, Mister Mountain. Regarding the payment, shall I pay now? Lynn inquired.


    After the construction isplete, Mountain replied confidently, unconcerned about potential defaulters.


    Ill go prepare the raw materials first, Mountain said, as Lynn and it had discussed using some raw materialsbinations that it hadnt used before, which sounded quite interesting.


    Lynn nced at the evening sky; the moon overhead was somewhat blurry.


    It was strange, Lynn thought, in the Erdolu Kingdom, he could lift his head and see the goddess on the moon.


    But aftering to the Continent of Vanquished Gods, he couldnt see the woman on the moon anymore because the entire moon was shrouded in mist, as if veiled.


    Arriving at the service hall, the elf receptionist quickly notified Toby of Lynns presence.


    Haha, had some business to attend to during the day, Toby chuckled.


    Uncle Toby, Id like to inquire about some information from you, Lynn said with a smile.


    Whats the matter? Toby asked curiously.


    I heard that advancing from a third-level wizard apprentice to a first-level wizard requires building your own wizard tower. So, I want to know how to obtain the blueprints for building a wizard tower, Lynn exined.


    Oh, this? Youvee to the right demon, Tobyughed.


    With a flick of his right hand in the air, Toby conjured a burning ring of fire.


    Within the ring of fire was another image.


    Toby reached into the ring of fire, pulled out a thick stack of blueprints, estimated to be at least four or five hundred pages.


    Building a wizard tower was indeed not simple; just the blueprints alone were this extensive.


    These are the indexes, Toby said, handing over therge stack of blueprints to Lynn.


    Lynn took the blueprints, each sheet about the size of A1 paper, in both hands.


    Lynn took a deep breath.


    <em>Youre telling me these are just the indexes!?</em>


    There are many types of wizard towers, and each wizard builds their tower differently. From what those wizards say, there are no two identical wizard towers in the world, Toby exined.


    You can take your time to go through them. Its good to learn from the experiences of predecessors. These indexes record some basic data on the construction of wizard towers in the history of the academy. I dont quite understand your wizardry stuff, but if you find a suitable wizard tower, just let me know, and Ill get you detailed specific blueprints, Toby said.


    By the way, if thepletion of your wizard tower exceeds 50%, you can bring your design blueprints to me. You can exchange the blueprints for the source materials needed to build the wizard tower, Toby continued.


    Fifty percent.


    Have all the wizard towers listed in these indexes been sessfully constructed? Lynn asked.


    No, some have failed, but they all have at least halfpletion, Toby shook his head.


    Thank you, Uncle Toby, Lynn said.


    Toby replied, Find a lounge to read them. You students can browse through these blueprints for free, but you cant take them out of this room.


    Lynn, of course, wasnt oblivious. These blueprints were all acquired by the Abyss Wizard Academy at the expense of source materials, funded generation after generation by the wizard apprentices themselves.


    Simply put, these blueprints were the crystallization of wisdom umted by countless third-level wizard apprentices aspiring to be official wizards.


    Perhaps this was the foundation on which wizard factions trained their sessors. It was no wonder that so many wizard apprentices wanted to joinrge wizard factions.


    Lynn sat in the room, flipping through the indexes. As he continued to read, his understanding of wizard towers gradually deepened.


    These indexes not only recorded names but also included the style of the wizard towers, the source materials used at important nodes, and the general capabilities of the wizard towers.


    Moreover, these wizard towers could be continuously expanded; a wizards tower in their first-level stage would definitely differ from that in their second-level stage.


    Some wizard towers had the ability to move, some focused more on defense, some leaned towards attack, and some were focused on experimentation.


    From material form to energy form, and then to biological form, the variety of wizard towers left Lynn dazzled.


    He spent the whole night without filtering out the path he wanted to take, instead finding himself more confused the more he looked.


    Rubbing his brow, Lynn stretchedzily.


    However, he wasnt discouraged. Preparation for the wizard tower certainly couldnt be hastily decided in one night.


    Such an important matter surely required careful consideration, and he was mentally prepared for it.


    Lynn took out themunication conch from his spatial ring. After studying it for a while, he found that it was an alchemical item, incorporating some biological alchemy techniques.


    After confirming its safety, he infused his mental energy into it.


    The next moment, themunication conch responded, prompting him to choose a contact. Remarkably, all of this was done in his mind.


    There was only one contact at the moment, Jim, with whom he had exchangedmunication signals not long ago.


    After confirming, it didnt take long for a voice toe through themunication conch.


    Mister Lynn, how can I help you? Jims voice sounded.


    Do you have a way to sell alchemical creatures? Lynn asked.


    You want to sell alchemical creatures?


    Hm. Today, Lynn had spent the whole day in various shops, with a particr focus on alchemy-rted stores. He found that his creation, Iron Serpent No. 1, still had a certainpetitive edge.


    Lynn didnt mind selling Iron Serpent No. 1 because only by selling it could he have the money to buy more resources for experiments and then continuously research new finished products.


    At this stage, Lynn wasnt nning to leave Demon City. The academic and research environment here was truly wonderful.

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    If you have time, you cane over and take a look at the goods, Lynn said.


    I definitely have time, but Im not in the downtown area right now. Would it be convenient for you if Ie to you tonight? There was some noise on themunication conch.


    Sure, if Im not at my residence by then, I should be in the service hall. You can contact me through themunication conch when you arrive, Lynn said, hanging up the conch.


    Looking at the shell that fit perfectly in his hand, Lynn knew it required the infusion of mental energy to operate and wasnt very friendly to those without it.


    It restricted the user base to wizards or extraordinary professions who could use mental energy, although the amount of mental energy consumed was minimal, and the feel of using it was quite pleasant, ordinary people and certain professions that couldnt use mental energy yet were temporarily unable to use it.


    If amunication device could be made universal so that everyone could use it, there might be a chance of it bing a bestseller.


    But then came the problem: without base stations or satellites, it would be difficult to establish contact even with a well-mademunication device, and the signal would be poor unless he only wanted to make a short-range walkie-talkie.


    If given time, facilities simr to base stations could definitely be researched, but base stations were easily destroyed, and there were also issues of cost and coverage range. Some things seemed simple at first, but when you really considered implementing them, you would find a host of difficulties. Lynn shook his head, indeed, finding an easy way to make money wasnt that simple; if it were, someone would have done it long ago.


    Returning to his residence, therge pits dug out by the goblins in the backyard had long disappeared, reced by an evenrger square pit. Around the pit, reinforcing bars mixed with a gray-brown soil acted as a support surface.


    Mountain stood at the bottom of the pit. With its maniption, limestone, soil, and sand seemed like a soft y, mixed with iron powder and water on the ground, manipted by an invisible hand. These raw materials were mixed in a certain proportion and fused together.


    There was nothing easier for an earth elemental than this.


    Mountain noticed Lynn peeking out from the side of the pit. It nodded slightly, as if greeting Lynn, then continued to work.


    Lynn was preparing for a veryrge underground basement. If the ground building was too high, it would block the light for the surrounding residents, so the ground building was set at a height of only six floors, while the underground was set at a full ten floors.


    Mountain, how long will the construction take? Lynn asked.


    It will probably take about ten days, Mountain replied.


    Although it could manipte soil and rocks, it rarely received requests for such underground buildings.


    It needed to be constructedyer byyer, which took a lot of time. If it were a small building of two or three floors above ground, it could be done in half a day, and the inside could be made very delicate. That was the confidence of a professional earth elemental architect.


    Well, thank you. You can continue working, Lynn said, returning to his house. The goblins were crowded around his house, but with his previous orders, they dared not run around.


    Moreover, people passing by from time to time always gave them a sense of danger, which made these goblins even more timid.


    Lynn looked at these goblins, crowded together near his house. It wasnt ideal.


    There wasnt much space left here, and it was crowded for them to be together, and there were also some physiological needs.


    Hey, are you having a headache trying to ce these goblins? a voice came from next door.


    Lynn looked over and saw the white-haired young woman he had seen yesterday.


    I do have some vacantnd here. I can amodate the goblins for two days, the young woman said, holding up two fingers.


    That would be great, Lynn said, not being polite.


    The white-haired young woman hadnt expected Lynn to agree so directly. She paused for a moment and then said with a smile, I havent mentioned the conditions yet, and youve agreed so directly.


    Are there conditions? I thought it was just neighbors helping each other out, Lynn said, surprised.


    The young woman rolled her eyes. She didnt believe Lynn was that naive.


    This guy was obviously doing it on purpose.


    Forget it, Im just kidding. I dont need any conditions, the young woman said. Anyway, Ill probably be your neighbor for decades toe. If you have good rtions with your neighbors, its morefortable to live here. Speaking of which, your ce is a treasurend. I was actually thinking of getting it, but you took it away just two days after the previous owner left.


    Where did the previous owner go?


    Became an official wizard, then moved everything that could be moved here to the inner court, the young woman said with a sigh. I dont know when Ill be an official wizard.


    It was indeed a treasurend if the previous wizard apprentice living here became an official wizard.


    The young woman jumped down from the balcony of the tower, which was over ten meters high. Judging from her agile and nimble movements, her physical fitness was undoubtedly excellent.


    Tell your goblins toe over here; I have plenty of open space, the young woman stated. By the way, Im Ido.


    Lynn.


    Alright, your goblins can stay here, but tell them not to dig any holes, Ido pointed to arge expanse of overgrown grass ahead.


    Lynn estimated that thisrge open space was at least a dozen acres.


    Was such arge area really left vacant like this?


    I bought all thisnd! Ive secured a thousand years worth of usage rights, Ido boasted. Let me tell you, I foresaw that thend in Demon City would be more valuable over time. I n to capitalize on the appreciation of these properties. When the prices rise in the future, Ill sell them off.


    Ido sighed with a hint of regret. I was actually nning to buy thend you got, too. But before I could make a move, I was informed it had already been reserved.


    How much did you buy? Lynn inquired curiously.


    There, there, and over there, Ido gestured to numerous ces around them.


    Lynns expression shifted subtly. So, nearly half of the surroundingnd belonged to her?


    It couldnt be seen that she was still a wealthy young woman, and she probably had connections too. Otherwise, it wouldnt be possible for her to purchase so muchnd here.


    These goblins are your followers, right? Its umon to train goblins as followers, Ido observed, hands sped behind her back as she appraised the goblins.


    Theres no rule saying followers can only be from one race, Lynn said.


    True, theres no such rule, but goblinsck potential, Ido remarked. Their excellence lies in their intelligence and creativity, yet human intelligence and creativity are no weaker than that of goblins. Moreover, humans have better potential inbat professionspared to goblins.


    Of course, what Im saying applies to the average of each race. Every group has its geniuses. Who knows, among these goblins, there might be a few outstanding goblin engineers, Ido teased.


    Then Ill hold you to that.


    After settling the goblins, Lynn instructed them not to wander and left amenities like the Magical Delicacy House and the Portable Detachable Fountain, ensuring they stayed within the designated area and didnt cause trouble for other property owners.


    Hurriedly, Lynn returned to the service hall. Watching Lynns departing figure, Ido shook her head disinterestedly. Yet another dedicated workaholic immersed in their experiments.


    Back in the service hall, Toby had informed the staff in advance, and soon a staff member brought the indexes of wizard towers to the lounge for Lynn to peruse.


    Lynn had been in the lounge all evening, engrossed in the indexes until hismunication conch rang, snapping him out of his reverie.


    Exiting the service hall, Jim had been waiting outside for a long time.


    Lynn found a nearby tavern, and the two of them each ordered a drink, sitting in a private room to negotiate.


    Can I take a look at the alchemical work? Is this space too small? Jim asked.


    No problem, the space here is just right. Although the Iron Serpent No. 1 was quite long, its diameter was not thick, and it could coil up.


    Lynn took out the Rubiks Cube from the Alchemy Laboratory, opened a small slit, and a light shed. The Iron Serpent No. 1 appeared in the private room.


    Jim wasnt afraid either. He walked over and squatted down, his chubby hands on the head of the Iron Serpent No. 1.


    This sleek, silver-gray, snake-shaped alchemical creature, its surface seemed to be coated with ayer of metallic film, exuding a strong alchemical style.


    There were two routes in alchemical creatures.


    One was to create creatures full of alchemical style.


    The other was to hide the strong metallic style of alchemy and instead use faux leather or other materials to cover the surfaces alchemical properties, heading towards a realistic route.


    How are the data? Jim asked.


    Lynn handed Jim the data he had previously tested on the Iron Serpent No. 1.


    After reading it, Jim immediately gave his approval. Theres a market for this.


    Jim was confident.


    Its good for reconnaissance or ambush, and the defense is also up to standard. It can also act as a meat shield to dy time when needed. Its functions are impable. The main question is, how many magic stones do you want to sell it for?


    Lynn pondered for a moment. The cost of Iron Serpent No. 1 was approximately three magic stones.


    Yesterday, when he visited the alchemy shops to observe simr puppets withparable functions andbat capabilities, their prices ranged from five magic stones, give or take.


    Five magic stones. But if you buy two at once, I can discount it by one magic stone, Lynn stated.


    That price should be fine, Lord Lynn. If I manage to sell them, Ill need a 5%mission, Jim preemptively negotiated his cut.


    Lynn agreed. After all, selling alchemical puppets would also require time and effort on Jims part; he wouldnt do it for free.


    How many Iron Serpent No. 1 units are you nning to sell?


    Lets start with ten. Lynn currently had a total of thirteen, so he couldnt afford to sell them all without keeping at least one.


    Ill give you a response in no more than three days. I happen to know a friend whos been looking for alchemical puppetstely, but I need you to grant me control over one first. Ill use it as a sample to showcase itsbat effectiveness to them, Jim said with a grin.


    Lynn promptly granted Jim control over one Iron Serpent, but with limited authority. In the absence of othermands from Lynn, Jim now had the highest level of control.


    As he left, Lynn was informed by the bartender that Jim had settled the bill in advance.


    It had to be said, Lynn found his interactions with Jim quitefortable so far.


    Jim was adept at navigating social situations, which exined why he excelled as a broker.


    Back at the service hall, Lynn spent the next few days poring over the indexes of wizard towers. As he delved deeper into the indexes, his understanding of wizard towers gradually became clearer.

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92


    The variety of wizard towers was extensive, but in general, the construction of a wizard tower could be broken down into several major sectors.


    There were the energy sector, defense sector, attack sector, living sector, experimental sector, and special sector.


    Among these, the most crucial was the energy sector, as all other sectors relied on energy cores to provide power.


    As arge-scale architectural unit intimately connected with wizards, a wizard tower daily consumed a considerable amount of energy. If left to the wizards themselves to provide this energy, it would drain them dry and render the construction of such towers meaningless due to the immense resources and effort required.


    The key to the energy sectory in its sustainability and stability.


    From Lynns observation of many wizard towers, most of those built by wizards did not have just one energy core. Instead, several energy cores were used to provide energy to the tower.


    Common methods included constructing elemental pools and tapping into elemental nes to borrow some energy.


    Elemental nes were one of the rarest types among the multiverse, filled with vast amounts of free-floating energy in the elemental ne. Inside, numerous elemental life forms were born, and there was even a small chance of giving rise to powerful elemental lords or even elemental kings.


    However, the difficulty of constructing elemental pools was increasing. With the development of Wizard civilization, the number of wizards constructing wizard towers was increasing each year.


    Many of the currently discovered elemental nes had already been connected to wizard towers. It was akin to a vast reservoir where many residents had installed water pumps. Although the reservoir received a constant influx of water, the number and scale of pumps had to be controlled to maintain the stability of the elemental ne.


    Therefore, the use of elemental pools had decreased in recent years, not because constructing them was difficult, but because selecting a suitable elemental ne was challenging.


    Anothermon method was the Abyss Forge.


    The Abyss Forge was somewhat simr to elemental pools, except that instead of drawing energy from elemental nes, it drew energy from the Abyss.


    The Abyss, also known as the Bottomless Abyss, was said to consist of countlessyers of vast and expansive Abyss realms. It was constantly expanding, akin to a vortex in the dimensional void, continuously absorbing free-floating nes from the chaos void and dragging them into the Abyss, forming newyers.


    The energy possessed by such a vast world was naturally terrifying. However, the energy of the Abyss was corrosive, so wizards had developed Abyss Forges to convert energy of the Abyss.


    In demon wizard academies, the frequency of Abyss Forge usage was still quite high. Lynn found that most wizard towers would have an Abyss Forge as one of their energy cores.


    Naturally, Lynn saw no reason to deviate from the norm. If so many people endorsed and utilized something, it surely had its merits.


    Anyway, since there wasnt just one energy core, he decided to mark the Abyss Forge as an option for his energy core.


    There were also some other options, such as the Void Insect Mother Energy Conversion Chamber, Divine Captivity, Gates of the Underworld, and the like.


    Either they were connected to a powerful ne to serve as a forge, or they captured a powerful life form to serve as a battery, or they set up an incinerator to burn high-energy materials to act as backup energy in special situations.


    Lynn made a chart listing the raw materials needed to build the mostmonly used energy cores by other wizards.


    The more frequently they were used, the more essential these raw materials were. For example, Lynn discovered that the majority of wizards in the indexes opted to use Abyss Forges. This either indicated that Abyss Forges were the easiest to construct or that the raw materials required for Abyss Forges were rtively easy to obtain at demon wizard academies.


    He decided to gather the raw materials for the mostmonly used energy cores first.


    One energy core was called a Core, and two energy cores were called Dual Cores.


    Since there was no limit to the number of energy cores, it was definitely better to have more.


    But fortunately, constructing a first-level wizard tower only required one energy core, as wizard towers could be continuously expanded.


    Next was the defense sector.


    From the name alone, one could guess what it entailed. The defense sector came in various sizes, and a wizard tower certainly had more than one defense sector. The focus of defense also varied widely.


    There were energy defenses, physical defenses, mental defenses, and so on.


    Some wizards constructed defensive arrays, while others used high-level raw materials, relying on the quality of the raw materials themselves for defense.


    Undoubtedly, the defense sector themselves included the raw materials needed to construct wizard towers.


    A qualified wizard tower could not be built with ordinary wood and stone. Just the raw materials needed were a considerable expense, as everyone knew, the cost of raw materials could be astronomical.


    The attack sector was rtively special.


    Compared to defense, there were more options for the attack sector.


    This was because destruction was always easier than creation.


    One of the most basic methods was to construct high-level offensive spells within the wizard tower, essentially turning the tower into a high-quality magic item.


    However, this required finding powerful wizards and was quitebor-intensive.


    But at least for most wizard apprentices, it was abor-saving method.


    Then, on the higher end, theres the utilization of powerfulrge-scale magic equipment, or the crafting of biological weapons from the vital body parts or organs of certain powerful creatures.


    But these items are also rare raw materials and experimental source materials for official wizards. As for even more advanced options, theyre not even listed in these indexes, and it was estimated that no apprentice could afford such a high-level attack sector.


    Next up are the living sector.


    The first step for a wizard to be a recluse is to have their own wizard tower.


    Within the living sector, theres a need to create afortable, rxing area where wizards can fulfill their various physiological needs, and where food and energy can be self-sustained. Moreover, it should stabilize and filter the energy in the air, making meditation for wizards even more soothing.


    Its said that the frequency of each wizard tower resonates with the individual wizards mental frequency. In such a harmonious environment, the efficiency of meditation also sees a significant boost.


    Simr to the energy sector, Lynn discovered a wide variety of options within the experimental sector.


    The experimental sector epasses more than justboratories; a proper experimental area should also include energy separation rooms, spell testing grounds, magical nt nurseries, monster breeding grounds, undead nurturing areas, and so on. Of course, all of these depend on what facilities the wizards experiments require.


    For instance, an energy separation room can extract energy from the air and purify it into fire, water, or earth elemental energy.


    In some special experiments, such pure environments are necessary.


    The raw materials needed to construct an energy separation room include a substance known as the Void Abyssal Rainbow Core.


    Through Tobys connections, Lynn researched some information and learned that the Void Abyssal Rainbow Core is the heart of a star creature called the Void Abyssal Rainbow Devilfish.


    The Void Abyssal Rainbow Devilfish is a semi-energetic being capable of freely transforming into different attributes and releasing various attribute-siphoning attacks on prey or predators.


    Although the Void Abyssal Rainbow Devilfish isnt a legendary creature, its among the top tier in the hegemonic level of creatures. Coupled with the function of its heart, its been extensively hunted by wizards, and now, wild specimens are extremely rare.


    Different facilities require various raw materials for construction.


    Therefore, when constructing a first-level wizard tower, simplicity is usually the approach. Apart from theboratory, the mostmon facility is the spell testing ground because basic spell testing grounds only require energy-absorbing stones for construction. Although this raw material isnt cheap, its still rtivelymon in the market and can be purchased with magic stones.


    Finally, the special sector wasnt necessarily mandatory when constructing a first-level wizard tower.


    However, Lynn still noticed that a small portion of wizards incorporated special sectors into their tower designs.


    Such sectors included unique functionalities like floating foundations and spatial anchoring.


    These sectors, with unique and independent functionalities apart from the five main sectors listed above, were categorized as special sector.


    As Lynn carefully pondered, a sudden spark of inspiration shed through his mind, leading to a creative idea.


    Quickly, he borrowed meticulously selected blueprints from some partially constructed wizard towers.


    The contents of these blueprints were more detailed than the indexes, even providing specific exnations for some defense sector formations.


    Midway through, while Lynn was engrossed, themunication conch ced nearby lit up. Lynn picked up themunication, and Jim had already arranged a buyer.


    The buyer was prepared to purchase four Iron Serpent No. 1 units in one go, expressing satisfaction with the Iron Serpent No. 1.


    Lynn took a break toplete this transaction, and after giving Jim a cut of one magic stone, Lynn pocketed 17 magic stones.


    Then, Lynn returned to his residence. The construction was nearly halfway done, with seven underground floors alreadypleted, leaving only three underground floors and six above-ground floors unfinished.


    Lynn inspected the quality of the underground construction. The reinforced concrete in this wizarding world version exceeded expectations, as even Minor Fireball spells left only minor abrasions andrge patches of charred marks on the surface, failing to damage the entire wall.


    Lynn settled all the construction payments, totaling 15 magic stones, including raw material costs.


    The ie he had just received was almost entirely spent in the blink of an eye.


    Subsequently, Lynn hurried back to the service hall. This time, he stayed in the lounge of the service hall for a full ten days, with Toby visiting once during that time.


    Then, he ordered for Lynn not to be disturbed except for the daily provision of food.


    After ten days, Lynn sketched a rough outline on the nk blueprint.


    An octagonal tower, tapering downyer byyer from top to bottom, appeared on the blueprint, with the eaves nearly forming a straight line.


    The towers surface was adorned with patterns, with a significant portion left nk for constructing magic runes.


    In the middle of four sides of the tower, Lynn left a nk area.


    He nned to extend four corridors from these four nk areas, connecting them into a circr corridor surrounding the wizard tower.


    He also had his own ambitions; if his future capabilities allowed, perhaps this circr corridor could encircle not just the tower but the entire or even world. Lynn already had a name in mind for this towerthe Tower of World Encirclement.


    However, this was just a rough sketch, with many detailed structures and specifics yet to be designed.


    Once the blueprint was sessfully drawn, Lynn could begin collecting raw materials.

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93


    However, there was still a long way to go before the blueprint was fullypleted.


    Because Lynn realized that when it came to delving into the intricacies of structure and specific details, it involved delving into deeper and more esoteric knowledge. This included aspects such as the drawing of magic runes, integrating core sectors with the overall wizard tower, and simting and generating frequencies simr to a wizards own mental energy within the living environment.


    Every detail of each sectors construction involved a plethora of knowledge. Sometimes, what seemed simple in theory turned out to be quite baffling in practice.


    Nevertheless, Lynn had already established the basic framework.


    Next, all that was needed was to gradually fill in the creativity, inspiration, and acquired knowledge step by step, which would be the best response.


    Lynn had always believed that a wizards daily inspiration paled inparison to the inspiration brought about by years, or even decades, of uninterrupted contemtion.


    Emerging from the lounge, Lynn spotted a pink mushroom head outside the door. Fura turned her head upon hearing the door open.


    Here, this is from Toby for you, Fura said, handing over a letter.


    Thank you.


    Then, give me a positive evaluation, Fura said, producing a sheet of paper and a pen from her pocket.


    Wait, even this kind of thing has to be given a positive evaluation?


    Lynn hesitated for a moment.


    Ive been waiting for you for a whole four hours, Fura pouted.


    In that case, you deserve top marks, Lynn awarded a perfect score, and Fura happily skipped away with the rating sheet, resembling a child.


    Lynn epted the unopened letter and opened the envelope. Inside, there was a letter and an invitation card. Lynn read the contents of the letter first.


    The letter was concise, and Lynn quickly finished reading it. Harin informed Lynn that theboratory assistant position he had promised to help find had been secured. However, they needed to check if Lynns abilities met the standards. Lynn was required to visit theboratory within ten days.


    With this letter of rmendation, Lynn could arrive at the destination on time.


    However, the letter did not specify the type of experiment. Considering Harins character, Lynn suspected that experiments rted to mutation studies were most probable.


    Recalling Harins earlier mention that the reward for experiments could be important source materials for building wizard towers, Lynn now understood what constituted important source materials.


    Previously, Lynn didnt understand what important source materials were, but now he knows.


    While constructing the basic framework of a wizard tower required what is referred to as raw materials, only the core materials capable of assembling sectors is called source materials.


    Since it was rted to mutation studies, Lynn nned to spend the next few days improving his knowledge in that area.


    Returning to his residence, Lynn could see the six-story square building from afar.


    To avoid any mishaps, Lynn had designed the first construction of this style to be a simple square structure, without any fancy embellishments.


    Each floor had windows, doors, and corridors, with transparent ss used for the windows.


    With a super area of 300 by 300, this six-story building had a total floor space of five hundred and forty thousand square meters on the ground alone, not including the ten underground floors.


    Not to mention two hundred and thirty-two goblins, even if its increased tenfold, amodating them would still be a breeze.


    Lynn nned to transform the underground space into aboratory in the future.


    Until the wizard tower waspleted, this underground space would serve as hisboratory. Lynn intended to build an enormousboratory for himself, covering alchemical studies, undead studies, and mutation studies, among others.


    Now Lynn was only worried that he wouldnt have enough time every day.


    He went to Idos house next to retrieve the goblins.


    Arriving at Idos backyard, Lynn found the goblins pitching tents and hosting a bonfire party in the center of the field. They held hands, dancing merrily around the fire.


    On the sidelines, there were also some tall and burly minotaurs, with giant waist drums strapped around their waists, pping and swaying.


    The goblins stood next to these minotaurs, not even reaching the height of their thighs.


    Seeing this scene, Lynn was somewhat stunned.


    Oh, youre back. Among the monsters, Ido, dressed in a ck and red gown, turned around, smiling and greeting Lynn.


    Are these your followers? Lynn asked, pointing to the minotaurs.


    These minotaurs had dark, almost ck skin with reddish patterns on their yellowish skin. Their tworge horns on their heads were exceptionally massive, and their bodies were extremely robust, with an average height approaching four meters, and their muscr masses were as hard as granite.


    The Dark Minotaurs, I spent a fortune on them. Each one is at least a second-level extraordinary being, Ido remarked.


    Lynn nced over and saw at least twenty dark minotaurs in the center of the field, each one indeed a second-level extraordinary being.


    In the wizarding world, apart from wizards, other extraordinary beings were ssified from first-level to twelfth-level based on their strength.


    Wizards, however, were evaluated separately due to their vast knowledge and research into spells and truths. Thebat power of each wizard couldnt be simply calcted based on the level of the extraordinary beings.


    However, there was a rough judgment criterion.


    A first-level wizard who had broken through, digested, and researched for a period of time could, on average, unleash the destructive power of a fifth-level extraordinary being if the battlefield was limited to the vicinity of their wizard tower and if the battlefield was prepared in advance.


    The reason the word average was used was that there might be a slight discrepancy in the wizard towers of different wizards.


    Moreover, the greatest strength of wizards wasnt just their sheer destructive power but also their ability to transform and cultivate their followers.


    An official wizard, with his legion of followers, could unleash terrifying warfare potential, even if he was just a first-level wizard. One person could overthrow a nation, which wasnt an exaggeration.


    Of course, if a wizard left his wizard tower and encountered an unprepared ambush, hisbat power would also decrease significantly.


    Have a drink. Its a Bloody Mary bought from hell. They say those vampires love this stuff, Ido handed Lynn a bottle of unopened red wine.


    I dont like drinking. You guys go ahead. After they finish the bonfire party, have them clean up the area ande find me, Lynn said to Ido.


    Do you suspect theres something wrong with my wine? Ido raised an eyebrow.


    No, I just simply dont like drinking, Lynn replied calmly.


    Okay, Ido took back the bottle, no longer forcing Lynn.


    Watching Lynn leave, Ido sneered at his back, What a hypocritical guy. Hes clearly worried theres something wrong with my wine.


    Since childhood, Ido had awakened a natural ability that allowed her to perceive whether others were telling the truth or lying.


    It was precisely because of this talent that from a young age, she felt that many people were like wearing masks, their smiles seeming so ring.


    So she left the wizard tower where her father resided and came to this Abyss demon academy. She had been prepared to have a big argument with her father when she grew up, but she was surprised when her father actually agreed to her request.


    Compared to the wizard tower where her father previously resided, she felt that the people here were rtively more genuine.


    Especially the demons in the Abyss, most of them were straightforward and outspoken, saying they wanted to kill you meant they really wanted to kill you.

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94


    In the following days, Lynn spent most of his time in the undergroundboratory conducting experiments. He brought out the tables and vessels from the Alchemy Laboratory and during the day, took time to visit nearby shops to purchase variousboratory instruments, along with plenty of experimental raw materials.


    In this conducive environment, progress in mutation studies urred daily.


    Under Lynns arrangement, the goblins also moved in.


    All eight goblin engineers were brought to the basement and, under Lynns direction, began to be exposed in his experiments. Tasks such as the more straightforward yet time-consuming steps involved in the construction of Iron Serpent No. 1 were delegated to these goblin engineers.


    Lynn soon realized that the participation of these goblin engineers in the experiments also counted towards taskpletion. Due to theirck of proficiency, the quality of the finished products was affected, changing the evaluation ofpletion from excellent to qualified.


    To avoid impacting the evaluation of his daily tasks first experiment, Lynn ensured that each days first experiment began with research rted to mutation studies. Lynn had previously acquired numerous monster corpses in the maze, and every day, he dissected these corpses, studying and analyzing their bloodlines.


    Afterpleting the first experiment of the day, he proceeded with alchemy experiments, delegating some unimportant and time-consuming steps to the goblin engineers.


    As expected, this method significantly increased the efficiency of producing Iron Serpent No. 1.


    In fact, the technical difficulty of manufacturing Iron Serpent No. 1 was not particrly high; the most challenging aspect was the process of invention and improvement.


    The goblin engineers, who were experimenting alongside Lynn for the first time, were in awe of his seemingly divine skills.


    Each of them was filled with worship.


    They had never imagined that their master, besides being powerful, was also so excellent in alchemy.


    Gradually, Lynn began to impart his techniques to these goblin engineers. Once they fully mastered the production techniques of Iron Serpent No. 1, Lynn could entrust them with its production in the future.


    This way, Lynn could save a lot of time every day, which he could then devote to researching and creating more advanced alchemical creatures.


    In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.


    Lynn opened his attribute panel.


    Lynn


    Level: Level 24 (0/1000)


    Physical Fitness: 19.08


    Mental Strength: 37.7


    Mastery:


    Earth Ring Meditation (Mastered)


    Hellfire Meditation (16%)


    Life upation:


    Level 2 Mutation Studies (18.4%) (0/100)


    Level 1 Bloodlines Studies (65%) (0/10)


    Level 2 Alchemical Studies (9.8%) (0/100)


    Level 1 Undead Studies (75%) (0/10)


    General Experience Points: 690


    After some contemtion, he allocated all 600 points of general experience to mutation studies.


    The progress in mutation studies swiftly changed.


    In a daze, Lynn once again saw the door in his mind.


    The door cracked open a slit, and the intangible yet substantial knowledge flowed into his mind like a torrent.


    In that instant, Lynn felt as if he were immersed in an ocean of knowledge.


    Lynn gained considerable insight into many previously unfamiliar areas of knowledge.


    However, this euphoric feelingsted only for a moment before dissipating.


    Lynn felt a sense of disappointment, but afterposing himself, he once again looked at his attribute panel.


    Level 2 Mutation Studies: 18.4%  24.4%.


    As Lynn crossed the significant threshold of 20%, he felt his understanding of mutation studies deepen, as if he had crossed a small threshold.


    The feeling of immersion in knowledge he experienced earlier was utterly captivating, luring one in without one even realizing it.


    <em>Whaty behind that door? Could it be a mysterious ce containing all the known knowledge of the world?</em>


    That was just a small crack, yet it resulted in such significant progress after a brief period.


    If he could truly open the door and immerse himself for days on end


    No, Lynn shook off the thought.


    The pursuit of truth required one to proceed step by step, with a firm footing. One mustnt aim too high.


    The experience points Lynn had just used were umted through his daily hard work in experiments, the fruits of hisbor. Moreover, he had personally added each point. Being grounded like this was the right way to go about it.


    After briefing the goblins, Lynn took the invitation and readied himself to enter the inner court. The letter stated that tearing open the invitation would grant ess.


    Finding a quiet spot, Lynn gazed at the exquisite ck-bordered invitation and gently tore it open from top to bottom.


    As the invitation was torn, the space before him rippled, and simultaneously, a rift appeared, magnified many times over.


    Peering through the crack, Lynn observed the world beyond. He saw a vast expanse paved with bricks, surrounded by towering stone pirs.


    Uncertain of any dangers ahead, Lynn instructed a goblin to go first. However, no matter what they tried, the goblin couldnt pass through the rift until Lynns invitation began to emit a faint glow.


    Lynn understood; this was a reminder that only holding the invitation allowed passage through the rift. Retrieving the letter, and confirming it was written by Harin, Lynn stepped into the rift, invitation in hand.


    As Lynn stepped inside


    The torn invitation automatically healed, and the rift behind him vanished without a trace.


    Before he could contemte further, Lynn was astonished by the surroundings.


    Beneath his feet and all around was a vast square, lined with colossal stone pirs.


    As Lynn set foot in the square, these pirs underwent a transformation.


    They seemed to breathe, with their pale gray shafts slightly swelling, sprouting numerous rounded knobs.


    Subsequently, these knobs split open neatly down the middle, revealing indifferent eyes within. These slightly protruding eyes, devoid of eyshes, resembled human eyes, but with a cold, gloomy gaze.


    The eyeballs swiveled in unison, countless gazes from the squares pirs fixed upon Lynn simultaneously.


    The invitation in Lynns hand emitted a gentle glow, enveloping him in its protection. When the gazes of the eyeballs fell upon Lynns invitation, they paused for a moment, then slowly retracted their gaze, closing once more.


    The swollen eyeballs retracted back into the pirs, and the square returned to its initial tranquility.


    Lynn raised his head; the sky above was shrouded in mist, thick fog pervading the surroundings.


    There was no moon or stars in the sky, only the dense fog covering the thick clouds.


    After waiting for a while, the distant cry of a crow sounded, and a colossal ck crow descended from the sky. The crows size wasparable to that of a bus, with each of its feathers growing almost as long as a human.


    As it drew closer, Lynn noticed that the ck crow had three eyes. Perched on its broad back was a man d in a thick wizard robe, with only a pair of eyes visible.


    He nced at the invitation in Lynns hand. Come aboard.


    With its broad wings spread t on the ground, Lynn walked steadily onto the ck crows back.


    Steady now, the man said as Lynn stabilized himself.


    The ck crow suddenly took flight.


    Lynns body swayed, quickly crouching down and grabbing onto the crows feathers to steady himself.


    As the crow ascended higher, the distant and surrounding scenery gradually came into view before Lynns eyes.


    Above was the rolling, ink-ck clouds, and the crow ceased its ascent when it reached just below the clouds.


    Beneath his feet was a vast in, and at the farthest end of his sight, there stood a towering ck mountain.


    On the in, towering wizard towers stood tall, their surfaces adorned with shimmering runes and defensive spells, making them resemble lighthouses on the in. Some of these towers were exceedingly tall, akin to dormant giants in the darkness.


    Each wizard tower was surrounded by a vast cluster of buildings, with considerable distances separating them, almost resembling independent cities.


    Suddenly, a dazzling electric light emanated from the top of a distant wizard tower on the in, converging into a ring orb. In the next moment, a powerful ripple spread outward like a shockwave.


    In the air before the wizard tower, a circr illusory light gate formed.


    Bathed in the light of the gate, Lynn saw countless tall or deformed figures gathering in silence, waiting patiently before the gate.


    As the illusory gatepletely formed, the multitude of figures before it orderly surged into the light gate like waves.


    Youre lucky to witness the wizards activating a ne portal just as you arrive, the man standing before the ck crow remarked.


    The ck crow flew swiftly, arriving shortly at a nearby wizard tower.


    While in the sky, Lynn hadnt perceived the height of these wizard towers as much, but uponnding, he truly felt the enormity of the towers before him.


    Lynn lifted his head. It was his first time observing a wizard tower from such a close distance, and he couldnt see its peak at a single nce.


    The wizard tower before him looked slightly different from the others Lynn had seen. Its shape resembled a towering evergreen tree, stretching from the depths of the earth to the sky.


    The trunk was incredibly thick, and the dense canopy of leaves at the top resembled a massive umbre that blocks the sky and the sun.


    Lynn found this wizard tower somewhat familiar, and after searching his mind, he recalled.


    In the indexes of wizard towers he had previously perused, there was indeed a blueprint of this particr wizard tower towards the end. Even among the many wizard towers, this one was considered unique because it used a sapling of a sub-species of the elven mother tree as its core, serving as the towers body. It was one of the few with such innovative design.


    He remembered that when constructing a first-level wizard tower, an elemental pool and a moon pool were built inside to serve as the core.


    This wizard tower must be more than just first-level now.


    Initially, when it was at first-level, its height was only a hundred and fifty meters. Now, it has far exceeded that, probably nearing a height of a kilometer.


    There were many holes in the tree resembling doors and windows, and asionally, semi-transparent humanoid life forms with wings like bees woulde and go from them.


    Today, Im just here to guide you. From now on, ck Crow will pick you up each time. Dont wander aimlessly in this world; otherwise, if you lose your life, I wont be responsible. After ck Crownded, it fluttered up to the canopy.


    The man beside Lynn loosened the scarf around his neck, revealing a birds beak in ce of his mouth.


    Lynn nced at it briefly before averting his gaze. The man could be a member of a bird-like race or perhaps a wizard who had undergone transformation.


    Im called Nocturne, the man said. I have very high expectations of researchers. If you dont meet the standards, you wontst long.


    Lynn didnt ask why he wasnt the owner of this wizard tower. It was evident that the owner of this tower far exceeded the level of a first-level wizard. Lynn was well aware of the standards for a first-level wizard tower.


    If you have any questions, you can ask me, but I need to test your abilities first, Nocturne said, leading Lynn to a nearby spire-shaped building.


    Before, Lynns attention had been drawn to the towering elven tree wizard tower, but upon seeing the spire before him, Lynn paused. Although this spire was only a hundred meters tall andcked the grandeur of the elven tree wizard tower, it appeared to be a genuine wizard tower. Was Nocturne also a wizard?!

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95


    The wizard tower before him should be in the indexes.


    Lynnpared the wizard tower before him with the ones he had seen in his mind. Soon, he found two wizard towers that looked very simr.


    ¡°No need to guess. When I designed the appearance of the wizard tower, I referenced that predecessor. I should be thetter one if there aren¡¯t any new wizard towers simr to mine.¡± Seeing Lynn¡¯s expression, Nocturne didn¡¯t need to know what he was thinking. When he first saw Lady Maybetessa¡¯s wizard tower of an elven mother tree, he had a simr feeling.


    Realizing his thoughts had been guessed, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but smile awkwardly to cover up his embarrassment.


    Following behind Nocturne into the wizard tower, Lynn gained a sense of the over 500-page wizard tower indexes.


    Perhaps not all the wizard towers since the establishment of the Abyss Wizard Academy were recorded on it, but it definitely included traces of most wizard towers throughout a considerable period of history.


    The older and more ancient the wizard tower, if it still existed, the more terrifying its background should be.


    After all, for most wizards, their power stemmed from wisdom and knowledge.


    Upon entering the wizard tower before him, Lynn saw its internal structure, which appeared muchrger than it did from the outside.It seemed to employ space-folding technology inside, a technique quitemon in wizard towers. Lynn also nned to incorporate space-folding technology into his own wizard towerter on. Moreover, this technique required raw materials imbued with spatial energy.


    Looking around, Lynn observed ayout resembling a cylindrical building. In the middle was an open space that led directly upward.


    Numerous branches extended from the walls on the left and right sides, each bearing nest after nest.


    Sensing Nocturne¡¯s arrival, countless ck crows suddenly flew out of the nests. The crows poured down like a storm, covering even Lynn, who stood beside Nocturne. These crows were small, palm-sized, with blood-red eyes and noisy voices.


    Moreover, Lynn sensed magical energy emanating from these crows. They were likely magical creatures.


    ¡°Alright, go back now.¡± Nocturne¡¯s words fell, and the myriad crows returned to their nests, restoring peace to the surroundings.


    Leading Lynn, Nocturne walked to a nearby door inside, pushing it open and stepping inside.


    The scenery changed, and before them was a vast roomid out like aboratory.


    ¡°This is a vial of blood. It contains 999 drops of blood, but one of them is mutated.¡±


    ¡°If you can separate the unique mutated drop of blood from these one thousand drops within three minutes, you pass.¡±


    Nocturne picked up a vial of blood from the table.


    ¡°You can use the other raw materials and tools on the table.¡±


    Lynn looked at the tabletop. The source materials rack was thoughtfully filled with various raw materials and tools, eachbeled.


    ¡°My research is rted to blood. If you be my assistant, your main task every day will be to find suitable blood from countless kinds of blood.¡± Nocturne said.


    ¡°So, if you can¡¯t qualify, forget it.¡±


    Lynn nced at the raw materials and tools on the table, saying nothing. He silently approached, using a pipette to draw a drop of blood from the vial. Then, he adeptly picked up the raw materials and instruments on the table. With his continuous adjustments, he quickly prepared a pale blue potion and a red potion.


    First, Lynn poured the pale blue potion into the blood.


    Soon, the vial of blood turned into a pale purple color.


    At the same time, Lynn took out a mist inhaler and covered the vial filled with blood.


    Lynn then poured the red potion into it, and the blood inside quickly evaporated, emitting a strong white mist.


    After a moment, only a drop of blood remained in the vial.


    Nocturne nced deeply at Lynn, took the vial, and sniffed it. ¡°Correct, you pass. You took only one minute and thirteen seconds. Can I hear your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I took out a drop of blood and then used it as a temte to concoct a specific antidote tailored to counteract this blood.¡± Lynn exined.


    ¡°I poured the antidote into it and evaporated the drop of blood. Mutated blood cannot be evaporated by the antidote.¡±


    ¡°Of course, if that drop happened to be mutated blood, it would also be absorbed by the mist inhaler.¡±


    The mist inhaler was amon experimental apparatus in wizardboratories, used to absorb the vapor of certain reagents.


    ¡°Your technique is very proficient. You¡¯ve only been a wizard for less than two years?¡± Nocturne looked at Lynn.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lynn nodded.


    ¡°To be a third-level wizard apprentice in two years and possess such skillful techniques, it¡¯s evident that your studies on mutation and bloodline are not low. That potion you just made couldn¡¯t be concocted without understanding bloodline studies. Your profile only mentioned expertise in alchemical studies and mutation studies, but now it seems you also have some proficiency in bloodline studies. Truly a genius.¡± Nocturne didn¡¯t hesitate to praise Lynn.


    He was very satisfied with Lynn as hisboratory assistant.


    ¡°Alright, the experiments will begin tomorrow. I still have some raw materials that haven¡¯t arrived.¡± Nocturne said. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s chat for a while, and if you have any doubts, you can ask me for rification.¡±


    Nocturne led Lynn to his living area.


    Nocturne¡¯s living area resembled a ¡°nest¡±, with circr walls around, and the floor covered with thick and soft wood shavings.


    Walking on these wood shavings didn¡¯t feel sticky or prickly but rather like stepping on warm cotton.


    Many orange warm lights were arranged on the walls, ceiling, and even the bottomyer of wood shavings.


    In the central area was a slightly sunkenrge round bed, covered with a thick feather quilt.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the terrace.¡± Nocturne quickened his pace and led Lynn to the lounge inside.


    Theyout of the lounge was slightly colder, with two chairs and a small table.


    In front was a bookcase covering the entire wall, while the other wall had many cupboards containing various collectibles¡ªmany of which were shiny.


    However, Lynn¡¯s mind was still recalling the scene inside the room just now.


    Lynn pursed his lips slightly, not daring to let himselfugh. He couldn¡¯t believe that under Nocturne¡¯s cold exterior, there was such a warm heart.


    Because the living area was the ce that would best reflect the other side of a wizard¡¯s heart, it was definitely arranged ording to their inner aesthetic.


    Considering the Angley he hade into contact with before, Lynn suddenly felt that the male wizards he had met seemed to have a bit of a mysterious and contrasting side.


    Of course, Lynn didn¡¯t think that Nocturne and Angley were gentle and kind people because of this.


    The people who had be experimental subjects in that little cabin were still vivid in his mind.


    Gentleness aside, when it came to killing, they were not merciful at all.


    ¡°Have some pastries.¡± Nocturne tapped the table, and a blue light shed across the tabletop.


    A Bahov Elf appeared on the table.


    ¡°Bring some special pastries.¡± Nocturne ordered.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The Bahov Elf blinked and disappeared on the spot. After a moment, it reappeared on the table.


    It held arge tray in its hands, filled with many white cookies emitting a creamy fragrance.


    ¡°Try it. It¡¯s a specialty from my hometown.¡± Nocturne said.


    Lynn looked at the milky-white cookies on the te. He examined them carefully. The shape of the bugs on the cookies wasn¡¯t drawn but was actually chubby white bugs smeared with white cream on both sides and then baked.


    As he ate, the fragrance of the cream and the sour juice bursting from the bugs mixed together, surprisingly leaving a lingering sweetness.


    Lynn remained silent, respecting the specialty of Nocturne¡¯s hometown. He continued to eat several pieces in a row.


    ¡°Bring some other desserts.¡± Nocturne called the Bahov Elf, and this time, the desserts brought were all normal.


    ¡°Wizard Nocturne, I¡¯ve been here for some time now, but why isn¡¯t the Abyss Wizard Academy the kind of campus where many apprentices gather to study together? Instead, it¡¯s structured like a city,¡± Lynn voiced the curiosity in his mind.


    In his impression, an academy, with the word ¡°academy¡± in it, should have standard teaching buildings, right?


    And then, many wizard apprentices would go to the teaching buildings every day or at regr intervals to listen to wizards lecturing. That¡¯s what he thought a standard wizard academy should be like.


    Although he had heard that some official wizards asionally came to give lectures, it always gave him a sense of being left to one¡¯s own devices.


    ¡°The kind of ordinary wizard academy you¡¯re talking about exists,¡± Nocturne replied. ¡°But this is the Abyss Wizard Academy.¡±


    ¡°What kind of people do you think cane here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard them say that the Abyss Wizard Academy has high requirements. Many apprentices want toe here. Those who cane here are not ordinary apprentices,¡± Lynn expressed his insight.


    ¡°Correct, your answer is very urate. The wizards who cane here can roughly be divided into four categories,¡± Nocturne raised his right hand with four ws.


    ¡°The first type, those with backgrounds. These people have received education from a young age. They either learned the basics at home or could find them in books.¡±


    ¡°The second type, rmended by their races. I belong to this type. Our ne, the ck Crow n, pledged allegiance to the Abyss Wizard Academy very early on, and our n paid a great price to get me the opportunity to study here,¡± Nocturne confessed. ¡°We are generally of a different race. In order for me toe here, our n has spent a lot of resources hiring wizards to teach me relevant knowledge since I was young, and we also purchased arge number of books for me to read. The situation for other races wanting toe should be simr to mine.¡±


    ¡°The third type, those who participate in the Blood Arena. The Abyss Wizard Academy has a ce called the Blood Arena, which simtes the Abyss Blood Arena, but it¡¯s also very dangerous there. As long as you can rank in the top hundred on the points leaderboard in the Blood Arena for a continuous year, you can obtain a ce as a student of the Abyss Wizard Academy. The ones who participate in the Blood Arena are basically wizard apprentices with insufficient talent, but the wizard apprentices who can survive there are extremely fierce, and at least they are third-level wizard apprentices.¡±


    ¡°The fourth type, students like you who join the Abyss Wizard Academy through other channels. Your talents are very good, and many of you have a foundation.¡±


    ¡°Bing a first-level wizard is the ultimate goal for many wizards, but for the Abyss Wizard Academy, what they want to cultivate is not the kind of first-level old schrly wizard who only knows how to recite texts mechanically when theye out of the academy.¡±


    ¡°If apprentices want to be that kind of old-school wizards, they should go to ces like the Tower of Wisdom. Here is the ce closest to the Abyss, known as the Demon City. From the apprentice stage, you have to learn to use all means at your disposal to obtain all avable resources for growth,¡± Nocturne said meaningfully.


    ¡°The rules in Demon City are strict, but they are also lenient. You can use any method you can think of, even bolder ones.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96


    ¡°I see great potential in you to be an official wizard,¡± Nocturne remarked. ¡°To have grown to your current level in just two years, if you can gather the raw materials, you may have a chance to be an official wizard within ten years.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope your kind wordse true then,¡± Lynn replied with a smile.


    ¡°Haha, our ck Crow n has a good eye for talent,¡± Nocturne said, gesturing to his own eyes.


    ¡°Do official wizards also form alliances?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Not exactly. It¡¯s just that Lady Maybetessa and I have reached a cooperation agreement. At this stage, I am qualified to dispatch my followers to participate in her conquest and development of certain nes. A portion of the resources I develop will be provided to Lady Maybetessa,¡± Nocturne exined candidly.


    ¡°First-level wizard towers basicallyck the ability to open up other nes. To gain more opportunities, many first-level wizards will coborate with wizards who have the ability to open up other nes. After all, the resources of a ne are very abundant, and it¡¯s just too slow for a single wizard to develop it,¡± he continued.


    ¡°When you break through to be a first-level wizard, you can also consider choosing a suitable wizard to cooperate with. Lady Maybetessa is actually quite generous; she only takes thirty percent of the resources, while many wizards demand forty percent,¡± Nocturne added.


    Forty percent? Nearly half the harvest. Mastering the ability to open up foreign nes was so lucrative, just providing a gateway can yield so much profit.


    Lynn was astonished in his heart.Lynn chatted with Nocturne for a long time and found that Nocturne was much more proficient in mutation studies than he was.


    It also made Lynn truly feel the authority of a wizard, even if he was just a first-level wizard, he was very proficient in non-specialized fields.


    Lynn estimated that Nocturne¡¯s knowledge in mutation studies was at leastparable to that of a third-level apprentice in the field of life upations.


    However, little did he know, Nocturne was also amazed by Lynn¡¯s expertise.


    Because Lynn had only been exposed to wizards for two years, as Harin had told him.


    Given Wizard Harin¡¯s character, he probably wouldn¡¯t lie about such things.


    It was just that in two years¡¯ time, Lynn¡¯sprehension in mutation studies was not inferior to many wizard apprentices who had been studying for a long time at the third-level.


    In fact,prehension in this field also depended a lot on talent, which was different from meditation talent.


    ¡°I remember you wrote on the paper that you¡¯re also proficient in alchemical studies?¡± Nocturne suddenly remembered something and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Even bloodline studies weren¡¯t mentioned, but listing alchemical studies instead. This indicates that in Lynn¡¯s mind, even if his alchemical studies may not be as profound as mutation studies, the difference shouldn¡¯t be too great.??


    Nocturne said as he thought.


    After a pause, Nocturne continued, ¡°You spend six hours studying here every day. Since you passed the test, I can also tell you about some of the experiments I¡¯m conducting. I¡¯m researching the fusion of mutant bloodlines, so I need arge amount of mutated blood for experimentation.¡±


    ¡°If I extract the blood myself, it will waste time, but this kind of experiment is generally beyond the capabilities of ordinary people because the source of this mutated blood will be many kinds of avian monsters,¡± Nocturne borated.


    Lynn understood Nocturne¡¯s meaning; what he needed to do was a task that an ordinary apprentice couldn¡¯t handle, requiring some technical expertise but also time-consuming work.


    ??Wasn¡¯t this simr to the tasks he assigned to the goblin engineers in hisboratory?


    ?Lynn had also delegated the most tedious and boring steps of constructing Iron Serpent No. 1 to them.


    And what Lynn did here with Nocturne was slightly more advanced than what the goblin engineers did, but fundamentally there was no difference.


    However, Lynn had noints; he believed in the principle of ¡°money talks.¡±


    As long as the pay was good, he was willing to do anything.


    During his conversation with Nocturne just now, Nocturne also mentionedpensation. Nocturne had a lot of raw materials that could be used to construct wizard towers because wizard towers needed continuous expansion, from breaking through to bing a second-level wizard, and then the wizard tower also needed to break through to be a second-level wizard tower.


    So, it wasn¡¯t that wizards stopped collecting source materials after building a wizard tower; it was just that official wizards needed more source materials, and the quality also needed to be higher.


    Nocturne had quite a few source materials in his hands, and he could give Lynn a piece of source material aspensationter.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have ck Crow send you back first.¡±


    On the way back to the square, Lynn noticed many scrutinizing gazes around him,ing from the buildings of other wizard towers in the darkness.


    But because Lynn was sitting on the back of ck Crow and the fluctuations emitted by the invitation card in Lynn¡¯s arms, the greedy and bloodthirsty gazes around him converged.


    The square Lynn previously entered was called thending point, and there were many suchnding points here; Lynn had entered just one of them.


    Because the area was so vast, relying on just onending point would consume too much time merely traveling.


    This ce was referred to by Nocturne as the inner court, a subspace attached to the Continent of Vanquished Gods, which had now been transformed into the headquarters of the Abyss Wizard Academy.


    ording to Nocturne, many inessible areas of the Continent of Vanquished Gods or ancient perilous ces had been transformed into headquarters for various wizard factions.


    However, many dangerous ces had not beenpletely eliminated.


    For instance, the inner court, which was actually quiterge. The Abyss Wizard Academy upied only a small part, and most of the inner court¡¯s regions remained intact.


    For great wizards, there was no threat, but for ordinary wizards, it was still full of danger. This was also why Nocturne advised Lynn not to wander around randomly; after all, finding another assistant as suitable for hardbor as Lynn was would be a waste of time.


    Lynn found himself caught in a busy and tight rhythm of life for the next period of time.


    Just as Jim had mentioned when they first met, many wizard apprentices who entered the academy were hardly ever seen roaming outside.


    Because every ambitious apprentice was busy striving to be an official wizard.


    Every day, Lynn would make sure to set aside time for meditation and daily experiments, followed by assisting Nocturne in his wizard tower in the inner court.


    Just these basic tasks alone would require at least eleven hours of time.


    Not to mention that Lynn also had to find time to make Iron Serpent No. 1 to earn magic stones. Under Jim¡¯s promotion, Iron Serpent No. 1 had already gained quite a reputation within certain circles of apprentices, and there were often apprenticesing to purchase it. This also meant that Lynn had no leisure time to improve Iron Serpent No. 1 and had to temporarily set it aside.


    In addition, there would asionally be official wizardsing out from the inner court to give lectures. As long as the courses were rted to alchemical studies, mutation studies, and wizard tower construction, Lynn would hardly ever miss them.


    The construction of wizard towers varied depending on the subjects emphasized in their design. However, there were two subjects that were indispensable¡ªone was alchemical studies, and the other was runology.


    As for studying more subjects, Lynn admitted he didn¡¯t have the energy for it.


    He would consider it after the experiments with Nocturne were over. The pressing time made Lynn wish he could split himself in half.


    In the bright lecture theater, Lynn, wearing a wizard robe, hurriedly made his way to the ssroom, clutching his notebook. Just after finishing experiments with Nocturne, he rushed to the ssroom. Today¡¯s lecture was on ¡°Wizard Tower Construction and Insights,¡± a topic Lynn couldn¡¯t afford to miss.


    But he was a littlete. By the time Lynn arrived, the ssroom was already packed with apprentices, unusual for a room that was rarely ever full.


    ¡°There¡¯s a seat here,¡± came a voice from the front row. It was Ido, waving to Lynn as he entered the ssroom.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97


    Lynn walked over with his notebook in his arms. Ido was seated in the leftmost seat of the first row, with an empty space to her right. A fair-skinned little leg was resting on that seat, but as Lynn approached, Ido withdrew her leg.


    ¡°Reserved just for you; I figured you¡¯d bete,¡± Ido said casually.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lynn replied politely.


    The atmosphere in the ssroom was very quiet, with the apprentices sitting quietly at their desks, focusing on their own tasks.


    Lynn nced back at the apprentices standing in thest row before turning his gaze away, unable to help but steal another nce at Ido.


    This little wealthy woman¡¯s background and strength seemed impressive; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have upied two seats all to herself, leaving many apprentices at the back who would rather remain standing than daring to sit.


    Although Lynn mostly kept to himself, he had been here for some time now, gradually gaining a deeper understanding of the dog-eat-dog atmosphere of Demon City.


    Here, strength wasn¡¯t just physical; it also epassed background, tactics, connections, and wealth.


    Coughs intermittently echoed in the ssroom, the sound emanating from the person seated to Lynn¡¯s right, upying the central position of the first row.Seated to Lynn¡¯s right was a young wizard with a paleplexion, heavy dark circles under his eyes.


    Noticing Lynn¡¯s gaze, the wizard to his right covered his mouth and coughed softly before squeezing out a gentle smile.


    ¡°Darn it, ever since bing a wizard, I¡¯ve been pulling all-nighters regrly. My health is deteriorating day by day.¡± The elegant young wizardmented in a clear voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m barely keeping up with my health. Friend, you look so radiant. May I ask how you take care of yourself?¡±


    ¡°A hundred push-ups, five hundred squats, and then a ten-kilometer run every day.¡± Lynn said nonchntly.


    Ido, seated on Lynn¡¯s left, rolled her eyes upon hearing Lynn¡¯s exaggerated im.


    This guy was just making stuff up. She had never seen Lynn go out for a run.


    Unless it was to attend sses or when he ran out of raw materials in theboratory, Lynn basically spent every day in theboratory.


    She knew this because once when Lynn was conducting a critical experiment and Jim wasn¡¯t in Demon City, Lynn had asked Ido to help him procure some experimental raw materials. It was during that opportunity that she visited Lynn¡¯sboratory.


    There was nothing interesting there¡ªjust cold walls and mechanical experiments.


    It felt just like her dad.


    ¡°Is that so? Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have that much spare time,¡± the young wizard beside him said regretfully.


    Seeing his regretful expression, it seemed like he genuinely felt sorry about it.


    On the podium, a ripple of space shed, and then, to everyone¡¯s gaze, ady with long green hair cascading over her shoulders appeared on the podium. She wore a delicate crown on her head, exuding a rich green natural aura.


    ¡°My name is Maybetessa, and I¡¯m the instructor for this ss on ¡®Wizard Tower Construction and Insights,''¡± thedy announced from the podium.


    Upon hearing this name, Lynn was shaken to his core, staring in astonishment at thedy on the podium.


    If the Abyss Wizard Academy didn¡¯t have two official wizards named Maybetessa, then this wizard before him should be the owner of the giant elven tree.


    ¡°Before we begin this ss on Wizard Tower Construction and Insights, let me ask you all a question: what is a wizard tower?¡± Maybetessa asked.


    ?Many apprentices in the ssroom raised their hands promptly.


    This was an opportunity for them to showcase and demonstrate themselves in front of official wizards, an opportunity not to be missed.


    For most apprentices, the most opportunities they would ever have to directly interact with wizards would be in the ssroom at the wizard academy.


    ¡°A wizard tower is a ce that carries the truths of wizards.¡±


    ¡°The wizard tower is the war weapon of the wizards, relying on the power of the wizard tower to conquer other nes.¡±


    ¡°Your answers are all correct. Essentially, the wizard tower is the crystallization of a wizard¡¯s wisdom. It is fundamentally just a tool, so there¡¯s no need to mythologize it,¡± Maybetessa exined.


    ¡°But have you ever thought about how wizards survived before the existence of wizard towers?¡±


    Maybetessa¡¯s question brought a sudden silence to the lecture theater.


    Before the wizard towers¡­ how long ago was that? Did the earliest wizards not have wizard towers?


    Without wizard towers, it would have been difficult for wizards to achieve their current level of power.


    ¡°I know! It was in the third era that wizards created the wizard towers,¡± Ido raised her hand and spoke up.


    ¡°Correct. As you all know, we are currently in the seventh wizard era. Before the seventh era, there were six eras. It was in the third era that wizards created the wizard towers,¡± Maybetessa nodded.


    ¡°But before the wizard towers existed, it doesn¡¯t mean that wizards didn¡¯t have simr creations. Floating cities,ary transformations, artificial titans¡ªtheserge-scale creations still allowed the wizards of that era to wield power far beyond their level,¡± Maybetessa borated.


    ¡°These were all creations made by the wizards of that era. The wizard towers were simr achievements. The initial wizard towers were not as magnificent as they are now. It was through generations of wizards improving and creating that the wizard towers became increasingly powerful.¡±


    ¡°So initially, the wizard tower was just a tool created by wizards, used for warfare, to capture enemies,¡± Maybetessa concluded.


    ¡°Why only make one wizard tower if it¡¯s just a tool?¡±


    ¡°Because we don¡¯t have the money to make a second one,¡± grumbled a wizard from the back row, raising their hand silently.


    He still had a long way to go to gather all the raw materials for the first wizard tower.


    ¡°Valid point,¡± Maybetessa acknowledged. ¡°So fundamentally, the reason is that building a wizard tower requires too many raw materials, which many of you cannot afford.¡±


    ¡°I happen to have an opportunity here, an opportunity that can save a lot of resources and quickly be a wizard. But I need you to sign a contract with me, agreeing to cooperate with me for a hundred years after bing an official wizard,¡± Maybetessa proposed.


    Lynn leaned back in his seat, thinking, <em>Is this elder sister here to offer a loan shark deal?</em>


    The ssroom erupted into a buzz of excitement. They hadn¡¯t expected such a good opportunity to arise. Some apprentices widened their eyes in disbelief.


    ¡°Lord Wizard, can I know what this opportunity is?¡± one apprentice couldn¡¯t wait to ask.


    Maybetessa smiled faintly and took out a seed with numerous intricate patterns carved on its surface from her sleeve.


    This seed exuded a strong vitality, and even the air around it seemed to shimmer with illusions of petals, leaves, and grass.


    ¡°This is a seed of a sub-species of the Elven Mother Tree. It can serve as the framework and structure of a wizard tower. Moreover, the Elven Mother Tree naturally absorbs the power of elements in nature. Using it can save a lot of source materials,¡± Maybetessa exined.


    ¡°My wizard tower was built using the sub-species of the Elven Mother Tree. So there¡¯s no doubt that it can be used as source material for wizard towers. Many people use metal to build wizard towers, but I can tell you, using living beings as the framework for a wizard tower can also have unexpected¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybetessa!¡±


    A stern rebuke suddenly resounded in the ssroom, the voiceing from the distant void.


    Maybetessa, who was standing on the podium, looked up into the void without any fear. ¡°What is it, Lord Director?¡±


    ¡°Everyone has their own path. You cannot influence other apprentices with your path.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just giving them the right to choose. I¡¯m not interfering with them.¡±


    In the sky above the ssroom, space suddenly tore open, and a ck giant w engulfed in mes descended from the heavens.


    Maybetessa chuckled. ¡°What is a new path, and what is an old path?¡±


    Lynn was close to the podium, and he could see clearly. When the ming giant w descended, the surrounding air also rippled like waves.


    The space did not shatter but was continuouslypressed by some great force, eventually turning into a thin sheet of paper.


    Standing on that sheet of paper was Maybetessa, who had been on the podium.


    Maybetessa made no resistance and did not cast any spells.


    It wasn¡¯t until the ming giant w took Maybetessa away and disappeared from the spot that the podium returned to its quiet state.


    The apprentices in the ssroom exchanged nces, wondering why the teacher disappeared halfway through ss. Would they get a refund for the tuition fees? And was that seed Maybetessa mentioned still valid?


    Not all apprentices could build wizard towers; for some, it was an extremely challenging task. Upon hearing Maybetessa¡¯s words, they immediately thought of what she had said earlier. However, the wizard had already been taken away, so where could they find another one now?


    Lynn¡¯s face betrayed his worry. If Maybetessa, who had a cooperative rtionship with Nocturne, was taken away, would it affect the experiments he was involved in? If the source materials he had acquired were lost, his efforts would have been in vain.


    ¡°Damn it, she¡¯s wasted so much of my time again. I thought there would be something substantial, but it turns out it was just to promote her seed,¡± the young man sitting next to Lynn muttered, covering his mouth as he coughedboriously. Lynn couldn¡¯t help but worry that he might die at any moment due to his increasingly distressing coughing fits.


    ¡°Do you know who the guy sitting on your right was?¡± Ido asked.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Korsky, the most promising apprentice in Demon City to be an official wizard,¡± Ido replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a reputation,¡± Lynn replied casually.


    ¡°Because his wizard tower is almostplete. He¡¯s quite well-known. Hees from the Mechanist City.¡±


    When Lynn heard the name Mechanist City, his eyes flickered with interest. Ido continued, ¡°He¡¯s also quite the weirdo. Most wizards in the Mechanist City focus on alchemical transformation and mechanical immortality, but he has always detested machinery since he was a child, advocating for fleshly immortality instead.¡±


    ¡°Later, his father got fed up and threw him into the Abyss Wizard Academy. If you ever get to see his wizard tower, you¡¯ll see it¡¯s different from the usual ones,¡± Ido shrugged.


    ¡°What about your wizard tower? I¡¯ve never seen yours,¡± Lynn inquired.


    Ido smirked, ¡°Curious, are you?¡±


    ¡°Just wondering.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see it someday,¡± Ido replied, walking leisurely beside Lynn with her hands behind her back.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, do you have time? I¡¯m nning to go to the Abyss ve market to see if there are any suitable ves,¡± Ido asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Lynn shook his head.


    He was so busy every day, with no time to spare for the Abyss.


    ¡°All right,¡± Ido sighed. ¡°You¡¯re always so boring. It seems like you¡¯ve thrown all your time on the road to seeking the truth. But aren¡¯t the sights along the way worth stopping for a moment?¡±


    Lynn didn¡¯t know how to respond. He just remained silent, lowering his head and quickening his pace.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m heading to the Abyss tomorrow,¡± Ido repeated.


    ¡°Ah, may the winds be at your back,¡± Lynn replied.


    <em>Winds at my back?</em> Ido mused, chewing on this unfamiliar phrase.


    It strangely resonated with her.


    ¡°Well, thank you then,¡± Ido¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, hands sped behind her back, and she walked away, her figure gradually receding as she returned to her room.


    Observing her departing figure, Lynn and Ido parted ways at the intersection, with Lynn returning to hisboratory.


    Inside theboratory, goblin engineers were diligently operating the forge, forging armor for Iron Serpent No. 1. They had crafted an improved scale-like outer armoryer for the Iron Serpent, adding an extrayer of scales to its original body. Although the actual enhancement wasn¡¯t significant, the defense had increased by about 20% in testingpared to the previous standard version, and it looked more aesthetically pleasing.


    To encourage the innovative spirit of the goblin engineers, Lynn had named this moreplex upgraded version of Iron Serpent No. 1 the ¡°Noble Edition,¡± priced one magic stone higher than the standard version.


    Surprisingly, this Noble Edition gained a considerable market share after its release.Time flew by in Demon City without the concept of seasons.


    The temperature seemed constant throughout the year.


    Lynn repeated his daily routine, finding it all not dull at all.


    However, since Ido went to the Abyss, she hadn¡¯t returned. Sometimes, after finishing an experiment, Lynn would nce asionally at the quiet gray spire next door, then lower his head and immerse himself back into his experiments.


    ¡°<em>Chirp</em>~¡±


    In theboratory, a ck crow spread its wings, shattering into countless fragments with a bang, as if exploding into numerous ck shadows, blending into the surrounding darkness.


    Soon, these shadows coalesced and reshaped on the nearby scaffold, returning to the form of a ck crow.


    ¡°The experiment was finally sessful,¡± Nocturne said satisfactorily in theboratory.


    ¡°I originally thought it would take at least two more years, but it turned out faster than I expected.¡±


    Nocturne turned to look at Lynn, realizing how much this assistant introduced by Wizard Harin had helped him. Lynn¡¯s assistance had saved him a lot of time. Some time ago, he had suddenly found inspiration, and during that period, Lynn even lived in his wizard tower, apanying him for three days and nights of continuous work.


    If Nocturne had done everything on his own, it would have not only dyed the progress of the experiment but might have also caused the loss of inspiration.


    Furthermore, in theter stages of the experiment, he found that Lynn was progressing rapidly in mutation studies, often offering fresh insights and alternative suggestions for his experiments. Sometimes, Nocturne even felt that Lynn¡¯s proficiency in mutation studies was not far behind his own.


    In Demon City, there were probably no apprentices at the apprentice level who could match Lynn¡¯s proficiency in mutation studies.


    ¡°Congrattions on fulfilling your wish, Wizard Nocturne,¡± Lynn smiled.


    ¡°Your help was significant too,¡± Nocturne acknowledged.


    Lynn didn¡¯t respond, well aware of how much assistance he had provided over the past year.


    He conducted mutation experiments at home every day, which allowed him to continuously umte experience points in mutation studies. He gained 0.2% or 0.1% proficiency in life upation every day, andter, after bing more proficient, it was mostly 0.2% every day.


    Later, after spending a considerable amount of general experience points, he finally raised his mutation studies to level 3 three months ago.?


    The reason he had focused on improving mutation studies first was because Lynn had his own motives.


    His daily experiments with Nocturne had severely affected his own time management.


    So, he wanted to increase his level in mutation studies as much as possible. In fact, when he reached level 2 in mutation studies, Lynn had found that although Nocturne¡¯s proficiency in mutation studies was higher than his, it wasn¡¯t much higher. There was only one extra level of proficiency.


    Sure enough, after breaking through to level 3 in mutation studies, Lynn understood many things, so during the experiment, he asionally, unconsciously revealed some of his thoughts to elerate the experiment progress.


    As expected, Wizard Nocturne, with Lynn¡¯s assistance, finallypleted the experiment within a year.


    Lynn felt genuinely gratified by this oue.


    ¡°I have two source materials here that should be useful to you. Take a look and see which one catches your eye,¡± Nocturne said, retrieving two items from his spatial essory, holding one in each hand.


    On the left was a honeb-like object in orange-red, about the size of a basketball, yet entirely translucent, with a silkworm-sized entity nestled in its center.


    On the right was a jelly-like substance emitting iridescent colors, resembling both a stone and jelly.


    ¡°The one on the left is the queen bee¡¯s hive of the me Bee Monarch. With proper cultivation, it can be fashioned into a sector thatbines defense and attack capabilities. The me Bee Monarch has strong reproductive abilities, and its honey is also a valuable raw material,¡± Nocturne exined.


    ¡°The one on the right is Elemental Stone Marrow, the core material for constructing an elemental pool.¡±


    Lynn examined the two items and, without much hesitation, chose the Elemental Stone Marrow.


    While the queen bee¡¯s hive was a valuablemodity, using it would rece the need for an attack sector, saving a lot of energy in constructing rune magic arrays. However, Elemental Stone Marrow was rarer and thus held higher value.


    However, merely building an elemental pool did not ensure its sess. They still needed the coordinates of an elemental ne and assurance that the ne¡¯s inhabitants wouldn¡¯t dismantle their coordinates.


    The elemental pool acted as a pump, capable of extracting water from some natural ponds. However, it was easy for the original owners of these ponds, the elemental lords or kings residing within the elemental ne, to pull the plug on their water supply.


    Only with their recognition could one legitimately extract water from the elemental ne.


    Nocturne handed the Elemental Stone Marrow to Lynn.


    ¡°Are you interested in this?¡± Nocturne raised the queen bee¡¯s hive in his left hand.


    ¡°But wasn¡¯t it supposed to be one source material?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°But we can make another deal,¡± Nocturne proposed.


    Hearing another familiar trading proposal, Lynn didn¡¯t immediately agree. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±


    ¡°I have a sister. If you¡¯re willing to be the son-inw of our ck Crow n, then we¡¯re family.¡±


    ¡°Does your sister look like you?¡± Lynn asked seriously, eyeing the crow¡¯s beak on Nocturne¡¯s face. This was very important.


    ¡°Of course, my sister looks like me. She¡¯s the belle of our ck Crow n.¡±


    ¡°Next time, let¡¯s talk about it next time.¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°All right, whenever you change your mind, let me know. My sister has a beak as big and long as mine, and every feather on her body is as beautiful as the finest cotton in the world.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll head back now. Until next time,¡± Lynn waved and turned away.


    ¡°Okay, I still have some things to take care of. I won¡¯t see you off this time, but I¡¯lle find you after I¡¯m done,¡± Nocturne informed Lynn.


    Lynn had earned Nocturne¡¯s respect with his knowledge of mutation studies. Combined with their year-long coboration in experiments, Nocturne now considered Lynn a friend on the same level as him to a certain extent. Although Lynn wasn¡¯t a wizard yet, Nocturne believed it was only a matter of time before Lynn became one, and it wouldn¡¯t take him long.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lynn responded happily upon receiving the source materials.


    Exiting Nocturne¡¯s wizard tower, Lynn noticed that ck Crow, which usually appeared to escort him away whenever he emerged into the open, was conspicuously absent.


    Suddenly, the sky split open, revealing a massive rift behind it¡ªa tumultuous world aze with inextinguishable mes. A colossal hand, resembling a mountain, descended from the heavens.


    As the colossal palm opened, a green figure soared out from its grasp.


    ¡°Damn old relic, just you wait. I¡¯ll extinguish every fire on your ck me Mountain sooner orter.¡± The green figurended on the ground, hands on hips, cursing at the sky.


    The colossal hand paid no heed to the cursing figure below, retracting back into the rift, which promptly vanished.


    In the wizard tower behind him, Nocturne hurriedly rushed out. Thest thing he saw was the colossal hand retracting into the sky.


    ¡°Is it the headmaster?¡± Nocturne breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that something unexpected had happened.


    After cursing for a while, the green figure snorted coldly and turned around, spotting Nocturne standing behind with Lynn at his side.


    At this moment, Lynn recognized that the figure with long green hair was none other than Lady Maybetessa, whom he had encountered briefly before.


    ¡°Lady Maybetessa, where did you go? I haven¡¯t been able to reach youtely,¡± Nocturne inquired.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I took a stroll in the Abyss and coincidentally ran into the headmaster, so I asked him to give me a lift back,¡± Maybetessa replied nonchntly.


    Suddenly, she turned her head towards Lynn. ¡°Have we met somewhere before?¡±


    ¡°I believe it was at the academy, esteemed Lady Maybetessa,¡± Lynn replied.


    Maybetessa¡¯s face stiffened for a moment, her expression subtly changing.


    ¡°Oh, I remember now. You¡¯re the boy who sat in the front row,¡± Maybetessa said calmly, giving Lynn a meaningful nce.


    Lynn understood her gaze.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m tired from the trip. I¡¯ll go home and rest for a few days,¡± Maybetessa stretchedzily, revealing her graceful figure.


    Nocturne patted Lynn¡¯s shoulder before returning to his wizard tower to attend to his remaining tasks. Lynn boarded ck Crow and returned to Demon City.


    Upon returning, Lynn noticed that the invitation in his hand had be dull and lifeless.


    Without daily participation in Nocturne¡¯s experiments in the inner court, Lynn suddenly found himself with an additional six hours of free time each day, which he struggled to adjust to.


    Looking at the empty neighboring tower, Lynn went to the service hall and found Toby. ¡°Is there a way to check if someone has encountered danger in the Abyss?¡±


    ¡°Who do you want to check on?¡± Toby asked. ¡°Theoretically, it¡¯s not possible to check.¡±


    ¡°Ido,¡± Lynn said.


    Toby¡¯s eyes showed a hint of understanding. He knew Lynn didn¡¯t have many acquaintances, so the probability was high that he was referring to <em>her</em>.


    Toby pondered for a moment. ¡°Ido¡¯s situation is somewhat unique, but I can tell you.¡±


    Lynn looked puzzled.


    ¡°She has a special identity. Her true identity is the daughter of a legendary wizard who came to the Abyss Wizard Academy two thousand eight hundred and ny-seven years ago.¡±


    Two thousand eight hundred and ny-seven years ago?


    Lynn hadn¡¯t expected Ido to be so old. It was just a hundred and three years short of aplete three thousand years.


    ¡°But in her sixth year at the wizard academy, she died. She died two thousand eight hundred and ny-one years ago,¡± Toby stated a chilling fact.


    Dead?


    Then who had he seen?


    Lynn didn¡¯t fear the fact that Ido was supposedly dead. He was already ustomed to dissecting numerous corpses and extracting blood in theboratory every day, let alone dealing with souls.


    ¡°I heard her death was quite special. Even her soul couldn¡¯t be recalled, so her father delved into the river of time, leaving her past shadow in the Abyss Wizard Academy. Thus, she became a cycle here, a special existence. Every six years, she undergoes a new cycle, but she forgets the memories from the previous cycle.¡±


    Lynn suddenly froze.


    He suddenly remembered the faint sigh of the young woman standing beside him on the quiet path a year ago. ¡®<em>Always so boring, it seems like you¡¯ve thrown all your time into seeking the truth. Isn¡¯t the scenery along the way worth stopping for a moment?</em>¡®


    Forgetting everything every six years, then repeatedly making new friends only to forget them again.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder who was truly lonely, her or those forgotten by her.


    ¡°After the cycle, can¡¯t she remember anything from before the cycle?¡± Lynn was silent for a moment before asking.


    Toby didn¡¯t answer. He just extended a finger.


    A small me ignited at the tip of his finger out of thin air.


    After a moment, the me extinguished.


    Then Toby snapped his fingers again, and once more, he extended his index finger, which ignited a small me.


    ¡°Do you think this is still the same me?¡± Toby asked.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99


    ¡°Materialistically speaking, it isn¡¯t. But if we¡¯re talking about the realm of ideas, then I¡¯d say it is what it is,¡± Lynn pondered for a moment before providing his response.


    Now a wizard himself, Lynn saw no need to adhere strictly to any rules. In his view, the rules governing all things in the world were merely imprints of external truths, and the essence of a wizardy in studying, utilizing, mastering, and altering these rules.


    ¡°That¡¯s precisely what the legendary wizard said back in the day,¡± Toby remarked.


    ¡°He believed his daughter was still alive, so he extracted fragments of the past from time itself. But even for a legendary wizard, meddling with someone else¡¯s timees at a great cost. Hence, he remains dormant to this day.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Toby, your words didn¡¯t sound like something an ordinary administrator would say,¡± Lynn inquired as he was about to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary administrator, nothing more. Don¡¯t read too much into it,¡± Toby grinned, his five ebony demon ws closing to form a fist, igniting golden-red sparks at the fingertips. Eventually, the dazzling sparks coalesced into a delicate spiral-patterned ring.


    ¡°This is the key to the Abyss. If you ever decide to venture there, this ring will grant you ess to the Abyss trading market. It¡¯s a rare haven of peace amidst the chaos of the Abyss and falls under our academy¡¯s jurisdiction,¡± Toby exined.


    epting the ring from Toby, Lynn returned to his residence, casting a nce at the empty house next door. Perhaps the next time they met during another cycle, they would be strangers once again.


    Back in his room, Lynn retrieved all the magic stones from his storage ring. After organizing them, he found he had a total of 372 magic stones, excluding those used for raising goblins and daily meditation expenses.Lynn contemted his next steps. On one hand, he needed to cultivate his entourages, while on the other, he had to enhance his mental strength in preparation for building his wizard tower.


    Although he already had the core source material for constructing the elemental pool, he still needed to purchase other raw materials. Hence, the reason for acquiring the core raw materials.


    Just then, hismunication conch buzzed, and Lynn answered Jim¡¯s call.


    ¡°Brother Lynn, are you nning to go to the Abyss?¡± Jim inquired.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ready yet,¡± Lynn replied calmly. He wasn¡¯t in a rush to venture into the Abyss. Ity beyond the jurisdiction of Demon City and could potentially be dangerous. Even someone like Ido, the legendary wizard¡¯s daughter, had met with mishaps there, indicating its inherent peril.


    ¡°There¡¯s a trade fair in the Abyss recently. This trade fair only happens once every decade. If you miss this time, you will have to wait for another decade. It is said that many apprentices from various academies attend,¡± Jim informed.


    ¡°You might not know this as a neer, but there¡¯s a market on the first level of the Abyss. It sells many things unique to the Abyss. Demons often bring some local specialties here for trade with wizards,¡± Jim continued.


    ¡°But ordinary apprentices like us can¡¯t easily go there; it¡¯s quite troublesome,¡± he added.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard you can buy source materials to make Abyss Forges there, which are hard toe by elsewhere but seem rtivelymon in the Abyss,¡± Jim mentioned.


    Abyss Forges? Lynn pondered. If he waited for the next opportunity, wouldn¡¯t he have to wait another ten years?


    ¡°I¡¯ll see how things go,¡± Lynn replied.


    ¡°If you decide to go, could you take me with you?¡± Jim asked.


    ¡°Each apprentice from the Abyss Wizard Academy is allowed to bring one additionalpanion. I won¡¯t ask you to do it for free. I can offer you some magic stones aspensation, or if you don¡¯t need magic stones, I can provide other raw materials as a substitute,¡± Jim exined.


    ¡°You should know other apprentices, right?¡± Lynn found it strange that Jim, who had been here for quite some time, didn¡¯t have many acquaintances.


    Why wouldn¡¯t he ask someone he knew better to take him?


    ¡°I had a falling out with a friend, and some of my previous channels are closed off now. If it¡¯s too much trouble for you, forget I mentioned it,¡± Jim exined.


    ¡°It¡¯s because I took a risk to acquire something. That friend wanted to trade with me, but I didn¡¯t want to give it up, so we had a falling out.¡±


    What kind of item could cause a rift between two apprentices?


    After a moment of thought, Lynn had a rough idea.


    ¡°Just as you suspected, it¡¯s a source material for building a wizard tower,¡± Jim sighed, speaking from the other end of themunication conch.


    ¡°I had to pay a considerable price to acquire it, and that person wanted it from me. If he had offered a reasonable price, I wouldn¡¯t have insisted on keeping it. But his offer was less than a third of the market value.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve hesitated for a long time, but if you¡¯re interested, I can trade this source material with you. It¡¯s quite hot in my hands too,¡± Jim said, hesitating on the other end of themunication conch.


    ¡°What source material?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°yheart,¡± Jim replied.


    As soon as Jim mentioned the name, Lynn knew exactly what it was¡ªa supplementary source material used in constructing wizard towers. When mixed into the tower¡¯s structure, yheart significantly increased the tower¡¯s resistance to earth-based spells, and greatly enhanced its resistance against spells like ¡®Fragmentation¡¯ and ¡®Fractured Light¡¯, which were designed to dissolve and weaken.


    ¡°How many magic stones?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Three thousand magic stones,¡± Jim stated.


    Lynn frowned. Three thousand magic stones was an exorbitant price, equivalent to about seven or eight years of his ie. Moreover, he didn¡¯t have that much money at the moment. However, Jim¡¯s asking price wasn¡¯t inted; it was the standard market price, which was precisely why constructing a wizard tower was so fundamentally challenging.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have magic stones, you can use recipes or other items to offset the cost,¡± Jim suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. I¡¯ll let you know if I decide to go,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the identity of the apprentice you had a conflict with?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°That apprentice has a bit of a background. He has a junior who recently became an official wizard, but it¡¯s been less than thirty years since he became a wizard himself. If he really came from a significant background, he wouldn¡¯t bother with my small source materials. Moreover, my source material is only useful for building first-level wizard towers; its effect on higher-level wizard towers is minimal, only serving as auxiliary material,¡± Jim exined.


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll let you know if I decide to go,¡± Lynn replied. ¡°By the way, that Abyss market, how long does itst?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s next month, and it¡¯s quite flexible. There are still more than twenty days left.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Jim then hastily hung up themunication conch.


    As he hung up, Lynn furrowed his brow and pondered for a while. If he wanted to purchase source materials, the money he had on hand might not be enough.


    Moreover, there might be things he wanted to buy at the Abyss market. How could there be things he didn¡¯t want? Every time he passed by a shop, he felt a twinge of longing, but he simply couldn¡¯t afford it due to financial constraints.


    Initially, Lynn thought he could make a decent amount of money with his level 2 alchemical studies, but he now realized he had been too naive. There were numerous wizard apprentices in Demon City, and many of the shops here were backed by official wizards. The daily flow of magic stones in this huge city was astronomical.


    Alchemical products made at the level 2 alchemical studies were only enough to earn Lynn a modest living.


    Fortunately, his mutation studies had already reached level 3, but unlike alchemical studies, mutation studies was different. It wasn¡¯t that mutation studies couldn¡¯t earn wealth; it was just that the efficiency of turning the knowledge of mutation studies into wealth wasn¡¯t as quick.


    His assistance to Nocturne in experiments, obtaining the Elemental Stone Marrow, was the best proof of this.


    As long as there was knowledge, wealth could be earned anywhere; it was just a matter of different channels and efficiency.


    If he wanted to make money quickly, he would have to rely on potion studies.


    Among the various fields, potion studies was unique in that most of its products were consumables. Where there was demand, there was a market.


    He decided to save up some magic stones first and then go to the market to see the situation. If he didn¡¯t have enough money this time, he would save up and buy it next time.


    The main thing was to go and see the situation first and see if there were any opportunities to make wealth.


    Since he had heard that many people were making Abyss Forges, this source material was definitely not a rare item. There was always a next time if he missed out, even if it meant waiting for ten years.


    To Lynn, ten years sounded somewhat lengthy.


    Because from the time he started learning magic until now, it had only been two and a half years. Ten years was the equivalent of four times his current experience.


    In ten years, his younger sister should have grown up, and his younger brother might have even gotten married.


    The next day, there was a knock on Lynn¡¯s door.


    He stepped outside to find a slightly older-looking male apprentice waiting.


    The apprentice¡¯s face seemed somewhat unfamiliar.


    ¡°Are you Wizard Lynn?¡± the other party asked politely.


    ¡°Yes, what can I do for you?¡± Lynn responded, returning the courtesy.


    The other party¡¯s demeanor was quite polite. Among apprentices, some would use the title of ¡°wizard¡± to show respect to other apprentices, although this kind of address was usually used in the absence of official wizards, much like how a deputy director might dislike others adding the prefix ¡°deputy¡± to their title.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jado. I¡¯ve heard that Wizard Lynn¡¯s alchemical puppets sell very well. I bought two before, and they were indeed quite useful,¡± the other party said, attempting to establish rapport.


    ¡°I also have a channel for selling alchemical puppets made by Wizard Lynn, and I won¡¯t charge you any intermediary fees. If Wizard Lynn is willing, you can sell them through me.¡±


    Lynn remainedposed. ¡°What do you want in return for promoting my work for free?¡± he asked, skeptical that there could be a free lunch.


    ¡°Haha, I hope that if Wizard Lynn hears any news about Jim, you¡¯ll inform me. When Jim and another friend of ours went out on an adventure, they obtained two yhearts. ording to the rules, the highest bidder should win, but Jim took both yhearts and severely injured my other friend,¡± the other party exined.


    The story of this person differed to those of Jim¡¯s, but it had nothing to do with Lynn, so he didn¡¯t feel inclined to get involved.


    ¡°I can ce my alchemical creations in your channel for sale, but we¡¯ve never coborated before. I¡¯ll try it out on your channel first and see how the sales go,¡± Lynn proposed.


    ?The other party smiled. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s only fair. In fact, I¡¯ve been in Demon City for fifty years now, and I know many apprentices. If Wizard Lynn can gain some poprity and open a shop, I can leverage my connections to have my friends help promote it for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much,¡± Lynn said with a smile, extending his right hand.


    ?The other party also extended his right hand, and the two shook hands.


    The conflict between him and Jim was their own business; Lynn just needed to expand his trading channels.


    After Jado left, Lynn took out hismunication conch to contact Jim. After all, they had been working together for a year, and Lynn had known him for even longer.


    Of course, the main reason was that for the sake of convenience in sales, Lynn had two Iron Serpent No. 1 units stored with Jim for trading.


    In simpler terms, it was stockpiling; he had a batch of goods stored with Jim.


    But when Lynn tried to contact Jim this time, there was no response.


    Lynn¡¯s expression gradually darkened.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100


    An abandoned gathering cey a hundred miles outside Demon City.


    In the Continent of Vanquished Gods, various races dwelled; some indigenous to this world, while others were new species brought by wizards from other worlds and released onto this continent. Though to the powerful wizards, these beings were mere pets kept in their backyard, to wizard apprentices and ordinary wizards, some of these formidable monsters still posed threats and challenges.


    Peaceful and gentle soils seldom nurtured distinctive blooms.


    Thus, the safest havens in the Continent of Vanquished Gods were the wizard dominions and the cities formed aroundrge wizard factions, serving as absolute sanctuaries. Beyond these citiesy deste wilderness and scattered gathering ces.


    Some of these gathering ces were constructed by intelligent beings friendly to humans, while others were established by wandering wizards or groups of beings of extraordinary professions banding together. In the wilderness, these gathering ces were like seeds scattered across thend, roaming stubbornly, seeking survival.


    Each year, various gathering ces were abandoned for reasons ranging from the departure of their original inhabitants to monster tides or attacks by powerful monsters.


    One such gathering ce stood amidst the mountains and forests, once adorned with numerous wooden cabins, now mostly shattered and overrun with weeds and even trees.


    At the outskirts of the gathering ce, in a secluded cabin, sat a somewhat corpulent yet finely featured swordsman with crimson eyes. His ears twitched as he withdrew a magic staff from his robes, chanting incantations. Soon, the soil outside the cabin stirred, and a mushroom-like eye emerged from the earth.


    This ndestine eye nestled in the corner stealthily scanned its surroundings, observing nearby entities.¡°Finally managed to escape, tried to make my way to a distant wizard city, but unfortunately, all those connections I had previously umted are now gone,¡±mented the crimson-eyed swordsman, feeling a hint of regret, though it didn¡¯t show on his face.


    However, he wasn¡¯t at a loss; this time, he had acquired two significant source materials¡ªone to keep and the other to sell or trade for source materials hecked. Coupled with his previous umtions, he was now one step closer to bing an official wizard.


    Jim approached the mirror in the room, examining hispletely altered appearance. He couldn¡¯t resist touching the human skin mask on his face; even those who knew him wouldn¡¯t recognize him now. This was a pricey acquisition¡ªa mask made from a whole piece of human skin.


    Of course, besides the mask, there was also meticulously prepared magic disguise powder to alter his scent.


    From his storage space, the crimson-eyed swordsman retrieved more items. As he heard the continuous ringing of themunication conch, a tinge of regret flickered across his lips.


    He had intended to sell the source material he held to the caller, only to find the person devoid of even the money for a single source material purchase.


    Observing where the person lived, he had assumed he was a well-off apprentice, but it turned out he was just a pauper.


    Without hesitation, the crimson-eyed swordsman crushed themunication conch underfoot. It had lost its purpose, and he had no intention of contacting the people on it anymore.


    When he moved to a new ce, he would assume a new identity and continue living. For him, this was normal.


    In fact, beforeing to Demon City, he had already changed identities once, but he hadn¡¯t informed anyone.


    Setting magic traps at the room¡¯s entrance and windows, Jim closed his eyes to rest.


    Outside the room, a small segment of soil revealed an eyeball, watching a figure approaching not far away. Suddenly, the eyeball turned red.


    In the dead of night, Jim jolted awake.


    The Eye of Surveince warned him of a stranger approaching outside.


    Connecting with the Eye of Surveince, Jim gained its vision. This time, he saw Lynn standing outside, a hint of excitement in his eyes.


    <em>You really thought I wouldn¡¯t know you might have left a backdoor in your alchemical creations to trace you back? It¡¯s amon practice among wizards. No one could resist the allure of source materials. You¡¯re here for the source materials too, aren¡¯t you, Lynn?</em>


    A hint of ruthlessness shed in Jim¡¯s eyes.


    As an old wizard apprentice, he understood this basic experience well.


    Just as he had never truly trusted those around him, that Liszt appeared to have a close rtionship with him on the surface, but in reality, he was merely a decoy used to disguise himself.


    That naive fellow actually believed he considered him a friend. Yes, if he didn¡¯t have someone as naive as him by his side, how could others trust him better?


    Shortly after, Jim¡¯s expression darkened as he saw Lynn produce a magic staff and conjure a fireball. A ball of me materialized out of thin air, growingrger andrger, gradually forming a spherical shape.


    Finally, it arched through the air toward the wooden cabin.


    <em>Boom!!!</em>


    The windows of the cabin shattered with a deafening crash, shards of ss flying in all directions, and the exploding mes scattering in every direction.


    But the next moment, a much stronger magical fluctuation surged from the window, like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan.


    A powerful cold wave swept from the window, spreading icy breath in all directions.


    Countless ice shards splintered and flew in all directions.


    The magic trap set at the window was activated by the ¡®Minor Fireball¡¯ spell, resulting in a violent explosion.


    Several shattered ice shards flew towards Lynn, but a grid-shaped starlight shield appeared around him, deflecting the ice shards.


    ¡°Coming to kill me right off the bat, Lynn. I didn¡¯t expect you to covet my source materials as well,¡± came Jim¡¯s cold voice from inside the cabin.


    ¡°I just want my Iron Serpent No. 1 back, you took it without returning it to me. I came to retrieve it,¡± Lynn said calmly.


    Jim¡¯sughter echoed from the opposite hillside, evidently not believing Lynn¡¯s words.


    He had experienced too much and seen too much.


    Among wizards, only interests mattered. He had witnessed too many ruthless means employed in the pursuit of resources.


    To him, Lynn¡¯s words were just empty rhetoric.


    ¡°But you¡¯ve run too far. Do you know how long I¡¯ve been chasing you? I¡¯ve be increasingly infuriated along the way, so now, it¡¯s not just Iron Serpent No. 1 I want, but your life too,¡± Lynn said gently.


    ¡°Just you? Don¡¯t think being an academy wizard makes you impressive. You¡¯ve only been in the academy for a few years, spending most of your time on research, not properly mastering your spells. Do you think you can be my match?¡± Jimughed maniacally from across the way.


    As the words fell, a dazzling and eerie lightning bolt instantly illuminated the dim forest, as if the lightning, intertwined like tree roots, surged towards Lynn like a sharp de.


    A one-ring spell¡ª¡¯Interlocking Lightning¡¯!


    However, this bolt of lightning struck Lynn like a fierce dragon in an instant, shattering the outermostyer of his starlight shield, and then pulverizing most of the shield beforepletely dissipating.


    ¡°How many magic shields do you have? How many times can you withstand my ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯?¡± Jim¡¯s voice in the forest was filled with gloom.


    Suddenly, Jim¡¯s cold voice abruptly stopped with a scream.


    In the forest, a figure with long pink hair dragged a muchrger Jim out of the woods. There was no extra expression on her indifferent face, as if she had done something ordinary.


    She casually tossed Jim, whose head was covered with blood, to the ground.


    ¡°It¡¯s done. Give me a perfect score,¡± Fura took out an evaluation form and a pen from her bosom.


    Lynn first used his magic staff to physically blow Jim¡¯s head, then took the evaluation form and pen, giving full marks to everything.


    ¡°Thank you, Fura,¡± Lynn said gratefully.


    Before setting out, Lynn found Toby.


    Following the principle that thick skin leads to a good life, Lynn found Toby and stated his request. Although he didn¡¯t know Toby¡¯s strength, Lynn felt he was definitely much stronger than himself.


    If it were just him alone, Lynn definitely wouldn¡¯t have pursued Jim.


    Jim had extensive connections and considerable experience. He was capable enough to outsmart and leave Jado, a seasoned apprentice from a long-standing demon wizard academy, at a loss. Lynn couldn¡¯t guarantee that he could definitely defeat Jim.


    But he could sway people.


    Different from wizards who always follow the principle of trade, Lynn had a deeper understanding of rtionships. Only by giving and taking could transactions be made.


    Sometimes, asking for help and owing favors was also a way to strengthen rtionships.


    Toby didn¡¯t refuse, but he mentioned that he couldn¡¯t leave Demon City. Instead, he rmended Fura to Lynn, stating that with Fura¡¯s abilities, solving his problem would surely not be difficult.


    Now it seemed Fura¡¯s strength exceeded Lynn¡¯s expectations. A seasoned third-level wizard apprentice unexpectedly managed to be knocked out by her with a single careless attack.


    ?This strength must be at least at the third or fourth level of extraordinary beings.


    Just now, Lynn deliberately chatted with Jim. He knew Jim was also stalling for time, and he precisely needed time for Fura to sneak up and attack.


    Lynn approached the ground and felt around Jim¡¯s body.


    Soon, Lynn gathered all the valuable items from Jim¡¯s body, simultaneously checking the spatial ring. Iron Serpent No. 1 was inside; Jim hadn¡¯t released it during the fight because Lynn had crafted it. If Jim released it and it attacked Lynn, it might turn on him instead.


    Apart from that, in the corner of the spatial ring, there were five vacuum crystals specifically used to store items.


    These vacuum crystals contained two yhearts, a small pile of sand resembling a pyramid, and finally, a bunch of wind trapped inside a vacuum crystal.


    The wind danced continuously within the vacuum crystal, sometimes condensing into the shape of a feather, then reforming into a gust of wind. Thest vacuum crystal was empty, seemingly containing nothing.


    Vacuum crystals were raw materials specially used to preserve items; the state inside them would be maintained without interference from the outside world.


    Although Lynn didn¡¯t know what was in the other two vacuum crystals, since they were with the yhearts, there was a high probability they were also source materials.


    This yielded four source materials, along with many other valuable items, including some disposable magic scrolls, magic traps, and functional alchemical tools.


    But Jim didn¡¯t have the chance to use any of these; they all became Lynn¡¯s spoils of war.


    It had to be said that killing and looting were the fastest ways for wizards to grow.


    That night, Lynn suddenly gained a profound understanding of this saying.


    ¡°Someone¡¯sing,¡± Fura said to Lynn, turning her head to look behind them.


    Lynn knew the sounds of the battle just now were so conspicuous that someone nearby would undoubtedly be drawn over.


    Footsteps approached from behind, and in the forest, Jado and two other wizard apprentices emerged from the trees.


    Jado was also taken aback when he saw Lynn, seemingly not expecting Lynn to be here.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101


    Jado looked at the body on the ground, then nced at Lynn and the demon, Fura, by his side, realizing he had arrivedte.


    He eyed Fura, who stood beside Lynn.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯m always a step behind,¡± Jado joked.


    ¡°He took my stuff. So I came to chase him down. Then he resisted, and I identally killed him,¡± Lynn exined.


    Listening to Lynn¡¯sme excuse, the three wizard apprentices wore odd expressions.


    Was it okay saying it was <em>identally</em> killed?


    Well, Jim was already dead. Lynn coulde up with any excuse now; the dead wouldn¡¯t contradict him.


    ¡°Wizard Lynn, since you¡¯ve killed him, naturally, his belongings are your spoils. We¡¯re justte to the party. But I remember he had two identical source materials on him. We can only use one yheart to construct a wizard tower. Would you be willing to trade the extra yheart with me?¡± Jado proposed.


    ¡°3,000 magic stones or another source material,¡± Lynn countered.Jado frowned. Lynn¡¯s price hit him right where it hurt.


    ¡°3,000 magic stones it is,¡± Jado conceded.


    Magic stones were something to earn, but he needed this source material.


    Plus, the other source materials on him were necessary for constructing his wizard tower. If he traded them away now, there was no guarantee he¡¯d acquire them againter.


    ¡°Do you have any magic stones on you? Lend me some; I¡¯ll pay you backter,¡± Jado asked the two wizard apprentices beside him.


    The two apprentices scrounged up some magic stones from their pockets and gave them to Jado. With this, Jado gathered 3,000 magic stones to give to Lynn.


    Seeing Jado¡¯s hefty expenditure, Lynn knew he had probably offended him this time.


    But Lynn didn¡¯t regret it. This was 3,000 magic stones, along with Jim¡¯s savings. He now had all the money he needed for opening his shop, his first capital, including the money for buying things from the Abyss market.


    The transaction concluded, and as Lynn and the subus left, another wizard who came with Jado asked in puzzlement,


    ¡°Why not just kill him and take the items from him? Why go through all this trouble and expense to trade with him?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the demon next to him?¡± Jado said.


    ¡°The subus with pink hair? It doesn¡¯t even have wings; it¡¯s probably just a demon with impure bloodline,¡± the young third-level apprentice said.


    ¡°That¡¯s no ordinary subus. I¡¯ve seen her make a move,¡± Jado said. ¡°You know there are many demons in Demon City.¡±


    Here, they were at the Abyss¡¯ demon academy, where many demons were present as usual.


    In fact, their academy had close ties with some demon forces in the middle of the Abyss. Many special demons tired of the atmosphere of constant fighting in the Abyss came here.


    But even demons in Demon City had to abide by rules.


    ¡°There was a fourth-level Horned Demon that vited the rules and attacked in Demon City. But it was instantly killed by that subus,¡± Jado recounted.


    ¡°Instantly killed?¡± the third-level apprentice said solemnly.


    Killing after a hard fight was one thing; cleanly and swiftly killing was another.


    Although the result was the same, the meanings conveyed werepletely different.


    And that was a fourth-level Horned Demon. To instantly kill a fourth-level Horned Demon, what level of power did this subus truly possess?


    Demons were different from other creatures; demons could absorb the flesh and blood essence of their kind through internal strife to evolve.


    During the process of evolution, demons could awaken any talents.


    That was what made demons terrifying. Because no one knew what abilities a demon had awakened. Even demons of the same level and the same race might have different abilities.


    And demons, as a race, naturally possessed strong vitality and healing powers.


    Back in Demon City, Lynn went to the service hall to thank Senior Toby.


    Toby waved it off, saying it was nothing but a small matter.


    However, Lynn also realized his shorings, especially after seeing the one-ring magic attack spell Jim used. Lynn felt there were ws in the spells he currently mastered.


    If given the opportunity, he should also learn an offensive one-ring spell, as well as a defensive one.


    Lynn delved into some research materials and books, finally uncovering information about the two source materials in Jim¡¯s ring.


    The sand-like source material was called ¡°Desert Mirage Sand¡±, capable of setting up illusion magic arrays to confuse enemies externally and construct illusions within wizard towers.


    Compared to the Desert Mirage Sand, the source material resembling wind was even more valuable. It could even be used as the main sector source material in the construction of higher-level wizard towers.


    This wind-like source material was called ¡°Soul of the Wind,¡± the core source material for constructing the floating sector of wizard towers.


    While there were alternatives, none matched the cost-effectiveness of the Soul of the Wind.


    The most significant reason was that using the Soul of the Wind as the core source material for the floating sector reportedly reduced most of its consumption.


    For the floating sector, what was the speed? Flexibility?


    For lower-level wizard towers with tight energy supplies, cost-effectiveness was more important than consumption.


    If it couldn¡¯t be maintained continuously, what was the point of having this floating sector?


    Afterward, Lynn headed to a shop that wasn¡¯t doing so well.


    But this shop happened to upy the best location on the main street of the central city district¡ªthe Wizard Magic Knowledge Hall.


    This was Lynn¡¯s destination.


    The items sold here were all kinds of magical knowledge, including spells.


    Here, Lynn keenly felt the weighty price of knowledge.


    It was no wonder business wasn¡¯t as good as the neighboring magic potion shop. Everything was so expensive; besides buying spells, people hardly bothered to take a second nce as they passed by.


    A single one-ring spell, ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯, was selling for a whopping two hundred magic stones. Lynn acquired the right to learn, modify, and use this spell.


    However, the only thing he didn¡¯t have was the right to trade. Lynn couldn¡¯t trade the ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ spell with any other unit within the world covered by the wizardwork.


    However, if it was a student, teaching could be conducted in the form of apprenticeship.


    This involved many rules, densely packed, like a rulebook, almost closing off all possible loopholes that could be exploited.


    More importantly, there was an omnipresent wizardwork acting as a watchdog.


    The reason for choosing ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ was because Lynn had been struck by this spell before, so he had a strong say in it.


    This spell was fast, like most electrical spells.


    Speed meant enemies couldn¡¯t dodge. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the spell was, if the enemy dodged it, the damage would be zero.


    Back at his residence, Lynn prepared to stubbornly practice this spell to death.


    He aimed to learn it before heading to the Abyss.


    Returning to his ce, even before Lynn entered the building, he heard a familiar voice from next door, ¡°Hey, are you my new neighbor?¡±


    ¡­


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Seeing some readers discussing whether there is a female lead or not in thements section, I¡¯d like to address this here. I feel that many readers dislike having a female lead when the character is merely used to advance the plot or cause trouble for the protagonist. After encountering such characters repeatedly, readers naturally develop an aversion to stories with female leads. I also dislike such female lead characters whock depth and only serve as plot devices. However, creating a female lead character who isplex andpelling is challenging. I will try to write more distinctive supporting characters, but ultimately, it depends on everyone¡¯s attitude. If everyone dislikes them, then I probably won¡¯t include them either¡­¡­


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102


    In the window alcove of the neighboring gray, imposing tower, a familiar figure with white hair leaned against the window.


    For a moment, Lynn was taken aback. This scene felt familiar yet strangely unfamiliar.


    He attempted to discern any trace of mockery or yful teasing in her eyes.


    ¡°Hello, new neighbor,¡± Lynn greeted, raising his hand.


    Back in the basement, Lynn retrieved ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ and perused the spell¡¯s description.


    It required the construction of a total of 3,621 nodes. It would be a slow grind, Lynn prepared himself mentally.


    In the following days, Lynn gradually sorted out and sold off the gains obtained from Jim. Any unnecessary items were sold off and converted into magic stones.


    After the final tally, Lynn found himself with a bnce of 7,650 magic stones. Considering his previous efficiency in selling alchemical creations, this amount was roughly equivalent to twenty years of effort.


    And that was without any major expenses along the way, just the normal expenses of maintaining followers. It was evident how difficult it was for wizard apprentices to umte resources.Despite being a third-level wizard apprentice, Lynn¡¯s proficiency in alchemical studies was rtively high among apprentices, almost considered advanced. Yet, even so, he could only umte this small amount of magic stones in a year. For many first-level wizard apprentices, acquiring a single magic stone would require considerable effort, and even then, it would be a carefully calcted expenditure.


    Midway through, Lynn also got in touch with Liszt. Liszt rushed over as soon as he received the message, finding Lynn.


    ¡°Liszt, I¡¯ve looked over the potions you gave me. Despite some ws, they¡¯re rare for an apprentice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a task first. Organize some introductory books on potion studies that you think are necessary for beginners and give them to me in a while,¡± Lynn instructed.


    ?Liszt was momentarily taken aback. Was this Wizard Lynn nning to learn potion studies? Although he was curious, he didn¡¯t ask further and simply nodded silently.


    With more time on his hands now, Lynn prepared to attempt learning potion studies. At the moment, he nned to focus on alchemical studies, runology, and potion studies.


    As for mutation studies, level 3 mutation studies was already sufficient. Continuing to advance would require too much time and effort. Lynn would consider itter after bing an official wizard.


    And learning potion studies was also because Lynn was preparing to make a big move and earn more magic stones. As for how to get magic stones, Lynn had a rough idea in mind.


    The day before departure, Lynn found Toby and expressed his desire to go to the Abyss, but he didn¡¯t understand the Abyssnguage or the demonguage.


    The demons he had encountered before, including those in the demon academies, had all learned the wizardnguage of the Continent of Vanquished Gods.?? However, not all demons knew the wizardnguage. Many demons only knew the demonguage.


    And Lynn happened to have not learned the demonguage, studying anguage would take too much time.


    ¡°Let me think. I remember many apprentices have learned the demonguage. You can post a task to hire one,¡± Toby suggested.


    ¡°Uh, it¡¯s too troublesome,¡± Lynn shook his head. ¡°And if it¡¯s another apprentice, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe.¡±


    If the apprentice they hired had ulterior motives, and theymunicated only in the demonguage, Lynn wouldn¡¯t understand what they were saying.


    ¡°So, are you nning to hire a demon?¡± Toby asked, amused.


    ¡°I¡¯m considering it,¡± Lynn admitted. Compared to the conspiracies and machinations among wizard apprentices, demons¡¯ straightforwardness was easier to ept.


    ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s rare. You actually trust demons more than apprentices,¡± Toby chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t met the old, cunning demons.¡±


    ¡°Especially some of the Abyss Lords, they have more cunning than the eyes on a Hundred-Eyed Giant.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to a demon. It can serve as your guide. Currently, it is living a bit hard in Demon City because it doesn¡¯t have many life skills, and it¡¯s not easy to survive in Demon City.¡±


    Through Toby¡¯s introduction, Lynn met a demon who had lived in Demon City for over thirty years.


    A brute force demon.


    A demon notorious among demons, whose entire body was covered in muscr knots.


    These demons boasted massive bodies even among their own kind, rumored to be entirelyposed of muscle, with even their brain matter transformed into sinew.


    Thus, the brute force demonscked intelligence and were often stubborn, typically relegated to the front lines as cannon fodder in battles.


    As Toby exined, this particr brute force demon had no means of earning money. Apart from helping people move things every day, it didn¡¯t have any other skills.


    If it weren¡¯t for some other demons who asionally helped it out with a little support, it would have starved to death long ago.


    When Lynn saw it, the brute force demon squatted in front of the house like a ponderous hill, covered from top to bottom in scars. It wasn¡¯t until it received the token from Toby handed to it by Lynn that it dispelled its wariness toward Lynn.


    ¡°Since it is its rmendation, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± the brute force demon spoke in a somewhat non-standard wizardnguage of the Continent of Vanquished Gods, with a strange ent.


    ¡°We agreed on fifty magic stones. I¡¯ll go to the Abyss to protect you and help trante with other demons,¡± the brute force demon stated.


    Time passed, and twenty days gradually slipped away.


    Under Lynn¡¯s efforts, the construction of the one-ring spell, ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯, was over halfwayplete, with just over five hundred nodes remaining.


    Although disappointing, Lynn couldn¡¯t always have everything revolve around his own preferences.


    Lynn brought along the brute force demon, then retrieved the ring and silently invoked the passage to the Abyss.


    The surrounding space began to shift.


    In an instant, the world spun.


    It felt like being grabbed by an invisible hand around the heart, and for a moment, Lynn, standing still, felt as if his whole body was plummeting.


    The sensation of space being infinitely stretched, everything around him became surreal.


    <em>Holy crap, entering the Abyss feelspletely different from entering the other world.</em>


    <em>And it¡¯s been too long.</em>


    Lynn felt as if he had plunged into nothingness, with glowing objects in the darkness around him streaking into long trails in his vision.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, Lynn once again felt solid ground beneath his feet.


    More than his sight, it was his sense of smell that he noticed first.


    Lynn caught the strong smell of sulfur in his nose, along with the wave of intense heat rushing toward him.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes gradually narrowed in focus. On the dry and destend, what met his gaze was an endless expanse of red sand and broken stones¡ªa barren wastnd. At the far end of the in stood a volcano emitting ck smoke, silently towering over thendscape.


    Looking up, he saw a hazy yellow sky, asionally dotted with shadows flying across.


    <em>This is the Abyss?</em>


    Without the need for any special rituals or passing through channels, one could arrive from the World of Vanquished Gods to the Abyss ne with just a ring.


    ¡°Here, you¡¯ve finally regained consciousness. The air here smells awful,¡± the brute force demon, standing nearby, squatted on the ground, boredly scooping up mud and throwing it out. Even while squatting, Lynn was only half its height. When the brute force demon stood up, Lynn had to crane his neck to look up at it.


    Then Lynn released four units of the Iron Serpent No. 1 Noble Edition, allowing them to burrow underground.


    With a roll, Iron Serpent No. 1 bumped its head against the ground of the Abyss, causing sparks to fly from its head, and only a small shallow pit was dug out of the ground.?


    Observing this, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but fall silent. Was the ground here really this hard?


    Looking over, Lynn saw onerge hole after another, dug out like mud by the brute force demon.


    Truly befitting of demons renowned for their strength.


    He retrieved Iron Serpent No. 1 units back into the ring.


    Surveying the surroundings, Lynn noticed numerous footprints, all leading toward the road ahead.


    Behind him came a violent rumbling.


    Lynn turned around and saw a massive beast charging towards him across the in, resembling a rhinoceros, d in thick armor and covered in magic patterns. Riding on its back was a burly, towering dual-horned demon.


    <em>Danger!</em>


    The charging posture of this rhinoceros,rger than a tank, could likely smash through ten walls in its path.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    Suddenly, the brute force demon standing beside Lynn moved with unexpected agility, extending its right hand despite its massive size.


    It grabbed the sharp horn of the massive rhinoceros beneath the dual-horned demon, taking a step back, then let out a low growl from its throat, hurling the rhinoceros along with the dual-horned demon off into the distance.


    Lynn helplessly watched as the rhinoceros was thrown in a parabolic arc andnded on the ground.


    The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.


    Despite the fall from a great height, the rhinoceros seemed unharmed, quickly getting up from the ground and swiftly carrying the dual-horned demon away in a cloud of dust, leaving behind arge swath of smoke.


    Following the direction of the rhinoceros¡¯ footprints, Lynn walked for about half an hour until he finally saw a huge market ahead after climbing over a small hill.


    On the in ahead, a variety of colorful canopy-covered stalls appeared.


    Demons of various sizes walked between the pathways in the middle of the market.


    Behind the stalls of the market, many wizards sat, some veiled or masked.


    As Lynn took two more steps forward, it was as if he passed through a barrier, and the quiet air was suddenly filled with a cacophony of sounds.


    A multitude of noises assaulted him, mixing the low, guttural, and obscurenguages of the demons with themonnguage of some wizards.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103


    Lynn descended the slope with the brute force demon following closely behind, proving to be quite the effective bodyguard. In this bustling market, Lynn witnessed many demons that he had only ever read about in books and scrolls.


    A variety of demons could be found in the market, and Lynn was both fascinated and broadened by what he saw.


    He also noticed that some demons looked peculiar, evolving in seemingly arbitrary ways. Some high-level demons even had low-level demons following behind them.


    In truth, hierarchy was strict in the Abyss, with demons divided into numerous races. Some low-level demons could evolve into high-level ones by devouring enough flesh and blood essence.


    This evolution urred in two ways: some directly evolved into high-level demon species, while others continued to evolve based on their own demon race. For example, a six-armed snake demon could evolve further by growing more arms, and it was said that there was even a twelve-armed snake mother who established a snake demon n in the Abyss.


    However, upon bing high-level demons, they became more severe towards their former low-level counterparts, creating a strange cycle.


    In a conspicuous corner of the market, Lynn saw a signboard bearing the emblem of an academy.


    Beside the signboard hung a piece of cloth on which some words were crudely written in red paint in twonguages: ¡¶Stall Fee: 10 Magic Stones¡· ¡¶No Conflict in the Market¡· ¡¶Auction in the Abyss in Three Days¡·


    A wizard with a magic book covering his facey sprawled on a chair, snoring softly. A transparent box beside him was filled with magic stones.Lynn noticed that the wizards and demons lined up here followed the rules meticulously, even the usually dishonest long-fingered demon refrained from reaching into the box to pilfer a few magic stones.


    After paying the fee, Lynn took a small wooden sign from the table. However, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go to his own stall. Instead, he nned to see what was being sold in this market that attracted so many wizards.


    It was a rare opportunity, and he intended to broaden his horizons.


    As he walked through, Lynn noticed that many demons were selling local specialties, but there were also a few stalls selling items from other nes.


    These demons likely invaded other nes, plundered some loot, and brought it back. Since these spoils were useless to demons, they traded them with wizards instead.


    Because some demons didn¡¯t know the value of these items, it tested a wizard¡¯s discernment and even had a certain gambling aspect to it. However, this style attracted many wizards to gamble.


    For wizards, the concept of value didn¡¯t exist; as long as an item contained energy or possessed certain peculiar abilities, it had research and practical value.


    Lynn was also tempted by what he saw, but he knew his priorities. He was here to gather source materials.


    Most apprentices followed a simr process when constructing wizard towers.


    First, they roughly constructed the framework of the tower they wanted to build. Then, they collected source materials. At this stage, they gathered whatever source materials they could find. Afterwards, they pieced together the collected source materials and determined the specific functions of the wizard tower.


    If they had suitable opportunities along the way to exchange with others, they traded for more suitable source materials for their wizard towers.


    For apprentices, they first gathered the core source materials for constructing the main sector of the wizard tower. Then, they gradually bought other auxiliary raw materials based on these core source materials. Compared to the rarity of the core source materials, the auxiliary materials were rtively easy to obtain.


    Now, Lynn already had the core source materials for constructing his wizard tower: the Soul of the Wind for the floating sector, the yheart for the defense sector, the Desert Mirage Sand for the illusion sector, and the Elemental Stone Marrow for the energy sector.


    He only needed one more source material for the attack sector and the source material for constructing the body of the wizard tower, and he had almost gathered the minimum standard of source materials needed to build the wizard tower.


    However, even if he managed toplete the construction, Lynn estimated that based on the current steps of his own sectors, the strength of the wizard tower would be somewhatcking.


    Firstly, if the yheart was used as the source material for the defense sector, the defensive power would be somewhat monotonous, and having only one energy core would make daily supply consumption somewhat strained.


    It would probably be considered bottom-tier even among first-level wizard towers, and without living and experimental sectors, living inside would be no different from living in a cold house. There would be no additional benefits for daily life or experiments.


    Once constructed, it would be more urate to say it was a flying fortress rather than a wizard tower.


    Nevertheless, Lynn¡¯s visit to the Abyss had broadened his horizons considerably. For instance, he learned about the Abyss Blood Soil, soil soaked in blood all year round in the Abyss Blood Battlefield area, possessing various magical properties.


    There were also some unique ores and nts found exclusively in the Abyss. Despite sounding like a gathering ce for many demons, the Abyss was far from barren.


    In the varyingyers of the Abyss, natural environments differed; some were deserts, others swamps, and then there were the endless expanses of an Abyss ne formed by endless oceans.


    Lynn even caught sight of demons trading other demons.


    Coming to a halt before one of the stalls, Lynn¡¯s gaze fell upon the bound demons being offered for sale. Seated at the stall was a figure shrouded in shadow, resembling a silhouette with two horned protrusions where its head should be.


    That had to be a shadow demon, one of the high-level demons. They were born with the ability to manipte the power of shadows and possess elemental bodies.


    The ones being sold by the shadow demon were a group of lemures, including a few spiked demons.


    Spiked demons had pallid skin, humanoid bodies, and flesh that seemed to consist of rotting meat. Beneath the putrid skiny bloated, decaying muscles and sturdy bones.


    What made these demons particrly dangerous were the special bone spurs protruding from their skeletons. These sharp protrusions could beunched from their bodies like projectiles, akin to a porcupine¡¯s quills, and they could travel considerable distances. Moreover, these spurs carried a potent poison, though it might not affect demons of the same species significantly, it possessed a high infectivity against other creatures.


    As for the lesser lemures, they were the lowest level of demons in the Abyss.


    They were frenzied and bloodthirsty, brutal yet cowardly, often preferring to gather in groups to assail their prey. To describe them somewhat disparagingly, they were the goblins of the Abyss.


    Upon seeing Lynn standing before the stall, the shadow demon opened its mouth and uttered a string of guttural, arcane Abyss demonnguage.


    Lynn nced back at the brute force demon behind him, silently signaling for it to trante.


    ¡°It¡¯s asking if you want to buy any demons,¡± the brute force demon ryed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. These demons are too low-level,¡± replied Lynn.


    ¡°I agree. They¡¯re nothing but skin and bones, and not even enough to fill me up,¡± the brute force demon nodded in agreement.


    It gestured, indicating that neither the lemures nor the spiked demons on disy would satisfy its appetite.


    ¡°I see scars on you. You¡¯ve been through quite a few battles, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lynn remarked.


    With demons¡¯ innate healing abilities, recovering from wounds was usually easy. However, some demons would heal their injuries but leave scars untouched, considering them more like badges of honor.


    The brute force demon¡¯s body was covered in countless such badges.


    At Lynn¡¯s inquiry, the brute force demon¡¯s gaze dimmed, and it absently touched the scars on its body.


    Apart from the shadow demon¡¯s stall, there were other demons selling their wares at various stalls.


    A few stalls even had subi, and Lynn had the brute force demon inquire about their prices. However, they were informed that these demons didn¡¯t ept magic stones; they only traded through barter.


    They either wanted weapons and armor, powerful creatures¡¯ flesh and blood, or some special potions¡ªall scarcemodities in the Abyss.


    ??Magic stones couldn¡¯t be eaten nor used as weapons, and their energy was absorbed very slowly by these demons. It was more worthwhile to take a dip in the Abyss Mother River than to deal with magic stones.


    Suddenly, the market grew lively, and Lynn noticed many wizards hurriedly closing their stalls and rushing towards themotion.?


    Stopping a passing apprentice to inquire, Lynn learned that demons were sellingrge quantities of Sunken River Bloodsand, which is the main source material for crafting Abyss Forges and a sought-after item for the apprentices visiting the Abyss market.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104


    In Lynn¡¯s imagination, source materials like those for constructing the Abyss Forge, a core energy sector, should have been disyed neatly on stalls, perhaps even adorned in delicate containers, showcasing their significance to onlookers.


    However, upon reaching his destination, what Lynn beheld was a pile of blood-red Sunken Sand, resembling small mountains.


    Essentially, these Sunken River Bloodsand were sediments that had umted over the years at the bottom of the Abyss Mother River. From various notes and ounts, it was evident that the Abyss Mother River wasn¡¯t like the small streams back in his hometown where anyone with a bit of aquatic skill could take a dip. Even demons dared not venture too deep into the Abyss Mother River; sinking too far risked assimtion into the river itself, bing part of its essence once more.


    Initially, Lynn had presumed acquiring this Sunken River Bloodsand would be a daunting task. However, witnessing the scene before him now, he realized he had been mistaken. Demons likely had their own methods of procuring sand from the Abyss Mother River.


    Several soul-hook demons stood beside the mound of Sunken River Bloodsand. With heads resembling wolves, adorned with two straight horns protruding from the back, humanoid fingers, and hooves as thick and robust as those of a pig, these demons stood at nearly six meters in height.


    In other words, if one of them stood on a roadside, merely tilting its head would afford a glimpse through a second-floor window.


    Based on the knowledge Lynn had cram-studied before setting off, he learned that in some human kingdoms of other nes, it was rumored that soul-hook demons were emissaries from Hell, sent to ensnare souls. Due to theirrge size and innate ability to ensnare the souls of the weak, these demons had be known as the soul-hooking emissaries of Hell in many mortal realms.


    Although many humans did not understand the distinction between Hell and the Abyss, leading to the mistaken belief that demons originated from Hell, it had to be acknowledged that, in terms of reputation, the devils of Hell indeed managed their affairs better than the demons of the Abyss.


    Wizards who had studied the abilities of soul-hook demons concluded that they possessed a unique talent¡ªeach of their attacks carried a soul-hooking judgment. If an opponent¡¯s soul was significantly weaker than that of the soul-hook demon or was in an extremely vulnerable state, the attacked soul would be ensnared. However, against opponents of equal or slightly weaker caliber, this ability proved somewhatckluster, merely causing a disruptive effect on their souls.It was precisely due to this talent, limited to preying on the weak, that soul-hook demons were ssified only as a middle-level demon race among the Abyss demons.


    Behind the soul-hook demons, beyond the heap of Sunken River Bloodsand, sat a monster towering over ten meters in height, its bulk resembling a small mountain¡ªalmost the same height as the brute force demon behind him.


    From its outward appearance, the demon seated behind resembled a monstrous amalgamation of countless insects and beasts, with a pair of extremelyrge, albeit somewhat tattered, bat wings protruding from its back. Its blood-red eyes asionally shed with a savage, murderous intent.


    This must be a ughter demon, a high-level demon known as the battlefield ughterer.


    ughter demons were notorious for their capricious temperaments, relishing in the thrill of ughtering and torturing their enemies. Moreover, they can consume powerful foes and assimte their powerful limbs or organs into themselves. Because of this highly assimtive ability, they garnered favor from many wizards, causing a sort of ¡°witchophobia¡± to develop among the ughter demons in the Abyss. It¡¯s said that an ancient ughter demon once fused with a god¡¯s body part, thus touching upon the realm of gods. Allegedly, this ughter demon has now be a collection piece for a certain wizard.


    Before the Sunken River Bloodsand, many apprentices engaged in transactions. Lynn discovered to his surprise that the demons selling the Sunken River Bloodsand epted magic stones as payment.


    After discreetly inquiring, Lynn learned that the price for the Sunken River Bloodsand was 100 magic stones per 100 kilograms.


    Constructing an Abyss Forge required approximately 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms of Sunken River Bloodsand, tranting to 3,000 to 4,000 magic stones.


    This price offered exceptional value for money, stirring not only Lynn¡¯s interest but that of others nearby.


    Not far away, two wizard apprentices were engaged in conversation.


    ¡°So, this is the famous source material for the energy core of the Abyss Forge from your Abyss Wizard Academy? There¡¯s so much of it.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know this, cousin, but these Sunken River Bloodsand are actually sediment that has umted at the bottom of the Abyss Mother River over many years. The Abyss Mother River runs through the entire Abyss, and the sand inside it is practically endless,¡± the younger male apprentice exined.


    ¡°So much! Then I¡¯ll buy some Sunken River Bloodsand and make my own Abyss Forge.¡±


    ¡°Cousin, buying it won¡¯t help you,¡± the male apprentice said helplessly.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it? Doesn¡¯t the Abyss Forge recognize its owner?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right about that. The Abyss Forge draws energy from the Abyss, much like an elemental pool. If your identity isn¡¯t recognized, even if you build an Abyss Forge, it won¡¯t draw energy from the Abyss. If it were that easy, all this Sunken River Bloodsand here would¡¯ve been snatched up long ago. There are plenty of wizards outside buying source materials,¡± the male apprentice exined.


    There was never a shortage of second-hand dealers in the market.


    The queue was long, and soon, those ahead began to purchase the Sunken River Bloodsand they desired.


    ¡°Could you please trante for me? I¡¯m purchasing 4,000 magic stones worth of Sunken River Bloodsand,¡± Lynn said to the brute force demon.


    The brute force demon turned to negotiate with the soul-hook demon, and the two demons quickly came to an agreement.


    Lynn handed the magic stones to the brute force demon, who then grabbed arge iron shovel and forcefully dug into the Sunken River Bloodsand. Afterward, he dumped the excavated sand onto a nearby scale, measuring out the 4,000 kilograms before leaving it for Lynn to handle.


    Lynn stored the Sunken River Bloodsand in his storage ring, then took out a small broom and swept all the sand and gravel around the scale into a bucket.


    Witnessing this scene, the soul-hook demon couldn¡¯t help but fall silent for a moment. Some of the wizard apprentices behind Lynn¡¯s back brightened up; why hadn¡¯t they thought of doing it this way before?


    Lynn rose calmly, his expression unchanged. He then continued to browse the market with the brute force demon in tow.


    In addition to the current stalls, demons kept arriving from afar with goods in tow.


    The demons at the market seemed fairly well-behaved, contrary to the notorious arrogance and chaos rumored about demons.


    It was quite a contrasting scene; some wizards stood at the stalls bargaining incessantly with demons. When the demons heard the outrageous prices quoted by the wizards, their faces turned red with anger, but they dared not resort to violence in the market. Instead, they engaged in heated disputes and exchanged insults with the wizards.


    Lynn also found a spot to set up his stall.


    Rather than disying items on the stall, Lynn wrote a signboard.


    ¡°Do you know how to write demonnguage?¡± Lynn asked the brute force demon.


    The brute force demon widened its eyes; it hadn¡¯t been told it needed to know how to write beforeing. It had only been asked to trante.


    Rubbing itsrge hands awkwardly, the brute force demon shook its head in frustration. ¡°I¡¯ve never learned. I can only speak.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Lynn reassured the brute force demon. It looked like the type that struggled with learning, and Lynn was just testing the waters with the question.


    Then Lynn turned to the burning demon at the adjacent stall.


    ¡°Do you know how to write demonnguage?¡±


    The burning demon didn¡¯t respond; it simply spread out its hands, revealing palms made of mes, and gave Lynn an innocent look.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Another demon in the next stallughed.


    ¡°I can write demonnguage. What do you need me to write for you?¡± Sitting in the next stall was a fly demon.


    The fly demon had the head of a fly, with a pair of transparent wings on its back, and many spikes protruding from its slender arms.


    However, it wore a magnificent and exquisite outfit, which sharply contrasted with its brutal demeanor. On the fly demon¡¯s stally many bottles and jars, unlike the rough items disyed by the other demons nearby. This fly demon seemed to possess a certain level of culture.


    ¡°That would be helpful, please help me write a section about ¡®ept raw materials, craft weapons and armor for free¡¯?¡± Lynn asked the fly demon.


    ¡°Not a problem at all,¡± the fly demon replied, taking out a charcoal pencil and writing in demonnguage on Lynn¡¯s wooden signboard.


    ¡°Do you craft weapons and armor?¡± the fly demon inquired.


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by crafting raw materialster? Do I need to provide the raw materials?¡± the fly demon asked strangely. It was the first time it had heard of this business model¡ªactually offering free crafting for weapons and armor. Could this human still make a profit from it?


    ¡°That¡¯s right, free crafting. I came to the Abyss to make friends, and there¡¯s no loss involved. After all, my skills get honed in the process, and the scraps from crafting weapons and armor cover the crafting fees,¡± Lynn exined with a smile. ¡°You seem like an intelligent and cultured demon. Would you be interested in bing my first customer?¡±


    Lynn, being from that era, knew one thing: to mize, you need traffic. Business works the same way; having a stable customer base is essential for making money! Since he didn¡¯t have any acquaintances and wanted to establish a fixed group in the unfamiliar Abyss, offering free services was the best bait. The temptation of freebies was irresistible to any race. Besides, Lynn wasn¡¯t at a loss. The scraps from crafting weapons and armor more than covered the crafting fees, it just didn¡¯t seem like he was making as much money upfront.


    The fly demon was delighted to hear Lynn praise it as a cultured demon. ¡°Sure, I was just about to craft a magic staff. Can you make a magic staff that¡¯s both functional for spellcasting and can be used as a warhammer? It would be even better if the magic staff had some extra spikes at the top.¡±


    Lynn wasn¡¯t surprised that the fly demon needed a magic staff crafted because fly demons were one of the few spellcasting demon races. However, the idea of needing a magic staff that could double as a warhammer was somewhat peculiar.


    As they discussed, suddenly, a deafening roar reverberated through the sky.


    The dusk sky turned blood-red, seemingly lowering even further, filling the air with a stifling atmosphere.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± The fly demon¡¯s hugepound eyes were filled with shock.


    The brute force demon sitting behind Lynn couldn¡¯t contain its excitement either, scrambling to its feet and staring in the direction of the roar, itsrge hands clenched tightly.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 105

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Lynn asked, observing the restless demons in the marketce, sensing that something significant must have urred.


    ¡°A ne is being dragged into the Abyss,¡± the fly demon exined.


    ¡°The Bottomless Abyss has always been expanding, often dragging fragments of nes into its depths,¡± it continued.


    Lynn felt a stir of curiosity. From their reactions, it seemed that themotion originated from the Bottomless Abyss?


    ¡°The disturbance over there indicates a ne being pulled into the Bottomless Abyss,¡± the fly demon informed Lynn.


    ¡°But it¡¯s strange. Even if a ne is pulled into the Bottomless Abyss, it shouldn¡¯t be happening here,¡± the fly demon scratched its head, finding it difficult to exin thisplex and challenging situation based on its knowledge.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this ce also the Bottomless Abyss?¡± Lynn inquired.


    With their belongings packed up, the fly demon headed towards the direction of the disturbance, where many other demons were already rushing.


    For low-level demons, invading other nes on ordinary days was quite challenging. Aside from waiting for the elusive demon-summoning array, which they never knew when it would ur, they could only follow their lords to invade other nes. If their own lords weren¡¯t capable, they might wait indefinitely for the opportunity to invade other nes.However, for low-level demons, opportunities to travel to other nes weren¡¯t entirely absent.


    For instance, every so often, fragments of nes would be dragged into the Bottomless Abyss. Some of these nes might already be dead worlds, devoid of anything except countless dead energy; they were automatically pulled into the Abyss.


    Others were the result of massive world sacrificial rituals, where worlds were plunged into the Abyss. The sacrificers could gain immense power bestowed by the Abyss. If the sacrificed world was significant enough, this power could even elevate the ritual¡¯s leader to be an Abyss Lord or even an Abyss Demon God.


    Besides these methods, there were various other ways that could lead to a world being dragged into the Abyss. Each time a new world joined the Abyss, it was a cause for celebration among countless demons.


    Observing the frenzied demons around him, Lynn gained a deeper understanding of the aggressive nature of this race.


    ¡°This ce belongs to the Abyss, but there has never been a world descending here before. And before your wizards arrived, thisyer of the ne didn¡¯t exist,¡± the fly demon exined to Lynn.


    The fly demon dropped a bombshell on Lynn. What did it mean that thisyer of the ne didn¡¯t exist before the arrival of the wizards?


    Could the birth of thisyer of the ne be rted to the wizards?


    Researching gods was one thing, but now they were even messing around with the Abyss.


    Was even the Abyss going to take on the shape of wizards?


    Lynn fell silent.


    Following the fly demon, they walked ahead, and everyone arrived at the forefront.


    At the far end of the horizon, a vast world, reminiscent of a setting sun, slowly descended from the sky.


    The dusky sky was tinged with red clouds, and within that vast world were mountains, rivers, oceans, and ins. But at the center of the world, there was arge area missing, as if a tremendous force had wiped out a vast expanse ofnd, leaving behind a deep, bottomless ck pit.


    This extremely shocking scene left Lynn standing in ce, staring in astonishment at the spectacle before him.


    Apart from the thunderous rumbling, the fusion of the two nes was lighter than Lynn had anticipated.


    There was no earth-shattering collision as imagined; it was like two drops of water merging into one.


    Only at the horizon¡¯s edge did an endless expanse of illusory world extend diagonally to the world¡¯s end.


    And at the intersection of the two worlds, a continuously rotating portal appeared in sight.


    As the portal took shape, figures of all kinds flew towards it, employing various means.


    Among them were wizards and demons.


    ¡°You can go in, but be careful,¡± a faint voice appeared in Lynn¡¯s ears.


    Lynn recognized the voice¡¯s owner; it was Harin, with whom contact had been lost for a long time.


    ¡°I just observed it. This world dragged into the Abyss seems to be a ne with abundant resources,¡± the fly demon said excitedly.


    Lynn looked back at the brute force demon behind him. ¡°Are we going in?¡± he asked.


    The brute force demon patted itsrge belly and a bloodthirsty smile spread across its face. ¡°There¡¯s good food inside. Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Lynn pondered. Harin¡¯s warning to be cautious suggested that there was certainly danger inside, but it didn¡¯t seem to be extremely perilous. It appeared to be a situation where danger and opportunity coexisted.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± Lynn resolved after some contemtion.


    Opportunities like this were rare, and more importantly¡­


    Lynn felt that there was something fishy about this ne¡¯s arrival.


    Thisyer of the ne might be the work of the wizards, and since there had never been a ne descent before, this arrival might just be the wizards¡¯ n.


    Considering that this market belonged to the Abyss Wizard Academy, thisyer of the ne might have some connection to the academy. Lynn himself was a genuine apprentice of the Abyss Wizard Academy.


    Lynn felt that there couldn¡¯t be danger everywhere inside.


    With numerous demons lining up, Lynn and his group followed behind. When it was their turn, Lynn looked up at the gigantic portal, which was about the height of arge building. It didn¡¯t seem so imposing from afar, but now that they were closer, Lynn keenly felt the enormity of the portal.


    ¡°Wizard, would you like to explore together?¡± the fly demon beside Lynn asked.


    Watching the greatly erged fly head buzzing around in front of him, Lynn remained unfazed.


    ¡°This trip was sudden, and I didn¡¯t bring any of my demons. I see the big guy behind you seems pretty good,¡± the fly demon continued.


    Lynn knew full well that as a mere apprentice, the fly demon must value someone else, not him. It must be the brute force demon who had apanied him.


    In reality, Lynn had misjudged. Lynn knew the rtionship between himself and the brute force demon. But this fly demon didn¡¯t know. In the eyes of the fly demon, the brute force demon was Lynn¡¯s follower. This human wizard apprentice must be the descendent of some powerful wizard, and the brute force demon was the follower sent to protect him.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you,¡± the brute force demon scratched its head. It had just been pondering for a moment and felt as if it were growing a brain, which gave it a terrible headache. It didn¡¯t want to think aboutplicated things; thinking too much made its head hurt, and who would want that over time?


    The brute force demon believed in Lynn because it thought this human wizard must be smarter than itself and, coupled with the introduction from the lord, it trusted Lynn.


    ¡°We can act together,¡± Lynn nodded.


    This fly demon seemed to have experience invading nes from its tone of voice.


    Lynn decided to follow its lead for a while. The most crucial aspect to understand was that the fly demon was a demon, and demons¡¯ needs differed from those of wizards. This distinction formed the fundamental basis for cooperation between wizards and demons.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s stick together, preferably holding hands. In such partially descended nes like this one, we¡¯ll be randomly teleported once we enter,¡± the fly demon exined.


    Looking at the hook-like spikes on the fly demon¡¯s w-shaped arms and then at his own fair palms, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought.


    In the end, the brute force demon and the fly demon held hands, and Lynn clung to one of the brute force demon¡¯s fingers. The two demons and one human entered the portal in a rather strange posture.


    Just as they were about to pass through the portal, Lynn suddenly felt a buzzing sensation in his ears. In that instant, as he lifted his head, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a vastwork, spanning the entire world.


    The threads of thiswork were transparent, each exuding a mysterious aura. They varied in thickness, crisscrossing through the world around them and even permeating through all life forms nearby.


    Though Lynn didn¡¯t know what it was, the moment he saw thiswork, he somehow knew its name¡ªWizard Network.


    As Lynn passed through the portal, he heard a cold, emotionless mechanical voice in his ears.


    ¡°Detecting wizard en route to other nes. Verifying wizard¡¯s identity. Identity confirmed. Loading information and injecting coordinates. Wizard Network auxiliary functions are being essed.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 106

    ¡¶Wizard, greetings. Your current identity has been confirmed. The Wizard¡¯s High Council<sup>1</sup> reminds you to explore alternate nes with caution. There are countless elemental nes, so prioritize safety over all else.¡·


    Before him, the screen seemed to refresh continuously, disying lines of blue wizard text scrolling from top to bottom.


    ¡¶If you discover new nes, you may report them to the wizardwork to im rewards. The Wizard¡¯s High Council is the staunchest shield behind every wizard from another ne.¡·


    ¡¶The current ne has not beenpletely covered by the wizardwork, so some functions are unavable.¡·


    ¡¶You currently possess first-level clearance, allowing you to activate the wizardwork¡¯s emergency assistance function, ess basic information about the current ne, and perform energy level detection.¡·


    ¡¶Initiate merit missions: You can scan for items in the current ne not yet detected and upload them to the wizardwork. Merits will be awarded based on the value of the items.¡·


    Lynn stood silently in ce for two seconds before lifting his head.


    And here he had been wondering why wizards go through all the trouble to create something like the wizardwork, he swore! The wizardwork was definitely more than just a mere imitation of the magicwork.


    At first, he thought it was a replica of the magicwork, a version 2.0 specially designed by wizards for their followers.But from these messages, it seemed that any ne controlled and invaded by wizards would have the wizardwork imnted into it.


    <em>Damn, these wizards really know how to y around!</em>


    Lynn silentlyined.


    However, he could understand. With wizards invading so many nes and acquiring vast knowledge, it wasn¡¯t surprising they created something like this.


    But Lynn suddenly thought of a possibility.


    He lifted his head, gazing at the wizardwork in the sky that only wizard eyes could see. Unlike the ne in the Abyss just now, the one before him, which hadn¡¯t fully merged yet, although had a wizardwork, they weren¡¯t abundant¡ªsparse might even be an apt description.


    But after all, these were the wizardwork, and nes with the wizardwork were falling into the Abyss one after another. Those wizards wouldn¡¯t be nning to fill the entire Abyss with the wizardwork, would they?


    Lynn suddenly considered this possibility, marveling at his bold spection.


    As for being shocked, it¡¯s impossible! In the future, no matter how big the revtions these wizards drop, he won¡¯t be shocked anymore!


    The more Lynn learned about these mad wizards, the more he admired and yearned for them.


    When would he be able to conduct experiments of this caliber himself? Currently, his experiments seemed like child¡¯s ypared to these.


    ¡°The stench of death in this world is heavy,¡± the fly demon lifted its head, its small nostrils between its twopound eyes ring as it deeply inhaled the smell in the air.


    Lynn also took a deep breath, catching the strong smell of horse manure and grass.


    He realized he was currently on a rural road.


    On either side were fields, but the ones behind were trampled by the brute force demon, its massive hooves sinking into the mud.


    The fields had been left unattended for who knows how long, now overgrown with weeds.


    Stepping out of the fields, Lynn activated the basic information query function of the current ne.


    His eyes flickered slightly.


    Lynn quickly learned the basic information of the ne before him.


    It was a ne jointly ruled by elves and humans, with a colossal Elven Mother Tree growing at the heart of the world, having existed for countless millennia. Surrounding the Elven Mother Tree was the domain of the Elven Court, ruled by the elven nobility.


    Beyond the Elven Court were nine major human kingdoms, each ruled by a half-elf monarchy.


    Within the kingdoms, all nobles were required to have at least some elven blood. Despite the nominal equality between humans and elves, years of development had ingrained deep-rooted ss distinctions within the kingdoms.


    Many officials and nobles could only be ennobled if they had elven blood. Although humans and elves were officially dered as equal citizens of the kingdoms, disparities in treatment were evident everywhere.


    Several hundred years ago, there were still many barbarians surviving in the wilderness, repeatedly invading the kingdoms. However, with thebined efforts of the nine major elven kingdoms two hundred years ago in organizing several wilderness purges, the barbarians gradually disappeared.


    With no external pressure and the Elven Court suppressing and preventing conflicts between the kingdoms, an environment akin to stagnant water was created, where internal ss struggles became the central theme among the kingdoms.


    The conflicts between humans and half-elves, and humans and elves, grew increasingly intense.


    And among humans, some individuals hadmunicated with the beings of another world. With their covert support and assistance, they formed the Ascension Organization.


    The world-falling ritual was sessfully conducted, plunging the entire ne into the Abyss.


    Now, this ne had already seen wars erupt. The central region¡¯s Elven Mother Tree and the elves of the Elven Court had been uprooted, leaving the Elven Court lost. The nine major kingdoms had erupted into war against each other, and now the entire world was engulfed in chaos.


    <em>So, which kingdom am I in now?</em> Lynn looked around.


    He, along with the fly demon and the brute force demon, found the nearest vige. It was easy to find because the vige was littered with decaying corpses. What was once a thriving settlement nowy in utter silence.


    To the fly demon, the decaying corpses were excellent delicacies.


    ¡°You guys don¡¯t need these corpses, right?¡± the fly demon happily rubbed its ws, excitedly remarking.


    ¡°No, you can eat them if you want,¡± Lynn crouched down, looking at the slightly decaying corpse before him, its cheeks covered in rotten flesh, maggots wriggling within. Behind its gaping mouth, teeth were barely visible.


    From the corpse, one could faintly discern its appearance in life: natural curly golden hair, and pale blue eyes veiled with ayer of gray.


    Lynn removed the corpse¡¯s clothes and gave it a cursory examination, confirming that it didn¡¯t differ much from an ordinary human.


    The brute force demon showed no interest in the rotting corpse on the ground. While it also enjoyed consuming flesh and blood, it preferred the fresh meat of powerful creatures.


    The brute force demon looked down on the fly demon¡¯s indiscriminate eating habits.


    Lynn then proceeded to explore the houses in the vige. There were hardly any books, and many houses were in disarray, clearly having been ransacked. Anything valuable had already been taken.


    The fly demon wiped its mouth, having had its fill. Although there were still many corpses in the vige, it paused its feast upon seeing Lynn still waiting.


    There were plenty of prey in this world; there was no need to rush for food.


    The priority was to find valuable items first. After all, there were many demons who had entered this ne through the portal.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find the nearest human gathering ce first,¡± the fly demon suggested.


    ¡°The most valuable thing to plunder in a ne is its legendary treasures. I suspect this ne has already been looted, and the most valuable items have been taken. Many demons have also raided the treasuries of other major forces. Besides that, there¡¯s knowledge. Many demons don¡¯t understand the value of knowledge,¡± the fly demon exined.


    Just hearing about the value of knowledge, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but raise his opinion of it.


    This fly demon actually knew about plundering knowledge?! It was truly an anomaly among demons.


    Lynn was amazed.


    ¡°Your wizards just love knowledge, don¡¯t they?¡± chuckled the fly demon. ¡°As long as we can plunder vast amounts of knowledge, we can trade things usable by us demons from your wizard hands. And those fools don¡¯t even realize the value of knowledge. Every time, there¡¯s no onepeting with me.¡±


    Lynn realized he had misunderstood. The value the fly demon referred to was of this kind.


    However, looking at it from a different perspective, it seemed reasonable. Much knowledge is disjointed and overly intricate. Learning it all by itself would take the fly demon too long. It¡¯s more efficient to trade with wizards and directly convert it into something it can use.


    From another perspective, this fly demon indeed possessed rare intelligence among demons.


    Standing nearby, the brute force demon scratched its head. What were they talking about? The value of knowledge? Why was its head itching so much!


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N:


    -I think this is a different faction/ group as mentioned in Chapter 13..


    -Chapter 13 [ ÖÈÐòÎ×ʦÒé»á zh¨¬x¨´ w¨±sh¨© y¨¬hu¨¬ : The Order of Wizards¡¯ Council ]


    -Chapter 106 [ Î×ʦ×î¸ßÒé»á w¨±sh¨© zu¨¬g¨¡o y¨¬hu¨¬ : The Wizard¡¯s High Council ] ??</li></ol>


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    I Am Doing Daily Tasks in the Wizarding World</a>


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 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107


    The trio, consisting of one human and two demons, had been walking for some time when they encountered a mounted procession head-on.


    The horses neighed in rm, their riders taken aback by the imposing figure of the brute force demon, who stood tall and barely shorter than the trees lining the road. The horses grew restless, stamping their hooves uneasily.


    The man leading the procession, dressed in exquisite attire, was the first to attempt a hasty retreat.


    The fly demon emitted a low chuckle, extending its arm. Suddenly, a swarm of ck flies burst forth from its body, piercing the temples of the men and burrowing into their skulls. Those who had been fleeing came to a halt, their expressions transitioning from fear to a numb stupor.


    Soon, all of them obediently gathered in front of the demons.


    Lynn narrowed his eyes, finding the fly demon¡¯s methods rather weird.


    The fly demon cradled the head of one of the men, slowly extruding a white needle-like tube from its mouth, piercing the scalp. Yellowish-gray brain matter flowed into its mouth like tofu pudding.


    Shaking its head, the fly demon opened its mouth tomunicate with the group.


    Remarkably, they managed to converse seamlessly. Unable to understand theirnguage, Lynn could only stare nkly, observing their expressions.The fly demon ryed the information it obtained to Lynn. Through a brief interrogation, Lynn learned that the leader of the group was actually the son of a noble viscount.


    However, this noble¡¯s family now had little possessions left. His hometown had been besieged and overrun by rebel forces. With the help of some elite family members, he had fought his way out of the siege and was now attempting to reach the kingdom¡¯s capital city, Whitefall.


    The royal library, thergest in the kingdom, was located in Whitefall, coincidentally aligning with Lynn¡¯s destination.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look. I doubt we¡¯ll find what we¡¯re looking for in the royal library,¡± Lynn suggested.


    After all, besides demons, many wizards had also entered this time. Demons might not value knowledge, but wizards might.


    ??However, their current location wasn¡¯t far from the royal library, so they could check it out first.


    ¡°If there¡¯s no knowledge, we still have other options,¡± the fly demon said confidently.


    ¡°A world definitely has many mineral deposits. Only a fraction of these deposits have been discovered by the natives. Some are surely hidden in the wilderness, undiscovered by anyone. By then, I can summon a gold-eating demon. They have a keen sense for metal and can detect it within a certain distance.¡±


    Lynn nodded thoughtfully, silently taking note of the fly demon¡¯s experience for future reference.


    He could look for simr alchemical creatures or species when he returned. If there were none, he could consider raising a gold-eating demon himself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just raid them directly,¡± the brute force demon suggested.


    ¡°We might not seed with so many powerful demonsing here this time,¡± the fly demon shook its head.


    If it were elsewhere, that might be fine, but this time there were many formidable characters at the market.


    Take, for example, the simplest principle: being able to invade other nes and having plenty of resources to trade, which ordinary demons couldn¡¯t achieve.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just demons,¡± Lynn said quietly.


    Not only demons but official wizards had alsoe.


    Direct confrontation might be a bit difficult.


    He probably wouldn¡¯t get the lion¡¯s share of the spoils this time, and even the scraps would be hard toe by. But being able to dip his toe in the water was already a pleasant surprise.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know the ¡®Universal Language¡¯ spell?¡± the fly demon asked Lynn.


    Lynn silently shook his head.


    ¡®Universal Language¡¯ was a two-ring spell among wizards, allowing one to quickly learn anguage by reading the memories of others. But the two-ring spells were beyond his current capabilities.


    Learning ¡®Universal Language¡¯ would certainly be convenient, although it was said that even if one learned anguage through ¡®Universal Language¡¯, they could only understand andmunicate verbally, still unable to write.


    ¡°It¡¯s troublesome if you don¡¯t understand thenguage. You can¡¯t evenmunicate if these humans are trying to deceive you. However, I have a solution,¡± the fly demon grabbed one of the humans by the head and proceeded to split it open.


    Steam rose from the exposed, pulsating brain matter.


    The fly demon extended its hands towards the brain matter, continuously casting spells. The brain matterpressed and squeezed until it transformed into a bone-like white bead.


    ¡°After ingesting this, you¡¯ll temporarily learn thenguage of this race, but you¡¯ll forget it after a while,¡± the fly demon exined. ¡°But it¡¯s enough for temporary use.¡±


    Lynn licked his dry lips and took the white bead.


    ¡°Are you afraid to eat it, or do you suspect I¡¯ve poisoned it?¡± the fly demonughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not poisoned. This is a talent of the fly demon n,¡± the brute force demon, standing behind him, interjected.


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about the best way to consume it,¡± Lynn mused, rolling the bead between his fingers.


    Indeed, not knowing thenguage of this ne would be troublesome. He would have to rely entirely on the fly demon for trantion. However, their cooperation was tenuous, and the fly demon had no obligation to trante for him. If the fly demon leftter, Lynn, who couldn¡¯t understand thenguage, would be at a loss.


    Moreover, in the Abyss, thew of the jungle prevailed, where the strong preyed on the weak. If he couldn¡¯t demonstrate sufficient value, Lynn doubted that the fly demon would continue to apany him.


    Although it made him nauseous, Lynn still tossed the bead into his mouth, swallowing it without chewing.


    A warm sensation spread in his stomach, as if a seed were germinating and taking root. With the sprouting of this seed, Lynn¡¯s senses sharpened, and the previously obscurenguage became understandable.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    ¡°Help! We¡¯re willing to surrender, please don¡¯t kill us.¡±


    ¡°Are you the noble viscount?¡± Lynn asked, noting the pointed ears of the man, a clear sign of elven ancestry.


    ¡°No, I just have noble status. My father is the viscount,¡± the man, now rmed, replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity. You¡¯re already this old, and your father hasn¡¯t passed on the title to you,¡± Lynn said calmly.


    ¡°Whether you live or die depends on the value you can provide,¡± he continued.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything. Whatever you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± the half-elf man hastily offered.


    Lynn began to interrogate the nobleman, asking various questions.


    Through his ount, Lynn quickly understood the general situation within the Silvermoon Kingdom¡¯s borders. He didn¡¯t know much about the other kingdoms, but he was very familiar with the internal affairs of his own country.


    Because their viscount¡¯s family lived within the borders of the Silvermoon Kingdom, the tumultuous situation within the kingdom directly affected the interests of their viscount¡¯s family. Therefore, they had to be very sensitive to the internal dynamics of the kingdom.


    Since the passing of the previous king of the Silvermoon Kingdom twenty years ago, three princes had fought each other for the throne. At that time, many nobles secretly chose to support one of the princes.


    However, when the three princes were weakened due to mutual fighting, the beloved eldest princess suddenly emerged under the favor of the old king, seizing the throne with ruthless decisiveness and bing the first queen of the Silvermoon Kingdom.


    When she was young, this eldest princess was praised by the old king for being very much like him. After ascending to the throne, the Silvermoon Queen utilized doctors, biologists, researchers, and armies.


    With a tough approach, she won over many middle-level officials in the Silvermoon Kingdom. Furthermore, relying on her mother¡¯s status as the daughter of an old duke, she also managed to gain the support of many nobles from the northern regions, vigorously developing the economy and the army. This rapid expansion of Silvermoon Kingdom¡¯s national power propelled it to be the leader among several surrounding kingdoms.


    It was said that the Ironblood Queen had repeatedly proposed initiating wars, but they were always suppressed by the Elven Court. Nevertheless, she had gained the title of Ironblood Queen within many kingdoms¡¯ borders.


    Now, the various rebel forces were said to be those nobles who had once joined the ranks of the followers of the three princes. However, they were only using the banners of the three princes. After the Ironblood Queen ascended the throne, all three princes had died under various circumstances. It couldn¡¯t be that the souls of those who had been dead for many years suddenly emerged to organize a rebellion, right?


    ¡°I like ambitious, unscrupulous women like her. If it were another ne without demons, perhaps I could tempt her into starting a full-scale war. If we could conquer most of thend, there would be a chance to hold a ritual to plunge it into the Abyss,¡± chuckled the fly demon sinisterly. ¡°But s, it¡¯s a pity now.¡±


    Lynn knew what the fly demon regretted. In the current ne, which had already descended into the Abyss, the greatest benefits naturally wouldn¡¯t fall into its hands.


    In theory, even if these nobles rebelled, they wouldn¡¯t be able to cause much of a stir. However, the three rebel forces were said to have the shadow of a mysterious power behind them, and their momentum was unstoppable, conquering many cities.


    But ording to the nobles, a powerful legion stationed in the north of the kingdom had also been struck by a gue, leaving them too preupied to act.


    ¡°With so many rebel forces, we can cooperate with this queen. We¡¯ll let her provide us with knowledge, flesh and blood, and we¡¯ll deal with those rebel forces for her,¡± the fly demon suggested.


    Lynn thought more deeply. In a ne where the Elven Court had ruled for so many years, what kind of mysterious power could there be behind these rebel forces? Most likely, this mysterious force was rted to the power that guided the descent into the Abyss. Lynn doubted there would be conflict with these rebel forces.


    When they meet those rebel forces, they¡¯ll know what¡¯s going on.


    ¡°We should set off first,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°We¡¯re moving too slowly like this. I¡¯ll summon a mount,¡± the fly demon said.


    Turning around, the fly demon used its fingers to slit the throats of everyone except the nobleman, using the bodies and blood to sketch out a seemingly uplicated array on the ground.


    Standing at the edge of the array, a faint ck mist was emitted from its body.


    Under the ck mist, the teleportation array gradually emitted a faint glow.


    The bodies on the ground quickly shriveled up, all their essences of flesh and blood devoured.


    In the next moment, the dried blood smeared on the ground suddenly became vividly red and ring.


    The red blood light illuminated Lynn¡¯s cheeks.


    Within the summoning array, a giant monster, resembling a pterosaur in size appeared¡ªwith a long tail full of spikes, two horns, and a bird-like appearance, appeared in the summoning array.


    Demons. These people were definitely demons.


    The nobleman¡¯s eyes widened in fear at the sight.


    He had never seen such terrifying monsters before. Apart from the man who had interrogated him, both the other one resembled a giant fly and this giant monster looked like demons from legends.


    And in his eyes, Lynn, who could converse and joke with these demons, had also turned into a demon disguised in human skin.


    The summoned monster, upon seeing the fly demon, affectionately extended its long tongue to lick the fly demon¡¯s feet.


    ¡°This is my pet, the evil-winged bird,¡± the fly demon exined. ¡°Riding it is faster than walking.¡±


    The fly demon climbed onto the evil-winged bird¡¯s back. When it was Lynn¡¯s turn, the evil-winged bird suddenly turned its head and emitted a sharp cry.??


    <em>Thwack!</em>


    ??A sudden p from the brute force demon behind Lynn struck the evil-winged bird across the face.


    Directly stunned the evil-winged bird.


    This strange bird stared nkly ahead. After receiving a hefty blow, it seemed to snap out of it in an instant.


    Extending its long and slender tongue, it gently licked Lynn¡¯s boot, its eyes full of ttery.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108


    ??The fly demon didn¡¯t care much about it. To its perspective, it was just a mount that could be reced at any time. It chose the evil-winged bird simply because it was convenient.


    Lynn grabbed the nobleman by the cor and hoisted him onto the evil-winged bird¡¯s back. This nobleman knew a lot, and Lynn felt it would be a waste to dispose of him before extracting all the information.


    As the brute force demon and others gradually climbed onto its back, the evil-winged bird visibly struggled under the weight.


    pping its wings twice, the evil-winged bird finally exerted enough force to soar into the sky.


    ¡°Did your Silvermoon Kingdom possess any powers beyond those of ordinary people?¡± Lynn inquired.


    At Lynn¡¯s probing question, the nobleman hesitated. Wasn¡¯t thismon knowledge? It was confirmed then; these were definitely demons from hell.


    But he harbored no noble intention of protecting the world from demons; he just wanted to survive. Perhaps, if he yed his cards right, he could even be an advocate for the demons.


    The nobleman eagerly divulged all the information he knew.


    Through his narrative, Lynn learned that magic existed in this ne too. However, their magic was said to be bestowed by the Elven Mother Tree, a kind of innate magic that only the genius of the elven race could master the spellcasting abilities.The innate talent one was born with determined the limit of a mage¡¯s power. The purer the elven blood, the stronger the awakened magical abilities. This was the reason why pureblooded elves could dominate the nine major kingdoms.


    ?Listening, Lynn thought it sounded somewhat like bloodline warlocks. So, the elven race was essentially elven warlocks?


    Apart from these elves who could wield spellcasting abilities, there were also the branded swordsmen, who broke through the limits of their physical bodies through rigorous training and the consumption of magic potions.


    ¡°It seems we¡¯ve encountered an army,¡± the fly demon chuckled.


    In the sky ahead, eagles circled, each bearing a scout armed with a bow or crossbow.


    They spotted the approaching evil-winged bird but didn¡¯t approach recklessly. Instead, they encircled the fly demon¡¯s group, trapping them in the middle.


    As one scout drew near, the fly demon narrowed its eyes, ready to act, but Lynn intervened.


    ¡°These scouts seem suspicious,¡± Lynn keenly observed that the eagles they rode on didn¡¯t seem right; their wings appeared modified.


    As the scout approached, he took out a painting from his pocket, depicting a vividly detailed academy emblem.


    Seeing the emblem of a demon wizard academy on the painting, the fly demon sighed in resignation, muttering a curse under its breath. It was like seeing a delicious meal only to be told it already had an owner.


    With the other side revealing their identity, any further aggression would be seen as provoking that demon wizard academy.


    Seeing the fly demon¡¯s group refrained from attacking, the other party also showed no intention of hostility, escorting Lynn and hispanions away before returning.


    In the sky, Lynn looked down at a castle in the distance. Tens of thousands of heavily armored infantrymen formed a square formation around it, their spears standing tall like a forest of steel.


    These heavily armored armies were robust, but from this distance, Lynn couldn¡¯t discern specifics.


    Meanwhile, at the rear of the formation, leopards and tigers, whose size exceeded that of ordinary beasts, red menacingly. Perched on the backs of these leopards and tigers were over three thousand archers, d in cloth armor and wielding bows, forming the second formation.


    Above, numerous eagle scouts circled in the sky.


    In the center of the formation, arge g fluttered in the wind, bearing the emblem of a demon wizard academy.


    As the evil-winged bird flew southward, they encountered many rebel forces along the way, many of which bore the emblems of demon wizard academies.


    It was a feast, a banquet where various forces divided up this ne.


    Lynn had a feeling that his first ne invasion trip wouldn¡¯tst long. The cake was too small, and there were too many people vying to slice it.


    He just hoped that the decision to head to Whitefall wasn¡¯t a waste of time.


    ?Lynn silently thought in his heart.


    ¡°That¡¯s Whitefall,¡± the half-elf nobleman said.


    The nobleman, still being held captive, pointed ahead to arger city than any they had seen before. The city was built around a small mountain, and atop it stood a castle surrounded by white walls.


    At this moment, several demons had already entered the city. Some people wearing mage robes were working together to besiege the demons, with other agile figures surrounding the demons and engaging them inbat.


    But judging from their difficult struggle, even dealing with these few demons was extremely challenging. Lynn nced around, relieved that there were no high-level demons inside; the most powerful ones among them were just middle-level de demons.


    If there were a high-level demon, relying on its powerful racial talents, it would be extremely difficult for these half-elves to deal with it.


    Not to mention that most high-level demons would awaken the Blink racial talent. A Blink directly to the side of a mage could easily break through their defenses.


    Lynn looked up at the azure sky. The wizardwork in the sky seemed denser.


    The density of the wizardwork was even denser than when he first arrived in this ne.


    It seemed like many ¡°spiders¡± were busily weaving these web-likework, allowing them to weave sessfully at a faster pace.


    The approach of the evil-winged bird caused fear among the mages on the rooftops and the people on the ground who were fighting the demons.


    But the evil-winged bird didn¡¯t linger in the city at all; it flew directly towards the central castle.


    ¡°Hurry to protect the Queen!¡± The leading mage¡¯s expression changed suddenly.


    These demons, like those recorded in ancient texts, had already drawn most of the city¡¯s forces into battle. Now, the defense force around the Queen was weak.


    ¡°Go straight there,¡± the fly demon ordered the evil-winged bird, pointing towards the central castle.


    As the evil-winged bird approached, archers on the castle shot arrows into the sky, but the evil-winged bird casually pped its wings, and the arrows were swept away by the wind. Some arrowsnded on its wings, leaving no mark.


    ¡°Queen¡¯s decree, cease fire.¡± An official rushed out of the castle.


    The evil-winged birdnded silently on the ground.


    The official nced fearfully at the brute force demon and the fly demon, then gathered courage to address Lynn and hispanions. ¡°Please, follow me.¡±


    ¡°Simple solutions are always best,¡± Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered. Although he didn¡¯t know what the other party¡¯s intentions were, it was best to resolve things simply if possible.


    If the other party was willing to cooperate, it could save a lot of effort.


    Turning left and right in the castle, they soon arrived at a grand hall.


    On either side of the hall stood mages d in white robes, while in the middle, a woman with her back to Lynn and the others sat on the throne steps.


    In front of the woman was a map, which seemed to depict the territorial map of this ne from the mountains and rivers on it.


    ¡°Even the most ancient court will fall one day, and the greatest empire will eventuallye to an end.¡±


    The Ironblood Queen turned her head, and Lynn saw the woman who was referred to as the Ironblood Queen by the nobleman.


    This Ironblood Queen was different from what Lynn had imagined. She didn¡¯t have a stunning appearance; in fact, she was quite in-looking, almost androgynous. Her features were sharp, and she exuded an aura that only someone who had wielded power for a long time could possess.


    ¡°You must be Wizard Lynn,¡± the Ironblood Queen Dyo said, looking at Lynn.


    ¡°Hello, Queen Dyo. I¡¯m curious how you knew my name?¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°A wizard told me,¡± Dyo said.


    <em>A wizard? Who could it be?</em>


    Lynn frowned.


    He didn¡¯t know many wizards. The wizard who could arrive here early must be an official wizard. Lynn recalled a name that came to mind¡ªit should be him.


    Ever since he arrived at the wizard academy, Harin had said he had important matters to attend to. Could it be that he was involved in this?


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m a little reluctant to admit defeat like this,¡± Dyo sighed. ¡°My father told me when I was born that the towering mountain hanging over our nine major kingdoms was the Elven Court.¡±


    ¡°I have been working all my life to overturn this mountain. Since potions can push swordsmen beyond their limits, isn¡¯t there a potion that can also push mages beyond their limits? I employed researchers and doctors to study the secrets of the human body. Although we didn¡¯t manage to develop a potion to push mages beyond their limits, we stumbled upon another discovery just as the experiment was about to seed.¡±


    ¡°Right when the experiment was about to seed, you arrived.¡± A fleeting expression of loss shed across Dyo¡¯s face, and her aura became even more imposing.


    ¡°A wizard approached me, asking for my cooperation in conquering the kingdoms, promising to grant me power in the end. But I refused,¡± Dyo said.


    ¡°Because it is the Elf King of the Elven Court who will hold the world-sacrificial ritual, plunging the entire world into the Abyss, and in the end, it is those elves who will gain the greatest benefit.¡±


    ¡°I refuse to ept it! Why should we be plunged into the Abyss, and yet those elves still gain the greatest benefits? They have squeezed us dry for tens of thousands of years from beginning to end. I won¡¯t stand for it!¡± A fierce glint appeared in Dyo¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Even if this world is destroyed, I will personally deliver the final blow!¡±


    Upon hearing Dyo¡¯s words, the fly demon couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. ¡°Hehehe, ambitious, full of aspirations, hahaha.¡±


    Lynn furrowed his brow. ¡°But hasn¡¯t this world already been sacrificed and plunged into the Abyss?¡±


    <em>Could it be that there¡¯s another sacrifice toe? Or is this world preparing for onest struggle before its demise?</em>


    ¡°No, the sacrificial ritual has not yet been fullypleted. To be precise, we are still in the midst of the sacrifice,¡± exined the fly demon.


    ¡°What are your ns? Do you know about the world-sacrificial ritual? Do you need my help?¡± The fly demon was eager to try its hand, the chaos only seemed to excite it more, especially chaos that it orchestrated itself.


    But Dyo simply shook her head.


    ¡°I just needed to vent after keeping it in for so long,¡± Dyo said.


    Lynn could understand Dyo¡¯s sentiment.


    ?She was the high and mighty queen, usually stern and authoritative. The other subjects weren¡¯t deemed worthy of listening to her inner thoughts. Only as a wizard was Lynn seen as an equal by her.


    ¡°As for what to do, you¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Dyo said, her eyes bright.


    ¡°I¡¯ve summoned you for another matter,¡± Dyo said, turning to Lynn.


    ¡°Regardless of whether it ultimately seeds or not, the achievements of my many years of effort are useless to me now. I feel it would be a pity to let them disappear into the annals of history. After all, it¡¯s the result of my struggles in the first half of my life. I want to see if it can also shine among you wizards,¡± Dyo said confidently.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109


    ¡°It¡¯s my friend, and it¡¯sing with me,¡± Lynn pointed to the fly demon and the brute force demon.


    ¡°No, only you can go down,¡± Dyo said firmly.


    ¡°You, a wizard, afraid of a half-elf like me?¡± Dyo chuckled. ¡°Besides, with its height, it might just tear down my castle trying to navigate the stairs.¡±


    In the end, Lynn followed Dyo alone, descending through winding staircases.


    They finally arrived at the castle¡¯s dungeon, where candles illuminated the area, making it quite warm. In the center, there was a pool with an irregrly shaped stone at its center.


    The stone was rough, but from afar, it seemed to shine with a smooth, iridescent surface, resembling polished rainbow ss.


    However, there were patches of nk areas on its surface, resembling unprocessed flesh, giving it a bizarre appearance.


    Some researchers, dressed in coarse robes, carefully poured a specially concocted liquid onto these flesh-like areas. As the liquid touched the surface, the flesh areas emitted a colorful, iridescent glow, but as the liquid evaporated, they returned to their original state. Meanwhile, researchers carefully scraped off the powder from the exposed flesh areas.


    ¡°Is this your research result?¡± Lynn asked.¡°Technically, we¡¯ve been studying it,¡± Dyo replied.


    ¡°Twenty years ago, a meteorite fell,nding in a vige. When the kingdom¡¯s patrol team discovered the vigeter, not a single living being remained. Everything inside had turned into wax figures.¡±


    ¡°At first, this flesh lump was highly unstable and turned an entire vige into wax figures,¡± Dyo exined. ¡°Later, it was secretly brought back and studied. We found that any living being that came into direct contact with or was contaminated by it would turn into a wax figure.¡±


    ¡°After research, they discovered its strong assimtion ability. It could assimte other substances into wax figures and had terrifying defensive capabilities, able to absorb all magic.¡±


    ¡°But it also had a weakness; when it encounters water, its infectious nature temporarily disappears. However, it bes extremely hard. In this state, its ability to absorb magic doesn¡¯t disappear,¡± Dyo continued.


    ¡°So, after twenty years of painstaking research, they finally developed a special liquid. This liquid can temporarily suppress its infectious nature for a long time, containing some of its powder. If applied to the body¡¯s surface, it can immunize warriors from magic for five hours. However, after five hours, they will all turn into wax figures,¡± Dyo looked at Lynn. ¡°Do you dare to take it?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Lynn said, deeply intrigued by the blob of white flesh.


    No wizard could resist such fascinating research source material.


    ¡°This is the form for two types of liquids. The first is the one I mentioned earlier, which can be applied to a warrior¡¯s body surface. The other is a liquid that can be maintained on its surface for a long time, keeping it constantly moist. If it bes dry, it will automatically corrode nearby objects, transforming them into wax figures before consuming them, and its size will continue to grow,¡± Dyo exined.


    ¡°Did that wizard from before know about its existence?¡± Lynn asked after a moment of contemtion.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t tell him,¡± Dyo replied.


    <em>Didn¡¯t Harin know? Was it that he genuinely didn¡¯t know, or that he knew but pretended not to?</em>


    Lynn thought the wizards had many tricks up their sleeves. Perhaps Dyo¡¯s concealment was merely what she believed to be well-hidden.


    But Lynn didn¡¯t voice these thoughts.


    ¡°I heard that the spells cast by you wizards are very simr to magic. I¡¯m curious if your spells can also harm it,¡± Dyo, standing nearby, looked somewhat excited, seeming eager to witness such a scene.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly. The essence of a wizard¡¯s spelly in thoroughly analyzing the structure of magic, which is why it was called a spell rather than magic. Not only was it more powerful, but its greater strengthy in its evolvability. Even if there were no suitable spells at the moment, wizards could create entirely new spells to deal with situations by studying the essence of things. That was the most terrifying aspect of wizards.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it, then,¡± Lynn said.


    Lynn took the two forms and several barrels of prepared liquid from Dyo.


    After confirming the forms, Lynn found that the raw materials needed for the liquid to keep the object moist were quitemon and could be bought even in Demon City.


    However, Dyo still gifted Lynn a batch of seeds of the magic grass.


    Then, Lynn ensured that the entire surface of the object was coated with the liquid to maintain its ssy state before cing it into a spatial essory.


    As Lynn ced it into the spatial essory, a sense of relief washed over him. Since it could be ced into the spatial essory, it meant the object was not a living being.


    After Lynn left, Dyo summoned the guards and executed all the researchers in the basement.


    Emerging from the staircase and ncing at the Ironblood Queen beside him, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but speak.


    ¡°I have one more thing to ask of you, Your Majesty,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± replied the Ironblood Queen.


    ¡°I wish to make a copy of the knowledge in your kingdom¡¯s library,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°The library? Take all the books inside if you want,¡± the Ironblood Queen said nonchntly.


    ¡°But can you do me a favor?¡± Dyo spoke up.


    ¡°Speak, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°All this knowledge is yours, but I have a daughter. As a mother, I believe she shouldn¡¯t be buried with the kingdom,¡± Dyo began. Pausing for a moment, she continued, ¡°As long as she stays alive and can live peacefully as amoner.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Lynn nodded.


    If they had asked him to take the girl as a student, he would have refused. It would have been too troublesome. But simply taking a princess and allowing her to live as amoner wasn¡¯t difficult.


    In the Continent of Vanquished Gods, there were many ces. Even if Demon City wasn¡¯t suitable, there were other human settlements.


    Soon, a little girl was brought over.


    The little girl looked about five or six years old, adorable with her emerald green long hair and dressed in a white princess gown. She had part of the elven blood in her veins.


    Lynn sent the little girl into the Alchemy Laboratory. The little girl was obedient, showing no resistance or refusal. Just before being taken away, she cast ast reluctant nce at the Ironblood Queen.


    Exiting the castle and led by one of Dyo¡¯s trusted female guards, Lynn and the fly demon made their way to the library.


    They took all the books from the library.


    As Lynn and hispanions emerged from the library, the entire city of Whitefall was engulfed in mes.


    From afar, demons continued to arrive incessantly. The more people died here, the thicker the scent of blood and the aura of death became.


    The more demons were attracted, creating a vicious cycle.


    Lynn attempted to upload the books, only to be informed that this knowledge was already backed up in the wizardwork, rendering it worthless in terms of rewards.


    Just as they exited the library, the fly demon spotted a me demon<sup>1</sup> charging towards the castle.


    ¡°A demon is heading towards the castle,¡± the fly demon remarked.


    Suddenly, a g was raised above the castle walls.


    Lynn¡¯s pupils slightly contracted upon seeing the g because it bore the emblem of the Abyss Wizard Academy. Moreover, judging by the special magic ripples on it, it was not a replica but had been prepared in advance.


    Seeing this g, the me demon, originally intending to go to the castle, had to stop in its tracks. After hovering in the air for several seconds, it turned and unleashed havoc within Whitefall.


    The cacophony of screams in the city sharply contrasted with the quietness within the castle walls.


    Dyo had also be involved with the Abyss Wizard Academy? Didn¡¯t she say she refused to cooperate with their conquest of the kingdom? Yes, she had refused to start a war, but she hadn¡¯t said she refused to cooperate. Otherwise, how could she be sitting in her current position?


    Perhaps only she and a few of her trusted confidants were involved, while the rest of the citizens were treated as pawns.


    Through their brief interaction, Lynn found Dyo to be a woman of strong purpose and determination.


    She might be nning something, but it no longer concerned Lynn.


    As demons continued to surge in numbers, and with Lynn¡¯s current experiments not requiring souls or flesh, andcking the tools to preserve souls or keep flesh fresh, there was little purpose in staying here any longer.


    Lynn and the fly demon departed from Whitefall. Over the next few days, the fly demon summoned a gold-eating demon, and together with Lynn, they scoured the wilderness in search of ore veins.


    Eventually, they stumbled upon a small deposit of yellow jasper. Lynn summoned Iron Serpent No. 1 to excavate the ore underground, while the fly demon summoned some lemures to act asborers.


    After nearly half a month of toiling, theypletely exhausted this modest yellow jasper deposit.


    In total, they mined two hundred tons of raw yellow jasper, equivalent to 200,000 kilograms. The ore¡¯s yellow jasper content ranged from 10% to 20%, rtively low. On the market, 10 kilograms of yellow jasper were worth 1 magic stone.


    If they could extract all the yellow jasper ores from within, it would yield a windfall of three to four thousand magic stones.


    In the end, Lynn spent two thousand magic stones to purchase this batch of raw yellow jasper from the fly demon, filling all his portable storage items to the brim.


    Having made a fortune, the two continued scouring the wilderness for ore veins when suddenly, the earth beneath their feet trembled violently.


    Even the clouds floating in the sky were shaken.


    ¡°Not an earthquake. The entire world just trembled,¡± the fly demon halted, its antennae trembling uneasily above its head.


    Lynn raised his head, noticing that the density of the wizardwork in the sky had increased nearly tenfoldpared to before.


    ¡°There¡¯s something over there.¡±


    In the far distance, a colossal ck pir of light pierced through the heavens and earth, traversing the entire world in an instant.


    The white sea of clouds rapidly turned ck to the naked eye.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    The air was filled with thunderous roars.


    It sounded like ss shattering. At the edge of the sky, the dense aura of the Abyss greedily surged into this world like a surging tide.


    In a trance, Lynn seemed to hear hymns echoing from the end of the void, as if the entire Abyss was weing the arrival of a new world.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N:


    -Tolkien invented the name ¡°Balrog¡±, and the Tolkien Estate even made a copyright im on the name.


    -The author wrote [ Ñ×ħ y¨¢n m¨® ], so I directly used ¡®me demon¡¯ for now to keep things simple. ??</li></ol>


    <svg ss="icon icon-cat"><use xlink:href="#icon-cat"></use></svg>


    I Am Doing Daily Tasks in the Wizarding World</a>


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 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110


    ¡°I am the ruler of the Elven Court, the leader of the world-falling ritual, the betrayer of the Elven Mother Tree. Darkness shall soon enshroud the world, and I shall be its sole master!¡±


    Amidst the grandiose promation, a figure within the ck pir of light continued to exude a growing aura. Though obscured by the distance within the central column of darkness, its booming voice resonated throughout the entire world.


    Visible to the naked eye, numerous nts began to wither. Alongside the rolling Abyss aura, many nts underwent mutations. While most couldn¡¯t withstand the corruption and wilted away, a few exhibited a stubborn resilience.


    Not only nts but some animals also sumbed to this phenomenon, writhing on the ground under the assault of the Abyss aura.


    ¡°The Abyss is beginning to encroach,¡± eximed the fly demon fervently.


    ¡°Leaders of sacrificial rituals like this, orchestrating the world¡¯s descent into the Abyss, can gain power bestowed by the Abyss itself. There¡¯s even a significant chance they could be Abyss Lords,¡± the fly demon¡¯s antennae quivered with excitement, betraying its current restless state of mind.


    Lynn, too, gazed into the distance, feeling far from calm.


    Abyss Lords were formidable entities within the Abyss,parable in stature to demigods. Some exceedingly ancient and powerful Abyss Lords, while still bearing the title, had umted power over countless eons, transcending the conventional boundaries of their kind. In terms of sheer power umtion, they had even reached the realm of the gods, earning them the title of Abyss Great Lords.


    Although Abyss Lords were merely demigods, attaining such a position often meant they possessed a unique status.This unique status allowed them to hold sway within their domains to such an extent that even gods might find themselves powerless against them if they held the upper hand. This was the terrifying aspect of Abyss Lords and why they could repeatedly invade other nes without being thwarted by powerful entities from those nes.


    Demons were expendable; they could be replenished even if wiped out. The Abyss had plenty of those. The Abyss Lords were scarce in number, but demons were plentiful.


    As long as there was an Abyss Lord present, there would be an endless stream of demons pouring forth.


    ?ording to some wizard research, it was proven that Abyss Lords were a special status exclusive to the Abyss.


    Entities with the status of Abyss Lords, once they managed to grow sessfully, could be influential figures among demons.


    However, if demons sought to im the status of Abyss Lords, they needed to undergo countless battles and conflicts, ultimately challenging and defeating an Abyss Lord in an open confrontation as non-Lords to im the position.


    So, with each change in Abyss leadership, it meant that the newly ascended Abyss Lord would be a more terrifying entity than the previous one.


    However, such bestowed Abyss statuses were not without their drawbacks. While gaining the status of an Abyss Lord through Abyss bestowment granted them immense power, it also made further breakthroughs exceedingly difficult.


    In contrast, obtaining the status by defeating an Abyss Lord through challenge did not carry such drawbacks.


    ¡°This world is about to merge with the Abyss, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lynn remarked to the fly demon.


    ¡°Soon, we won¡¯t have time to continue searching,¡± sighed the fly demon.


    Once merged with the Abyss, they would find a way to return and then process the raw ore, keeping a portion for further experiments and selling the rest for funds.


    Upon their returnter, Lynn nned to seclude himself for a while. He had already gathered the main source materials for constructing the wizard tower, so there was no need to fret over collecting more source materials. He had plenty of time to proceed at his own pace.


    Lynn never forgot that the pursuit of truth was his ultimate goal. The wizard tower was merely a bridge to make exploring the truth easier.


    As for the fly demon, Lynn considered keeping this connection. From their interactions, this particr fly demon seemed to have invaded other nes more than once, indicating a wealth of experience.


    Perhaps they could coborate in the future.


    Just when Lynn and the fly demon thought everything wasing to an end¡­


    Suddenly, a drastic change urred.


    A blood-red pir of light rose abruptly from the southwest.


    Staining the sky crimson, a massive battle axe, wreathed in boundless bloodlust, burst forth from the sky, radiating an unprecedented brilliance. In an instant, the axe cleaved fiercely into the sky.


    The dark clouds shattered, and the world seemed to wail. In that moment, endless death and killing intent split from the central ck pir of light.


    The shattered ck clouds turned into a downpour of blood rain.


    nts washed by the blood rain withered at a visible rate, leaving the earth tinged with a faint red hue.


    Lynn seemed to understand how the red soil he had seen upon his arrival in the Abyss hade to be.


    ¡°Hmm? That direction¡­ it¡¯s her,¡± the fly demon¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of horror.


    ¡°It seems like that woman has prematurely disrupted the will of the world, hastening this process! How is it possible that the final blow of the world sacrificial ritual can be seized by an external force, and yet the leader of the ritual hasn¡¯t died?¡± the fly demon eximed in astonishment.


    <em>Dyo!!!</em>


    That angry roar traversed the distance through space, echoing from the distant central region to every corner of the ne, as if traversing the depths of time and space itself.


    ¡°Hahahahaha~¡±


    Another booming, domineeringughter reverberated incessantly.


    Lynn recognized the voice¡¯s owner.


    The entire world trembled as infinite ck light split the ne from beyond, one half flying towards the central region, while the other half plunged into Dyo¡¯s location.


    When the ck light subsided, two illusory yet massive figures appeared, ring defiantly at each other.


    In the central region stood an elven woman with blue-green hair, but her skin darkened visibly from fair to ebony. Red magical runes appeared on her exposed arms, her once holy countenance transforming into something seductive and sinister. Her long hair automatically coiled into a bun, and a staff wreathed in ck magic floated around her.


    ¡°I am the Abyss Lord, the Fallen Queen of the Elves, Lan¡¯er!¡± she proimed. ¡°Dyo, I¡¯ll remember this grudge.¡±


    On the other side stood Dyo, familiar to Lynn. With a long roar, ck and red halos formed around her. Her shoulders stretching, arms outstretched to embrace the heavens. Her green hair turned blood-red from tip to root, a ming crimson armor materialized, and a chain coiled around her right arm, ending in a grim battle axe.


    ¡°I am the Abyss Lord, the Blood Queen of the Elves, Dyo!¡± Dyo retorted fiercely, unwilling to be outdone. ¡°Hatred never ends, Lan¡¯er. Your head will be my trophy sooner orter.¡±


    The two apparitionssted only a moment before dissipating.


    The outer membrane protecting the ne shattered like fireworks, the sky inverted, stars shifting, and the Abyss sky gradually upied the entire overhead.


    The Abyss aura, unique to the Abyss, began to radiate across thend.


    ¡°That woman actually seized half of the status,¡± the fly demon¡¯s shock lingered in its eyes.


    Its eyes darted around. After all, it had at least had a brief encounter with the Blood Queen of the Elves. Perhaps it could even seek refuge under hermand.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111


    ¡°They were just now calling back and forth, what were they doing? They even gave themselves titles, was all of that made up on the spot? Or was it like, trying to sound powerful by whatever means? But it sounds a bit awkward,¡± Lynn said.


    The fly demon nced at Lynn. <em>Awkward? Would you dare say that in front of them?</em>


    <em>Uh, in Dyo¡¯s presence, you might actually dare to say that.</em>


    Thinking back to the young girl Lynn had brought out earlier, with her resemnce to Dyo, the fly demon knew that Lynn had struck gold; he was now the patron of a newly risen Abyss Lord.


    It was strange, though. Despite their resemnce, one could tell they were mother and daughter at a nce, yet their beauty was worlds apart. It seemed that even the smallest changes in facial features could make a huge difference.


    ¡°That¡¯s a title, not something they just randomly pick. If an Abyss Lord or Abyss Great Lord has a title that oveps with what they want, then that title won¡¯t work,¡± the fly demon exined.


    ¡°And this title is also a status symbol, usually straightforward and easy to understand. Plus, if the title isn¡¯t leaked, how would other demons know about such a figure? For newly certified Abyss Lords, they will definitely attract arge number of demons to follow them because theyck demons under theirmand. The sooner they go, the sooner they can establish their reputation.¡±


    ¡°Secondly, besides demons, the Abyss also contains some other dark races. Dering one¡¯s identity and race can also attract some of these races¡¯ powerhouses,¡± the fly demon continued.


    ¡°The dark elves are one of the major races in the Abyss apart from demons. For example, the Spider Goddess Queen, the Abyss Hell Empress, and the Lord of the Dark Domains are all great figures among the dark elves. They are Abyss Lords of elven descent. I¡¯m afraid the Spider Goddess Queen will extend an olive branch to them next. If they join the faction of the Spider Goddess Queen, they¡¯ll have a strong backing in the Abyss,¡± the fly demon added, sounding particrly respectful when mentioning Lolth, listing off a series of titles as if reciting a litany.Lynn knew that mentioning certain powerful entities by name could alert them to one¡¯s presence, especially when still in the Abyss. Still, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but nce skeptically at the fly demon. How did this creature know so much? Some of the things it knew didn¡¯t seem likemon knowledge for regr demons.


    Lynn had expected Dyo to contact him after bing an Abyss Lord, perhaps to demand the return of the little princess. But after waiting for quite some time and receiving no message from Dyo, it seemed that their trade would continue ording to the original rules. Lynn¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he nced at the original central area, contemting something.


    ¡°Let¡¯s exchange contact information,¡± Lynn said to the fly demon.


    The fly demon also seemed interested in befriending Lynn. It plunged its arm into its own back and retrieved a white egg about the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg from beneath its ck skin.


    ¡°If you want to contact me next time youe to the Abyss, just crush this egg. I¡¯ll do my best to get there within a day,¡± the fly demon said.


    ¡°Alright. By the way, I saw you had a lot of potions on disy at your stall. Have you learned how to make potions?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Potions? No, I haven¡¯t,¡± the fly demon shook its head, then let out a cacklingugh. ¡°Those were just some bottles and jars I found in the ring of a potion master I killed a long time ago. I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s inside them. They¡¯ve been emitting some strange odors after sitting around for so long.¡±


    Lynn¡¯s mouth twitched. When he first saw those bottles and jars, he thought the fly demon was a diligent Abyss demon potion master. After all, they emitted a strong scent of decay. <em>But now you¡¯re telling me they¡¯ve just gone bad from being left out too long?!</em>


    Taking a deep breath, Lynn gave the fly demon a thumbs-up.


    After bidding farewell, Lynn rubbed the ring on his hand.


    A golden fireworks-like spatial circle appeared before him.


    One by one, the brute force demon and Lynn stepped into it. When it was the brute force demon¡¯s turn, the golden fireworks teleportation circle automatically adjusted to fit its size.


    As Lynn returned to the familiar Demon City, the Abyss aura dissipated, and he blinked his eyes, feeling a bit ufortable.


    ¡°This is the reward I promised you. You yed a significant role this time. We¡¯ll cooperate again next time we have the chance,¡± Lynn handed the brute force demon a reward of a hundred pieces of magic stones.


    The brute force demon looked at the reward, which was more than agreed upon, and quickly refused.


    ¡°No, this is too much,¡± the brute force demon said in a low voice.


    It divided the magic stones Lynn gave it in half and pushed them forward in front of Lynn.


    Watching the brute force demon¡¯s behavior, Lynn¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of admiration.


    From this, it could be seen that the brute force demon had a straightforward and easily fooled personality.


    Yes, Lynn had set his sights on this brute force demon.


    Although this brute force demon¡¯s physique had exceeded that of normal individuals of its kind, and although it was only of brute force demon lineage, its truebat power could not be measured by that of an ordinary middle-level demon.


    Even Lynn himself didn¡¯t think he could defeat this brute force demon in his current state.


    He didn¡¯t believe his one-ring spell could defeat this brute force demon.


    More importantly, it was its personality. Thoughbative, stubborn, and craving fresh flesh and blood, those were minor issues.


    Lynn pushed the remaining magic stones forward. ¡°Let¡¯s consider this as us bing friends,¡± Lynn said casually.


    <em>Friends?</em>


    The brute force demon looked at the pile of magic stones on the ground.


    In its previous life in the Abyss, it had no idea what friends were. But sinceing to Demon City, it hade to understand the concept under the influence of its surroundings.


    <em>Would anyone really want to be friends with someone as foolish as me?</em>


    The brute force demon hesitated for a long time, then carefully picked up the magic stones Lynn had given it.


    ¡°Thank¡­ thank you,¡± the brute force demon said solemnly.


    Lynn waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bit of business to take care of these next couple of days. I¡¯lle find you when I¡¯m free.¡±


    Lynn knew he couldn¡¯t rush things. It was important to give the brute force demon space to think things over.


    The more it pondered, the more conflicted it would be, and the more it would stir up its emotions. Time would give this emotion deeper meaning.


    Then, when he appeared again, he could evoke these emotions even more intensely.


    Besides, Lynn did have things to attend to these next few days. He needed to arrange matters concerning Dyo¡¯s daughter and nt the seeds Dyo had given him. Although he could buy these nts from outside, it would take considerable effort. nting them himself would save some magic stones, and having stock on hand would prevent emergencies from arising without any potions. There were other things to take care of as well, and Lynn was eager to get started.


    The brute force demon tucked the magic stones into the small pouch at its side and happily trotted home along the road.


    <em>I¡¯ve got a friend now</em>, the brute force demon thought naively.


    It still couldn¡¯t fully grasp the concept of friendship, but it knew it was a good rtionship.


    In truth, it had thought it had grown tired of its life of ughter. It just wanted to find a quiet ce to rest, even if it meant sometimes going hungry, rather than engaging in meaningless frontlinebat.


    But this trip to the Abyss, especially after entering other nes once again, stirred something in the depths of the brute force demon¡¯s heart, causing its thoughts to waver.


    It realized it didn¡¯t actually dislike fighting; it just loathed being disregarded and treated as nothing more than cannon fodder in pointless battles.


    <em>Friends?</em>


    <em>Friends!</em>


    The brute force demon clenched its fist.


    Unbeknownst to theid-back brute force demon, a sneaky figure had set its sights on it.


    More precisely, it had its eye on the pouch at its waist.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112


    cing the chunks of meat obtained from Dyo in the bottommost chamber of theboratory¡¯s secret room, Lynn evenly spread a preserving liquid over its surface.


    Then Lynn summoned Bu and had it take out all the raw yellow jasper ores, filling up half ayer.


    He instructed Bu and the other goblin engineers to extract the yellow jaspers from these raw ores.


    Shortly after Lynn returned, Liszt, who had been waiting outside, saw the brute force demoning out of Lynn¡¯s house. Knowing that Wizard Lynn had returned, he quickly stepped forward to report. After being announced by the goblin, Lynn had the goblin bring him down.


    ¡°Is everything prepared?¡± Lynn nced at the somewhat nervous Liszt.


    Liszt quickly retrieved a stack of books from his storage ring.


    ¡°These are the books you requested, Lord Lynn.¡± Liszt respectfully gestured toward the stack of books, which stood nearly half a meter high on the ground.


    Lynn picked up a few books and skimmed through them: ¡®Identification of Magical nts¡¯, ¡®Comprehensive Guide to Common Magical nts 1¡¯, ¡®Comprehensive Guide to Common Magical nts 2¡¯, and ¡®Study on the Growth Habits of Magical nts ¨C White Tower Edition¡¯.


    Mostly, they contained various research on magical nts and their medicinal properties. Surprisingly, there was only one book rted to potion-making and research, titled ¡®Introduction to Potion Studies ¨C Demonstration Handbook¡¯.¡°Lord Lynn, I believe that understanding the medicinal properties of these magical nts is the most important aspect of learning magic potion studies,¡± Liszt said cautiously.


    He didn¡¯t know if Lynn was genuinely prepared to learn magic potion studies or just had a whim to test him. But he didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity.


    ¡°You should be able to make this potion.¡± Lynn handed Liszt a potion form.


    It was the Meditation eleration Mutation potion.


    While other potions might not have muchpetitiveness, the Meditation eleration Mutation potion definitely stood out. Although there were quite a few potions that enhanced meditation efficiency, ording to Lynn¡¯s knowledge, those potions were generally quite expensive.


    Inparison, the Meditation eleration Mutation potion, although not as potent in effect, was much more cost-effective! Those who couldn¡¯t afford high-end products could surely afford these low-end ones.


    This potion form was knowledge that Lynn had obtained from behind that door as his knowledge of mutation studies progressed throughpleting daily tasks. Currently, there was no simr knowledge avable in the market.


    Liszt nced at the form of the Meditation eleration Mutation potion. It didn¡¯t specify the exact function of the potion, only providing the form and the method of potion-making.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple,¡± Liszt remarked, as the potion¡¯s production difficulty wasn¡¯t high.


    ¡°Stay here for now. For the first month, focus solely on making this potion. I want to see how many bottles you can produce in a month. I¡¯ll provide you with the raw materials for the potions,¡± Lynn instructed.


    Liszt clenched his fist, silently swearing to himself. This was definitely a test for him, and he was determined to prove himself this month.


    He had traveled a long way to get here, having heard that Demon City was the closest major wizard force to him. Besides bing a true wizard, he had no other dreams.


    After arranging an empty newboratory for Liszt, Lynn left.


    Once Lynn had departed, Liszt began concocting the potion, being extremely careful and meticulous. Since embarking on the path of a wizard, Liszt had noticed himself gradually drifting away from those around him.


    He was originally born in a human kingdom on the Continent of Vanquished Gods, which belonged to a certain wizarding faction. Therefore, the people living here were quite familiar with wizards. In the eyes of many, wizards were lofty figures to be revered and bing a wizard was a matter of pride.


    Liszt, the son of a farmer in the countryside, had grown up in a vige and waster discovered by a passing wizard to possess wizard aptitude. He was then taken back and joined that wizarding faction. Although the faction he joined was small, with only one official wizard, it was still considered a wizarding faction, with over a hundred apprentices alone.


    But good times didn¡¯tst long. Seven yearster, the wizard of the faction Liszt belonged to met with an ident during an exploration trip, leading to the faction crumbling overnight, with members scattering in all directions.


    Lost and confused, Liszt wandered back to his hometown. In the tales spun by his neighbors, he had already be the legendary all-powerful wizard. However, upon seeing him return, the familiar faces of the past no longer greeted him with warmth; instead, they regarded him with a mixture of awe and distance.


    Even his usually stern father became reserved in his presence, while his mother, who had previously shown favoritism towards his older brother, now asked if Liszt could teach his brother magic too. Testing it out, Liszt found that his brother seemed tock any magical aptitude. However, no matter how he exined it, his family seemed somewhat incredulous, simply assuming he was unwilling to teach others.


    Feeling downcast, Liszt took a walk outside. On that day, a childhood friend with whom he had a good rtionship came knocking, bringing some barley liquor and reminiscing about their childhood days spent ying in the haystacks.


    That night, he felt genuinely happy, finding sce in reconnecting with his childhood friend.


    In a tipsy state, Liszt pointed to the hill opposite.


    ¡°Jerem, I still remember how we used to pick wild strawberries on that hillside when we were kids.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, yeah, from now on, Lord Liszt, we¡¯ll need you to take good care of us.¡±


    The hillside hadn¡¯t changed much, nor had the vige. The only changes were in the two young boys who used to run atop the hill.


    As the evening breeze blew, Liszt sobered up, suddenly feeling weary. The next day, he left his hometown alone.


    On the day of his departure, he seemed to recall a phrase spoken by the wizard who had taken him away from the vige: ¡°Once you be a wizard, you must learn to befriend solitude.¡±


    ¡­


    Emerging from the basement, Lynn released the little girl from the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Finding herself in an unfamiliar environment, the girl, who had grown somewhat ustomed to Lynn during this time, instinctively grabbed his hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± Kathryn said, her eyes wide, fixed on Lynn.


    A few days ago, Lynn had discussed Kathryn¡¯s future with her. Originally a quiet and reserved girl, the idea of going to a strange ce had suddenly made her afraid. Although Lynn was also a stranger to her, she had at least had some contact with him over the past two weeks, and Lynn was the person her mother had entrusted her to.


    Lynn fell silent, gently patting Kathryn¡¯s head. ¡°But my ce isn¡¯t suitable for a regr little girl like you to live in. This is the Demon City.¡±


    With his experiments often taking several days, he didn¡¯t have the time to look after a child. Moreover, his building was inhabited by hundreds of goblins, and he didn¡¯t think they were capable of looking after children.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be obedient,¡± Kathryn insisted.


    ¡°Master!¡± Lauren came down the stairs from the side, excitedly greeting Lynn. Following behind Lauren was Bowa.


    ?However, Bowa¡¯s slightly protruding belly indicated that she was already pregnant.


    Observing this scene, Lynn pondered for a moment. In reality, he was also somewhat hesitant about how to handle Kathryn. While sending her to the mortal kingdom wouldn¡¯t be difficult, ensuring the safety of a young girl in a foreign environment was challenging. There was a risk that she might be exploited by unscrupulous individuals or encounter idents.


    Moreover, Dyo had now be an Abyss Lord, and this was the daughter she had before she became one. If anything happened to Kathryn, it would be difficult to exin to Dyo. This little girl was a hot potato.


    Damn it, he had indeed been manipted by that woman.


    Just saying to send her to the mortal realm would suffice. If her n failed and Kathryn died, she wouldn¡¯t care about her daughter. But if her n seeded, her daughter would be able to escape the Abyss. She was truly calcting.


    However, Lynn wasn¡¯t someone to be easily manipted.


    ¡°Lauren, Bowa, this little girl is called Kathryn. She¡¯s temporarily staying with me, the daughter of an acquaintance. Take care of her for the time being,¡± Lynn said.


    Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Bowa now exuded a maternal glow and readily epted this task.


    Seeing Kathryn cheer because she didn¡¯t have to be sent away, Lynn squinted his eyes. Feeding a little human girl wouldn¡¯t cost much. <em>I¡¯ll keep her for now. With a hostage here, Dyo, you better work hard in the Abyss. Otherwise, how will I take your daughter to find you and extort you in the future?</em>


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113


    On the other side, the brute force demon who was returning home abruptly reached out its right hand and grabbed a slender gray arm stretched out next to it.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± The brute force demon bent down, staring intently at the little demon trying to steal its magic stones.


    Though it might appear slow in daily life and sometimes unwilling to think, it didn¡¯t mean its reactions in battle were the same.


    The little demon¡¯s stealthy approach and outstretched hand had caught its attention, but it couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with it.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The brute force demon¡¯s blood-red eyes red fiercely at the little demon.


    Instead of fleeing after being caught, the little demon struggled desperately. ¡°Let go of me! I didn¡¯t do anything. What are you going to do? No fighting allowed in Demon City,¡± the little demon said arrogantly.


    The brute force demon fell silent for a moment. Indeed, fighting was not allowed in Demon City.


    It released its grip, letting go of the little demon.


    But who knew that as soon as it let go of its hand, the little demon turned into a blur, darting past the brute force demon¡¯s waist pocket, hooking it with its w.It directly snatched the pouch hanging from the brute force demon¡¯s waist.


    The brute force demon was stunned for a moment. When it touched its waist, it realized that its most important possession had been stolen. Its already blood-red eyes instantly filled with rage.


    Hearing an angry roar, the little demon hastily turned around, only to see a figure crashing down like Mount Tai, the shadow growingrger andrger.


    ¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lynn rushed to the service hall upon receiving Toby¡¯s message.


    Toby stood just outside the hall, waving from a distance.


    Approaching him, Lynn listened as Toby exined, ¡°The brute force demon has stirred up trouble.¡±


    ¡°Right now, it¡¯s confronting another wizard apprentice inside. That wizard apprentice is also from a demon wizard academy, so I can¡¯t favor either side.¡± Toby sighed in frustration.


    Lynn chuckled. Toby¡¯s uncertainty about taking sides was probably just talk.


    Because if Toby really didn¡¯t want to take sides, he wouldn¡¯t have notified Lynn.


    ¡°Has the brute force demon caused trouble?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a little trouble. The brute force demon killed a little demon. The main issue is that the little demon was a follower cultivated by another wizard apprentice. So now, that apprentice demandspensation from the brute force demon. Either the brute force demon bes his follower or it pays five hundred magic stones,¡± Toby exined to Lynn.


    After rifying the circumstances surrounding the brute force demon¡¯s killing of the little demon, Lynn frowned. He wasn¡¯t willing to part with even a single magic stone.


    The sequence of events clearly showed that the little demon had stolen something first, and the brute force demon had even let it go the first time.


    Judging from this attitude, the little demon was clearly a repeat offender, specifically targeting weaker demons without any backing.


    Perhaps the little demon had thought the brute force demon was easy to handle due to its apparent simplicity.


    But no matter how you looked at it, a little demon wasn¡¯t worth five hundred magic stones. Little demons were low-level demons in the Abyss, slightly better than lemures. They possessed small demon wings for flight and had strong learning abilities. With the right aptitude, they could even awaken some rare spell abilities typical of demon ns. However, these traits couldn¡¯tpensate for their weak bodies andckluster talents.


    The market value of a little demon was at most a few dozen magic stones.


    Even that was too much. After all, the Iron Serpent No. 1 unit that Lynn produced only required a few magic stones for purchase. An unadvanced little demon¡¯sbat power was probably on par with the Iron Serpent No. 1 unit.


    ¡°Is there any other way?¡± Lynn asked. He knew Toby wouldn¡¯t have summoned him without a solution.


    ¡°There is. Another way is to make the brute force demon your follower. Then it bes a conflict between two followers,¡± Toby suggested. ¡°Of course, the price is that you might incur the resentment of a wizard apprentice.¡±


    Lynn exchanged a nce with Toby, contemting. After a moment, a smile appeared on Lynn¡¯s face. ¡°Uncle Toby, the brute force demon is already my follower. We¡¯ve forged a deep friendship in the Abyss. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been too busy to report to you.¡±


    A devilish smile appeared on Toby¡¯s flushed cheeks. ¡°Report? You¡¯ve already reported to me. You just haven¡¯t had the chance toplete the formalities.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Either you take out the magic stones obediently, or you be my follower. Rest assured, I only require you to sign a contract with me for fifty years. After fifty years, I¡¯ll set you free, if¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a voice interrupted the conversation in the room.


    ¡°Sorry, how did my follower offend you?¡± The sudden interruption broke the conversation in the room.


    ¡°Where did youe from?¡± Jeffrey squinted his eyes, examining Lynn from head to toe. Jeffrey knew most of the apprentices in Demon City who were not to be offended, and Lynn¡¯s unfamiliar face was not among them.


    Moreover, Lynn¡¯s attire and essories didn¡¯t suggest he was from a prestigious wizard family.


    Jeffrey¡¯s heart stabilized, and he quickly threatened Lynn, who had suddenly walked in. ¡°I¡¯ve had my eye on this brute force demon for a while now. Wherever you came from, get out of here. If you don¡¯t want to die, don¡¯t stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong.¡±


    Lynn sauntered towards Jeffrey, taking his time.


    Jeffrey narrowed his eyes, his gaze bing more provocative as he looked at Lynn. ¡°What, do you still want to take action?¡±


    Lynn towered over Jeffrey by half a head. He leaned down, looking down at Jeffrey condescendingly, then raised his right hand.


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s right hand, Jeffrey felt a surge of hope. <em>Yes, strike!</em> It would be best to strike right now! The service hall didn¡¯t allow conflicts among residents of Demon City. Offenders would face severe punishment. He could already envision the consequences Lynn would suffer.


    <em>p! p! p!</em>


    Lynn¡¯s palm lightly struck Jeffrey¡¯s face.


    Though not heavy, it was loud. It rang in the ears, leaving Jeffrey pale with anger burning in his heart.


    ¡°He¡¯s attacked! Aren¡¯t you going to do something?¡± Jeffrey demanded, turning to the nearby staff.


    Most of the staff knew Lynn. He was well-acquainted with Lord Toby, and Lynn hadn¡¯t used excessive force; he had merely pped Jeffrey.


    Hearing Jeffrey¡¯s words, the staff all looked up at the ceiling, as if there was something fascinating up there.


    Jeffrey wasn¡¯t foolish. Seeing the staff¡¯s reaction, he instantly knew he had kicked a ho¡¯s nest.


    This guy definitely had some backing!


    Jeffrey immediately changed his tone, quickly putting on a friendly smile. ¡°My little demon never listens, always causing trouble. I¡¯ve told it countless times, but it never sticks. This time, it got what wasing when it was killed by your follower. Ah, well, serves it right.¡±


    As he spoke, Jeffrey bent forward, rubbing his face, then backed away with a forced smile.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the brute force demon said to Lynn, knowing once again that Lynn had helped it out.


    ¡°Friend?¡± The brute force demon pointed at Lynn, then at itself.


    ¡°Friend,¡± Lynn nodded.


    A bright smile immediately spread across the brute force demon¡¯s face.


    As for Lynn iming it was his follower, the brute force demon didn¡¯t care one bit. ¡°Can you feed me?¡± the brute force demon asked, posing a simple question.


    ¡°Sure thing, no problem at all,¡± Lynn replied without much thought, smiling directly.


    How much could one brute force demon eat, anyway? And could it possibly eat more than all of Lynn¡¯s few hundred goblinsbined?


    Afterward, the two of thempleted the remaining procedures in the service hall.


    If it were any other demon purchased elsewhere, such procedures wouldn¡¯t be necessary. However, because the brute force demon had been residing in Demon City for some time and had a residence permit, it was necessary to go through the relevant procedures.


    It was only afterpleting the procedures that Lynn learned the brute force demon was actually a fourth-level demon. But he wasn¡¯t too surprised. He had long known that brute force demons were slightly stronger than othermon demons. A normal brute force demon should reach the strength of the third-level upon adulthood. So, it was quite normal for this particr brute force demon to break through the racial limit and reach the fourth-level.


    Although demons¡¯ levels are ranked from first to twelfth, the fourth-level of a demon is fundamentally different from that of an ordinary race. Theirbat power far surpasses that of ordinary races.


    And as for his own followers, even the strongest among them, like Redeyes, hadn¡¯t reached the second-level yet. They only had slightly strongerbat powerpared to other first-level goblin wanderers.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114


    Exiting the service hall, Lynn asked the brute force demon, ¡°Do you know Toby?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± the brute force demon shook its head.


    A hint of surprise flickered in Lynn¡¯s eyes. He had assumed that Toby and the brute force demon knew each other, but now it seemed he had been mistaken.


    It could simply be that Toby, due to the brute force demon¡¯s honest nature, was showing some kindness out of pure goodwill.


    Returning to his residence, Lynn encountered a curious figure sitting on the neighboring balcony. ¡°Is this the demon you adopted? Where did you get it from? It looks quite powerful.¡±


    Lynn paused. Ever since he learned about Ido¡¯s situation, he had consciously avoided her.


    Every six years, she would forget everything. Each recollection was a process of continual forgetting and remembering.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t adopt it. I tamed it myself,¡± Lynn replied after a pause, ncing at Ido. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head: What if Ido didn¡¯t go to the Abyss during thest moments of her six years?


    Would she avoid reliving the memories of death?But the cycle of six years would likely continue regardless.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Ido nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m off to do some experiments. We¡¯ll talkter,¡± Lynn waved to Ido.


    Back in theboratory, Lynn began his learning journey.


    In the following days, Lynn immersed himself in his studies within theboratory, spending hours memorizing knowledge.


    asionally, he would greet Ido and bring back a few pots of magical nts to observe their behavior while nurturing them. In his spare time, he also delved into studying therge piece of flesh he had brought back.


    At some point, a new entry appeared in Lynn¡¯s Life upation section: Magic Potion Studies.


    ¡­


    ¡°Jeffrey, I heard you were humiliated by a new wizard apprentice?¡±


    Good news travels slowly, but bad news travels fast.


    Jeffrey looked at his friend, whose rtionship with him was quite good, shook his head, and smiled, ¡°Are you here tough at me too? A true wizard should be able to adapt to any situation.¡±


    ¡°Eyes on the face can only see what ordinary people see. Only the eyes in the heart can see the true things hidden beneath the surface,¡± Jeffrey said casually, with no hint of worry on his face.


    ¡°Oh? Is this Lynn fellow not ordinary?¡±


    ¡°After I came back, I inquired a bit. Although this Lynn has only recently arrived, on his first day here, he was led in by an official wizard. When he left the service hall, the supervisor there, Toby, even came out to see him off.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. So, it seems he has some backing,¡± James remarked.


    After seeing his friend off, Jeffrey¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination. Just because he temporarily withdrew didn¡¯t mean this matter was over. If there was an opportunity, he wouldn¡¯t mind throwing stones down the well.


    ¡­


    ¡°These two potions that Dyo gave me are a bit crude,¡± Lynn, who had already raised his potion studies to level 2, examined the two potions given to him by Dyo and found many ws and rough spots.


    Of course, this didn¡¯t mean that the doctors and researchers were ipetent; it was just that their knowledge was limited. Being able to formte such potions was already impressive.


    Lynn could discern their roughness because he now possessed more knowledge of potion studies, understanding the properties of many magical nts, some of which were not present in Dyo¡¯s world.


    Lynn picked one of them up and carefully cut the stem of the Prospera flower into small pieces. Then, he ground the Evangelica grass, which had been soaked for three hours, into a fine powder and added it to the Prospera flower. Next, he extracted all the juice from the thick roots of the Dewdrop grass.


    After mixing the three nts together, they turned into a transparent, viscous liquid.


    Lynn dipped his finger into the container and gently stirred, pinching a bit with his fingertips to feel the smoothness. Nodding slightly, Lynn concluded that the moisturizing effect was sufficient.


    However, further experimentation was needed. Lynn went downstairs to conduct experiments, and before long, he found that the moisturizing effect of the new liquid he had concocted had increased by nearly twicepared to the initial form.


    Yet Lynn wasn¡¯t satisfied. Even with the doubled duration, it could onlyst for half a month.


    Lynn prepared to continue concocting potions.


    Lynn had some ideas about another type of potion. Through his experiments during this period, Lynn discovered that this piece of flesh possessed a strong assimtion ability. Most of the substances he had used so far had assimted into a viscous white waxy substance, which was then slowly absorbed by it.


    Without the restraint of a potion, theoretically, this flesh could expand infinitely.


    Previously, Dyo had crafted a one-time consumption potion designed to resist magic. Lynn purchased a rabbit and brought it back for experimentation with this potion.


    After testing, Lynn found that zero-ring spells with energetic properties basically couldn¡¯t cause any harm to the rabbit. At the same time, sharp weapons also couldn¡¯t cause any damage to the rabbit during the duration of the spell.


    However, blunt weapons could effectively kill it.


    After examination, Lynn discovered that the cause of death for the rabbit was internal organ rupture, massive bleeding, and shock caused by blunt trauma.


    This simr nature reminded Lynn of something quite familiar¡ªgargoyles.


    The gargoyles¡¯ series of war weapons had strong resistance to magic. They were specifically designed by wizards long ago to counter mages when they invaded a ne where magic civilization was highly prosperous.


    Later, the mages from that ne captured the gargoyles during the war and then spent a considerable amount of effort deciphering them, investing a lot of energy in creating gargoyles that were only controlled by them.


    Because in the eyes of the mages from that ne, other wizards were also a group of magic-using enemies. If gargoyles could deal with them, they could also be a weapon against wizards. This was also the reason why they spent so much effort to research gargoyles in reverse.


    In the beginning, gargoyles did indeed cause considerable trouble for the wizards, which momentarily excited the mages of that ne, prompting them to invest massive resources in producing gargoyles.


    However, when the second batch of gargoyles did not achieve the expected results on the battlefield, the wizards countered with a spell that directly knocked the gargoyles off their pedestals¡ªthe Soul Breaking Spell.


    This spell, specifically developed to target alchemical creatures like gargoyles with strong defenses but weak souls, could directly annihte their consciousness, leaving only their shells behind.


    This battle not only consumed countless efforts of the mages of that ne but also allowed the wizards to capture a vast number of gargoyles, effectively turning the mages of that ne into theborers of the wizards.


    Lynn pondered deeply. He wasn¡¯t contemting the ¡®Soul Breaking¡¯ spell or the gargoyles themselves. The essence of gargoyles and the performance of this potion were fundamentally different.


    However, Lynn approached the issue from another angle, drawing inspiration from the method of creating gargoyles.


    If this potion, when applied to the skin, could transform a living being into wax after the duration ended, was there a substance that could resist this wax?


    If there was a way to resist this wax, Lynn could potentially create it in the form of alchemical puppets, turning it into an invincible new type of creation on the battlefield.


    This change of direction would indirectly make the potion permanent.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115


    Over the next six months, Lynn dedicated a significant portion of his energy to alchemical studies and potion studies, while alsomitting to memory all the books Liszt had entrusted to him.


    However, he still hadn¡¯t discovered any natural substance with a significant effect on the corrosion of this white flesh.


    Perhaps there were some rarer and more precious natural materials, but those were beyond Lynn¡¯s reach.


    Unable to find a solution, Lynn had to resort to experimenting with creating such materials himself. He wasn¡¯t in a rush, though. Developing new materials in alchemy was a gradual process that required umting experimental data over time and continually refining it.


    After his daily sessions in magic potion studies, Lynn squeezed in some time for alchemical studies from the little time he had left.


    In the remaining time, Lynn studied spells. After mastering the ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ spell, he proceeded to construct two more one-ring spell frameworks over the past six months: ¡®Shielding¡¯ and ¡®Tranquility¡¯.


    With attack spells like ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ already in his arsenal and imprisonment in the form of ¡®Earth Ring¡¯, Lynn focused on creating a versatile defensive spell with ¡®Shielding¡¯ and a supportive one-ring spell with ¡®Tranquility¡¯.


    ¡®Tranquility¡¯ could calm the emotions of a target and had the added benefit of soothing targets afflicted with conditions like ¡°frenzy¡± or ¡°bloodlust.¡±


    Maintaining a stable mindset during experiments was crucial, so Lynn made it a habit to cast ¡®Tranquility¡¯ on himself whenever he could, to keep hisposure.One day, afterpleting an experiment and tidying up theboratory, Lynn attended to all the magical nts in the cultivation chamber.


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Laboratory Cleanup (2), Cleaned theboratory once, maintaining its cleanliness and tidiness.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Excellent.¡±


    ¡°Reward: 20 general experience points.¡±


    ¡°Daily taskpleted: Magical nt Care (1), Attended to the cultivated magical nts.¡±


    ¡°Completion: Qualified.¡±


    ¡°Reward: 5 general experience points.¡±


    Seeing the familiar notifications, Lynn reflected on how caring for magical nts could also fulfill tasks, a discovery he made after purchasing those nts.


    In truth, Lynn had been caring for magical nts since he first encountered wizards.


    Back then, Angley had entrusted him with many nts to care for, but it hadn¡¯t triggered any daily tasks.


    Now, Lynn had more or less figured out the criteria for these daily tasks.


    Essentially, he needed to have sole control over the experiment and ownership of the magical nts to qualify for rewards. Helping others wouldn¡¯t earn him any rewards¡ªexcept for cleaning theboratory.


    ¡°Master, we¡¯re running out of food funds,¡± Lauren found Lynn, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    ¡°Running out? What happened?¡± Lynn remembered giving his subordinates enough food funds tost them a full two years.


    Now, they were running out of funds in less than a year?


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because the brute force demon¡¯s appetite has been quitergetely,¡± Lauren exined.


    ¡°Having a big appetite is one thing, but eating this quickly is another,¡± Lynn said, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s even bigger than at the beginning,¡± Lauren added.


    Lynn sought out the brute force demon and found it looking at him with an innocent expression.


    Lynn felt awkward about reprimanding it. After all, he had promised to provide food and amodation, and it had been in front of Toby. Moreover, the brute force demon had been working tirelessly for him. How could he justify not even ensuring it was well-fed?


    No matter how stingy one might be, this was simply uneptable.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just been really hungrytely, craving food all the time,¡± the brute force demon said cautiously, rubbing its belly. ¡°Am I eating too much?¡±


    It didn¡¯t know what was happening. It had just finished dinner when it saw Lynn approaching.


    ¡°No worries, eat as much as you want. Have you been extra hungrytely?¡± Lynn asked.


    The brute force demon nodded eagerly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t eat this much before.¡±


    It quickly rified that it hadn¡¯t been hiding its appetite initially but had recently experienced a sudden increase in hunger.


    ¡°Increasing your appetite is a good sign. Typically, when your intake increases, it means your energy demands are rising,¡± Lynn exined.


    But to prevent any mishaps, Lynn decided to conduct a physical examination for the brute force demon.


    The results showed that not only was the brute force demon in perfect health, but its body was also in an exceptional state. All its cells and blood were highly active, indicating a robust metabolism. Its entire bloodstream seemed to be in a state of high energy, exhibiting a strong thirst for external energy absorption.


    Observing the brute force demon before him, Lynn pondered for a moment, forming a rough hypothesis in his mind.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you might be on the verge of a breakthrough,¡± Lynn said, casting a deep gaze at the brute force demon.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the brute force demon widened its eyes. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean my appetite will be even bigger?¡±


    ¡°Breaking through a level will indeed increase your daily energy requirements, resulting in arger appetite. However, most organisms can absorb energy from the air to replenish their consumption, and this ability grows with each level advancement. So, the increase in appetite won¡¯t be too extreme,¡± Lynn exined.


    The brute force demon felt dizzy listening to the exnation. It only understood one thing: it would result in a bigger appetite.


    ¡°Have you been suppressing your breakthrough?¡± For demons, breakthroughs were usually measured in decades or even centuries. The brute force demon had only recently joined Lynn¡¯s ranks and hadn¡¯t faced any significant external stimuli. It seemed too coincidental for its strength to suddenly surge.


    In such a scenario, there was only one possibility¡ªthe brute force demon was already on the brink of a breakthrough.


    ¡°Yes. I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to eat enough after the breakthrough,¡± the brute force demon confessed, feeling somewhat aggrieved. It didn¡¯t think it was entirely to me for this predicament.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but feel speechless. This was clearly self-sabotage.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to hold back anymore. If you want to break through, just do it,¡± Lynn reassured the brute force demon.


    The brute force demon was overjoyed to hear this.


    It had always had arger appetite than other demons of its kind.


    During previous invasions of other nes, it would sometimes scavenge for leftover limbs and flesh on the battlefield, which could sustain it for a while. However, as its appetite grewrger over time, it spent most of its days in hunger, especially during times of peace when demon lords strictly prohibited their subordinates from fighting amongst themselves.


    After breaking its limits once, its appetite continued to grow, leading to longer periods of hunger. Over time, it developed this peculiar belief.


    The process of breakthrough for the brute force demon now required arge amount of food, or rather, not necessarily food, but any high-energy substance that could supply the brute force demon with the necessary resources to expedite its breakthrough.


    Lynn had Lauren buy some energy reagents for the brute force demon to ingest, but they found that the results were unsatisfactory.


    Subsequently, Lynn experimented with various other foods. After a series of tests, Lynn discovered that fresh flesh and blood worked best for the brute force demon, with the effectiveness increasing with the level of the creature from which the flesh was obtained.


    This was likely rted to the absorption organs inherent in the demon ns; most demons favored flesh and blood as their sustenance.


    The brute force demon breaking through was a good thing; if it seeded, it would be a fifth-level demon.


    Even amidst the sea of demons in the Abyss, a fifth-level demon was far from weak.


    Some of the lesser demon n leaders within the Abyss were only at this level.


    As long as one had money, many things could be bought in Demon City. Piles of flesh and blood were continuously procured and piled in front of the brute force demon, allowing it to eat without restraint.


    Sitting on the ground, the brute force demon grabbed handfuls of flesh and blood and stuffed them into its mouth.


    Its cheeks bulged like those of a squirrel.


    Suddenly, as it ate, the brute force demon¡¯s eyes reddened, and its body convulsed slightly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this; I promised to take care of your meals,¡± Lynnforted.


    ¡°No, I just choked,¡± the brute force demon replied, rubbing its throat.


    The feaststed the entire night, and Lynn spent 420 magic stones on the purchased flesh and blood, which nearly formed a small mountain before the brute force demon finally stopped eating.


    Its distended belly resembled a round ball, but it deted visibly at a remarkable rate.


    The brute force demon¡¯s aura became unstable, gradually turning violent.


    Lynn dismissed the followers surrounding him, instructing them to stay away.


    When demons broke through, they emitted an unconscious surge of demonic energy, which was detrimental to weaker creatures with a significant power gap.


    ¡°<em>Roar</em>~¡±


    A low growl emanated from the brute force demon¡¯s throat, and the next moment, its body began to swell.


    The already towering figure expanded further, reaching up to the ceiling, which cracked under the pressure,rge chunks of concrete and rubble falling to the ground.


    The brute force demon¡¯s massive arms swung unconsciously, the blood coursing through its dark red veins, its muscles expanding by another circle, especially around the shoulders, which became even broader.


    With a tearing sound, flesh and blood peeled away, and on the sloping side of its scap, two slightly slender arms suddenly extended. The brute force demon had directly transformed into a four-armed brute force demon.


    Lynn marveled at the sight. The brute force demon was already immensely powerful, formidable in closebat, and now with four arms, its close-quartersbat prowess would undoubtedly be even more ferocious once it adapted.


    A violent aura emanated from it, a bloody wave spreading out from under its feet, and Lynn, enveloped in the halo, felt a strand of murderous intent flicker in his mind.


    Lynn squinted, gazing at the halo beneath the brute force demon¡¯s feet. He hadn¡¯t expected the brute force demon to awaken this ability after breaking through¡ªBloody Surge!


    Upon activation, it could detect nearby units, including some hidden ones.


    Of course, invisibility and detection abilities had always been a contest between spear and shield, purely determined by the priority of abilities and the strength of the caster.


    ¡°Congrattions on your breakthrough,¡± Lynn said, looking at the four-armed brute force demon before him. It had ascended to the fifth-level.


    Not just any fifth-level creature, but a fifth-level demon. Even among wizards, except for the most exceptional geniuses, many first-level wizards could barely match itsbat prowess within the confines of a wizard tower.


    Of course, a wizard¡¯s greatest strengthy in their creativity and learning ability. Usingbat prowess to measure a wizard was the most rudimentary approach.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116


    ¡°Master, Wizard Ido is here.¡±


    Lynn nced upstairs. Ido was likely drawn by the brute force demon¡¯s breakthrough.


    For Lynn, he knew about Ido¡¯s changes, but these goblins didn¡¯t. They still thought of Ido as she was before. So their attitude towards her remained friendly. Over the past six months, Lynn and Ido had grown closer.


    Lynn asked Ido if she remembered anything beforeing to Demon City, but she shook her head each time, iming she didn¡¯t.


    Eventually, Lynn stopped asking.


    ¡°Ask her to wait outside,¡± Lynn instructed, heading to the ground floor reception room.


    Ido greeted Lynn but her gaze kept drifting behind him.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Lynn found it amusing.


    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Ido quickly averted her gaze.¡°Looking for the brute force demon?¡± Ido had beening over frequentlytely. There were hardly any residents nearby, and since they lived close to each other, she often came over to hang out when she had nothing else to do. As a result, she had be quite familiar with the brute force demon, and Lynn doesn¡¯t see her meditating much these days.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you meditate?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°I do. I meditate every night before sleeping,¡± Ido replied.


    Knowing some of the inside story, Lynn felt a bit regretful. He¡¯d heard Ido had great talent. If there hadn¡¯t been any idents, the young girl before him might have be a great wizard by now.


    The mental strength acquired from nearly three thousand years of meditation must be incredibly high.


    ¡°The brute force demon just broke through. It still needs to adapt to its new strength. Let¡¯s give it a few days,¡± Lynn told Ido.


    ¡°No need for that trouble. Come to my ce!¡± Ido suggested.


    ¡°I have a training room specifically for testing magic and physical attacks,¡± she exined.


    It was the first time Lynn heard about this secret.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the brute force demon apany you,¡± Lynn decided.


    ¡°What about you? Aren¡¯t youing to see?¡± Ido asked.


    ¡°I have an experiment to conduct. I won¡¯t apany you this time,¡± Lynn replied.


    Then Lynn called for the brute force demon. Ido looked at the extra pair of arms on the brute force demon with curiosity.


    ¡°Master, here are the expenses that Bowa organized,¡± Lauren approached, handing Lynn a ledger detailing theboratory expenses.


    Lynn casually flipped through a few pages before closing it and tossing it back to Lauren, who caught it awkwardly.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, I don¡¯t suspect you guys,¡± Lynn reassured them.


    He knew Lauren hurriedly handed over the expense records because he had just shown some concern about the living expenses.


    ¡°It¡¯s because recently many goblins have had nothing to do besides training, and many female goblins have be pregnant and given birth to lots of little goblins,¡± Lauren exined.


    <em>Little goblins?</em> Lynn became interested.


    Previously, he had been focused on experiments and hadn¡¯t paid much attention to such matters, but now he was taking a rare break. ¡°Take me to see.¡±


    In the room, the floor was covered with a lot of dry straw and pebbles. Many little goblins, barely half a meter tall with skin that was a tender yellow tinged with a hint of green, chased each other around. Theirughter echoed throughout the room.


    ¡°Lord emissary of the gods!¡± An adult goblin guard spotted Lynn¡¯s arrival and quickly bowed respectfully.


    The adult goblins in the room all stood up, cing their hands on either side of their waists.


    The yful little goblins noticed the seriousness of the adults and gradually slowed their footsteps, looking cautiously at the unfamiliar human who entered the room.


    There were over a hundred little goblins in the room. As Lynn walked, he heard simr soundsing from the adjacent room. ¡°How many new goblins are there?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Over five hundred.¡±


    So many. It seemed goblins did indeed have strong reproductive abilities. In just two years, the number had doubled.


    ¡°No problem, let the goblins reproduce freely. But these new goblins shouldn¡¯t just y around. Give them some lessons in ideology, some basic training, mainly to cultivate theirbat qualities so they can truly enter the battlefield,¡± Lynn casually remarked.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Lauren agreed.


    The other goblins, upon hearing that they were free to have children, cheered with joy. As for the idea of the children going to the battlefield, they didn¡¯t care at all because that¡¯s how they themselves hade into the world.


    ¡°Wizard Lynn.¡± After descending the stairs, Lynn went to Liszt¡¯sboratory.


    The building was quiterge. Lynn had built Liszt a separate magic potionboratory on the second underground floor, and he also had a bedroom next door.


    Walking to and from work every day takes up too much time. Why not just live here? After finishing work, he could sleep right away and continue working after waking up. That was called being considerate.


    This went on for over six months. During this time, the Meditation eleration Mutation potion that Lynn had Liszt create sold very well in the market, earning Lynn a considerable amount of magic stones.


    Lynn¡¯s pricing was quite reasonable: two bottles for one magic stone, while the cost of production was only one magic stone for ten bottles.


    Looking at the tired-looking Liszt¡ªwith his dark circles under his eyes and scruffy beard, he appeared worn out, looking almost ten years older than he actually was¡ªLynn reflected on the more than 3,000 magic stones he had earned in the past half-year.


    Lynn also recognized Liszt¡¯s efforts.


    ¡°You won¡¯t have to work on this potion all day anymore,¡± Lynn said.


    Liszt¡¯s eyes brightened with surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯ll only have to work on it half a day from now on,¡± Lynn added.


    Liszt¡¯s smile froze.


    ¡°The remaining time, you can use it for studying. You¡¯ll assist me first,¡± Lynn said.


    Liszt blinked, carefully recalling what Lynn had just said.


    Making sure he hadn¡¯t misheard, he was asking him to be his assistant?


    But didn¡¯t Wizard Lynn just start learning magic potion studies?


    Liszt ndered inwardly, but he didn¡¯t dare say it aloud. He wasn¡¯t foolish.


    But soon Liszt realized he was wrong! Very wrong!


    In theboratory, Liszt watched as Wizard Lynn skillfully handled the production of magic potions. His mind went nk. <em>With this level of proficiency, you¡¯re telling me you¡¯ve only been learning magic potion studies for just over half a year?</em>


    Even he might not be able to achieve such proficiency.


    Moreover, Lynn demonstrated a profound understanding of the properties of various nts and minerals, indicating that he had thoroughly mastered them.


    In fact, memorization wasn¡¯t difficult; for many wizard apprentices, it was amon task. They have been taught to memorize the knowledge of various wizards from a young age. Although Liszt was surprised by Lynn¡¯s ability to memorize all the contents of the books in just half a year, he attributed it to Lynn having a good memory.


    But now Lynn wasn¡¯t just memorizing the contents of the books; he was alsoprehending and integrating them, which left Liszt stunned.


    This can only mean that Lynn has a remarkable talent in this area.


    Liszt believed that Wizard Lynn was a genius in potion studies, far superior to himself.


    Thinking about this, Liszt felt a mixture of envy and loneliness.


    Back in the original wizarding academy, he wasn¡¯t considered the worst among his cohort. In fact, his talent was quite decent. However, aftering to the demon wizard academy, Liszt realized that there were increasingly more formidable wizards.


    No wonder Lynn was selected to join the demon wizard academy.


    ¡°This is my improved Meditation eleration Mutation potion. It enhances meditation efficiency by approximately 20-30%. I¡¯ve added some dried aura powder, which amplifies perception and has a mild addictive effect. Plus, the price of aura powder isn¡¯t too expensive. From now on, this potion will be called Meditation Treasure 2.0, and the original one will be renamed as Meditation Treasure 1.0,¡± Lynn exined.


    Liszt had no objections to the names Lynn chose. In fact, there were many among the wizards who were not quite normal in their minds, and often they came up with all kinds of strange names.


    At least Wizard Lynn¡¯s choice of names was rtively normal.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117


    ¡°Utilizing different processes to achieve aplete therapeutic effect, this represents the more advanced practice of magic potion studies. I¡¯ve already demonstrated the specific steps to you in ss.¡± In the lecture hall, a wizard with messy hair, wearing ck-framed sses and with some tree-like patterns on his clothes, methodically tidied up the materials on the experiment table and stowed them away in spatial equipment.


    Then he took out a small que and waved it in front of him, opening a door. The wizard stepped through the door.


    Some wizard apprentices who had intended to ask questions were left disappointed as they watched him leave.


    Lynn closed his notebook, feeling inspired as thoughts danced in his mind. Deep in contemtion, he rose from his seat and exited the lecture hall.


    A figure caught up with him from behind.


    Seven years had swiftly passed since Lynn arrived at the demon wizard academy.


    Due to Lynn¡¯s ability to create alchemical puppets and the poprity of his Meditation Treasures among low to middle-level wizard apprentices, he had gained some fame at the demon wizard academy. Many demon wizard apprentices had heard of him.


    Moreover, as his alchemical studies and magic potion studies wereparable to many seasoned wizard apprentices, Lynn, as a neer, was considered by some apprentices as one of the promising candidates to be official wizards in the future.


    There were indeed some wizard apprentices who wanted Lynn to customize alchemical products for them, but Lynn declined. He was too busy studying to spend time making customized alchemical products for others, especially when the prices offered didn¡¯t justify the time he would have to invest.But this didn¡¯t diminish Lynn¡¯s reputation; instead, it indirectly boosted it.


    ¡°Wizard Lynn, I heard you¡¯re nning to buy a shop?¡± an apprentice caught up from behind.


    ¡°Hm, do you have a shop for sale?¡± Lynn stopped in his tracks.


    In Demon City, apart from newly built shops in the outskirts, those closer to the central district had long been bought up. Moreover, the wizard apprentices who bought these shops did so for extended periods. Many of the shop owners behind the scenes had even be official wizards by now.


    So, acquiring a well-located shop was extremely difficult. Even with Toby¡¯s connections, Lynn couldn¡¯t secure a shop in the central district. And Lynn didn¡¯t fancy the shops in the outskirts; they were too far and troublesome. He¡¯d rather build his reputation and let others buy shops for him privately.


    ¡°It¡¯s not me selling; it¡¯s a friend of mine who wants to sublet. The contract still has eighty years left. Would you be interested, Wizard Lynn?¡± the apprentice asked.


    ¡°Price and location,¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°It¡¯s at 14 West Shell Street, two floors, prime location, with a total area of 230 square meters. The price is only 6,000 magic stones,¡± the apprentice replied.


    West Shell Street.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes showed a hint of surprise. Though not the best in the central district, the location was certainly not bad.


    The price, however, was somewhat inconvenient. Not too expensive, but it wasn¡¯t cheap either; it was market price.


    ¡°If they were to sell that location, they could ask for a higher price, right?¡± Lynn remarked.


    ¡°Because I heard you were interested, and my friend is in a hurry to get rid of it,¡± the apprentice exined.


    ¡°Wait a moment, let¡¯s talk about it in a few days,¡± Lynn interrupted, then briskly walked away.


    Watching Lynn¡¯s retreating figure, the apprentice wore a puzzled expression.


    Could he have been found out?


    Back at his residence, Lynn eagerly returned to his undergroundboratory.


    He wasted no time and began experimenting while the inspiration was still fresh.


    Today¡¯s learning opened a door for him. Sometimes, creativity isn¡¯t about umtion; it¡¯s about that moment of inspiration.


    For the past few years, Lynn had been trying to create a substance that could withstand the homogenizing ability of the white flesh, turning objects into wax.


    However, no matter how he tried to manufacture it, or even purchased small amounts of high-level alchemical synthesis materials, they couldn¡¯t resist the eerie assimtion ability of the white flesh.


    This gradually made Lynn realize the extraordinary nature of this white flesh.


    It was definitely not an ordinary item. Although it appeared unremarkable, its essence was undoubtedly high-grade. This was evident because it could corrode raw materials that were used even by some official wizards. Even though these were merely scraps, the fact that it could corrode raw materials of such a level speaks to its own high quality.


    ??But this only excited Lynn further because the more extraordinary this white flesh was, the stronger the resulting product would be.


    This ss sparked a realization for Lynn. He thought of another possibility.


    Since he couldn¡¯t create the raw material in one go, why not make it in segments? Lynn had also studied magic potions, so why notbine magic potion with alchemical studies?


    Thus, he could create a special raw material capable of containing and enduring the white flesh.


    Although he had been failing for years, Lynn hadn¡¯te away empty-handed. Different raw materials could withstand the bizarre corrosion of the white flesh for varying amounts of time. Some raw materials would be corroded in less than a second, but the raw material Lynn had developed could resist for up to an hour!


    Lynn skillfully concocted potions and then slowly infused them into the liquid raw material through special means. The raw material that could withstand corrosion the longest was a liquid metal, and ironically, the more solid raw materials had a shorter resistance time against corrosion.


    As Lynn injected the potions, the liquid metal gradually turned silvery-white. Then, Lynn scraped off some powder from the white flesh and ced it into the silver-white liquid metal. The liquid metal absorbed the powder, creating bubbles on its surface before quickly returning to calmness.


    Lynn hurried to concoct another potion.


    As time passed, over the next half hour, the color of the liquid metal gradually faded from silver-white to a duller shade, as if ayer of gray had settled on its surface.


    Lynn then poured the newly concocted potion into the partially deteriorated liquid metal.


    The transformation of the liquid metal suddenly halted!


    Lynn¡¯s eyes brightened; this approach seemed feasible indeed!


    When conventional methods failed, one had to resort to leveraging force against force. If the waxifying corrosive ability was to corrode other substances, what if the corroded substance itself possessed a certain waxifying property? Lynn decided to initiate the change in the liquid metal and then, midway through, introduce another potion to alter its state while it was halfway through mutation.


    If one considered this corrosive ability as a virus, Lynn was effectively injecting it with a vine derived from the same source as the nt roots.


    Although it couldn¡¯t provideplete immunity, it could significantly reduce the damage.


    Lynn continued to fine-tune the potions, injecting them every half an hour.


    Four and a half hourster, the liquid metal before him had turned into a pure white color, its movements eerie and lifelike, almost as if it possessed a life of its own.


    Suddenly, the pure white liquid metal flew towards Lynn.


    Lynn took a half step back, and suddenly a huge frame fell from above, enclosing the liquid metal and simultaneously releasing arge amount of dense fog from within.


    The once active pure white liquid metal instantly wilted, but it didn¡¯t transform into the iridescent ss-like substance as the white flesh did.


    Did this thing develop self-awareness? Or perhaps it had consciousness all along, lying dormant.


    Lynn remainedposed, his gaze ice-cold.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118


    While Lynn couldn¡¯t ascertain if there was truly an issue with this entity, it didn¡¯t deter him from taking precautionary measures in theboratory beforehand.


    As it turned out, these precautions were not made in vain.


    In reality, for wizards, the assessment of intelligence in a creature was a rather broad concept. It wasn¡¯t just about conditional responses to external stimuli; true intelligence meant the ability to think, to learn, and to possess independent self-awareness.


    Lynn was curious: did the liquid metal monster before him operate solely on instinct, or did it genuinely possess intelligence?


    Lynn observed the blob of liquid metal with great interest, and it seemed to sense Lynn¡¯s gradually strange gaze.?


    The once subdued liquid metal began to show signs of unease, emitting a sizzling sound as it bumped against nearby containers.


    The containers, made from special materials, revealed small white dots where they were struck.


    ¡°Surprisingly, you still retain some corrosive capability, but you¡¯ve been a bit naughty,¡± Lynn remarked with a smile.


    After nearly an hour of collisions, the blob of liquid metal finallypletely corroded the metal te of the box that it had been striking against, turning the corroded metal into a grayish-white wax that the liquid metal slowly absorbed.But before this blob of liquid metal could excitedly rush out, there was suddenly¡ª<em>ng!</em>


    A mechanism triggered, and as the firstyer of the box disappeared, the secondyer was already in ce. The liquid metal collided with anotheryer of new metal box.


    Anticipating its corrosive nature, Lynn had prepared multipleyers of metal boxes, with eachyer isted from the others! Thus, the corrosion wouldn¡¯t spread between the metal boxes.


    Eachyer could dy the corrosion for an hour, and when countless hours were stacked together, it could continually dy the speed of corrosion of this blob of liquid metal.


    However, the suppressant Lynn had previously prepared seemed to have little effect on it.


    After several hours of effort, the liquid metal seemed to finally realize that no matter how hard it tried, it couldn¡¯t break through this cage. Gradually, it lost the drive to keep struggling, resembling a limp fish in a cage.


    Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly as he manipted the metal box to bring it closer to the mother body of the white flesh.


    As it drew nearer, the liquid metal inside the cage became more and more agitated.


    It continuously banged against the walls of the cage, and with each step closer, this emotional intensity spread vividly.


    Lynn sensed its emotion¡ªit seemed to be fear.


    Was it afraid of the mother body because it had the ability to absorb all the split white flesh?


    Lynn¡¯s lips curled upwards, excitement gleaming in his eyes. Since there was something to be feared, it meant it could be controlled to some extent.


    A month passed, and Lynn, who had been holed up in theboratory all this time, finally had a new research breakthrough!


    Looking at the pure white liquid metal trapped inside the metal cage before him.


    After Lynn¡¯s month-long research efforts, some of its characteristics had been modified, and he had developed a new effect¡ªassimtion.


    It could assimte onto the target like a liquid metal weapon. Under the potion Lynn developed, it could retain its corrosive ability, but to a degree of symbiosis with the host. However, this symbiosis wasn¡¯t a hundred percent sessful; there was a chance of failure, and the consequences of failure were death.


    ording to his research, after live experiments, this liquid metal seemed to undergo a strange reaction and could no longer be separated.


    What¡¯s even more peculiar is that afterwards, when Lynn followed the form to create new liquid metal, the previous liquid metal would mysteriously die.


    It was as if some rule dictated that only one could exist at a time, and Lynn used this method to separate the previous liquid metal.


    It was precisely because of this characteristic that Lynn abandoned the idea of mass production.


    Lynn summoned his followers.


    Redeyes, Lauren, Bu, Bowa, and the four-armed brute force demon.


    Looking at a lizard-man, a human, two goblins, and a demon before him.


    Even though this was his research achievement, it wasn¡¯t something just anyone could use.


    If sessful, it would be an opportunity to ascend to the heavens in one step. Leaving aside other abilities, just the bizarre corrosive ability and the powerful resistance to magical and physical damage, even an ordinary person could be a strange and powerful monster. Lynn had previously experimented on rabbits and mice. Even when struck by lightning, it couldn¡¯t harm them in the slightest. In the end, Lynn had to kill them using the method of remaking the liquid metal.


    So, under the premise of ensuring loyalty, Lynn carefully chose subjects.


    Pointing to the liquid metal in the metal cage beside him, Lynn sinctly exined the risks of this experiment.


    ¡°Who among you wants to try?¡± Lynn asked.


    The four-armed brute force demon scratched its head. It wasn¡¯t interested in this kind of thing; it wasn¡¯t delicious.


    Although Bowa was somewhat tempted, she hesitated due to its potential harm.


    Bu nced over and then lowered its head, its two big eyes staring at its own toes, as if there was something interesting there.


    Redeyes hesitated for a moment, then made up its mind. Just as it was about to speak, another figure had already walked out.


    ¡°Lauren,¡± Bowa looked worriedly at Lauren walking out.


    Lauren turned back, shook his head firmly at Bowa, and gave her a reassuring look.


    Ever since apanying his master to the Wizard Continent, Lauren had noticed his diminishing usefulness to his master. There were too many powerful beings in this world, and the strength he once took pride in, especially in front of ordinary humans, now seemed so insignificant.


    He knew that if he didn¡¯t strive harder, he might truly disappear from his master¡¯s sight.


    ¡°You all go out first,¡± Lynn said to the others.


    Only Lauren remained in theboratory.


    Lynn walked to the side, scraped some powder from the white flesh, and then began preparing the experimental materials, pausing just before the final step of sessfully making the liquid metal. ¡°Take it,¡± Lynn said.


    Though Lynn couldn¡¯t guarantee sess, he could at least make new liquid metal before thest moment of failure.


    At least this way, Lauren could salvage his life.


    Lauren reached his hand into the metal cage, and the liquid metal lying quietly in the cage suddenly moved, as if a venomous snake were burrowing into Lauren¡¯s arm!


    Lauren grunted and stepped back, his hands tightly gripping the edge of the experiment table, his tail swaying incessantly.


    The liquid metal moved continuously along his arm, like a mouse hiding beneath the surface of his skin.


    Gradually, the moving liquid metal became smaller and smaller, as if merging with him. At the same time, Lauren¡¯s green scales gradually shimmered with a metallic luster.


    Half an hourter, Lauren, as if pulled from water, crawled up from the ground.


    His two long arms, covered in scales, hung naturally from his shoulders, his towering figure slightly drooping. His originally orange pupils turned into a regal golden hue.


    His lips cracked open, revealing rows of teeth as dense as those of a shark.


    <em>Thunk!</em>


    Theboratory floor trembled slightly as Lauren knelt on one knee.


    ¡°Thank you, master, for granting me strength.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119


    ¡°Baaa~¡±


    With a mournful cry, the three-eyed sheep demon purchased from the market let out a feeble bleat. Its insides had been transformed into a thick, soupy mess, leaving behind nothing but a light, fluttering skin that drifted downward.


    The fallen sheepskin transformed into milky-white wax, which was then drawn, bit by bit, into the feet of the creature standing before Lynn.


    ¡°The corrosion capability needs improvement,¡± Lynn noted, holding a notebook. He had created a table documenting the time various experimental creatures withstood the corrosive effects of the wax.


    Standing nearby was Lauren, who had undergone a dramatic transformation. Overall, he still resembled his previous lizard-man form, but the color of his scales had be more vibrant, resembling a brilliant green jade. Long, slender white spikes now adorned his joints, and his five slender ws were a pure white. Additionally, the tip of his tail featured retractable white bone spikes, giving Lauren a menacing appearance, almost like a mutated killing machine, yet still retaining an inexplicable elegant appearance.


    Now, every spike on Lauren¡¯s body, including his ws, could release a toxin with corrosive properties. Yes, it had transformed from a curse into a toxin.


    This was a change discovered by Lynn.


    On the white flesh, this corrosive ability resembled a curse, but now, after countless experiments and modifications, it had evolved into an impermanent toxin.


    This toxin could turn targets into melted wax, which Lynn found could heal Lauren¡¯s injuries and enhance his physical capabilities. It was akin to a unique form of devour-and-evolve ability, albeit with a somewhat slow process.Additionally, Lauren inherited the liquid metal¡¯s strong resistance to both magical and physical attacks. This resistance extended beyond his outer skin to his internal organs, though it was somewhat less effective due to being spread throughout his entire body.


    Even so, no one-ring offensive spell could harm him. Combined with his formidable physical defense, Lynn estimated Lauren¡¯s overall strength to be somewhere between the third and fourth levels.


    While impressive, it still fell short of the finished product Lynn had envisioned.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes flickered slightly.


    Since the liquid metal was created using white flesh as the raw material, he wondered if Lauren could rapidly evolve by absorbing the powdered white flesh scraped from it. He hadn¡¯t tried this yet because he was uncertain if the freshly scraped white flesh powder would possess a stronger wax-like corrosive ability.


    If the experiment failed, Lauren would face certain death. However, if it seeded, his strength could experience a significant surge.


    ¡°Alright, today¡¯s experiment is over,¡± Lynn said, closing his notebook. He had filled over a dozen notebooks, meticulously documenting every detail of each experiment.


    As the number of notebooks grew, Lynn found it increasingly inconvenient, even though his memory was excellent and he could recall many details. This was fine for now, but he couldn¡¯t be sure he¡¯d remember every detail as time passed¡ªover ten, a hundred, or even a thousand years. Thus, he meticulously preserved all experimental data.


    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Lauren replied respectfully. The spikes that had emerged from his body retracted like des sheathing, and his bright green scales locked into ce, showing no signs of anything unusual.


    Lynn waved his hand, and Lauren turned and left theboratory.


    After tidying up theboratory, Lynn returned to his meditation chamber to begin his meditation.


    As he entered a meditative state, in his sea of ??consciousness, the towering green light-shadowed mountain range grew brighter and more defined. Drawn by its presence, blue specks of light in the surrounding air were pulled in like a vacuum, creating a brief empty space.


    Lynn continued his mental sketching until, finally, hepleted thest line of the green mountain range.


    The Hellfire Meditation technique had reached perfection!


    He had spent nearly ten years mastering this meditation technique. Lynn felt a surge of emotion, recalling his early days of boarding the ship as if they were just yesterday.


    Many wizard apprentices, eager to quickly enhance their mental strength, consumedrge quantities of mind-stimting drugs during their apprenticeship. Although no definitive study proved these stimnts were harmful, Lynn had opted for caution. Besides using potions to enhance meditation efficiency, he had avoided all other stimnts or supplements to boost mental strength.


    Given his natural aptitude, which was already above average, Lynn found that his meditation abilities improved with each level he achieved. Now, enhancing his mental strength through meditation felt rather effortless. It had taken him just twelve years since he first delved into the world of wizards to reach the hundred-point threshold of mental strength necessary for advancing to an official wizard.


    Such rapid progress was astonishing. Lynn had managed to perfect an advanced meditation technique, the Hellfire Meditation, in merely ten years.


    For an ordinary human, ten years is a significant portion of their life; for a typical kingdom, it is but a minor chapter in its history; yet for a wizard who has truly stepped into the world of wizards, ten years might only represent the span of a single research project.


    The culmination of his Hellfire Meditation brought Lynn a substantial reward: a two-ring spell¡ªNetherme Summoning. This was the first two-ring spell Lynn had mastered.


    In theory, two-ring spells aremonly used by second-level wizards. This particr spell allowed Lynn to summon a pseudo-elemental creature known asherme from the depths of Hell, drawing it across the boundaries between worlds.


    The strength of the summonedherme was directly proportional to the mental strength expended by the caster. ¡®Netherme Summoning¡¯ was quite unique among spells because it fell into the category of summoning spells, where the potency dependedrgely on the creature summoned. This introduced an element of luck to its use.


    However, if a caster could form a contract with a powerfulherme entity, this element of luck could be mitigated, turning the summoning process into a controlled invocation.


    Of course,herme beings originated from Hell, a formidable ne within the multiverse. If the spell involved summoning demons, Lynn might have had some tricks up his sleeve, but summoning creatures from Hell was an entirely different matter, leaving him with no viable options for negotiation or control.


    ¡®Lynn


    Level: Level 30 (0/1000)


    Physical Fitness: 38.08


    Mental Strength: 107.7


    Mastery:


    ¡ªEarth Ring Meditation (Mastered)


    ¡ªHellfire Meditation (Mastered)


    Life upation:


    ¡ªLevel 3 Mutation Studies (4.92%) (0/1000)


    ¡ªLevel 2 Bloodline Studies (75%) (0/100)


    ¡ªLevel 3 Alchemical Studies (9.8%) (0/100)


    ¡ªLevel 2 Undead Studies (10%) (0/100)


    ¡ªLevel 3 Magic Potion Studies (0.45%) (0/1000)


    ¡ªLevel 2 Runology (15%) (0/100)


    General Experience Points: 14110¡ä


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120


    Lynn closed the attribute panel and was about to take a walk. He nned to visit the bookstore to check if there were any new books. Just as he was about to leave, Lauren hurried over.


    ¡°Master, someone killed our goblin who was delivering goods. The shipment we had prepared for the buyer was also stolen.¡±


    <em>The goblin had been killed?</em> Lynn¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Have you figured out who did it?¡±


    ¡°No, but there were signs of a struggle at the scene.¡±


    The goblin he had sent was a goblin wanderer, known for their agility and speed. It was rare for them to run into trouble. This particr goblin was one of his followers, a registered resident of Demon City, where fighting among residents was prohibited.


    ¡°Signs of a struggle indicate that the assant was stronger than the goblin wanderer but not by much,¡± Lynn mused aloud.


    In Demon City, followers enjoyed protective rights. If a follower was killed without provocation, their master had the right to seek justice. This protection was one reason why many out-of-town wizard apprentices were eager to obtain formal residency status in Demon City.


    Lynn pondered for a moment. Having no leads didn¡¯t mean there was no way to find the mastermind. After all, this was a world of wizards. If the assant hadn¡¯t used an artifact to conceal their actions, a divination wizard could easily provide clues.


    However, hiring a divination wizard costs money. Fortunately, Lynn had a method that wouldn¡¯t cost him anything.¡°Keep an eye on things. Have the experiments in theboratory put on hold and ensure the ce is secure. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Lynn instructed before heading out to the service hall.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since youst visited,¡± Toby remarked with a teasing tone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy,¡± Lynn replied with a smile.


    Toby waved dismissively. ¡°No worries, I get it. You wizards are always busy. So, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I visit without a reason?¡± Lynn feigned surprise.


    Toby chuckled, pointing at Lynn. ¡°Alright then, but don¡¯t ask me for helpter.¡±


    Lynn just smiled, not responding, and sat down in the chair opposite Toby. He opened the tea box on the table, only to find it empty.


    ¡°Where¡¯s that tea I hadst time?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°The tea you mentionedst time was quite interesting. I got some tea trees from a friend in the Abyss. The leaves made a decent brew, but a couple of old friends visited recently and took the lot,¡± Toby said, shaking his head.


    Toby suddenly fixed his gaze on Lynn. ¡°Your mental strength should have reached the minimum standard for a first-level wizard by now, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got sharp eyes,¡± Lynn replied.


    ¡°Save the ttery. My abilities are rted to the soul, which is why I can sense your progress,¡± Toby said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve advanced quickly. How¡¯s the source material collection for your wizard tower going?¡± Toby asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gathered some, but I feel it¡¯s still not perfect,¡± Lynn responded.


    Over the past few years, most of the magic stones he earned were basically spent on auxiliary materials, which were also quite costly. Although individually cheaper than core materials, their collective cost was significant. Lynn had used nearly all his magic stones to pair the six core materials he had collected with the necessary auxiliary materials.


    If he wanted, he could build a simple wizard tower now. But Lynn¡¯s ambitions were higher. He didn¡¯t want to settle for a mere fortress without attack capabilities. He wanted his wizard tower to be as perfect as possible.


    After all the effort it took to construct a wizard tower, was he really content to create nothing more than a flying fortress devoid of any attack capabilities? Naturally, Lynn desired his wizard tower to be as perfect as possible in every aspect.


    ¡°I have a source material you might need,¡± Toby suddenly said.


    ¡°For what purpose?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s attack-oriented. It¡¯s from the Abyss, easy to enhance and use. You should have the raw materials for an Abyss Forge by now. This source material,bined with the forge, will significantly increase its power,¡± Toby exined.


    ¡°Uncle Toby, are you just giving it to me?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Not for free. ording to you wizards, everything has value. I can¡¯t just give it to you, but the task isn¡¯t necessarily difficult. It could be an opportunity for you, depending on whether you¡¯re willing to take it,¡± Toby said with a meaningful smile.


    ¡°Please, go ahead,¡± Lynn urged.


    ¡°Go for a trip to the Abyss Market and buy something from the administrator there,¡± Toby said.


    Lynn¡¯s expression changed slightly. It had been nearly ten years since thest Abyss Market, and it was about to open again.


    It just so happened that Lynn had previously arranged with the fly demon to cooperate and trade in the future.


    ¡°The administrator in the Abyss is a stationed wizard. He has been there for years and possesses many collectibles, some of which he doesn¡¯t even know the value of. I need you to buy a piece of pink crystal from him,¡± Toby said.


    ¡°Will he sell it?¡± Lynn was worried that the administrator might refuse to sell or demand an exorbitant price.


    After all, these were the belongings of an official wizard. Anything in their collection was bound to be extraordinary, and expensive for a wizard apprentice.


    ¡°He will sell it,¡± Toby assured.


    ¡°And the price won¡¯t be too high. These items, whose value he doesn¡¯t know, range from valuable treasures to mere trinkets. Regardless, everything can be bought for a thousand magic stones each. If you trust your judgment, you can buy more items from him,¡± Toby exined.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Lynn nodded.


    ¡°Alright, let me give you the source material first,¡± Toby said. With a touch of his fingertip, a golden spark appeared in the air, expanding into a circle.


    Toby reached into the circle and quickly pulled out an object.


    He ced a bone that resembled a horn on the table.


    The broken horn floated in midair.


    The surrounding air distorted, and faint ck shadows writhed around the horn.


    As Lynn stared at the bone, he felt his entire body weaken, as if his soul was being drawn out.


    He quickly looked away, shocked. What kind of object was this? Even with his current mental strength, just one nce nearly pulled his soul out.


    An ordinary person would likely have their soul sucked away with a single look.


    ¡°This is the Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn,¡± Toby said. ¡°Also known as the broken horn of the Abyss Primordial Wolf Demon.¡±


    ¡°You can use it to create an attack sector. It can absorb energy and release powerful beams to annihte enemies.¡±


    Lynn examined the broken horn. Using legendary or powerful creatures¡¯ organs to create attack sectors was a known practice, leveraging the powers they had in life.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just about cing it in the wizard tower. It required the integration of runes and magic circles to fully unleash its inherent power.


    No wonder Toby said its power could be enhanced with energy from the Abyss Forge.


    This horn belonged to a mighty being from the Abyss. He would need to research the identity of this Abyss Primordial Wolf Demonter.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121


    ¡°Uncle Toby, can you help me look into the disappearance of one of my followers? I¡¯m worried this might be aimed at me. You know I usually stay in seclusion and rarely go out, so for something like this to happen suddenly makes me anxious,¡± Lynn said.


    Toby shook his head. ¡°I knew you were up to something.¡±


    Toby rang a small bell on his desk, and soon a pink-haired demon entered the room.


    Lynn nced at the neer and immediately recognized the familiar face of Fura.


    Fura maintained her usual stern expression. Only when her service was over and she needed a rating would she offer a radiant smile to her customers. Lynn was long ustomed to her demeanor.


    Fura led Lynn to a building behind the service hall.


    Lynn had never been here before, but Fura seemed very familiar with the ce. She took him straight to the second floor.


    The entire building was empty, except for a central district where four sun-corona-likepasses were ced. In the center of each purplepass was a small round mirror. Lynn found the corona-like appearance of thepasses somewhat familiar¡­


    Suddenly, he remembered. This was exactly what he had seen floating outside the window of the airship he had once traveled on, but those were giant versions, while these were miniature replicas.After Fura inquired about the time and ce of the incident, she activated one of the mirrors. The mirror disyed dynamic scenes from a bird¡¯s-eye view. Fura tapped a few runes beside the mirror, and the figures in the scene began to rewind.


    The scene finally paused at the image of a hunched goblin moving in the shadow of a building.


    ¡°Is this the one?¡± Fura asked.


    ¡°It is,¡± Lynn replied, touching the smooth surface of the mirror. He hadn¡¯t expected that the mirror could record all the events happening within Demon City.


    Fura operated the mirror again, zooming in and even rotating the image.


    This was simply like an enormous, all-seeing surveince camera.


    This meant that nothing happening in Demon City could escape surveince and recording. Lynn nced at the other three inactive mirrors, guessing they might monitor the surrounding wilderness¡­


    This was the depth of the Abyss¡¯ demon academies¡¯ resources.


    Such magical alchemical devices, even ced right in front of him, were beyond Lynn¡¯s understanding.


    In the scene disyed within the mirror, a masked wizard apprentice was shown attacking the goblin. He used a prepared magical scroll and had a spell ready to cast.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found him,¡± Fura announced, then continued to track the wizard apprentice. The pursuit led them to an inconspicuous house in the outskirts of Demon City. She quickly fast-forwarded to the present, confirming that no one had left the house, indicating that the wizard apprentice was still inside.


    Fura operated the corona device a few more times, and some text appeared on the mirror¡¯s surface, providing information about the wizard apprentice.


    He was not a registered resident of Demon City and had arrived there 367 days ago. His identity was not recorded in the wizardwork, leaving three possibilities:


    One; the wizard had never used the wizardwork, making him an extremely low-profile individual.


    Two; the wizard¡¯s clearance level in the wizardwork was higher than that of the creator of the Demon Eye.


    Three; he was too weak, merely an apprentice unqualified to use the wizardwork.


    Fura quickly dismissed the second possibility. If he was a wizard of such high caliber, he wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths to kill Lynn¡¯s goblin follower¡ªit would be too absurd.


    The first possibility was also unlikely, as very few wizards had never used the wizardwork. The wizardwork offered many convenient features, essible primarily to official wizards within the main wizarding world. Just like in a modern city, finding people who had never used any inte device was rare. Even if there were, they were definitely rare.


    As for apprentices, they did have ess to the wizardwork, but those eligible were typically affiliated with major factions. Once their information was recorded at their academy, it was backed up in the wizardwork. In specific circumstances, like when traveling to other nes, the wizardwork would automatically activate.


    Lynn learned of this function from Fura. ¡°It actually has that capability,¡± he remarked, quite surprised.


    ¡°The Demon Eye connects to the wizardwork, granting it a portion of its creator¡¯s privileges within thework. It can query and record data,¡± Fura exined.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics. I only know this much,¡± she added quickly, noticing Lynn¡¯s confusion.


    Lynn gazed thoughtfully at the Demon Eye. Could his finished product connect to the wizardwork? Reflecting on how his followers¡¯ transformation rituals required spells from the wizardwork, he began to understand its significance.


    In Lynn¡¯s mind, he envisioned the wizardwork as a colossal super-server from which wizards could draw putational power¡±. ess to this power required permissions¡ªthe higher the clearance, the more power one could utilize.


    Pointing at the mirror, Lynn asked, ¡°Do many people know about its existence?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Fura replied, shaking her head.


    Turning his gaze to the window, Lynn contemted the four colossal coronas suspended in the sky, obscured by clouds and too distant to see clearly. He surmised that wizard apprentices likely wouldn¡¯t be aware of their presence. Even Lynn himself only knew of them due to his connection with Toby.


    He thanked Fura, who eagerly produced a rating form from her pocket. Lynn took the form and, with practiced ease, gave her a perfect score.


    Back at his residence, Lynn summoned Lauren and handed him the address of the wizard apprentice they had identified. Given Lauren¡¯s resistance to spells, dealing with a wizard apprentice should pose no problem for him, as long as no official wizards or wizard towers were involved.


    Lauren donned a cloak and left the house.


    In the outskirts of Demon City, a house was rigged with various magical traps. Two wizard apprentices waited in a second-floor room, keeping vigil.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡± one asked.


    ¡°He should be here soon,¡± the other replied.


    ¡°Do you think he might have guessed it was a trap?¡±


    ¡°Even if he suspects something, what difference does it make? If he doesn¡¯t show up, we¡¯ll just attack more of his followers. It¡¯s a lucrative venture,¡± one of the apprentices wrote on a piece of paper.


    ¡°The reward for this task is substantial. How will we split it?¡± the other replied in writing.


    ¡°The spot for bing an official wizard student goes to me, and I¡¯ll give you an additional 2,000 magic stones.¡±


    ¡°2,000 isn¡¯t enough. Make it 3,000.¡±


    As theymunicated silently, footsteps echoed from outside the door. They exchanged a nce, instinctively putting away their notebook and readying their spells.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    A towering figure burst through the door.


    Immediately, the frost trap at the entrance was triggered, exploding in a shower of icy shards that struck the intruder with a chorus of metallic clinks. On the staircase, a swift light de and a deathly bone arrow shot out simultaneously, hitting the figure with pinpoint uracy. Yet, the intruder did not falter. Moving as if unopposed, the figure leaped onto the second floor.


    Another trap was triggered mid-leap, sending fiery explosions across the intruder¡¯s scales. A massive hand emerged through the mes, grabbing one apprentice¡¯s head and crushing it like a watermelon.


    ¡°Weak.¡±


    With a sharp, whiplike crack, the intruder¡¯s thick tail swung out, sending the other apprentice flying into a wall.


    ¡°Too weak.¡±


    Lauren, half-squatting on the ground, straightened up. The tail that had been swaying behind him coiled around his waist. His arms crossed over his chest, the emerald-green scales on his body catching the flickering firelight from the room and shimmering with a dazzling brilliance.


    Lauren lifted his head, and his golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with delight and fervor. This was the power his master had bestowed upon him!


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122


    Two wizard apprentices, who had recently moved from out of town without proper residency documentation,y dead in their temporary dwelling. No one mourned their loss, and no one seemed to care¡ªexcept for thendlord.


    ¡°This is thirty magic stones for the house repairs,¡± Lynn said, handing thendlord the magic stones.


    ¡°Thank you, friend. Next time you n to burn down a house, give me a heads-up,¡± thendlord said, epting the magic stones with a cheerful grin.


    Returning to the house, Lynn inquired of Lauren, ¡°Did you manage to get any information?¡±


    ¡°Yes, using the method you taught me, master. He didn¡¯tst through the first round before spilling everything,¡± Lauren replied.


    ¡°He confessed that your head has a bounty ced on it by some faction. He and another apprentice took the bounty and came looking for you. They had been lurking around for days, but since you stayed in theboratory, they decided to attack the goblin to draw you out,¡± Lauren exined.


    A bounty on his head? Lynn was intrigued. ¡°How much is my head worth?¡±


    ¡°It can be exchanged for a spot as an official wizard student,¡± Lauren answered.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite low,¡± Lynn mused, touching his neck. Such a low price for his life felt like an insult. Not even magic stones were offered, just a promise of a student quota. Whoever set the bounty was stingy, expecting apprentices to risk their lives for a mere promise.¡°Who ced the bounty?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°A wizard named Biff, currently a mentor at the Dawn Wizard Academy. It¡¯s said he has been an official wizard for over fifty years,¡± Lauren informed him.


    Lynn nodded thoughtfully,mitting the name to memory.


    ¡°The wizard apprentice also said that if they died, others would take up the task, so he hoped we would let him go,¡± Lauren added.


    Lynn chuckled at this and waved his hand dismissively.


    Understanding the gesture, Lauren departed. There was never a limit to the number of people who could take on such tasks.


    Lynn made his way to the service hall, intending to thank Toby. Although it had been a minor favor for Toby, it meant a great deal to Lynn.


    To him, this favor still held great significance.


    Lynn understood well that true friendships required reciprocity, not just one-sided requests.


    He decided to show his gratitude by gifting an Abyss Mother Crab. This crab, with a diameter exceeding one meter, thrived on the edges of the Abyss Mother River. It was known for its exquisite taste but also for its tendency to retreat into the river when threatened, making it extremely rare. In Demon City, obtaining one was nearly impossible, and Lynn had paid 76 magic stones to acquire this crab,parable to a second-level extraordinary creature.


    After leaving the service hall, Lynn nced at the mission board. For wizard apprentices not affiliated with the Abyss Wizard Academy, this was the only ce to ept missions. However, apprentices like Lynn could ess a special handbook containing all historical unepted missions from the board.


    This system indirectly filtered out simpler tasks since they were quickly snatched up upon posting. The remaining missions were of higher difficulty, but they also offered more substantial rewards.


    One mission caught Lynn¡¯s eye: ¡°Recruitment of Laboratory Assistant¡± with a reward of selecting one out of five source materials of choice. The mission had been posted for two months with no takers, which seemed odd given the generous reward.


    Upon inquiring with the staff, Lynn learned the reason. Many wizard apprentices had expressed interest in the mission due to the generous reward, but its requirements were stringent. The first condition was a hard requirement: a mental strength greater than 100. The second condition involved a qualification test, details of which could only be understood upon visiting theboratory.


    While some apprentices met the first criterion, none had yet passed the second. Therefore, the mission remained unfulfilled.


    Lynn believed he could meet the second criterion and was curious about his own current level of qualifications.


    He epted the mission. The staff informed him that due to the repeated failures of previous applicants, the issuing wizard had decided to wait until five applicants had epted the mission before conducting the test. Including Lynn, there were now four apprentices who had taken up the challenge. They needed just one more to proceed.


    Lynn wasn¡¯t in a hurry and told them to notify him once the group wasplete.


    Returning to his residence, Lynn dove into a new round of research. He began to delve deeper into runology. He realized that with his current level of runology¡ªlevel 2 at 15%¡ªconstructing a wizard tower would be a bit challenging.


    Some wizard apprentices would enlist help, either by calling on others to assist in building the tower or by paying an official wizard to help design certain aspects. However, Lynn believed that such a crucial structure should be entirely his own creation.


    This meant that his skill level needed to be exceptionally high. Ack of proficiency would render the wizard tower construction inadequate.


    Yet, Lynn relished this learning environment. He thoroughly enjoyed acquiring new knowledge, especially with the progress bar system that added a sense of anticipation to each learning session.


    After a week of intensive study, Lynn attended sses rted to his fields of mastery. Soon, he received a notification from the staff informing him that the required number of applicants had been met.


    Lynn headed to the service hall to meet the others. Among the five, he recognized three apprentices from his runology sses. Though he wasn¡¯t familiar with their abilities, he knew they had all surpassed the 100 points of mental strength threshold.


    Upon seeing Lynn, the three of them greeted him with polite nods.


    In stark contrast to the familiar camaraderie among the four of them, thest apprentice, who stood alone at the edge, appeared somewhat aloof. He carried two short swords¡ªone red, one blue¡ªon his back. His features were strikingly androgynous, with an air of haughty detachment.


    As he observed the interaction between the four, a trace of disdain flickered across his face. To him, the notion of camaraderie seemed absurd. Only the weak sought sce in groups, while the strong stood solitary. This was a selection process for aptitude, and grouping together was of no use.


    A staff member produced an invitation that Lynn recognized immediately. As the invitation was torn, the very fabric of space seemed to rend, revealing a door that appeared in the center of the room.


    One by one, the group entered through the door. Lynn nced around, noting that this was not the same entry point he had seen before.


    It was an unfamiliar one.


    Soon, a figure arrived to guide them¡ªa being floating just above the ground, shrouded in a ck cloak that made it resemble a specter.


    The specter-like figure circled around the group and then, with anguid turn, began to drift away. A rasping voice echoed directly into their minds, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Lynn and the others followed behind. The other wizard apprentices curiously examined their surroundings, asionally eximed in amazement.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123


    A hunched figure stood in theboratory.


    He lifted his head to gaze at the ceiling, while beside him, an old many in an ice coffin. The old man¡¯s face was pale, his eyes tightly shut.


    The hunched figure slowly pulled back his hood, revealing a withered, greenish-purple face. His pupils were jet ck, with deep mes seeming to burn within their depths.


    ¡°Why can I toy with the undead at will, yet still not extend your life?¡±


    The wizard muttered to himself.


    As he looked at the old man in the ice coffin, his mind wandered across the long stretch of years, back to his childhood hundreds of years ago.


    His parents were a pair of first-level wizard apprentices. Finding it difficult to advance due to their limited aptitude, they had returned to their hometown to have him. Immersed in the world of wizards from a young age, he had developed an early interest in wizardry.


    Though his own aptitude wasn¡¯t remarkable, it was significantly better than his parents¡¯. After mastering all the knowledge he could, he set out for the wizard academy entrance exams with their blessings.


    That year, he was full of youthful vigor, waving goodbye to his parents and family.¡°Little one, I look forward to the day you get into the wizard academy. You will be my pride,¡± his father had called out encouragingly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your father. Even if you only learn to roast sweet potatoes, I will be proud of you. For in my eyes, you will have learned a new skill,¡± his mother had said gently.


    He had embarked on his new life, full of hope, while his parents stood at the door, watching him leave, wishing him a bright future. Their figures gradually blurred as he walked away.


    After many hardships and challenges, he finally crossed the threshold and became an official wizard. He suddenly felt an urge to boast about his sess to his parents. In the eyes of others, he was a cold, ruthless wizard, but only in front of them did he show his remaining bit of tenderness. Returning to his hometown, he discovered that his parents had grown old and frail.


    Over the years, he had exhausted all means to extend their lives, consuming vast resources and much of his energy.


    Many of his peers, who had broken throughter than he did, had now reached higher levels, while he progressed slowly.


    Some had advised him that it wasn¡¯t worth it. With his mediocre aptitude, bing an official wizard was already a rare stroke of luck. He needed to seize every opportunity and strive to climb higher and farther.


    But he was stubborn, resolute.


    A pair of aged fingers lightly brushed over the ice coffin, and the wizard¡¯s expression remained serene.


    The mirror beside him showed the image of Lynn and his group being led into the wizard tower. The wizard closed his eyes, then opened them again, and turned to leave theboratory.


    ¡°I am the wizard who issued the task. You may call me Wizard Dragon.¡±


    ¡°First, let¡¯s test your aptitude. Drop a bit of your blood onto this and then inject your mental strength into it.¡± Dragon took out a crystal ball.


    Some of the wizard apprentices in the room hesitated, wary of the blood ritual. It didn¡¯t appear entirely trustworthy.


    ¡°Rest assured, this procedure has passed the academy¡¯s requirements. There are no hidden curses or traps. All tasks published through the academy are monitored by the wizardwork,¡± Dragon exined.


    The lone apprentice standing aside unsheathed the sword from his back and shed his palm. Blood trickled down, drenching the crystal ball. The surface of the ball absorbed the blood, its color turning vivid, and the once-clear orb now glowed with a faint luminescence.


    As his palm pressed against it, and with the infusion of his mental energy, the color within the crystal ball began to shift. A bright blue light gathered at the base, slowly rising. It finally stopped, having filled four-fifths of the orb.


    The apprentice released his hand and looked at Dragon.


    ¡°Your aptitude is quite impressive,¡± Dragon praised. ¡°Aptitude is ssified into five grades from low to high. Yours falls into the second grade.¡±


    He smiled. ¡°With diligent study and a bit of luck, bing an official wizard shouldn¡¯t be difficult for you.¡±


    The other three apprentices tested their aptitudes one by one. The best among them only reached the third grade, while the other two were fourth grade.


    First grade was the highest, and fifth grade the lowest.


    Dragon consoled the apprentices. ¡°Your aptitudes are decent. For instance, my aptitude was only fourth grade. Remember, aptitude is merely the starting point, not the destination.¡±


    When it was Lynn¡¯s turn, he dropped his blood onto the crystal ball and infused it with his mental energy. The crystal ball began to absorb the surrounding ambient mental particles, almost as if it were meditating on its own.


    Lynn observed thoughtfully, beginning to understand the crystal ball¡¯s function.


    It seemed that the crystal ball was designed to mimic the host¡¯s blood for meditation, temporarily absorbing the mental particles from the surrounding air.


    However, this absorption was only temporary, and the mental particles could not be stored. Still, it was sufficient to test the efficiency of meditation.


    In just a few breaths, the crystal ball in front of him was filled with a bright blue light.


    ¡°First-grade aptitude!¡± Dragon paused, looking at Lynn with a deep, probing gaze. The first-grade ssification indicated the highest measurable limit, not necessarily Lynn¡¯s ultimate potential. He had noticed that the blue light¡¯s rise still had some residual force.


    ¡°Your aptitude is truly rare. With adequate resources, attaining the status of an official wizard should not be difficult for someone with first-grade aptitude,¡± Dragon remarked.


    ¡°Given this, the two of you will proceed,¡± Dragon said, pointing to Lynn and the solitary, aloof apprentice. ¡°The rewards will be distributed as stated. Each of you may select one source material.¡±


    Having been selected, Lynn found himself with additional duties, assisting Dragon in his experiments.


    It was clearly stated from the beginning that Dragon was conducting experiments rted to undead studies.


    The foundation knowledge of undead studies required from the apprentices was not high; they merely needed to be obedient and cooperative with the experiments.


    As Lynn delved into the experiments, he learned that Dragon was researching a soul extension ritual.


    Compared to the decay of the physical body, the soul also decays, albeit at a much slower rate. When the soul reaches the end of its decay, it signifies the end of life.


    Dragon¡¯s research focused on rejuvenating the souls of ordinary people.


    The strength of a soul increases with a wizard¡¯s meditation, and a powerful soul is the foundation for epting various transformations and transformation rituals.


    As the experiments progressed, Lynn¡¯s understanding of soul studies deepened significantly.


    He even gained a new Life upation¡ªSoul Studies.


    Unlike undead studies, soul studies is a separate discipline, although the two are closely rted.


    Much like the rtionship between bloodline studies and mutation studies, undead studies and soul studies have many simrities and oveps.


    The higher a wizard¡¯s meditation efficiency, the more sensitive their perception of the soul. Dragon¡¯s experiment required precise capture of soul particles. Lynn and the other apprentice¡¯s daily work involved observing the efficiency of different ritual arrays in absorbing soul particles. This was why he needed high-aptitude apprentices.


    Dragon was developing a ritual that could passively absorb and enhance the soul. If sessful, even ordinary people could gradually strengthen their souls by staying within the ritual array, indirectly extending their lifespan.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124


    In the dimly lit room, the air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt bones and ash. The crimson ritual circle cast an eerie glow, and Abraham sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed in concentration. At his palms rested an erged crystal ball.


    After a considerable amount of time, Abraham opened his eyes. ¡°The efficiency of soul particle absorption has increased by 32%. The use of the white jade bones is indeed quite effective.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve seen a 30.51% improvement on my endpared to thest trial,¡± Lynn replied. ¡°It seems this isn¡¯t an isted case. The new batch of ritual arrays is generally performing better than the previous ones.¡±


    ¡°It looks like we¡¯re nearing our target. Once weplete this experiment, we can start selecting source materials. Do you have any preferences?¡± Abraham asked casually.


    ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll decideter,¡± Lynn said nonchntly.


    ncing at Abraham, Lynn couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly. Initially, he had thought Abraham was merely a solitary figure, but as time passed and they interacted more, Lynn discovered that beneath the seemingly aloof exterior was someone who was a chatterbox. In short, he was abination of an introvert and socially anxious person.


    This guy had a lot of inner drama. Despite having lived for over 60 years, Abraham had no friends in Demon City and spent most of his time buried in hisboratory. His demeanor and disposition were no different from that of a young person¡¯s.


    Lynn realized he was not much different. Most of his time in Demon City had also been spent in theboratory.


    ¡°How about visiting myboratory after we¡¯re done here? I tried out the feedback you gave me on my alchemical creationst time, and it actually proved to be effective,¡± Abraham suggested, his eyes filled with some admiration.Lynn not only had better innate talent but also a deeper understanding of alchemical studiespared to him. Afterpleting his experiments with Dragon, he would often engage in discussions with Lynn. Initially, he approached these exchanges with a sense of testing and showing off his own knowledge.


    However, the more they conversed, the more astonished he became. Lynn¡¯s mastery of alchemical studies was overwhelmingly superior, leaving him feeling utterly outssed. It was almost as if he were listening to a formal lecture given by an official wizard.


    ¡°Not today, I have other matters to attend to,¡± Lynn declined.


    Abraham¡¯s face fell slightly with disappointment upon hearing Lynn¡¯s refusal.


    The Abyss Market was set to open again tomorrow, and Lynn had promised Toby that he would visit the market to acquire a specific item.


    During this period, Lynn also spent some time studying the Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn that Toby had given him. Naturally, this source material couldn¡¯t be used by simply attaching it to the wizard tower as if it were a child¡¯s toy. It required an in-depth analysis of the energy nodes within it. Furthermore, he had to construct relevant magic arrays to channel the energy from the horn, integrating these arrays with the energy node system of both the Abyss Forge and the entire wizard tower.


    The task required an application of both magic array knowledge and runology. Guiding the Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn was proving to be a particrly challenging issue, and Lynn had been troubled by it recently.


    Unlike other source materials he had worked with before¡ªsuch as the Abyss Forge, which came with established construction methods that allowed Lynn to directly reference how others had utilized them¡ªthe Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn was entirely new.


    This wasn¡¯t giarism; at most, it could be called borrowing ideas.


    However, the Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn was a source material that no one had ever used before, requiring Lynn to create everything from scratch. The only rtively good news was that, although no other wizard had used the Dalfyn¡¯s Evil Horn, some had used simr items. For instance, Lynn discovered that one wizard had used the horn of a Celestial Unicorn to create an attack sector in their wizard tower.


    That wizard was someone Lynn was acquainted with, the same Maybetessa with whom he had interacted twice before.


    Unfortunately, the wizard tower manual only included the construction method for the attack sector andcked data on other processes or methodologies. Lynn felt a pang of regret.


    It was akin to having the answer to a math problem without the steps or reasoning behind it. You could copy the answer, but understanding how it was derived¡ªthe process, the methodology, the relevant points of knowledge¡ªwas missing.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but regretfully wish that Lady Maybetessa would be willing to share her construction process for the Celestial Unicorn sector from her first-level wizard tower. However, he knew this was wishful thinking. There was no way an official wizard would entertain such an audacious request from him.


    Even knowing Nocturne wouldn¡¯t help in this situation. Although the information might not be critically important, it still contained the foundational ideas for constructing a sector. A professional could potentially derive significant insights from it. Lynn understood this well, as he himself would never share such data with anyone.


    The next day, Lynn arrived once again in the ne where the Abyss Market was located, having made ample preparations.


    Following him was the four-armed brute force demon, still serving as his trantor.


    He took the egg out of his spatial ring and crushed it. A thick, nauseating stench wafted from the egg, dripping onto the red sandstone ground.


    Lynn pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands, realizing that the fly demon had not warned him about the egg¡¯s foul odor.


    Looking up at the dimly lit sky, he was interrupted by a tremor from the ground. Turning around, he saw two Abyss Giant Rhinoceroses charging towards him, each bearing a demon rider.


    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± one of the demons riding the Abyss Giant Rhinoceroses shouted, pointing directly at Lynn.


    The demon had been waiting here for two days specifically to ambush Lynn. Thest time Lynn hade to the market, he had thrown the demon out.


    This time, he had called upon his older brother, a fourth-level Horned Demon, for assistance.


    The demon¡¯s desire to teach Lynn a harsh lesson burned brightly. He was determined to make the human look foolish and disgraced.


    The four-armed brute force demon stepped forward, positioning itself in front of Lynn. Its massive arms extended in defense, causing the charging Abyss Giant Rhinoceroses toe to an abrupt halt. The fourth-level Horned Demon, with its powerful limbs, grappled with the brute force demon, but the struggle was short-lived. A force far exceeding the Horned Demon¡¯s limits surged through its arms. In an instant, both the demon and the Abyss Giant Rhinoceros it rode were sent soaring high into the air.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    Dust billowed up in a thick cloud.


    The fourth-level Horned Demon struggled to its feet, casting a fearful nce at the four-armed brute force demon. Without a word, it seized the younger brother, twisting the smaller demon¡¯s neck with a brutal efficiency. The lifeless body was dropped on the ground as the Horned Demon knelt, begging for mercy from Lynn.


    Despite itsck of intelligence, it knew well enough who held the real power.


    ¡°You handle it in the Abyss way,¡± Lynn instructed.


    The four-armed brute force demon nced at Lynn and gave a shy, honest smile, gripping the Horned Demon with both of its hands.


    The fourth-level Horned Demon attempted to resist, but its strength was no match for the brute force demon. Against a creature one whole level above it, it was powerless, easily ravaged without any resistance.


    It was like eating freshly squeezed fruit, tossing them into its mouth one after another.


    Fresh blood sttered everywhere.


    It was a straightforward, pragmatic solution.


    Lynn suddenly found himself quite fond of this ce.


    Apanied by the brute force demon, Lynn made his way to the market. On the distant hill, a shadow grewrger, moving with incredible speed¡ªalmost as if it were gliding just above the ground.


    The buzzing sound grew louder, and a faint smile appeared on Lynn¡¯s otherwise calm face.


    He spread his arms wide. ¡°Oh, my dear friend, you¡¯ve arrived!¡±


    The fly demon descended from the sky and embraced Lynn warmly, carefully retracting its sharp spikes.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite fast,¡± Lynn remarked with a smile.


    ¡°Haha, I was just nearby at the market. I guessed you¡¯de. Over the years, I¡¯ve collected quite a few interesting items,¡± the fly demon replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ve also prepared many good things. We¡¯ll talk more about itter,¡± Lynn said, patting the fly demon¡¯s¡­ back, mindful of the numerous spikes on its shoulders and arms.


    Lynn arrived at the market alongside the fly demon and approached the central market administrator, where he procured a stall permit.


    ¡°I heard that you can purchase items here,¡± Lynn said, directing his gaze towards the administrator sitting behind the stall.


    The administrator set aside the magic book in his hand and gestured with a dismissive wave. ¡°Not me, but him.¡±


    Following the administrator¡¯s line of sight, Lynn looked in the indicated direction and was startled to discover another person seated there. Had the administrator not pointed it out, Lynn might have missed the presence of this individual entirely. A sudden chill ran down his spine as he realized that despite his thorough search of the area, he had overlooked this person.


    On the ground was a patch of yellow bup, and upon it sat an old man. His beard and hair were long and tangled, spreading across the floor in a thickyer. The old man¡¯s features were rigid, his head bowed, and his clouded eyes stared vacantly at the ground.


    Lynn carefully stepped through the gap next to the stall and squatted in front of the old man. He took a discreet look at the itemsid out for sale. The collection included a worn-out kettle, a gem obscured by a thickyer of grime, and a colorful snakeskin pouch¡­


    Among the assortment of gemstones, Lynn spotted a pink stone, buried beneathyers of dust. It was unclear how long it had been there.


    Lynn picked up the pink stone, and as he did, he felt a peculiar sensation of being watched.


    Without hesitation, he retrieved a thousand magic stones from his ring and ced them on the ground.


    Strangely, the magic stones vanished as soon as they touched the yellow bup of the stall.


    The unsettling feeling of being observed dissipated along with the disappearance of the magic stones.


    Lynn didn¡¯t bother to examine the other items; he simply bypassed them. He was confident in his discerning eye and saw no need to unt his knowledge.


    ¡°What did you buy?¡± the fly demon inquired, peeking over to get a better look.


    ¡°This. I bought it for someone else.¡± Lynn said casually, showing the pink crystal he had purchased.


    ¡°This?¡± The fly demon pondered for a moment before reaching into its ring and pulling out a matching pink crystal. ¡°Is it this?¡±


    The crystal was oval in shape, rtively small, and uniformly colored, but it matched the pink crystal Lynn held in his hand exactly.


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. A demon merchant in the Pale ins sold it to me. I consulted some other demons, and they said it might be something from you wizards, though it¡¯s not edible,¡± the fly demon replied, tossing the crystal to Lynn. ¡°It¡¯s yours. I have no idea what it is anyway.¡±


    Lynn instinctively caught the crystal. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried it might be some sort of treasure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried various methods to no avail. It¡¯s of no value to me,¡± the fly demon said, its eyes darting around. ¡°But I¡¯m quite curious about what the items you¡¯ve brought this time are.¡±


    ¡­


    Above the vast mountain ranges, a colossal tree stretched from earth to sky, holding the world in its embrace. The stars hung like ripened fruit on the branches of this towering tree, swaying in the celestial expanse.


    At the very pinnacle of this immense tree stood a grand and indescribable twelve-columned divine temple, its splendor extending as far as the eye could see. Above this divine temple, a colorful fruit, brimming with infinite mysteries, was on the verge of ripening, its alluring aroma wafting outward.


    The fragrance permeated the divine temple, awakening the consciousness that had been dormant above the twelve divine thrones, each engulfed in magnificent divine fire.


    The dispersing scent stirred the slumbering consciousness above the divine thrones. The consciousness awakened from the slumber began to capture the particles of information that had seeped into the void over the years, retrieving all the memories of the events that had urred during their long period of sleep.


    The once vague and grand consciousness intertwined, and in an instant,munication waspleted.


    ¡°The actions of those wizards have be increasingly radical over the years. They are trying to break the bnce that was so hard to establish back then.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that to be expected? With the impending ripeness of Him, who wouldn¡¯t be tempted?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, some wizards remain moderate, but there are also those radical wizards who persistently incite war.¡±


    ¡°And some wizards are entangling themselves with the Abyss once again? What are they nning?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to teach these wizards a lesson.¡±


    Messages rapidly exchanged within the divine temple.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 125

    ¡°This is the goods I¡¯ve prepared for this trip,¡± the fly demon said, leading Lynn to its stall.


    In front of the stall, a little demon was stationed, keeping watch. The fly demon waved casually, and the little demon quickly stepped aside, clearing the way for Lynn and the fly demon to approach the stall.


    The fly demon¡¯s stall was quite spacious, about the size of a ssroom. It was not just filled with inanimate objects; there were also some living creatures.


    ¡°These are the goods I have for trade,¡± the fly demon exined. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you wizards prefer, so I¡¯ve prepared a variety of things. Once you decide what interests you, we can arrange arger transaction next time.¡±


    ¡°What kind of bug is this?¡± Lynn¡¯s gaze fell on a creature before him¡ªthe size of a tabletop, with a shell bearing a small, tower-like mound on its back. Upon closer inspection, he could see that this mound was made of assorted debris, including small rocks, twigs, and even bits of trash.


    The bugy quietly on the ground, its only movement being the slight twitching of its antennae, which indicated that it was still alive.


    ¡°That¡¯s an infernal bug,¡± the fly demon answered. ¡°Some demons use them as pack animals. These infernal bugs have a natural inclination to carry loads on their backs from birth. They¡¯ll climb to great heights while bearing these loads, and they would rather work themselves to death than stop.¡±


    ¡°You can make these infernal bugs walk continuously by blocking their vision with a cover, so they can only see the sky and not their feet. They¡¯ll keep moving forward, and they require minimal sustenance while working hard. Interested?¡±


    Lynn crouched down and observed the bug on the ground. Its eyes were covered, rendering it motionless and docile.¡°I¡¯m not interested. It needs to be fed. I preferbor that doesn¡¯t require food,¡± Lynn said with a smile.


    The fly demon chuckled strangely when it heard that. ¡°You are more like a demon than I am!¡±


    Lynn simply smiled in response. After all, weren¡¯t gargoyles the same way?


    There were also some alchemical creatures that only needed to absorb ambient energy to sustain themselves. Simply put, ¡°drinking the northwest wind<sup>1</sup>¡± can make them full¡ªmuch more convenient than the bugs.


    This was one reason alchemical creatures were so popr among wizards: they were easy to maintain, loyal, and not afraid of death.


    ¡°This is the demon blood essence. I heard that many wizards like to purchase this.¡± The fly demon pointed to a jar filled with a viscous, blood-red substance that emitted a strong, metallic odor.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take some of this,¡± Lynn decided. He knew that demon blood essence could be used to create a rudimentary bloodline potion through special methods. When consumed by any creature, it would impart a portion of the demon¡¯s bloodline to them, as long as they survived the process.


    Lynn was now well-versed in this level of research.


    In truth, many wizards, including apprentices, employed this method. Besides crafting alchemical constructs through alchemy, it was amon practice to quickly create a batch of familiars with unique bloodlines.


    The only concern was the loyalty of these familiars with special bloodlines. However, wizards had numerous methods to coerce and manipte their subordinates.


    Lynn thought he could buy some and select a few from the lot for transformation. If sessful, they would be an artificial army of demon goblins.


    ¡°These are ores unique to the Abyss. See if any of them interest you,¡± the fly demon said.


    After receiving permission from the fly demon, Lynn took several samples and conducted a brief test on the performance of these ores. He had to admit that the ores from the Abyss had their own advantages.


    Firstly, they could withstand the power of demons without being corroded. Demon power possessed a corrosive quality that could damage items it came into contact with. Only special or exceptionally powerful weapons could resist this corrosion.


    For powerful beings with self-sustaining energy fields, this minor corrosion was negligible, but for ordinary humans, it posed a significant danger. There were frequent stories of humans finding weapons once used by demons and then being controlled by demonic influence, gaining power and causing bloody chaos.


    Such tales were not baseless; weapons used by demons for extended periods often carried a portion of their power within them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take these batches of ores,¡± Lynn said. ¡°In exchange, I¡¯ll craft weapons for you free of charge. We can split the results 50-50¡ªhalf for you, half for me. How does that sound?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the fly demon¡¯s alreadyrge eyes grew even wider and brighter. It rubbed its two thin, fly-like legs together in excitement.


    ¡°Is there really such a good deal?¡±


    While demons in the Abyss excelled at destruction, they were far from skilled at creation. Asking them to craft was akin to asking a group of iron-forging, beer-drinking dwarves to perform ballet. Consequently, demons typically captured and enved races skilled in crafting.


    Now, with wizards in the mix, things have improved significantly. Wizards could coborate with demons, but while the purchase price of ores was rtively high, the selling price of the weapons was even higher.


    It generally took about ten parts of ores to produce a weapon worth only one part of ore.


    ¡°However, I do have some conditions,¡± Lynn said, narrowing his eyes with a smile.


    The fly demon was not surprised that Lynn would stipte additional conditions. In fact, if Lynn had proposed no terms at all, it would have been strange.


    ¡°My conditions are as follows: I need you to expand your influence as much as possible. I¡¯m looking for a partner who is ambitious and driven. Specifically, I require a batch of high-level demon ves. While the level doesn¡¯t need to be particrly high, their lineage must be prestigious. Furthermore, all the weapons I sell to you must be brought back to me for after-sales maintenance,¡± Lynn exined.


    ¡°I need exclusive after-sales rights. Naturally, I will also provide one year of free warranty and after-sales service for the weapons I sell. In truth, a year seems quite generous, considering that demons are prone to frequent battles and the weapons are likely to see much more usepared to other races,¡± Lynn added.


    Upon hearing that Lynn was willing to offer a year of free after-sales service, the fly demon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Lynn retrieved a pen and paper from his spatial ring, ¡°I will begin drafting a contract for you now.¡±


    The fly demon stood behind Lynn.


    ¡¶Weapon After-Sales Service Contract¡·<ol><li>Weapon repair services will be provided by Wizard Lynn, his followers, and rted cooperative partners. If the user modifies the weapon privately or takes it to a non-affiliated shop for repairs, after-sales service will be void, and relevant liabilities will be pursued.</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>Weapon damage will be assessed by Lynn. Repairs will be free only if the damage is caused by normalbat use. Damage resulting from improper use or alternative applications of the weapon will not be repaired.</li></ol><ol start="3"><li>The free repair period begins from the date of weapon delivery. We offer extended warranty services: an additional 2 years can be obtained for just 5% of the weapon¡¯s original value, 5 years for 15%, and a lifetime extension for 50% of the weapon¡¯s value, giving your weapon a second chance at life.</li></ol><ol start="4"><li>Additionally, Lynn¡¯s team offers free weapon upgrades, with a guarantee that material wastage will not exceed 50%.</li></ol>


    ¡­


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N:


    -The idiom ¡°ºÈÎ÷±±·ç¡± (h¨¥ x¨©b¨§i f¨¥ng) literally trantes to ¡°drink the northwest wind.¡±


    -It is a Chinese expression used to describe a situation where someone is so poor or in such dire straits that they have nothing to eat or survive on, so they are left with nothing but the cold wind to sustain them. Essentially, it means to be in extreme poverty or to live in destitution. ??</li></ol><svg ss="icon icon-cat"><use xlink:href="#icon-cat"></use></svg>


    I Am Doing Daily Tasks in the Wizarding World</a>


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 Chapter 126

    ¡°That contract of yours¡­ it¡¯s quite professional,¡± the fly demon said slowly, nodding with a trace of admiration.


    In truth, it had not fully understood the contract.


    Although it was rtively brief, with only twelve uses, the specialized terminology made it seem somewhat obscure.


    Nevertheless, it had managed to slog through a couple of books and could grasp a general sense of it. It was clear that Lynn had structured the contract in a way that afforded him certain advantages.


    However, it was not overly concerned, and in fact, it felt a sense of relief.


    If Lynn had demanded nothing at all, the fly demon would have been far more uneasy.


    A business partner who requires no share of the profits¡ªwhat could their true intentions be?


    Having lived in the Abyss for many years, the fly demon had witnessed its share of cruelties and deceit. It had been raised amidst the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Abyss and had seen many of its darker sides.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have enough ores here, but I recently discovered a vein controlled by a demon n. If you can provide the weapons, I¡¯ll find a way to seize that vein,¡± the fly demon said.¡°Then I look forward to our cooperation,¡± Lynn said with a beaming smile.


    Aside from the blood essence, ores, and high-level demon ves, Lynn was not particrly interested in any of the other items offered by the fly demon. Before leaving, he made sure to hand over the drafted contract.


    Upon returning to Demon City, Lynn retrieved the pink gemstone he had purchased from the market and ced it on the table.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about what this is?¡± Toby asked.


    Lynn nodded and then shook his head. If Toby wanted to say more, he would.


    ¡°You¡¯re familiar with the Abyss Mother River, right?


    ¡°The Abyss is a collection of all things forsaken and destroyed, but where there is death, there is also life. It¡¯s unimaginable that life could emerge from such a ravaged ce, but indeed, it was in the primordial Abyss Mother River that the first group of Abyss Demon Gods were born.


    ¡°Since the first generation of Abyss Demon Gods, as the Abyss continued to consume the nes and expand its dominion, the reach of the Abyss Mother River also grew.


    ¡°Over time, the Abyss Mother River gave rise to the ancient and primordial Abyss Great Lords, the Abyss Sovereigns, and the Abyss Lords.


    ¡°Until now, the Abyss Mother River no longer gave birth to powerful beings, but instead had transitioned from a qualitative to a quantitative role, producing a vast number of demon eggs daily. These eggs hatched into the countless demons that filled the Abyss.


    ¡°And this crystal came from the Abyss Mother River,¡± Toby exined to Lynn.


    Was this also an egg?


    Lynn eyed the pink crystal on the table. Could collecting a hundred of these pink crystals summon a demon lord?


    Toby continued, ¡°Legend has it that long ago, a powerful Abyss Great Lord was in by a formidable enemy, leaving behind only a fragment of its soul, which managed to drift into the Abyss Mother River. Thanks to the river¡¯s nurturing, after tens of thousands of years, the Abyss Great Lord was reborn, its strength greatly enhanced. It not only reimed its lost territory from its enemies but also touched the realm of the Demon God.¡±


    Lynn suddenly thought of something, and looked at the pink crystal on the table.


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s reaction, Toby understood that Lynn had made the connection.


    ¡°Every six years, the river generates a soul crystal.¡±


    Good lord! It seemed he had indeed guessed correctly.


    Lynn¡¯s mouth twitched¡ªthis was a huge pitfall.


    Over 2,000 years meant at least 400 crystals. Who knows how long it would take to collect 400 crystals in the vast Abyss? If one of them was identally picked up by a demon and taken home as a decorative stone, who knew when he would be able to find it?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this task is too heavy,¡± Lynn said, retrieving another pink crystal and cing it on the table alongside the broken horn of the Abyss Primordial Wolf Demon.


    Though Toby did not explicitly say it, Lynn knew that epting certain items came with responsibilities and burdens.


    ¡°I said that as long as you brought back this crystal, the broken horn would be yours. I understand this task is challenging¡­¡± Toby said slowly. His expression remained calm, but a deep weariness and sense of loss was evident in his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s impressive that you managed to bring back two,¡± Toby continued.


    ¡°No worries. If youe across other soul crystals in the future, just bring them along if you can. It would be greatly appreciated.¡± Toby pushed the broken horn towards Lynn. ¡°This horn is a gift for you. It holds no value for me, but it might be of some use to you.¡±


    Lynn was silent for a moment, grasping the broken horn of the Abyss Primordial Wolf Demon. His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip.


    After standing still for a moment, Lynn turned and walked towards the door.


    ¡°Actually,¡± Toby¡¯s voice sounded from behind, ¡°perhaps even the wizard who created that ritual didn¡¯t truly believe it would seed.


    ¡°The soul crystal could not be detected by any form of divination. Apart from its indestructible nature, it possessed no other mystical properties, making the search for it in the vast Abyss akin to finding a needle in a haystack.


    ¡°There is also a specific point in the ritual. It recurs every 3,000 years. 500 of these crystals must be gathered within 100 days at the end of each 3,000 year cycle, or it will start anew¡­ This ritual is called the Redemption of the Abyss, but the Abyss has never been about redemption¡­¡±


    <em>Bang</em>¡ª


    The murmuring ceased abruptly with the sound of the door closing with a thud.


    ¡­


    ¡°Hey, where did you go?¡± came the exuberant voice of Ido from next door. ¡°I just bought thend next door at half the market price. My negotiating skills are unparalleled. If you need anything next time, let me handle the bargaining for you.¡±


    Lynn walked directly through the door, ignoring Ido¡¯s enthusiasm.


    Ido, seeing that Lynn had not turned towards her throughout, wrinkled her delicate nose. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡±


    ¡°Did you find any promising candidates among the goblins with engineering talent?¡± Lynn asked the goblin engineers.


    The goblin engineers responded in a flurry of voices, excitedly discussing their findings.


    Among the newly emerged goblins, they had identified a promising group. 35 goblins in total had begun their training, though progress was slow without the transformation ritual tokens.


    Lynn had already arranged for inquiries into purchasing the necessary raw materials for the transformation ritual.


    He had the ritual array. With the right raw materials, he could performrge-scale transformations for the goblins.


    However, in the next decade, Lynn knew he would need to engage in a more substantial coboration with the fly demon.


    Over theing ten years, Lynn nned to prepare arge number of followers adept at weapon production. Such a task was definitely impossible for him, a wizard apprentice, to do it himself.


    Meanwhile, the fly demon, having packed up, boarded its evil-winged bird and headed towards the far side of the ins.


    In the vast kingdom, buildings reflecting both demonic and elven styles were scattered across the ins.


    Large groups of dark half-elves, transformed by the Abyss¡¯ influence, were proliferating and thriving across thend.


    At the heart of the ins, atop a mountain, a white castle came into view.


    The flying creature descended, and the fly demon entered the castle.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± In the heart of the castle, Dyo, d in blood-red armor in her seat, turned her head to inquire.


    ¡°It has beenpleted,¡± the fly demon replied. ¡°However, he and I struck a deal as well. He left this for me before he departed.¡± The fly demon recounted the terms of the transaction with Lynn and handed Dyo the contract Lynn had written.


    Dyo nced at the document and a knowing smile crept across her face. ¡°It seems he suspected that I was behind you.¡±


    ¡°How could it be? I didn¡¯t say a word,¡± the fly demon eximed in shock.


    ¡°Do you understand the contents of this contract?¡± Dyo inquired.


    The fly demon shook its head.


    ¡°Then why did he insist on giving it to you?¡± Dyo questioned.


    The fly demon suddenly realized.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t give it for you to read; it was meant for me.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 127

    In theboratory, the liquid in the test tube was clear and bright, like an uncut natural ruby, radiating a magnificent and magical glow.


    This was a demon bloodline potion, formted using the essence of demon flesh and blood. For Lynn, who had prior experience with lizard-man potions, creating a potion infused with a demon¡¯s bloodline was not particrly challenging.


    However, the sess rate of this potion was still unproven. Firstly, demon blood was notoriously difficult to fuse, and the more powerful the creature, the harder it was to integrate its bloodline. Demon blood, in particr, was notoriously vtile.


    Secondly, this was Lynn¡¯s first attempt at crafting such a bloodline reagent. He did not expect to create a perfect product on his first try, acknowledging that there was much room for improvement and refinement.


    Lynn ced the test tube on a nearby rack and bent down to clean the flesh and blood remnants from theboratory table. After washing his hands and drying them with a cloth, he turned to his assistant, ¡°Did you learn it? I¡¯ve demonstrated it three times.¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± Liszt replied.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯ll be making the potions from now on,¡± Lynn said, then looked at Lauren and beckoned him over. ¡°Where are the goblins?¡±


    Lauren pulled a line of goblins, each no taller than his thigh, from a nearby corridor.


    ¡°Master, these are the ones with the best physical attributes,¡± Lauren said.¡°Take them to get the reagents injected,¡± Lynn instructed, waving his hand.


    Lauren looked down at the goblins he was holding. The little goblins looked up at him, bewildered, not knowing what was about to happen. Holding their hands, Lauren led them into a small adjacent room, the ten little goblins following like a clueless entourage.


    Lauren filled a syringe with the reagent and began administering it to the goblins one by one.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    The second goblin injected couldn¡¯t withstand the demon bloodline and exploded.


    The third goblin followed suit, its body blowing apart into pieces too small for even the best puzzle master to reassemble.


    When the door opened again, Lauren emerged, covered in blood and carrying two goblins whose pupils had turned dark red and whose auras had drastically changed.


    ¡°20% sess rate. Looks like it needs further improvement. Take them to test their physical attributes,¡± Lynn said, shifting his gaze back to his work.


    The sess rate might fluctuate somewhat, but whether it rises or falls, around 20% is far from sufficient. The losses were too great; the profit lost in the process outweighs the cost of directly purchasing ready-made ves from the market and then training them.


    Not all wizards cultivate their followers from scratch. Aside from well-established factions that have aplete system in ce, it¡¯s generally a time-consuming process for ordinary wizards to cultivate followers.


    Lynn¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t entirely on this at the moment. However, to be a first-level wizard, he had nearly met all the requirements. What remained were the transformation ritual to be a wizard, thepletion of his wizard tower, and the training of his followers.


    ¡°Improving the demon bloodline potion is now your responsibility,¡± Lynn said to Liszt. ¡°I hope to see results within twenty years.¡±


    Liszt felt the weight of the task but nodded resolutely. Although it was a heavy burden, it was also an opportunity. If he were merely replicating existing potion forms, any apprentice with some knowledge of alchemical studies could rece him. Only by showcasing his value in these foundational yet intricate tasks could he earn Lynn¡¯s favor.


    Lynn¡¯s talents were worth following. Liszt believed Lynn¡¯s future would surpass that of a mere first-level wizard.


    After instructing Liszt, Lynn decided to visit the market to look for suitable ves. He had visited several ces in the past few days but hadn¡¯t found any that met his standards.


    As Lynn left, he ran into Ido, who was justing out of her residence. She remarked casually, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You look so gloomy. Being a wizard should be enjoyable. Isn¡¯t it exhausting to frown all the time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. By the way, where did you buy your ves?¡± Lynn asked.


    He had seen Ido¡¯s ves before. Although they weren¡¯t high-level, their energy and quality seemed quite good.


    ¡°You want to buy ves? You should have told me earlier. I know someone who deals in that business. I¡¯ll take you to him,¡± Ido said with a wink.


    ¡°In Demon City?¡±


    ¡°Of course, where else? I¡¯m not taking you to faraway ces. You might have heard of his shop¡ªit¡¯s called Silver Wing Merchant Guild.¡±


    ¡°I have heard of it,¡± Lynn replied.


    Lynn had visited the merchant guild before. It mainly dealt in ves and various raw materials. Many of Lynn¡¯s raw materials had been purchased from Silver Wing Merchant Guild.


    ¡°This Silver Wing Merchant Guild also deals in the ve trade,¡± Ido informed Lynn.


    ¡°And the branch head of Silver Wing Merchant Guild here is a friend of my father¡¯s,¡± she added.


    Lynn was taken aback. A friend of Ido¡¯s father? Her father was a legendary wizard. To be friends with someone of that stature¡­


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you there,¡± Ido said, lifting the hem of her dress as she walked ahead. Seeing Lynn still standing there, she urged, ¡°What are you waiting for? Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s an old friend of my dad¡¯s.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Lady Ido, is this the friend you mentioned who wants to purchase ves?¡± An elderly man with meticulously groomed white hair and dressed in a ck suit eyed Lynn, making him feel pressured.


    ¡°Yes, Uncle Noah, this is my new neighbor and friend,¡± Ido responded nonchntly. ¡°He¡¯s looking to buy some ves, and since you deal in that business, I thought I¡¯d introduce you.¡±


    Noah was silent for a moment before nodding. ¡°Our Silver Wing Merchant Guild deals in ves. I wonder what kind of ves this friend is looking to purchase?¡± he asked, handing Lynn a catalog.


    ¡°Here are all the ves we have for sale. If you see anything you like, let me know. Since you¡¯re Lady Ido¡¯s friend, I can offer you a 20% discount.¡±


    Lynn opened the catalog, his expression growing stiff. The first page featured a demon lord, with the price listed in astronomical figures. Lynn nced at the magic stone number, which was as long as a phone number, and silently turned to the next page.


    A Hill Dwarf King with a trace of the bloodline of the Dwarf God.


    Lynn silently flipped through the pages faster.


    Finally, he flipped to thest page that featured a dragon beast with red dragon bloodline.


    It was evident that the Silver Wing Merchant Guild specialized in high-end ves. While there were rare ves skilled in craftsmanship, their prices were beyond Lynn¡¯s reach.


    Lynn was looking for a batch of high-quality but affordable ves. The demons in the Abyss didn¡¯t demand high-quality weapons.


    Moreover, the demons that the fly demon subdued were not formidable demon armies, so their weapon quality requirements were not that high. Lynn considered this as the start-up phase for both himself and the fly demon. The two partners could begin with low-end products to earn some initial profit and then gradually move on to more lucrative ventures.


    Lynnforted himself with the thought that even if he created high-end products, the fly demon wouldn¡¯t be able to afford them.


    ¡°These are too expensive for me. I can¡¯t afford them,¡± Lynn admitted frankly. ¡°I am only looking to purchase some low-level dwarves or ves skilled in crafting weapons.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of appreciation at Lynn¡¯s honesty. In the past, Ido had brought other wizards to him, and he was aware of her situation. There were always those with ulterior motives who tried to take advantage of Ido¡¯s kindness. As long as they weren¡¯t too excessive, he usually turned a blind eye.


    Just as Noah was about to respond to Lynn, he suddenly paused, his ears twitching slightly. He then looked at Lynn deeply.


    ¡°If you need some dwarf ves, perhaps I can help,¡± Noah said. ¡°I remember that our merchant guild is expecting a batch of ves soon, and there might be some dwarves that meet your requirements.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, that would be a great help!¡± Lynn expressed his gratitude. The Silver Wing Merchant Guild, being a prestigious and reputable establishment, would certainly not resort to offering subpar ves just to cate him.


    ¡°It¡¯s a minor matter,¡± Noah replied with a smile and a nod.


    ¡°It will take about two to three days for the ves to arrive. Once they do, I will have someone notify you. As for the price, we¡¯ll stick to the 20% discount as promised.¡±


    As they left the Silver Wing Merchant Guild, Lynn turned to Ido and said, ¡°Thank you so much for today.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I haven¡¯t made many friends since I got here anyway. From now on, big sister Ido will look out for you,¡± Ido said, lifting her chin proudly. ¡°Come on, call me ¡®big sister¡¯ and let me hear it.¡± Her face beamed with pride.


    Lynn looked down at Ido, who barely reached his chest, and ruffled her white hair.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s disrespectful! I won¡¯t help you anymore,¡± Ido said, pushing his hand away angrily.


    ¡­


    In a certain ne of magic civilization¡­


    On the southern hilly ins, arge number of dwarves lived. Many trade caravans frequently traversed this area. The dwarf ns were famous for two things: their crafted weapons and their exceptionally strong liquor.


    Numerous dwarf ns were scattered across the hilly region. Some dwarves preferred to live in excavated mines, while others resided in stone houses on the surface.


    However, their peaceful and warm lives were abruptly shattered one day. A squad of ve catchers, riding winged horses<sup>1</sup> and wielding spears and chains, descended from the sky. After a one-sided crushing fight, many dwarf ves were dragged away.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N:


    -To make things easier, I used winged horses for now instead of Pegasus or pegasi.


    -From a Quora answer, ¡°Pegasus is/was unique ¡ª there¡¯s ever only one Pegasus, which is that white-winged stallion of Medusa and Poseidon in Graeco-Roman mythology. That means no plural for it.¡±


    -There¡¯s also a star called Pegasi. ??</li></ol><svg ss="icon icon-cat"><use xlink:href="#icon-cat"></use></svg>


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 Chapter 128

    ck Mountain was the young master of a dwarf n. At thirty years old, he had just reached adulthood, given that the average lifespan of amon dwarf was around two hundred years.


    From a young age, he exhibited extraordinary talent. He could even discern the quality of ores within raw stones merely by smelling them.


    His father told him that he was destined to be the next Dwarf King.


    In their world, a Dwarf King had not emerged for 500 years.


    But just as ck Mountain took up his father¡¯s hammer, barely having time to warm it with use, a group of ve catchers stormed in.


    They did not kill many; instead, they subdued the nsmen with overwhelming force. The elite cksmiths of the n, including ck Mountain, were taken away.


    Their journey was harsh and disorienting, leading them through various ces.


    During the journey, the ve catchers used abination of domestication, coercion, and temptation, but most importantly, they controlled the dwarves¡¯ lives with a ve contract. Obeying meant survival, not just for them but for their nsmen.


    They were promised that obedience might lead to being valued by wizards, benefiting their entire n.Then they were taught knowledge andnguage.


    In the past few days, ck Mountain had forced himself to learn as much as he could.


    The ve catchers were incredibly harsh, quick to beat and curse at the slightest dissatisfaction.


    ck Mountain couldn¡¯t understand why some of these beings, also once captives, now served the wizards so faithfully.


    Three dayster, ck Mountain and hispanions arrived at their destination, a ce said to hold ves. Here, he saw many powerful beings, some so imposing that their mere presence made him tremble.


    Among them, he even saw a legendary Dwarf King.


    Filled with reverence, ck Mountain approached the Dwarf King, hoping to gain some guidance.


    But the Dwarf King, who spent his days in drunken stupor, merely burped and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, abandon any other thoughts. Serve your future master well. Pray he values your cksmithing skills rather than using you as experimental material.¡±


    Experimental material?


    ck Mountain thought of the ores hammered and forged by the dwarves. Could they, too, be used as raw materials?


    Hearing this, ck Mountain felt dazed and confused.


    In dwarven legends, the Dwarf King was an omnipotent being.


    They were powerful and invincible, leading the dwarves to one glory after another.


    But the Dwarf King he saw here was nothing like that, resembling a broken wild dog lying by the roadside.


    Looking at ck Mountain¡¯s departing back, the Dwarf King, lying on the grass, looked up at the sky with cloudy eyes, his hand holding a jug from which the liquor spilled onto the ground.


    Returning to his nsmen, seeing their expectant eyes, ck Mountain couldn¡¯t bring himself to ry the Dwarf King¡¯s harsh words. But even such a powerful being had be a ve. How could he possibly lead his people out of this predicament?


    ck Mountain felt a wave of despair.


    After much hesitation, he finally relented, ¡°He said we should work hard.¡±


    Encouraged by ck Mountain, the dwarves began diligently learning thenguage of the wizards on the Continent of Vanquished Gods.


    Because of his status and strong learning ability, ck Mountain quickly gained respect among the other dwarves. Within a few days, he had already learned some basic conversational skills. Consequently, the ve catchers temporarily appointed him as the leader of these dwarves.


    A few dayster, ck Mountain saw a young, handsome human being escorted in. The ve catchers, who usually treated the dwarves harshly, suddenly became obsequious in the presence of this human.


    Soon, ck Mountain and the others were informed that they had been sold to the wizard before them, who was now their master.


    The ve contracts were transferred to Lynn, making him the one who could determine their life and death with a single thought.


    ck Mountain and the others were led away, following this human.


    Uncertain of Lynn¡¯s character, the hundred or so dwarves stood silently, afraid to speak.


    ¡°My name is Lynn, and I am your new master. My rules are simple: I give tasks, and youplete them. As long as you finish your tasks, there will be no problems. Rest assured, these tasks will be the cksmithing work you are skilled at,¡± Lynn told the valuable group of dwarf ves.


    The dwarves in front of him lowered their heads and responded in a disorganized chorus, acknowledging their new master¡¯s instructions.


    Lynn had spent the past few days in hisboratory and only today found the time to take charge of his new dwarf ves. Thanks to the care provided by the Silver Wing Merchant Guild, the dwarves appeared to be in good spirits.


    Holding a list in his hand, Lynn nced over the names. To his surprise, the group included a third-level dwarf heavy knight by the wizards¡¯ standards and a high-quality dwarf with partial atavistic Dwarf King blood.


    Returning to his residence, Lynn assigned the dwarves to rooms on the second floor.


    ¡°Who is ck Mountain?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°I am,¡± ck Mountain stepped forward from the crowd of dwarves.


    Lynn observed him, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. Unlike the other dwarves, who looked like masses of muscle growing sideways, ck Mountain¡¯s appearance was undoubtedly very ¡°out of ce¡±.


    He had clean, refined features, silver-gray curly hair, and a small silver-gray beard on his chin. Most notably, his muscles were not exaggerated but well-proportioned. Despite his height of only 1.5 meters, he still looked quite striking.


    The booklet mentioned that ck Mountain had been tested by the ve catchers and found to possess some atavistic Dwarf King blood. This meant he had the bloodline of an ancient Dwarf King, and with proper nurturing, he might actually be a new Dwarf King.


    ¡°Who is Graystone?¡± Lynn continued.


    The remaining dwarves all looked toward the most robust dwarf in their midst.


    This dwarf stood nearly 1.6 meters tall.


    While dwarves were generally shorter than humans, their height was not drastically different. Normal dwarves ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 meters tall.


    They were called dwarves because of their naturally muscr build. Even without much training, they grew into adulthood with strong, developed muscles. The horizontally growing muscles,bined with their shorter stature, made them appear even shorter.


    ¡°I am Graystone,¡± the named dwarf stepped forward, his voice deep and resonant.


    ¡°I heard that in your dwarf n, your names don¡¯t belong to you but to the n?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Graystone replied.


    His father was called Graystone, and his grandfather was also named Graystone. So, when it came to his generation, he too was named Graystone.


    Lynn nodded.


    ¡°I will select a group of you dwarves who are most skilled in forging, and then another group who excel inbat. ck Mountain, you will manage the forgers. As for those skilled inbat, they will be managed by him,¡± Lynn said, pointing to Lauren who stepped out from behind him.


    The dwarves¡¯ expressions shifted slightly as they looked at Lauren. Would they really be managed by a lizard-man?


    A hot-tempered dwarf was about to speak up, but Graystone stopped him.


    After giving his instructions, Lynn left. He still had experiments to conduct as part of his daily task, and if he dyed any further, he would run out of time.


    These dwarves had just arrived, and being bought, there was undoubtedly some resistance in their hearts.


    To prevent them from banding together and also to provide an opportunity for Lauren, Lynn decided to give Lauren a chance.


    Lauren, having undergone transformation, might find it challenging but not impossible to handle a third-level dwarf heavy knight. The strength of a dwarf heavy knighty significantly in its mount, and without it, a knight was much less formidable. If Lauren couldn¡¯t handle a knight without a mount, Lynn would have to reconsider this opportunity.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 129

    <em>Bang!</em>


    On the empty ground, Graystone was heavily thrown to the ground. He struggled to his feet, rubbing his sore arm.


    What kind of monster was this lizard-man?


    In their world, there were also lizard-men, but those were merely wandering bandits without civilization or aplete heritage. They were just a bunch of thieves who liked to ambush travelers or merchants in the wild.


    But this lizard-man in front of him was entirely different from any he had encountered before.


    Graystone, one of the strongest in his n, had sessfully be a dwarf heavy knight. Not just one lizard-man, even an entire squad of them, he could crush without hesitation.


    Yet, his iron fist, which could shatter stones, felt like it was hitting an impossibly hard piece of steel when it struck this lizard-man. His calloused fists ached terribly from the impact.


    Lauren narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Graystone.


    In their previous sh, he hadn¡¯t held the upper hand in terms of strength. However, his defense was far superior, and the ws his master had modified could easily tear through flesh.Graystone stood up, his thick arms clenched into fists that he mmed heavily onto the ground.


    <em>Crack, crack~</em>


    The earth split open, and clumps of dirt mixed with rocks defied gravity, forming two thick arm shields that wrapped around his forearms.


    Magic¡ªEarth Arm Shields.


    Graystone let out a low growl, a silver-gray glow shing across his body.


    A faint grayyer covered his skin and hair.


    Magic¡ªStone Skin.


    With the addition of two magic enhancements, Graystone charged at Lauren once more.


    The more he fought, the more rmed he became. Even with his magic defenses, he still couldn¡¯t match the lizard-man in resilience.


    Graystone could sense no magic fluctuations from his opponent. This meant Lauren was fighting him purely with his physical strength.


    Graystone stepped back half a step, admitting, ¡°I lost.¡±


    For him, failing to win was a loss. Graystone epted it without hesitation; in this battle, a draw and a defeat were the same because there was no victory.


    Lauren nodded silently.


    He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Graystone. Lauren realized he had found a worthy sparring partner.


    Since his transformation, the goblins were no longer a challenge, and even the demon goblins that had been transformed by demon bloodline reagents posed no threat.


    Fighting the four-armed brute force demon brought no joy either; the brute¡¯s immense strength made Lauren feel like a mosquito, effortlessly swatted away despite his own formidable defenses.


    In contrast, the battle with Graystone provided a sense of evenly matched, exhrating meleebat that he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time.


    Graystone cautiously inquired, ¡°What do we need to do next?¡±


    Lauren bared his teeth in a menacing grin, lips curling back as he leaned in close to Graystone¡¯s ear, cing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t ask unnecessary questions. Just do whatever the mastermands.¡±


    ¡­


    Listening to the report below, Lynn rubbed his temples.


    ¡°Hold off on purchasing weapons and equipment for now. Aren¡¯t they dwarves? Let them forge their own weapons and armor. Once they settle in, have them craft a batch of weapons to practice and assess their craftsmanship.¡±


    Purchasing this batch of dwarves had nearly drained Lynn¡¯s stock of magic stones. Fortunately, Liszt made Meditation Treasures that kept things afloat.


    Maintaining a group of followers was expensive. Simply keeping them alive was easy enough¡ªfood was cheap¡ªbut wizards needed followers capable of solving problems. Weapons, armor, magical tools, bloodline cultivation, transformation rituals, magic training¡­


    However, Lynn knew that this period of tight scheduling was merely temporary. Once the current experiment he was involved in was over, he would have more time.


    The experiments had reached a crucial phase recently, keeping Lynn extraordinarily busy and almost unable to find a moment for himself.


    Arriving at the inner court in the shadow world, Lynn made his way to Dragon¡¯sboratory.


    Abraham had already been there for half an hour, having prepared the raw materials needed for the day.


    Abraham shed a bright smile and waved at Lynn. ¡°Lynn, you¡¯re here.¡±


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but reflect on how Abraham truly was an enthusiastic young man, a smile touching his lips as he responded, ¡°Hm.¡±


    Since Lynn had mentioned his busy schedule, Abraham, despite making no formal promise, had taken it upon himself to arrive early and handle some of the preparatory work.


    ¡°This is thetest array that Wizard Dragon taught us. I¡¯m going to give it a try,¡± Abraham said to Lynn.


    Lynn watched as Abraham began setting up the new array. Every time Dragon introduced a new magic array, Lynn made it a point to study and observe closely. As he scrutinized the symbols on the array, his expression grew serious. He was about to warn Abraham, but before he could, Abraham had already infused his mental energy into the array.


    The air grew still, and the only sound in the room was Lynn¡¯s breathing.


    Lynn reached out to ce a hand on Abraham¡¯s shoulder, but the sound of footsteps outside interrupted him.


    Turning around, he saw Wizard Dragon standing at the entrance of theboratory, his deep, prating gaze fixed on Lynn.


    Lynn¡¯s movement halted, and in the silence, he could feel his heartbeat quickening. Theboratory was within Dragon¡¯s wizard tower, and Dragon was a seasoned wizard who had spent countless years as a first-level wizard. He had even transformed himself into a lich.


    Lynn had heard about Wizard Dragon. It was said that if Dragon hadn¡¯t dedicated himself to a particr experiment, he might have be a second-level wizard long ago.


    Dragon¡¯s decision to expend vast resources for the sake of a loved one could not be said to be right or wrong. For wizards, the merit of a decisiony in its alignment with their inner convictions, regardless of the oue.


    ¡°Your experiment is over,¡± Dragon said slowly.


    ¡°Go to the room outside and choose a source material you desire,¡± he continued, raising his hand to point toward the hallway.


    Lynn stood still for a moment before decisively leaving the room.


    In the hallway outside, he found a tableden with various source materials. At a nce, there were about a dozen items, all core materials for constructing a wizard tower. Although none were particrly valuable, they were essential for building a first-level wizard tower.


    Lynn¡¯s gaze fell upon one of the source materials.


    ¡°This one will do,¡± Lynn muttered to himself in the empty hall.


    He picked up the source material and stored it in his spatial ring. ncing at the closed doors of the wizard tower, he found a sofa in the hall and sat down to wait.


    After a while, he heard footstepsing from the hallway behind him.


    Abraham, looking somewhat pale, emerged from the room, followed by Wizard Dragon. Abraham casually picked up an item from the table.


    ¡°I have some matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be outter. You go ahead,¡± Abraham said to Lynn.


    Leaving Dragon¡¯s wizard tower, Lynn stepped into the cold outside air.


    A bitter smile crossed his face as he recalled the moment he noticed several rune errors in the magic array. The symbols on the array had a peculiar alignment¡ªan inversion effect.


    If the array was like a conduit, the symbols altered it from channeling the wizard¡¯s mental energy outward to drawing external mental energy inward.


    Lynn had a habit of scrutinizing magic arrays and had some knowledge on runes, which allowed him to spot the problem. But when he tried to warn Abraham, it was already toote.


    Dragon had appeared at theboratory door and effectively ordered him out. If Lynn hadn¡¯t noticed the mistake, it might have been him instead of Abraham facing the consequences, given his superior aptitude.


    As Lynn walked towards thending point, he pulled his wizard robe tighter around him. The shadow ne was unusually cold that day.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 130

    Emerging from the demon wizard academy, Lynn took a moment to collect himself. Wasn¡¯t this academy supposed to be a ce of protection for them?


    He made his way to the service hall, feeling a sense of confusion. He had no idea whom to seek out. He didn¡¯t have any contact information for Angley; he could only hope Angley would reach out to him if necessary.


    However, there was someone who might know. To be precise, there was a demon who should know.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking for Harin? I¡¯m not entirely sure, but he¡¯s probably busy,¡± Toby said.


    ¡°These wizards can take an unpredictable amount of time for their experiments¡ªsometimes it¡¯s a day, sometimes decades. What¡¯s the matter? Are you in trouble? The expression on your face doesn¡¯t look good.¡±


    Lynn hesitated before exining what had happened with Dragon and his subsequent theories to Toby.


    ¡°Your guess is likely correct.¡±


    Lynn looked perplexed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone going to do anything about it? Both he and I epted the task¡­¡± Lynn hesitated.Toby suddenly broke into a smile. ¡°Do you really think you weren¡¯t selected because you were lucky?¡±


    ¡°Just because you were slightly slower than that little fellow? That¡¯s his wizard tower after all.¡±


    ¡°Do you know that this task has actually been hanging around for over 30 years?¡± Toby revealed a harsh truth. ¡°Are you really the only talented apprentices in the entire demon wizard academy?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this is the world of wizards!¡± Toby said nonchntly.


    ¡°But this is the academy¡­¡±


    ¡°The academy is also part of the wizarding world!¡± Toby countered firmly.


    ¡°Even if a little wizard apprentice with no backing and no identity was killed by an official wizard, so what? It¡¯s not as if anyone actually died¡ªjust the soul of that physical body was reced. If you¡¯re really upset or want to seek justice for that little fellow, then wait until you have the strength to handle it yourself. Even if you find Harin, he won¡¯t stand up for you in this matter.¡±


    ¡°No, I never intended for Wizard Harin to avenge me from the beginning. I simply had some doubts and wanted an answer. And I have received that answer from you,¡± Lynn replied calmly.


    ¡°Have many apprentices undertaken this task before?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Quite a few.¡±


    ¡°I understand now,¡± Lynn said, nodding. The schemes of Dragon were indeed intricate.


    For those truly elite figures at the top of the academy, such insignificant matters were hardly worth their attention. To the middle-level or low-level wizards, this issue was inconsequential as it did not affect their interests. Furthermore, Dragon had, over the decades, used the issuance of tasks to subtly distribute numerous source materials, thus cultivating rtionships with the influential figures behind these apprentices.


    In this way, there was even less incentive for anyone to intervene in his affairs.


    Moreover, Abraham was not dead. It was merely that the soul within had been reced. In other words, theponent itself was not damaged; only the user had changed.


    The apprentices selected by Dragon were never those with backings. He was like an experienced fisherman¡ªbaiting, preparing, and catching.


    The wizarding world was indeed a harsh and unfeeling ce. Lynn had thought he had used his intelligence to avoid a trap, but in reality, he had been spared simply because someone behind the scenes had ensured he was not chosen.


    Perhaps the trap in the magic array had been deliberately set for him to discover.


    Lynn pursed his lips, a self-deprecating smile ying on his lips.


    Rules were never truly fixed. The rules were those made by the strong and enforced upon the weak.


    He, too, wanted to be the one who set the rules!


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle Toby, for clearing things up. I have no more doubts now.¡±


    ¡°How is the preparation for your wizard towering along?¡±


    ¡°Not too bad,¡± Lynn replied. The source material he had obtained this time was called the Wood of Perpetual Serenity.


    The effect of Wood of Perpetual Serenity was to stabilize the energy in the surrounding air. It functioned simrly to how the energy within Demon City was more stablepared to the energy outside the city.


    This wood could be used in living sectors and also in some experimental sectors.


    ¡°When your wizard tower¡¯spletion surpasses 50%, you can ess the information on the transcendence ritual from the academy¡¯s library,¡± Toby informed Lynn.


    The academy would also provide ns for the transcendence ritual? That was quite convenient. This would save him considerable effort, and he would be able to choose the ritual that best suited him from among many options.


    The transcendence ritual was hardly a secret.


    In fact, some versions of the transcendence ritual had circted in the outside world. However, these rituals were often iplete or wed in various ways.


    The reason wizard apprentices were called apprentices was that they had not yet transcended the bounds of ordinary humanity.


    The transcendence ritual was intended to transform a wizard into a higher form of life.


    Common examples included the lich transformation ritual for those inclined towards the undead. Though liches were indeed a form of higher life, they lost many aspects of their former selves and gained a vulnerability in the form of a phctery<sup>1</sup>.


    Another example was the mechanical ascension ritual. This ritual reced the frailty of flesh and blood with mechanicalponents. The choice of machinery was crucial for the sess of this ritual.


    Regardless of the type of transcendence ritual, the resulting wizard¡¯sbat prowess would surpass that of a wizard apprentice by several levels. This was because the ritual involved inscribing a spell into the wizard¡¯s being, turning it into an inherent, ever-evolving ability. Moreover, the casting cost of such spells would be significantly reduced.


    Returning to his residence, Lynn found that the dwarves were working swiftly under supervision and had already forged the first batch of weapons.


    After conducting a quick test, it became apparent that the weapons produced by the dwarves were unseble on the market. Their cost and quality offered no advantage in Demon City, and selling them would mean incurring a loss.


    Lynn quickly came up with a n.


    <em>Dang</em>¡ª


    One of the des held in his hand showed a small chip on its surface, while the other waspletely broken into two pieces.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ck Mountain turned to look at the other dwarf craftsmen.


    The dwarves all widened their eyes in astonishment.


    The broken de was one of their own creations.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± The dwarves¡¯ pride in their craft was immense. If there were any flexibility in other matters, forging was where their expertise truly shone.


    ¡°Did the weapon contain any mixed raw materials?¡± one of the dwarves asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Lauren replied. ¡°This weapon was custom-made at a shop outside. The raw materials used were identical to those you used for forging this de.¡±


    Lynn had spent money to have the weapon specially crafted at a local shop. It was a deliberate move to test their skills against an external standard.


    The dwarves, masters of their trade, found their pride wounded. Being struck in their area of expertise left them dejected.


    ¡°But it¡¯s not without remedy. The issue lies in the different forging techniques used. If you put in the effort, you can eventually master more advanced techniques.¡±


    Under Lynn¡¯s encouragement, the dwarves¡¯ spirits were reignited.


    Lynn was pleased with their renewed determination. Although the weapons they had crafted didn¡¯t offer the best value in Demon City, the Abyss was another matter entirely. There, customers were less picky.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N:


    -ording to Forgotten Realms Wiki, ¡°<em>A phctery (also sometimes called a jar) was the name given to the repository used to store the life force of a lich.</em>¡°


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 Chapter 131

    <em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>


    The polite sound of knocking echoed from the other side of the door.


    Lauren, ever vignt, opened the door to reveal a stranger with a crow-like face.


    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see Lynn. Is Lynn around?¡± Nocturne inquired.


    Lynn, who had been engrossed in learning the demonnguage, hurried to the door upon receiving the message. Seeing the familiar figure of Nocturne standing outside, Lynn quickly ushered him inside.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see an official wizard like you here in Demon City,¡± Lynn remarked.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite normal,¡± Nocturne replied nonchntly. ¡°The major guilds are based here in Demon City. asionally, other official wizardse out to purchase supplies. It¡¯s just that interactions with wizard apprentices are rare.¡±


    As Nocturne entered the building, he casually surveyed his surroundings. ¡°This ce of yours is rather intriguing, reminiscent of the style found in the Mechanist City.¡±¡°It¡¯s a bit of a hodgepodge,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°So, how is your preparation to be an official wizarding along?¡±


    ¡°Almost there,¡± Lynn nodded in response.


    ¡°Hm, I also believe it won¡¯t be difficult for you,¡± Nocturne said casually, as if Lynn bing a wizard was already a certainty.


    ¡°Are those your new followers?¡± Nocturne¡¯s gaze shifted to the dwarves in the distance.


    ¡°Hm, they didn¡¯t seem too bad, right?¡± Lynn responded with a smile.


    Nocturne tilted his head proudly. ¡°Just a bunch of greenhorn dwarves. But you¡¯re right; you should indeed prepare to train a follower army.¡±


    Unlike Lynn, Nocturne was a key member of the ck Crow n, considered a beacon of hope for his people.


    For other matters, the ck Crow n couldn¡¯t assist him; he had to rely on his own efforts. However, when it came to training a follower army, it was a simple task for the ck Crow n.


    He didn¡¯t need to put in the effort himself; there were already people in ce to train his followers.


    This was both a benefit of the tribe and responsibility.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, how about you consider cultivating some ck Crow followers?¡±


    Nocturne suddenly spoke up.


    Lynn was momentarily taken aback, surprised by Nocturne¡¯s unexpected proposal.


    ¡°Our ck Crow n isn¡¯t arge one,¡± Nocturne began. ¡°Unlike the dwarves, elves, orcs, and trolls, who are widely distributed and even backed by gods, our n once had a god of our own. Unfortunately, that god was in during the War of Faith. Without a god, our n is considered inferior, so we sought refuge with wizards.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once they be your followers, your orders will be supreme. If they disobey, how you choose to discipline them is entirely up to you,¡± Nocturne frankly exined the reason. ¡°I¡¯ve rmended our ck Crow n to many wizards, not just you.¡±


    ¡°Our ck Crow nsmen are hardworking, loyal, and reserved. If you¡¯re interested, I can bring a group of ck Crow nsmen for you to select from. Of course, if you prefer, you can visit our territory and choose them yourself.¡±


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but liken Nocturne to an arms dealer who promoted their own weapons.


    The ck Crow n was like an arms manufacturer teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. They had voluntarily allied with the wizard civilization, offering a portion of their shares in exchange for protection.


    To boost the poprity of their weapons, they marketed them to various promising mercenary groups and nations. They even went so far as to offer their weapons for free, hoping they would shine in battles. If the weapons proved their worth in war, they would naturally be sought after, reviving the manufacturer¡¯s fortunes.


    Of course, this was merely a metaphor. In reality, the ck Crow n wasn¡¯t weaponry, but it was more fitting to describe them as lifelong mercenaries.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, but forget about visiting your n¡¯s territory. If you bring a few members here, that will suffice. Just don¡¯t bring too many¡ªI can¡¯t afford to support arge group,¡± Lynn responded with a touch of humor.


    Upon hearing Lynn¡¯s agreement, Nocturne¡¯s face broke into a genuine smile. His demeanor towards Lynn grew noticeably warmer.


    Why would he refuse if others wanted to invest? It was also a way to draw closer to Nocturne, who was an official wizard after all.


    If it were someone else, they wouldn¡¯t even have the qualifications.


    And Lynn himself genuinelycked followers. The ck Crow nsmen were born with the ability to fly, which could make up for their scouts and aerial capabilities.


    ¡°By the way, there¡¯s another matter. Lady Maybetessa is currently involved in a ne conquest and is seeking coborators. She asked for rmendations, and I¡¯ve put your name forward.¡±


    ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a wizard apprentice,¡± Lynn protested, shaking his head. They seemed to have an overinted opinion of him.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re an apprentice now doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll always be one,¡± Nocturne replied. ¡°Do you have any idea how long it takes to conquer a ne?¡±


    Lynn fell into silence. He wasn¡¯t sure, but he imagined that a war to conquer a ne would not take too long.


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s a one-sided crush, it would still take at least several decades to fully stabilize the situation. If the bnce of power is even or the situation isplex, it could take hundreds or even thousands of years. If you haven¡¯t be an official wizard within that time, it would only mean I misjudged your potential,¡± Nocturne said, pointing to his own eyes.


    ¡°However, I¡¯m not suggesting you go immediately. It would be better to wait until you be an official wizard or are about to be one,¡± Nocturne added, his tone suggesting deeper meaning.


    ¡°Most wizards are research-oriented and belong to the academic side. In fact, the majority of wizards fall into this category. But then there are what are called throne wizards. They are the ones who conquerrge kingdoms or even obliterate entire empires through war and invasion, forging their own wizard¡¯s throne through their destinies.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between a throne wizard and an ordinary wizard?¡± Lynn asked.


    This throne wizard sounded more impressive than an ordinary wizard.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know,¡± Nocturne said, shaking his head. ¡°Because I¡¯m also just an ordinary wizard, hahaha.¡±


    Lynn didn¡¯t find this particrly amusing. Instead, he sighed in resignation.


    Nocturne spread his ws. ¡°It¡¯s said that throne wizards possess a special destiny blessing rted to the downfall of kingdoms. But destiny is such an elusive concept. I only have a vague understanding. I¡¯ve seen throne wizards, but they seem much like ordinary wizards at a nce. Oh, and Harin is one of them.¡±


    ¡°Of course, there aren¡¯t many throne wizards around these days. During the period of great expansion of wizard civilization in the past, external wars were frequent, and wizard apprentices were expected to fight on the battlefield. The emergence of throne wizards was moremon then. Now, as the situation stabilizes, opportunities for bing a throne wizard are much rarer.¡±


    ¡°The main issue is that suitable targets for conquest are fewer and farther between. Many nes have begun to band together, and those entities have be more cautious and intelligent,¡± Nocturne sighed.


    ¡°Have you heard of the Gods Alliance?¡± Nocturne asked suddenly.


    Lynn remained silent.


    ¡°Alright, it seems you haven¡¯t. Let me exin. Just as there are alliances among our wizard civilizations, there is also a simr alliance among the gods.¡±


    ¡°Originally, the gods were in a state of mutual hostility. You should know that the essence of gods is that their status is bestowed upon them by their respective nes.¡±


    ¡°For example, the Fire Gods who control mes can appear in different nes, and each of them holds a simr divine upation. These gods are generally in a state of hostility towards one another because if one can assimte the Godhead, divine upation, and divine power, it will enhance its own strength. Moreover, the scope of their divine authority will expand from one ne to two, or even three or more nes, thus transforming from a singr god into a multi-dimensional one.¡±


    Nocturne sighed deeply as he continued. ¡°But because of the appearance of wizards¡­¡±


    He paused, as if searching for the right words. ¡°It¡¯s all the fault of those earlier wizards, who plundered the gods so ruthlessly that it forced the remaining gods to band together.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 132

    ¡°Actually, gods aren¡¯t as weak as you might think. Some of the most ancient gods have histories that predate the entire wizard civilization.¡±


    ¡°Over countless epochs, these ancient gods have expanded their divine authority to an incredibly terrifying extent across multiple nes. They have even be part of the very fabric of the rules themselves.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± Nocturne shook his head, ¡°it is said that even gods who have be intertwined with the rules face numerous restrictions. They are part of the rules, but they are also bound by them.¡±


    ¡°Multiverse nes are said to be infinite. To this day, no one knows where the end lies. A great wizard once remarked that the multiverse is in a constant state of expansion.¡±


    ¡°Yet within the reach of our wizard civilization, many nes are either being invaded or connected through the Gods Alliance. They seek to weave a to ensnare our wizard civilization within it,¡± Nocturne exined. ¡°These are insights shared by Lady Maybetessa.¡±


    So that was the case. But the gods themselves were indeed carriers of their own divine statuses.


    For instance, the Fire God governs mes. The ways in which such a god was born were diverse¡ªthrough faith in fire, the use of fire, or resonance with fire. Thus, the divine upation held by a god often rtes closely to the god¡¯s race and the forces they interact with.


    ¡°So, having said all that, what is your answer?¡±


    ¡°Is it also a 30-70 percent split?¡± Lynn inquired.¡°Of course, Lady Maybetessa is always generous. She treats all her partners equally.¡±


    ¡°It would be an honor to coborate with Lady Maybetessa,¡± Lynn said earnestly. ¡°However, I might have a small request. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you pass along a message to her? Specifically, I¡¯m interested in observing the construction concepts for a particr attack-oriented sector at the first-level wizard tower. I¡¯m willing to advance some future benefits in return. Do you think Lady Maybetessa would agree to this?¡±


    Lynn might have hesitated to make such a request in the past. But now that he had established a cooperative rtionship, and given that Lady Maybetessa seemed approachable¡ªthough this didn¡¯t mean Lynn considered her to be na?ve¡ªhe decided to ask Nocturne for assistance.


    Nocturne, hearing Lynn¡¯s request, quickly grasped Lynn¡¯s intention. He found the situation amusing, realizing that Lynn had set his sights on Lady Maybetessa. However, he considered it a minor matter.


    Much like a country¡¯s arsenal.


    The ones in theboratory, the most advanced, currently operational, on the verge of being phased out, outdated.


    The first three levels were, of course, kept strictly confidential from outsiders. Even within the fourth level, there were some technical blueprints that were not shown to just anyone.


    However, the fifth level¡¯s secrets became less tightly guarded. Even outdated weapons, while not avable to just anyone, required a certain status and background to ess. Fortunately for Lynn, his connection with Lady Maybetessa provided him with an opportunity.


    ¡°I¡¯ll inquire for you,¡± Nocturne said with a nod. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡±


    Even the various sectors in his wizard tower had been significantly updatedpared to when it was first constructed, greatly enhancing its efficiency.


    The wizard tower was the ultimate representation of a wizard¡¯s mastery of knowledge and technology. As a wizard continued to learn and grow in knowledge, the technological level of their tower would also advance ordingly.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Nocturne continued, ¡°did you give any more thought to our previous discussion? I understand that human aesthetics may differ from those of our crows folk, but aesthetic appreciation can be cultivated.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Lynn replied, surprised that Nocturne still remembered the matter.


    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll head back to theboratory now. We can continue this discussion another time,¡± Nocturne said with a dismissive wave and a hint of regret.


    After some time had passed, Lynn received a message ryed by other apprentices. The fly demon had sent word through the apprentices who had entered the Abyss, requesting a batch of weapons.


    Lynn had the dwarves expedite the production of a new batch of weapons. He then selected various weapons from the earlier batch and, armed with these, made his way to the Abyss Market.


    Traveling to the ne of the Abyss Market was not restricted to a once-every-ten-year event.


    It was just that the market itself opened for business only once every ten years.


    Apanied by his bodyguard, the four-armed brute force demon, Lynn entered the ne and retrieved the egg that the fly demon had given him previously, tossing it onto the ground.


    This was the fastest way to notify the other party of his arrival in the Abyss.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    The white egg transformed into a pile of foul-smelling yolk.


    Lynn rubbed his hands.


    After about a day of waiting, a dark silhouette appeared in the distant sky. The evil-winged bird circled overhead, and from its back, a shadow descended. The fly demon spread its wings andnded.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while,¡± the fly demon said as it touched down, its wings fluttering slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared the goods. Take a look at their appearance,¡± Lynn said, reaching into his spatial ring to retrieve a collection of various styles of weapons crafted by the dwarves.


    The fly demon picked up a longsword and swung it toward its pitch-ck arm.


    <em>ng</em>¡ª


    The de scraped, sending sparks flying, and left a small chip.


    The fly demon remained silent, gazing up at Lynn. Itspound eyes seemed to convey a thousand emotions.


    ¡°Ahem, I want you to judge the appearance, not the quality. These are not for sale.¡± Lynn remained calm.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lynn continued, seizing the opportunity, ¡°Forget about the quality for now. Just tell me if these weapons look good!¡±


    The weapons crafted by the dwarves had a rugged, primal hunting aesthetic¡ªsturdy and robust. This rough-hewn style suited the demon race¡¯s tastes perfectly.


    ¡°It does look good, but¡­¡± The fly demon hesitated, despite having been ordered to make the trade.


    However, it couldn¡¯t just buy some worthless junk and take it back!


    These weapons couldn¡¯t even break through its own defenses. Buying them would be hard to justify.


    ¡°The quality of the weapons depends on the ores used,¡± Lynn exined. ¡°Given the rushed timeline and theck of suitable ores on my end, these aren¡¯t finished products. If you could provide some ores as a deposit, I can get the weapons ready for you in a short while.¡±


    The fly demon¡¯s brows furrowed, and realized something was wrong.


    Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be a weapon trade? How had it ended up about to lose a batch of ores without even securing any weapons yet?


    ¡°How about this,¡± Lynn proposed, ¡°you provide the ores, and I¡¯ll pay half the amount now. Once the weapons arepleted, I¡¯ll settle the remaining bnce. How does that sound?¡±


    Half? That was eptable.


    The fly demon nodded. At least it would still earn some profit.


    Lynn then added, ¡°However, I don¡¯t have that much money on me at the moment. Didn¡¯t you say I could pay half up front? Here¡¯s what I propose: I¡¯ll give you half now, and leave the remaining half of the ores with you as coteral. Does that sound fair? Once I return with thepleted weapons, I¡¯ll settle the remaining bnce.¡±


    The fly demon seemed a bit dazed, feeling something was off. The four-armed brute force demon standing nearby, who had been listening intently, rubbed the back of its head, feeling as if its brain was going to drill out of it.


    ¡°No way! You¡¯re trying to get something for nothing!¡± the fly demon suddenly realized.


    ¡°Don¡¯t put it that way. I¡¯ve been low on funds recently,¡± Lynnforted the fly demon, telling it not to think too much.


    ¡°These ores can only be found in the Abyss. I don¡¯t have any ores on my end. Don¡¯t we have any trust between us? I¡¯ve only got this small amount of magic stones on me. Take a look and see how many pieces of ores you can get with them. I¡¯ll forge a few weapons and bring them back to you. We can continue the trade then. I don¡¯t mind the hassle. I can get to the Abyss quickly; it¡¯s not like you, who has to fly all day.¡±


    With a resigned sigh, Lynn threw out more than a hundred magic stones from his spatial ring.


    Standing there, looking at the magic stones on the ground, the fly demon¡¯s antennae twitched incessantly. It just felt that this noisy world was so annoying!


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 133

    ¡°Alright, I agree,¡± the fly demon said with a nk expression.


    Though its face had no expression, the demon had indeedmunicated with a certain existence after stepping outside and reached an agreement for this cooperation.


    Lynn gave a faint smile. He knew who was backing the fly demon.


    After hisst departure, Lynn had suspected that the fly demon was looking to align itself with someone influential. Such behavior wasmon in the Abyss. For most demons, being associated with a promising leader was a mark of honor.


    The Abyss was a stage brimming with talent, but opportunities for advancement were scarce. If Lynn¡¯s guess was correct, the one behind the fly demon was Dyo.


    Kathryn¡¯s biological mother¡ªperhaps next time, he could find an opportunity for Kathryn to meet her. This Dyo had just be an Abyss Lord. If one were topare it to a country, it was like a newly established kingdom, fraught with conflicts with neighboringnds, beset with internal strife, and in the midst of rebuilding.


    Such a kingdom, in its developmental phase, often required foreign ¡°investment,¡± presenting a golden opportunity for Lynn.


    Much like the transaction with the fly demon, Lynn suspected that the fly demon itself wasn¡¯t in dire need of the weapons. The quantity requested far exceeded what the fly demon would personally require. Lynn wasn¡¯t in a hurry, though. Even in cooperation, one had to demonstrate their worth.


    In this instance, Lynn saw an opportunity to showcase his capabilities through the weapon trade. By delivering a substantial number of high-quality weapons, he would prove his value as a partner. The sess of this initial coboration would set the stage for more favorable negotiations and the acquisition of further projects.With the emergence of a new Abyss Lord, the redistribution of resources would surely be a bloody storm. The corners of Lynn¡¯s mouth rose, and he found himself looking forward to the unfolding events.


    After collecting the ores, Lynn returned to hisboratory in Demon City. Without dy, he began analyzing the properties of this batch of Abyss raw ores, researching relevant information on the market. The ores provided by the fly demon were not particrly rare; there were several simr types avablemercially, including finished ore products. Lynn noted the prices quietly and realized he had secured a considerable bargain.


    At a small tavern, Lynn arranged to meet a wizard apprentice who specialized in the study of ores and metals.


    The apprentice had just finished her research, and her clothes were still covered in dust and grime from the ores. She pushed up her oversized sses and, sitting across from Lynn, said, ¡°So you¡¯re here for a knowledge exchange?¡±


    ¡°Hm, that¡¯s right,¡± Lynn replied. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you have some expertise with Abyss ores, and I¡¯m in need of that data. In return, if there¡¯s any specific knowledge you¡¯re interested in, I can offer a portion of what I have.¡±


    Knowledge was priceless, yet it also came at a steep cost. For many wizard apprentices, the expense of acquiring experimental source materials was already burdensome. Adding significant expenditure on knowledge could be a harsh blow to an already strained budget.


    Therefore, some savvy apprentices had formed a knowledge exchange society, allowing them to trade and share information.


    Since knowledge was challenging to quantify, exchanges were usually based on prior agreements about the content and scope of what would be exchanged. Typically, the trade involved fields where apprentices were currentlycking in knowledge, and the value was less of a concern.


    Lynn had never participated in such exchanges before, but he had heard about the society over the years. He had taken the initiative to contact Jado, whom he knew, to gain ess to this small circle and find an apprentice who focused on ores research.


    ¡°You were introduced by Jado. He¡¯s quite an old-timer in these circles. He mentioned that you¡¯re proficient in alchemy. Do you have any knowledge about alchemical puppets?¡± the female apprentice asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re nning to create alchemical puppets.¡±


    ¡°That does not concern you.¡± The female apprentice frowned slightly.


    ¡°Haha, I have no intentions of prying,¡± Lynn said with a gentle smile. ¡°Just wait a moment. I¡¯ve worked with some alchemical puppets myself. I believe these might be useful to you.¡±


    Lynn took out the alchemical notes he had previously obtained from the bookshelf in the Alchemy Laboratory.


    Those notes contained the method for creating Iron Earthworms, along with some research insights, which would surely be sufficient for a novice looking to delve into the study of alchemical puppets.


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s gentle smile, the female apprentice was momentarily in a trance. She lowered her gaze, apparently surprised by the generous offer of so many notebooks. After a moment of stunned silence, she adjusted her sses and, with a hint of shyness, took out a notebook from her own collection.


    ¡°This one contains my research on the properties of various metals under different conditions and reactions. I¡¯ve omitted many steps in the process,¡± she added quickly.


    Lynn nced through the notebook the apprentice had provided. It contained aprehensive array of experimental designs, including tensile tests, high and low-temperature tensile tests,pression tests, shear tests, torsion tests, bending tests, hardness tests, and energy injection experiments among many others. These details, though seemingly mundane, saved him a considerable amount of effort.


    The data, while intricate, was indispensable. Testing a new metal¡¯s functionality required thorough examination.


    The female apprentice reviewed the contents of the notebooks Lynn had given her, finding them quite valuable. After some contemtion, she produced another notebook. ¡°This one contains my research on a particr alloy. The materials used are all Abyss ores. This alloy has excellent toughness, hardness, and overall performance. However, it has one major w¡ªit deteriorates significantly after five years.¡±


    The female apprentice hesitated, recognizing that the alloy was not aplete sess. It wasn¡¯t entirely useless, but it held no practical value for her.


    Hearing about such a metal piqued Lynn¡¯s interest. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he tapped his fingers on the table without showing any expression. It wasn¡¯t until the female apprentice ced the notebook on the table that Lynn turned his full attention to it.


    He reached out and picked up the notebook, flipping through it briefly before closing it. ¡°Well, let¡¯s consider this a pleasant coboration,¡± Lynn said with a smile, extending his right hand. Their hands briefly touched before parting.


    What he had initially expected to be a routine transaction had unexpectedly turned out to be quite promising.


    A normal warrior would not consider purchasing such an alloy, given its short five-year lifespan. However, for demons engaged in frequent battles, this would be a different story. With weapons subjected to such intense and frequent use, rapid wear and tear was not unusual. After all, if a weapon never wore out, why would they purchase new ones?


    Back in hisboratory, Lynn stayed up all night studying the information in the notes. Fortunately, it was not overlyplex, and with the guidance provided, the dwarves were able to produce a batch of new finished products within half a month under Lynn¡¯s direction.


    Now, the quality of this batch of finished weapons could be considered excellent even among weapons of the same level in Demon City.


    That is, if one were to overlook their five-year lifespan.


    Lynn reentered the Abyss and threw the fly demon¡¯s token on the ground. Then he returned to Demon City and, after waiting for about a day, he re-entered the Abyss.


    As soon as he stepped in, he saw the fly demon squatting nearby, looking at him with a resentful expression.


    ¡°<em>Cough</em>, how long have you been waiting?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Half a day,¡± replied the fly demon.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I went back to switch mount this time, so it only took half a day,¡± the fly demon said, brushing the dust off its body as it stood.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see your materials,¡± the fly demon urged.


    Lynn presented the newly crafted weapons. The designs were, as usual, in the distinctive style of the dwarves.


    However, the fly demon did not pay much attention to the appearance, as it had already seen it before. The primary concern was the quality of the weapons. Despite the short span of only half a month, the demon was skeptical about any significant improvement in quality.


    The fly demon picked up one of the weapons and seemed intent on testing it by striking its own arm.


    Lynn reminded kindly, ¡°How about we use a different test subject? I¡¯m worried you might injure yourself.¡±


    The fly demon pondered this for a moment, noting Lynn¡¯s confidence and deciding that the suggestion made sense.


    With a wave of its hand towards the sky, a dark speck began to growrger as it approached. Rays of sunlight pierced through the shadowy figure descending from above.


    With a gust of wind stirred by its mighty wings, a bone dragon with slightly yellowed bonesnded from the sky.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 134

    ¡°Ah, has the bird transformed into a bone dragon after just a few days?¡± Lynn was a little surprised.


    A good mount, aside from aiding in battle, was also a matter of face for its owner!


    <em>Driving a Mazda, no wonder you are stuck in traffic!</em>


    When going out, whether it was riding a bird, a griffin, a dragon, or an angel were all different.


    Despite its appearance, the bone dragon might not match other dragons in terms of prestige, and itsbat prowess could even bepared to that of the white dragon, known as the disgrace of the dragon n. Yet, it was still ssified among the formal dragons illustrated in the wizarding bestiary, not just as a dragon beast or sub-dragon.


    Even the most basic model of a BBA at least had a logo.


    ¡°This is mypanion,¡± the fly demon said with a hint of pride, introducing the bone dragon to Lynn.


    Understanding this, Lynn knew that the bone dragon¡¯s strength would not be significantly weaker than the fly demon¡¯s own.


    The dragon, with its yellowed bones, lowered its massive headrger than a sedan¡ªand fixed its gaze on Lynn. In its eye sockets, a flickering blue me danced.Up close, Lynn could even see the subtle cracks in the bones and the ckened patches on its skeletal frame. The bone dragon had likely seen better days.


    ¡°Human wizard, your scent is quite sweet and appetizing,¡± the bone dragon spoke slowly in the demonnguage.


    ¡°Really? I¡¯d say your bones would make a fine stew,¡± Lynn replied in the newly learned demonnguage.


    ¡°Hahahaha.¡± The bone dragon¡¯sughter boomed arrogantly.


    Suddenly, the four-armed brute force demon behind Lynn thrust out a fist and struck the bone dragon¡¯s jaw with a powerful punch.


    The bone dragon, caught off guard, crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud, its heavy body copsing a small hill behind it.


    ¡°If your brain isn¡¯t up to par, it¡¯s better not to use it.¡±


    Lynn¡¯s smile vanished as he turned his cold gaze toward the fallen bone dragon.


    His right hand subtly touched the ring on his left hand.


    ¡°Fly demon, we¡¯ve had several coborations as old friends, haven¡¯t we? Your mount seems to be rather disobedient.¡± Lynn said, his eyes shifting toward the fly demon.


    The fly demon¡¯s expression changed slightly. It hadn¡¯t expected the bone dragon to provoke Lynn suddenly.


    Lynn saw through the situation. It was likely that Dyo¡ªin an attempt to expand her influence¡ªhad recruited numerous subordinates, resulting in some conflicts among them. The bone dragon belonged to one such faction, and its proximity to the fly demon had been intentional.


    The demons of the Abyss had limited intelligence, and their attempts to approach the fly demon and disrupt its rtionships were likely the extent of their cunning.


    The bone dragon rose from the ground, letting out an enraged roar.


    The four-armed brute force demon remained unfazed, stepping forward with a fierce re directed at the bone dragon.


    The fly demon, head lowered, had its two antennae twitching uncontrobly, a clear sign of its current emotional instability.


    <em>Boom!!</em>


    Suddenly, the fly demon exploded, transforming into countless tiny ck specks.


    Each speck was a flying insect, unlike any fly Lynn had seen before. These wererge, about the size of a broad bean, with menacing mandibles and four hook-like ws covered in barbs.


    The flies swirled in the air, sometimes converging and sometimes scattering, creating a ck storm.


    In the next moment, the ck storm surged toward the bone dragon.


    The bone dragon emitted a mournful wail as intense energy gathered in its open maw. Lynn rapidly retreated, thankful that the bone dragon, preupied with the iing attack, had little attention to spare. The bone dragon¡¯s head tilted skyward, releasing a st of frost breath. The torrent of frost spewed forth like a methrower, freezing all the flies before them into solid blocks of ice, which then shattered as they fell to the ground.


    ¡°Take this.¡± Lynn handed arge battle axe to the four-armed brute force demon. Considering that the weapon was intended for a demon, it had been scaled up significantly, so even thergest size would be manageable for the four-armed brute force demon.


    The brute force demon grasped the axe firmly and charged forward, single-handedly grabbing the bone dragon¡¯s head and forcefully mming it to the ground.


    The bone dragon¡¯s head struck the earth with a resounding impact. Its skeletal frame began to emit magical fluctuations, attempting to cast a spell. However, a thinyer of ck mist appeared over each of the countless flies covering its bones, halting the emerging magical fluctuations.


    The magical fluctuations abruptly ceased, and the cold, metallic de of the axe descended heavily along the bone dragon¡¯s neck.


    The bone connecting the dragon¡¯s head and neck fractured abruptly.


    Even without its head, the bone dragon did not perish immediately. The headless dragon¡¯s front ws dug into the ground, leaving deep gouges as it tried to grasp its lost head. The four-armed brute force demon intervened, engaging in a fierce battle with the headless dragon¡¯s body.


    It was not until half an hourter that the dragon¡¯s severed head finally dimmed, its soul mepletely extinguished.


    With a final thud, the headless dragon¡¯s body copsed to the ground.


    The dragon¡¯s skeletal body was covered in awork of axe marks,rge and small.


    Countless ck specks, previously gathered as flies, reassembled into the fly demon. However, the fly demon¡¯s aura was noticeably weaker than before.


    ¡°Forgive me for the inconvenience,¡± the fly demon said. ¡°Consider this carcass as my apology.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to test the quality of these weapons any further. I am quite pleased.¡± Looking at the weapon in the four-armed brute force demon¡¯s hands, the fly demon nodded with satisfaction.


    The quality was evident. If the weapons could slice through the bones of a bone dragon, their craftsmanship was unquestionably superb. They were top-tier, no doubt about it.


    The previous batch of weapons had been subpar, almost like toys. Yet now, Lynn had provided such high-quality weapons, even considering the size requirements for demons.


    The fly demon¡¯s attitude toward Lynn, as a business partner, had significantly improved.


    ¡°Did you bring the ores?¡± Lynn asked.


    ¡°Ah?¡± The fly demon appeared confused. What ores?


    Wasn¡¯t this batch of weapons supposed to settle Lynn¡¯s debt from the previous transaction?


    ¡°Ah, right. Here¡¯s the contract. Please sign it,¡± Lynn said, producing the trade contract for the fly demon to sign.


    ¡°We agreed on a 50-50 split for the crafted weapons. I¡¯ve already used half of the ores you provided. Thepleted weapons are here. Does that mean the remaining ores are mine?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, they are yours,¡± the fly demon confirmed with a nod. This had been agreed upon in advance.


    Moreover, the quality of the weapons Lynn had provided was undoubtedly satisfactory.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. So, our transaction is alreadyplete. Of course, I have my people forging weapons with the remaining ores, but the ores consumption is rapid. Without ores, the work there wille to a halt,¡± Lynn said, spreading his hands.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any ores,¡± the fly demon shook its head.


    The ores it had broughtst time were all handed over to Lynn, and it had not received any weapons in return, so it was impossible to bring ores for this transaction.


    ¡°But can you handle so many weapons?¡± Lynn inquired. ¡°The efficiency of weapon crafting is only going to improve.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can handle more,¡± the fly demon assured, then paused, ¡°In half a month, I¡¯ll bring the remaining ores to trade with you. By the way, do you need any demon ves?¡±


    ¡°If their bloodline is of a higher level, I might consider it. I don¡¯t want any with lower bloodline quality,¡± Lynn replied. Demons with inferior bloodlines were merely cannon fodder, and his own ranks of cannon fodder were already sufficient.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 135

    ¡°Oh right, wait a moment,¡± Lynn called out, stopping the fly demon who was about to leave.


    He selected a heavy hammer from the pile of weapons on the ground and handed it to the four-armed brute force demon. Then, he pointed to the severed head of the bone dragon lying on the ground. ¡°Smash this for me.¡±


    The four-armed brute force demon did not question Lynn¡¯s unusual request. Without hesitation, it raised the hammer high and brought it down with a mighty blow.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    The hammer bounced up, but a thin crack appeared on the dragon¡¯s skull.


    ¡°You really went ahead and smashed it?¡± the fly demon asked, surprised.


    This was the skull of a bone dragon¡ªrather a pretty good stuff!


    Furthermore, it was a genuine dragon skull. Dragons, upon their death, were cast into Dragon Graveyard, where their corpses gradually transformed into bone dragons over time.


    Other people wouldn¡¯t know that this was the head of a bone dragon, so it was pretty good to pretend it to be a red dragon skull or a golden dragon skull to save face.Lynn actually smashed this good stuff.


    However, since the fly demon had already given it to Lynn, how Lynn chose to handle it was entirely his prerogative.


    The four-armed brute force demon continued to hammer the skull, each blow adding more cracks to the already fractured surface.


    The cracks spread rapidly, growing more extensive with each strike. Just as the skull seemed on the verge of shattering, a faint, ghostly blue me suddenly ignited within the shattered bone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. I surrender,¡± the disembodied dragon skull spoke, its jaw moving as it emitted the plea.


    The fly demon watched in stunned silence. It had assumed the bone dragon was dead, not realizing that the skull was still alive.


    Lynn stretched his neck, which had grown stiff from the tension, and remarked leisurely, ¡°And this is why it¡¯s so important to read more.¡±


    ¡°It thought it had concealed itself well, but in reality, the characteristics of your bone dragon n have been thoroughly dissected by wizards. Even if your head and body are separated, you won¡¯t die as long as the skull isn¡¯tpletely shattered. What you call ¡®death¡¯ is merely a disguise for the bone dragon.¡±


    The me in the bone dragon¡¯s eye sockets flickered slightly.


    ¡°You were a brass dragon in your previous life, weren¡¯t you?¡± Lynn inquired, though his tone suggested certainty.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the bone dragon replied after a long silence. ¡°But my memories of my previous life are quite vague.¡±


    Lynn said lightly, ¡°I know. A resurrected bone dragon is akin to new life. It can only gradually recover memories from its previous existence as its power grows stronger. Given how weak you are, it¡¯s clear you won¡¯t remember everything from your previous life.¡±


    Hearing Lynn saying it was weak, the bone dragon choked and felt heartbroken.


    Lynn continued, ¡°The most noticeable feature of a brass dragon is the ridged tes that grow backward like plows on either side of its head. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s to help with burrowing through sand?¡±


    The soul me within the bone dragon¡¯s eye sockets flickered slightly in response.


    Lynn pressed on, his tone unchanged. ¡°Also, brass dragons are known for having a de-like horn on their chin that grows sharper with age. Yet your horn seems to be missing. What happened to it?¡± He pointed to the bone dragon¡¯s barren chin, where the remains of a broken horn were evident.


    The bone dragon felt that this wizard knew more about brass dragons than it did, even though it had been a brass dragon in its previous life.


    Little did it know that standing out often attracts attention. For wizards, legendary creatures like dragons, with their widespread presence, immense power, and long lifespans, were the perfect subjects for study.


    Furthermore, the widely popr tales of evil dragons and princesses in the kingdom fueled every wizard¡¯s curiosity about dragons. Nearly every wizard with some knowledge of their craft knew a bit about the characteristics of well-known dragons.


    For instance, there were the five chromatic dragons¡ªred, green, blue, ck, and white¡ªand the five metallic dragons¡ªgold, silver, copper, brass, and bronze. These ten types were the epitome of the dragon family.


    Compared to the rare breeds like abyss dragons, rainbow dragons, chaos dragons, infernal dragons, and world dragons, the chromatic and metallic dragons had long been thoroughly studied by wizards.


    This was partly why Lynn had chosen not to kill the bone dragon immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that even bone dragons have a habit of hoarding treasures. Where do you keep yours?¡± Lynn inquired.


    The bone dragon¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°Even in death, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Smash it,¡± Lynn lightly said.


    ¡°Wait, I think¡ª¡± The bone dragon¡¯s voice was abruptly cut off as the four-armed brute force demon swung its massive hammer down with force. The hammer struck the top of the dragon¡¯s skull, creating arge crater, with the weapon fully embedding itself into the bone.


    The brute force demon lifted its hammer, preparing to strike again. A faint voice emerged from within the cracked skull. ¡°I think we can negotiate.¡±


    The four-armed brute force demon was about to continue its assault, driven by its excitement at the enemy¡¯s pleas for mercy, though it awaited Lynn¡¯smand.


    ¡°Let it finish speaking,¡± Lynn was calm.


    The bone dragon, its voice sounding fainter due to the missing portion of its skull, continued weakly, ¡°I hid my treasures in a spatial artifact. Only I know where it¡¯s buried.¡±


    The absence of a chunk from its skull made its words seem as if they were drifting away, like a gust of wind escaping through a crack.


    ¡°By the way, how did you die in your previous life? Did you leave any treasures behind?¡± Lynn asked.


    The bone dragon fell silent, and it suddenly felt that it was better to die than to live.


    This person was a devil.


    ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten how I died,¡± the bone dragon replied after a pause, ¡°but considering how much time has passed since then, my treasures might have been discovered by treasure hunters long ago.¡±


    Lynn had only asked out of curiosity. Even if he knew the location of the bone dragon¡¯s treasures, the ce would be far off and likely across different nes, making it nearly impossible for him to locate.


    The origin of bone dragons was indeed very strange. It was said to be linked to the Dragon Graveyard.


    The Dragon Graveyard was a strange ce, existing independently from the nes¡ªa peculiar space that had been carved out. Legends spoke of dead dragons whose corpses, if not desecrated, would be drawn into the Dragon Graveyard over the ages. There, they would lie in a state of slumber.


    After a sufficiently long time, these dragons might have a chance to revive as undead dragons. Undead dragons came in several forms: bone dragons, ghost dragons, and corpse dragons, each representing a transformation of bones, souls, and flesh respectively.


    ¡°Then take me to your treasures,¡± Lynn said, maintaining a sense of anticipation for the treasure of the bone dragon.


    Bone dragons also have the avaricious attribute of the dragons. The innate greed of dragons, deeply etched into their very essence, did not wane even with death.


    Thanks to their inherent abilities, dragons possessed a natural talent for discerning the value of objects. This discernment was a form of ¡°intuition¡± rooted in their souls. If presented with two identical treasures, a dragon could instinctively determine which was more valuable.


    Dragons could indeed discern the value of treasures, but understanding how to utilize these treasures and their specific worth depended on each dragon¡¯s knowledge. Most young and adult dragons were functionally illiterate. Although their bloodlines preserved ancient knowledge passed down from earlier dragon n eras, absorbing this knowledge required diligent study.


    However, most dragons were notoriouslyzy. They preferred lounging in their caves, sleeping away the hours, rather than expending effort to learn.


    Thisziness often led to a rather amusing and ironic situation. After a dragon was in, many people would discover powerful artifacts among the dragon¡¯s hoard. Yet, these valuable items had been carelessly tossed into the treasure pile, gathering dust.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 136

    ¡°My treasures are here,¡± the bone dragon announced as it led Lynn to a deste expanse of white bones.


    The ground was littered with thickyers of bones, forming a vast in. Rising from this eeriendscape were rolling hills covered with an abundance of serpent trees. Lynn had seen these peculiar creatures before, the type that had coiled around the entire balloon of Harin¡¯s floating airship.


    However, the serpent trees here were muchrger than those on the airship. These serpent trees twisted and intertwined, their roots forming aplexwork that resembled tangled skeins of yarn, creating a vast, uneven, hollow sphere.


    These serpent trees were said to be the offspring of the demigod-level entity, G?nilongen. G?nilongen was the origin of all serpent trees in the Abyss and could be considered the father or mother of these trees.


    Although the serpent trees looked menacing, they had a notable weakness: they were extremely fearful of fire. They would not actively attack creatures holding torches or any ming objects. The size of the serpent trees also corrted with their level of strength.


    The tangled mass of serpent trees before them had grown so densely that it almost resembled a mountain range. If an ordinary person were to fall into this entangled forest, they would be quickly drained of everyst drop of blood, leaving behind nothing but a desated corpse.


    The serpent trees¡¯ favorite food was blood. For the bone dragon, a mere skeleton with no blood, these trees considered it no more valuable than a rock.


    As the bone dragon descended, the serpent trees below seemed to stir ande alive. Their roots writhed and twisted with anticipation. The soul me in the bone dragon¡¯s eye sockets flickered slightly.


    Lynn narrowed his eyes, sensing that the bone dragon might not be entirely trustworthy. He slid his magic staff into the cavity on top of the dragon¡¯s skull, silently beginning an incantation for an ¡®Interlocking Lightning¡¯ spell.¡°What are you doing?¡± Lynn asked.


    The bone dragon hovered in the air and then rumbled, ¡°How about you all wait for me outside, and I¡¯ll retrieve my treasures and bring them to you?¡±


    ¡°Sure, just find a clear spot to drop us off,¡± Lynn replied.


    The bone dragon then flew away from the serpent tree mountains, finding a spacious in where itnded. The fly demon and the four-armed brute force demon dismounted from its back and touched down on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go retrieve my treasures first,¡± the bone dragon said, trailing off.


    Lightning erupted from Lynn¡¯s magic staff, casting a blinding brilliance!


    <em>Crackling</em>~


    Crackling and sizzling, the bolts of lightning shattered the soul me within the bone dragon¡¯s skull.


    ¡°Trust is given only once, and unfortunately, you didn¡¯t seize the opportunity,¡± Lynn said coldly, his gaze fixed on the bone dragon¡¯s eye sockets as the lightning obliterated the soul mepletely.


    The massive bone dragon was truly dead this time, without a shadow of a doubt.


    After jumping off the back of the bone dragon, Lynn stored its corpse in his spatial ring.


    The bone dragon definitely knew about the existence of these serpent trees and their thirst for blood. Had it been someone less informed about the serpent trees, they might have let the bone dragon fly them down.


    As for the oue, being surrounded by so many serpent trees, even if they didn¡¯t die, it would give the bone dragon ample time to escape.


    ¡°This is quite a hassle, flying all this way,¡± Lynn sighed. ¡°With such arge hole in its head, it won¡¯t fetch a good price. I should learn a soul attack spell in the future to preserve the freshness of corpses.¡±


    He nced at the horizon. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the edge of thisyer of the Abyss, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Not quite; the Abyss is still quite vast,¡± the fly demon replied.


    Thendscape ahead and thend beneath them almost blended into one another, with the colors and scenery seeming like a mere replication of the surrounding soil. The Abyss was monotonous and dreary.


    As Lynn prepared to leave, a sh of deep purple light suddenly streaked across the distant sky.


    This deep purple light was peculiar, resembling spiderwebs drawn across the canvas of the sky.


    Lynn paused, noticing a faint sound emanating from that direction. As he approached, he realized that the serpent trees avoided this area, as if this direction was a great danger to them.


    These instinct-driven serpent trees naturally avoided such threats.


    Lynn withdrew his gaze and rubbed his ring on his finger, preparing to return to Demon City.


    A golden-red circle spread out as Lynn stepped into it.


    The surroundings grew dark, and the air was charged with a particrly violent energy. Lynn¡¯s senses quickly alerted him, prompting him to consider retreating.


    The sudden pain at the back of Lynn¡¯s head made him lose consciousness. Before everything went dark, he faintly heard someone say, ¡°Hmm, how did we hook a person?¡±


    When Lynn regained his senses, he had no idea how much time had passed. As he came to, he found himself lying on a bed.


    A familiar voice reached his ears. ¡°How careless of you. How did you end up here?¡±


    Lynn turned his head and saw Harin sitting beside the bed.


    He attempted to sit up, but the pain in his head was excruciating, and his whole body felt sore.


    ¡°Teacher Harin?!¡±


    Lynn eximed, startled. Could it be that he was the one who knocked him out with a club?


    ¡°Ahahaha, sorry about that. My friend and I were fishing, and we identally reeled you in,¡± came a voice from outside the room. A man with a scruffy beard entered, looking apologetic.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to know Harin. It was aplete ident,¡± the bearded man said, ncing at Harin.


    Lynn¡¯s lips twitched. So, if he hadn¡¯t known Harin, he might have actually been ughtered like a fish.


    Lynn was not angry. He knew getting angry would be futile at this point.


    He was just relieved that he had run into Harin in this situation.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Lynn asked in confusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask. If you do, you¡¯ll probably end up staying here until the experiment is over,¡± Harin replied.


    Lynn nodded in silence. He knew Harin wasn¡¯t joking about such matters. Some things were best left unknown, and certain confidential experiments required that participants remain within the experimental area untilpletion.


    ¡°Alright, stop scaring the kid. The consequences aren¡¯t that severe,¡± the bearded man said reassuringly. ¡°After the experiment ends, you¡¯ll be able to leave. You might even get the chance to join our experiments here. Harin says you have quite a talent. Who knows, you might be an official wizard if you stay here for a few decades.¡±


    Lynn was speechless. <em>You really know how tofort people.</em>


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you back,¡± Harin said, retrieving a small, ck vial from his pocket and tossing it to Lynn. ¡°This is thepensation he promised you.¡±


    Lynn caught the vial and looked down at it. The ss container held what appeared to be a swirling mass of ck ink.


    ¡°This is the essence of a shadow demon¡¯s bloodline, a very pure one. You¡¯ll find out how to use it once you get back,¡± Harin exined.


    Harin led Lynn out of the room, with the bearded man following behind them, one on each side.


    Lynn noticed that the ce where he had been staying was a temporary alchemical workshop, simr to his own Alchemy Laboratory.


    The surroundings were an unusual space,prised of countless cross-sections of circles, creating aplex and disorientingndscape. The edges were marked by ck lines, which, upon closer inspection, were not actual lines but merely the remnants of deep, shadowy voids left behind from the cut sections.


    These circles were in constant, gentle rotation. For some unfathomable reason, Lynn couldn¡¯t shake the image of a flush toilet bowl from his mind.


    Beneath his feety a patch of ck soil, its texture reminiscent of soft, mushy mud.


    Harin guided Lynn to a nearby area where a circr hole had been carved into the ground. The hole was adorned withyers uponyers of circles within it. Darkness, despair, and destruction intermingled within this pit, creating a sense of an endless abyss. Lynn blinked and quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to look directly at it any longer.


    ¡°Ah, another fish has taken the bait. Just a moment,¡± the bearded man suddenly eximed with excitement.


    Lynn watched as ripples spread across the surface of the circr hole. Gradually, a ghostly figure began to solidify from within.


    The bearded man moved skillfully behind the newly materialized figure. From his pocket, he produced an object resembling a small mallet and brought it down forcefully on the figure¡¯s head!


    Lynn¡¯s eyes widened. It was obviously the first time he saw this scene, but he didn¡¯t know why he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.


    He inhaled sharply and instinctively ced a hand on the back of his own head.


    There was a round little bump there.


    The figure, just solidified, was directly knocked unconscious by the mallet strike.


    Lynn¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he observed the scene before him. The creature lying on the ground was a dual-scythe yer demon, a master of battlefield assassination known for its expertise in flickering and teleporting. But such a demon proficient in assassination was actually knocked down by a mallet.


    Lynn couldn¡¯t help but touch the back of his own head again. <em>Is my skull so strong?</em>


    ¡°That mallet is a semi-artifact imbued with divine power,¡± Harin saw Lynn¡¯s expression and guessed his thoughts. ¡°Its special effect is to induce dizziness. However, it has a critical w¡ªit can¡¯t kill the enemy, no matter how hard you strike.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s actually a weapon like this.¡± Lynn remarked with a strange expression. This kind of weapon seems designed specifically for knocking people out!


    As he dragged out the dual-scythe yer demon, the bearded man grinned and said, ¡°Dead prey isn¡¯t worth much. Alive, however, they¡¯re far more valuable. Don¡¯t be fooled by their disdainful looks; deep down, these guys are dying to get their hands on my treasures.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 137

    Lynn observed the scene and roughly guessed how he might have ended up here.


    The hole was like a whirlpool beneath the water¡¯s surface¡ªseemingly harmless from the surface, but in fact capable of pulling any passing fish into its depths.


    Was it possible that he had been captured by this very hole when he returned to Demon City through the circle?


    This seemed to be the only usible exnation. This was themon point between Lynn and this demon.


    It seemed unlikely that the hole merely captured random lucky individuals from the Abyss.


    With so many demons in the Abyss, if the capture relied solely on chance, most of those drawn in would likely be low-level demons.


    The onlymon factor Lynn could think of between himself and this demon was spatial.


    High-level demons often possessed a universal ability¡ªFlicker.


    This was a talent that many demons became renowned for. Demons with this ability were also among the rare few in the Abyss, mostly high-level, which matched the filtering criteria for such a trap.¡°Hey, why is it this kind of guy again?¡± The bearded man¡¯s dissatisfaction with the catch was evident. He had hoped for a high-level demon, such as a shadow demon or me demon, which were more sought after in the market.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you back,¡± Harin offered, turning his attention to Lynn. ¡°You¡¯ve made impressive progress. Your mental strength is up to standard now. Focus on your studies for the time being. The outside world is currently unstable, so you should concentrate on your learning.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, but it¡¯s not something that concerns you directly,¡± Harin exined. ¡°It¡¯s just that our enemies have stirred up another conflict, and it seems to be targeting us specifically.¡±


    The man who was squatting on the side dissecting the dual-scythe yer demonughed wantonly. ¡°Haha! Once our research isplete, we¡¯ll show those gods what¡¯s what!¡±


    ¡°By the way, teacher Harin,¡± Lynn suddenly turned to ask.


    Harin tilted his head slightly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you are a throne wizard?¡± Lynn inquired.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about that thing,¡± Harin said after a brief pause. ¡°You should be approaching the point where you need to decide your future path as a wizard. I assume you haven¡¯t yet explored the library¡¯s collection.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no harm in telling you now. Let me give you a brief overview.¡±


    Harin extended both his left and right hands.


    From his left palm, a swirling mass of blood mist began to coalesce into a spherical shape, floating gently above his hand. On the right hand, a simr mist started to form, but this one was gradually solidifying. As it did, vibrant, multicolored energies merged with it, akin to adding various seasonings to a dish.


    Eventually, the blood mist coalesced in his left hand, forming a dense, swirling mass in his palm. Meanwhile, his right hand also held a semi-transparent, red, solidified jelly. Inside the jelly, various color patches swirled about, and curiously, a piece of steel reinforcement had been embedded within it at some unknown point by Harin.


    ¡°I see what you mean now,¡± Lynn remarked with dawningprehension. ¡°You¡¯re saying that the power of a wizard apprentice is less concentrated, but once one bes an official wizard, their energy bes more solidified?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Harin affirmed. ¡°But it¡¯s not just about that. Bing a wizard involves the process of incorporating various elements into oneself.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s put aside the issue of those alien wizards for now. As for us human wizards, at our core, we are still human. Regardless of the methods we use to strengthen our bodies, our ultimate goal is to make both our physical form and our souls stronger. In reality, I believe that the soul is also a part of the body. What truly drives our actions is the will residing within the soul, which you might also refer to as our thoughts.¡± Harin said, pointing to his own head.


    ¡°Whether through transformation, meditation, possession, or bloodline fusion, all methods essentially aim to make the vessel that carries our thoughts greater and more capable of harnessing the world¡¯s power.¡±


    Harin spoke slowly. ¡°However, these transformations vary in effectiveness. Some offer greater potential and can take you further, while others have limitations and can only progress to a certain extent before stagnating.¡±


    ¡°Even the much-coveted destiny that many wizards aspire to is, in my view, just another aspect of material for transforming us. When you be a throne wizard, you ept the glory it brings, along with its inherent destiny,¡± Harin said, lifting his gaze to the distance.


    ¡°Hahaha, Harin, why are you being so mystical? I think you should quit being a wizard and go be a preacher in a church instead,¡± the man next to him couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily upon hearing Harin¡¯s words. ¡°Hey kid, don¡¯t pay too much attention to what he says. Sometimes he just likes to act all profound and mysterious.¡±


    ¡°Although I¡¯m not a throne wizard, I am an Abyss wizard. You might not know what an Abyss wizard is. It means that I fought in the Abyss, leading my legion in one of the many small battlefields there. I fought until I had defeated all the enemies on the battlefield, and in the end, I was the only one left, having advanced to the rank of wizard.¡±


    The man¡¯s face was full of pride. ¡°An Abyss wizard like me gains the favor of the Abyss. During rituals or special events rted to the Abyss, we receive its blessings. Simply put, it grants us a unique aura.¡±


    Harin did not dispute this. From the man¡¯s words, Lynn could tell that this was indeed the truth. However, the man¡¯s exnation was certainly more straightforwardpared to Harin¡¯s description.


    Harin shook his head. ¡°Yes, it is a special aura. It absorbs the destiny of an empire, receiving the gifts of destiny, and thus bes more favorable in certain rituals and events.¡±


    ¡°There are never any benefits without a price. Gaining favor alwayses with responsibilities. For example, as an Abyss wizard, he received the Abyss¡¯ favor, but such favor is never given for free,¡± Harin said with a meaningful tone.


    ¡°He naturally has to repay the Abyss in other ways. As this kind of cooperation deepens, the favor from the Abyss will also grow stronger. The more you gaze into the abyss, the closer you draw to it.¡±


    Lynn pondered this deeply, sensing that he was beginning to understand. Perhaps this was the true purpose behind the Abyss Wizard Academy¡¯s existence. Such Abyss wizards might only truly be found within its walls.


    ¡°Tsk, what responsibility? You¡¯re just scaring yourself. All I have to do is asionally help the Abyss invade a ne. I was already invading other nes, and now the Abyss provides me with free ne coordinates. It¡¯s a privilege many wizards envy. You¡¯re just jealous that I became an Abyss wizard. If you ask me, a real man should go to the Abyss and fight in the bloody battlefield, and those who survive battling demons are the true men!¡±


    The bearded man pounded his chest, hisughter echoing like the roar of a predatory tiger.


    Lynn stood by, listening to the exchange between Harin and the man. While he still had a few lingering questions, they seemed less important now. He had grasped the essence of what a throne wizard was, and he had also learned about a new term¡ªAbyss wizard.


    The Abyss needing help to invade nes sounds a bit like helping the Abyss meet its ¡°performance targets.¡±


    The Abyss, as a vast collective spanning multiple dimensions, is undoubtedly powerful.


    Since Abyss wizards assist the Abyss in achieving its goals, who do throne wizards assist in meeting their objectives?


    Lynn considered this carefully.


    ¡°Hm, such matters always involve trade-offs,¡± Harin continued. ¡°You¡¯ll inevitablye across such concepts in the library once you be a wizard, which is why I hadn¡¯t mentioned it before. I believe these are decisions you need to make on your own, as every decision a wizard makes is ultimately their own. I don¡¯t want to influence you too much.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Lynn nodded in agreement.


    After a moment¡¯s pause, Harin asked, ¡°Do you know Maybetessa?¡±


    ¡°I know, but I¡¯m not very familiar with her.¡± Lynn paused and said.


    ¡°She wants to persuade you to use a biological entity as the core structure of your wizard tower?¡± Harin asked.


    Lynn was taken aback, not expecting Harin to bring up such a question.


    Seeing Lynn¡¯s puzzled expression, Harin fell silent for a moment, realizing he might have said too much.


    ¡°Hey, wait a minute. What¡¯s the problem with using a biological entity as the core of a wizard tower?¡± Lynn¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and he quickly asked as he saw Harin trying to avoid the topic.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Harin, that¡¯s not cool. If your mentor won¡¯t tell you, I will,¡± the bearded man interjected, eager to stir the pot.


    ¡°Ford,¡± Harin¡¯s gaze grew cold, hinting at a dangerous edge.


    Ford, the man in question, cleared his throat. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to let him know. What if he actually chooses that path?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s merely a difference in philosophy,¡± Harin said after a pause. ¡°In my opinion, it doesn¡¯t matter much. His path is for him to discover and walk on his own. As predecessors, we shouldn¡¯t impose our views on them. We should simply present the knowledge without personal bias, and it¡¯s up to them to discern and choose.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too detached. Why doesn¡¯t it matter? Listen carefully, kid. You should absolutely avoid using biological entities as the core of your wizard tower. Most wizards who go down that path all end up going insane!¡± Ford persuaded.


    All went insane!?


    Lynn caught the loophole in the words. Most, which suggested that not all wizards went insane.


    He recalled Lady Maybetessa, whom he had met. She seemed quite sane.


    ¡°Back in the previous era, that is, the fifth wizard era, biological wizard towers were all the rage. But why don¡¯t we basically see them in this era? It¡¯s precisely because they are too dangerous,¡± Ford exined, shaking his head.


    ¡°That era was characterized by rampant biological transformations, bloodline transnts, and blood and flesh fusions. It was one of the craziest periods in wizard history,¡± Ford continued. ¡°It¡¯s said that our wizard civilization almost faced total destruction because of it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just historical ounts. The truth may not be as dire as described. Just because it¡¯s written in books doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the whole truth. The real facts require personal investigation,¡± Harin said.


    ¡°So, I won¡¯t advise you on which choice to make. The path of a wizard is one you must forge yourself,¡± Harin added.


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 138

    ¡°Biological wizard towers may be beneficial for Maybetessa, but that¡¯s not necessarily the case for other wizards who choose this path. It could be either good or bad; you need to discern it for yourself,¡± Harin said, cing his hand on Lynn¡¯s shoulder.


    Back at the wizard academy, Lynn rubbed his forehead, gazing at the empty surroundings. The four-armed brute force demon was still in the Abyss. Wouldn¡¯t it be lost?


    After painstakingly cultivating a fifth-level demon, it had reached a level where it could directly confront even a first-level wizard. Losing it would be something Lynn truly couldn¡¯t bear.


    Lynn activated his ring and stepped through the spatial portal, returning to the Abyss.


    Surveying his surroundings, he found himself in the same location as before. It seemed that every time he entered through the ring, he arrived at a fixed node.


    However, there was no sign of the four-armed brute force demon. Frowning, Lynn decided to write a message on the ground, instructing the four-armed brute force demon to let it wait for him here if it returned to this ce.


    With that done, Lynn returned to Demon City.


    For the next half month, the dwarves worked on forging the ores into weapons, with some leftover ores being of no use. Lynn extracted the valuable ores, sold it, and used the proceeds to rece it with raw ores needed for weapon production.


    As he inspected the newly crafted weapons, Lynn was eager to initiate a new trade. Since the weapons made from this special metal had a shelf life of only five years, dying the process would waste their optimal performance period.Upon re-entering the Abyss, Lynn saw the four-armed brute force demon waiting on the side. The moment the demon spotted Lynn, it joyfully ran over, its massive form causing the ground to tremble. It wrapped its four arms around Lynn and tossed him into the air.


    The fly demon, who had received the message, hurriedly arrived after a day¡¯s journey. This time, the fly demon brought arge quantity of ores, some of which was stained with dried blood.


    At Lynn¡¯s request, this batch of ores not only included the ¡°payment¡± for the current batch of weapons but also served as a ¡°deposit¡± for the next batch. Thus, the amount was substantial. After inspecting the ores, Lynn happilypleted the transaction with the fly demon.


    The fly demon was equally pleased. After thest batch of weapons was brought back and examined by Dyo, it was found that the weapons were of exceptional quality.


    The fly demon received numerous rewards for its efforts. Although the territory was still in its early stages of development, and thus the tangible rewards were limited, the elevation in status greatly satisfied the demon.


    Furthermore, Dyo did not seem to be concerned about the disappearance of the bone dragon. The disappearance of the bone dragon, along with the fly demon¡¯s rise in prominence, had alerted a different group of smaller factions.


    However, the group in question was a loosely allied coalition that had little connection to the bone dragon. After the bone dragon¡¯s disappearance, these factions were embroiled in their own petty struggles over the minor privileges the bone dragon had left behind. Their attention was thus diverted from troubling the fly demon.


    Seeing this, the fly demon merely sneered contemptuously. A bunch of muscle-brained fools, he thought. Oh, and if the bone dragon was to be included, then the group consisted of one more empty-headed idiot.


    Due to the importance of the weapons, Dyo ced great value on the transactions with Lynn. This batch of ores, in particr, was directly robbed.


    Ores, when not forged into weapons, were merely piles of useless rocks. It was only when transformed into weapons that they could realize their true value.


    Previously, Dyo¡¯s transactions with Lynn had been motivated by her daughter Kathryn. Now, however, there were additional factors at y.


    As the trade between them progressed smoothly, Lynn found himself happy and rxed. With the increasing number of weapons, Dyo¡¯s demon army grew in strength, contributing significantly to her expansion efforts in the Abyss.


    It was a positive feedback loop.


    As for Lynn, with the continuous influx of ores, he either stored the excess or traded it for magic stones. The limited number of dwarves meant that the monthly production of weapons had reached its saturation point and the current upper limit.


    Aside from regr trades, most of Lynn¡¯s time was dedicated to research and study. He also began preparations for constructing a wizard tower.


    At the same time, Lynn conducted experiments with the two vials of demon blood essence.


    The results were highly satisfactory. During the fusion process of the blood essence of the horned demon with a goblin, a conflict arose. The goblin grotesquely mutated into a mindless killing machine, which Lynn promptly dealt with.


    However, this experiment provided Lynn with a substantial amount of research material.


    The blood essence of the shadow demon was fortuitously integrated with sess. Upon witnessing Lauren¡¯s sessful transformation, the envious Redeyes eagerly volunteered to undergo the experimental transformation. Redeyes became the first demon under Lynn¡¯smand to sessfully undergo demon bloodline transformation¡ªa goblin fly demon.


    Lynn referred to it as a ¡®goblin shadow demon¡¯.


    In reality, it had no remaining connection to its original goblin form. The bloodline of the shadow demon was far superior to the goblin¡¯s, and had wholly eroded Redeyes¡¯ goblin bloodline. The resulting creature was a shadow demon standing only half a meter tall.


    Perhaps due to the goblin¡¯s originally modest height, Redeyes¡¯ stature seemed even more diminutive. Fortunately, the shadow demon had the ability to create illusions or to coalesce shadow elements on its body¡¯s surface, making itself appear taller and more imposing.


    On ordinary days, as Redeyes walked through theboratory, it maintained a constant illusion of shadow elements, making its half-meter stature appear as if it were a full two meters tall. This satisfied its vanity to no end.


    Through subsequent experiments, Lynn discovered that Redeyes had inherited almost all the magic abilities of the original shadow demon, including immunity to purely physical attacks that did not contain energy. Additionally, it mastered various shadow magics and steadily advanced to the third-level during this period.


    The shadow demon¡¯s bloodline allowed Redeyes to break through to the third-level quickly by devouring a substantial amount of demon flesh and blood. However, once reaching the third-level, progress slowed considerably. For demons, breaking through the levels up to the third-level was rtively easy, but beyond that, the difficulty of advancing from level to level increased significantly.


    Simrly, the four-armed brute force demon could rapidly grow by consumingrge quantities of flesh and blood, particrly demon flesh. Lynn had not imposed restrictions in this regard. The four-armed brute force demon was so moved to tears. It had never experienced such happiness in its life; since its size had increased, it had almost never felt full.


    Yet, breaking through from the fifth-level to the sixth-level was not something that could be achieved quickly. It required a certain amount of time for it to consolidate.


    Demons digested flesh and blood essence much faster than other beings. Unlike other creatures, demons did not use a digestive system to process their sustenance. Instead, every cell in their body absorbed the essence. Even pieces of meat ced directly on their surface were slowly absorbed. This peculiar absorption capability contributed to the demon¡¯s formidable healing abilities.


    Fortunately, with the revenue from weapon sales and the ongoing sales of the Meditation Treasures, Lynn, who was now quite well-off, could afford to cultivate two demons so generously.


    ¡ª¡ª


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 Chapter 139

    In the ssroom, after finishing the lesson on ¡®Rune Combination and Linking¡¯, Lynn was preparing to leave when he noticed a wizard apprentice in a ck cloak following him.


    ¡°Excuse me, are you Mr. Lynn? I would like to ask you a few questions.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m quite busy at the moment and may not have time,¡± Lynn replied to the unfamiliar voice, waving a hand to decline.


    ¡°It won¡¯t take up too much of your time. I¡¯ve heard that you are very skilled in the mutation studies,¡± the apprentice persisted.


    ¡°Who told you that?¡± Lynn paused in his tracks.


    ¡°Lord Wizard Nocturne.¡±


    The apprentice removed his cloak, revealing a face of the ck Crow n.


    Lynn considered this for a moment; this must be a member of Nocturne¡¯s nsmen. However, Nocturne had never mentioned this matter to him before.


    ¡°Alright, but I¡¯m a bit busy these days. How about we meet in a few days?¡± Lynn said.Though disappointed, the ck Crow apprentice did not press further. He had heard of Lynn¡¯s talent, and there were rumors circting that Lynn had a great chance of bing an official wizard in the future. This was likely why Lynn had hardly encountered any trouble recently.


    In a ce like Demon City, where the focus was primarily on apprentices learning, Lynn¡¯s strength and talent meant that as long as there were no significant conflicts of interest, few would dare to cause trouble.


    One could speak ill of wizards, call them evil, paranoid, or even crazy, but one could never call them foolish. Without conflicts of interest or life-and-death enmities, wizards rarely engaged in unnecessary disputes with each other. It was far better to spend such time studying and gaining knowledge.


    Back at his residence, Lynn continued his busy life but did not feel pressured. On the contrary, he was enjoying the current atmosphere.


    Three dayster, Lynn was in a room on the first floor, sitting face-to-face with Liszt, exchanging knowledge on potions. However, most of the time, it was Lynn speaking and Liszt listening. Meanwhile, Ido lounged in a nearby wicker chair, leisurely reading a book.


    Ido had no interest in magic potion studies but enjoyed the ambiance at Lynn¡¯s ce.


    Outside, the noise level had increased, and Lynn looked out the window, seeing a dark mass approaching.


    When Lynn caught sight of the figure leading the group, he felt a vague sense of familiarity.


    Though cloaked in a hood that obscured his features, the figure¡¯s true identity was unmistakable. The broad wings, the talons that protruded from the sleeves, and the beak of a crow visible from beneath the hood all betrayed his identity.


    ¡°Wizard Nocturne, are you still trying to keep your identity a secret?¡± Lynn stepped outside to greet him, unable to suppress a smile.


    ¡°Lynn, as I promisedst time, I¡¯ve brought with me the most promising members of my n,¡± Nocturne said, removing his hood to reveal his face. He then gestured towards the long line of ck figures behind him.


    Lynn nced at the crowd behind him, a sea of ck¡ªck feathers, ck clothing, and many of the crows were d in ck veils.


    ¡°So many?¡± Lynn was taken aback.


    The sheer number of these beings, if added to his forces, would only be overshadowed by the sheer number of the goblins.


    The goblin poption had already exceeded ten thousand, and Lynn finally understood why goblins were so prevalent in magic nes. They multiply like rabbits on the ins, with no natural predators to curb their growth. ?


    Now, there were over a thousand ck Crows. Lynn had initially expected only a few hundred at most.


    ¡°One thousand exactly: five hundred males and five hundred females. Don¡¯t worry, this batch of crows has been personally selected by me,¡± Nocturne exined.


    ¡°Among them, five hundred have been promoted to third-level crow scouts, three hundred are third-level heartseeker archers, and the remaining two hundred are third-level crow doom spellcasters.¡±


    A thousand third-level ck Crow professionals¡ªLynn was stunned by this generous gift.


    He truly lived up to being the hope of an entire n; the weight of this gift was immense.


    In fact, if there was a weaker, ordinary kingdom, the mere presence of these thousand third-level professionals could potentially conquer it.


    This meant that Lynn¡¯s goal of cultivating followers was nearly fulfilled. With the addition of Redeyes, the four-armed brute force demon, and Lauren¡¯s growth, Lynn would possess a high-levelbat force without having to take action himself.


    ¡°This is their contract,¡± Nocturne said, handing Lynn a parchment scroll that glowed with arcane writing.


    Lynn nced at the scroll, which was densely covered in names.


    Turning his gaze to the ck Crows¡¯ nsmen, Lynn noted that if one did not look closely, the appearance of these crows was quite simr.


    ¡°You¡¯ll stay on the top floor. Have you chosen a leader among you?¡± Lynn then called out to Lauren.


    ¡°My Lord, I am.¡± One of the ck Crows at the forefront of the ck Crow n stepped forward.


    Looking at the ck feathered robe that nearly dragged along the ground, the two golden feathers adorning the cuffs, and the small wooden staff hanging at his waist, it was clear who he was.


    Judging by the attire, this individual was indeed the crow doom spellcaster Nocturne had mentioned.


    ¡°I am called Xiao Meng, and I follow yourmands, my Lord,¡± the ck Crow said, giving a slight bow and addressing Lynn with polite deference.


    ¡°Very well. For now, you may hold this position temporarily,¡± Lynn replied.


    Xiao Meng¡¯s eyes revealed no extraneous emotion, only a slight bow in acknowledgment. ¡°I will follow your orders.¡±


    ¡°Lauren,e over here. Take them to the top floor and arrange their amodations. Also, procure beds and daily necessities for them,¡± Lynn instructed Lauren.


    Lauren stepped forward and nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, there is a junior member of my family who wishes to consult with you. Could you please see to it?¡± Nocturne mentioned to Lynn.


    Lynn recalled the apprentice who had approached him a few days ago. It seemed this apprentice was indeed rted to Nocturne. As Nocturne had not previously disclosed this connection, Lynn was uncertain about the nature of their rtionship, whether it was amicable or not.


    ¡°That would be no problem,¡± Lynn said with a nod. ¡°I just wasn¡¯t sure if they knew you.¡±


    Nocturne could not help but smile at Lynn¡¯s response. The approval and recognition Lynn showed pleased him greatly, indicating that Lynn valued his opinion highly.


    ¡°It was my oversight, and so is yours. How could you disturb Wizard Lynn without my permission?¡± Nocturne said, turning to the juniors behind him.


    The juniors behind Nocturne inwardly smiled wryly, daring not to say anything more except to admit their mistake.


    They were just surprised inside; judging from the words of their elder, it seemed that Lynn had already been considered a peer of the same level.


    Although Lynn was still just an apprentice, in his heart he had truly regarded him as a wizard.


    This Wizard Lynn was indeed not simple; Xiao Lan couldn¡¯t help but elevate Lynn¡¯s status in his mind.


    ¡°By the way, here is the item you asked me to inquire aboutst time. Lady Maybetessa asked me to deliver this to you. She eagerly anticipates the day you be a wizard,¡± Nocturne said, producing a rolled-up blueprint from his robes and handing it to Lynn.


    Lynn¡¯s face lit up with joy. With the blueprint, it would greatly simplify the design of his attack sector and save him a significant amount of time. ¡°Please convey my thanks to Lady Maybetessa,¡±


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 140

    After conversing with Nocturne for a while, Nocturne eventually took his leave. Lynn watched him go and then turned his attention to Xiao Yu. With a warm and inviting gesture, he said, ¡°Come over here. Do you have any questions for me?¡±


    Lynn¡¯s tone was rxed. After all, Nocturne had just provided him with arge batch of followers, solving a significant problem for him. While this might not seem like much to others, it had certainly alleviated a major issue for Lynn.


    With these ck Crow n followers, if Lynn were an apprentice with modest ambitions, focused solely on advancing to the rank of an official wizard, he would have already met the fundamental goal of cultivating followers. This would save him a considerable amount of time¡ªtime which, for Lynn, was as precious as life itself.


    Bing an official wizard as soon as possible would extend his lifespan and improve other aspects of his existence significantly. It would also ease his sense of urgency.


    Suddenly, Lynn had a thought. If he could be an official wizard, perhaps he could secure a spot as a ship-bound wizard, allowing him to return home openly. This thought stirred a small wave of excitement in his otherwise calm heart.


    With the continuous understanding of the wizarding world, he found that his perspective had subtly shifted, growing more indifferent to the value of life.


    Observing Lynn¡¯s tranquil gaze out the window, Xiao Yu hesitated before speaking up. ¡°Wizard Lynn, I am currently doing a research in mutation studies. I¡¯ve been researching biological transformation recently.¡±


    There was a hint of pride in Xiao Yu¡¯s voice as he mentioned his area of expertise. Lynn listened intently. Biological transformation was indeed a broad subject. Transforming a rabbit was one thing, while transforming a dragon was another. The difficulty of thetter was obviously far greater.


    Moreover, there were varying levels of difficulty in transformations. Turning a rabbit into a super-sized, tender, and fast-growing meat rabbit was less challengingpared to creating an ultimate killer rabbit capable of devouring a dragon beast in one bite.¡°I want to transform the Riftbone Mountain Goat. After sessful transformation, its destructive power will increase significantly. However, no matter how I modify it, each time it only survives for at most half a day,¡± Xiao Yu said, presenting a transformation blueprint on the table. His gaze was filled with nervousness as he looked at Lynn.


    Lynn was taken aback by Xiao Yu¡¯s trust, as he had openly presented the transformation blueprint. If Lynn truly wished to, he could easily ¡°copy¡± the content from it.


    He had initially expected that Xiao Yu would break down the key issues into smaller parts and ask him questions one by one. However, directly reviewing the blueprint turned out to be much more efficient. Lynn quickly identified the problems in the design.


    ¡°You want to add numerous bone spurs to the surface of this Riftbone Mountain Goat,¡± Lynn said, his finger tracing the design on the blueprint. His fingertip tapped lightly on the relevant sections.


    After a brief pause, Lynn continued, ¡°But you haven¡¯t considered the supply issue. You¡¯ve added too many external bone structures, but the digestive system and energy supply are inadequate, leading to an excessively fragile body.¡±


    Lynn pointed out, ¡°So, your design concept is wed from the start.¡±


    ¡°I noticed that too,¡± Xiao Yu replied with admiration. ¡°I made some reductions and even designed some of the bone spurs to be hollow.¡±


    Lynn¡¯s immediate recognition of the problem surprised Xiao Yu. He had conducted numerous experiments, discovering the critical issues only after many trials. Yet, knowing the problem didn¡¯t necessarily mean solving it. He had been stuck in the experimental phase for nearly three years, reducing the number of bone spurs, but the transformed Riftbone Mountain Goat still failed to survive beyond a day.


    ¡°Then the bone spurs of this creature shouldn¡¯t be ordinary bones. If throttling won¡¯t work, we should find a way to increase the energy supply. You can add an energy supply in the design. I remember that in some worlds, magical creatures have something called a ¡®magic core¡¯ inside their bodies,¡± Lynn said.


    ¡°Should we add a magic core then?¡±


    ¡°No, adding a magic core is tooplex. The knowledge required for that is more advanced than your transformation project,¡± Lynn exined.


    Mainly, since he has not studied this area of knowledge at all, how could he possibly create a magic core inside the Riftbone Mountain Goat?


    ¡°My suggestion is to create something simr to a magic core inside it. There are many alternatives to magic cores¡ªartificial energy crystals, blood-flesh hearts, mechanical hearts,¡± Lynn offered.


    Xiao Yu trembled at the thought. Theplexity of these alternatives seemed almost as daunting as creating a magic core itself!


    ¡°¡®Tumor nd¡¯,¡± Lynn finally mentioned his purpose.


    Xiao Yu had never heard of this term before.


    ¡°This is a result I stumbled upon during an experiment. It can serve a simr function to a ¡®magic core¡¯,¡± Lynn said, withholding further details.


    ¡°However, the tumor nd has a downside. If it undergoes excessive strain, it is prone to ndr rupture,¡± Lynn pointed out, offering a solution to the problem.


    Xiao Yu considered this for a moment and found that Lynn¡¯s suggestion was indeed viable.


    ¡°But¡ª¡± Xiao Yu said, still concerned, ¡°the tumor nd doesn¡¯t seem perfect. Its tendency to rupture means it¡¯s a rather fragile weapon.¡±


    ¡°I have high hopes for you,¡± Lynn said, cing a reassuring hand on Xiao Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If you find that they are too prone to death, then find ways to increase their reproduction rate. Just produce more cannon fodder. If they die quickly, then let¡¯s just make more of them.¡± Lynn spoke calmly.


    Lynn handed over his research notes on the tumor nd to Xiao Yu. To him, it was not particrly valuable knowledge. The tumor nd was merely a byproduct from an earlier experiment. Initially, Lynn had intended to research creating an additional heart for Lauren, but the experiment failed, leaving him with this misshapen, tumor-like nd.


    To Lynn, it had little practical use. The tumor nd was prone to rupture and had limited potential. Simply put, it was a fragile and weak engine. Moreover, he had many other experiments to attend to andcked the energy to delve deeply into this one.


    It was better to let Xiao Yu make use of it; perhaps he might discover something valuable.


    ¡°Thank you, Wizard Lynn. I will inform you if there are any new developments in the experiment,¡± Xiao Yu said gratefully.


    ¡°By the way, Wizard Lynn, Korsky<sup>1</sup> is preparing to make his final breakthrough in a week. Are you interested in attending the ritual?¡± Xiao Yu asked.


    ¡°Already at the final step?¡± Lynn was surprised. He had heard of Korsky, though they were not personally acquainted.


    As the man closest to bing an official wizard in the current Demon City, he¡¯d heard from Ido that he came from Mechanist City. However, his philosophy waspletely opposite to that of the Mechanist City; it was said that he had been pursuing the concept of immortality through flesh and blood.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any personal connection with him, and he hasn¡¯t invited me,¡± Lynn replied, shaking his head.


    He wasn¡¯t familiar with Korsky, and thetter didn¡¯t invite him to attend the ritual.


    Seeing this, Xiao Yu quickly added, ¡°I am quite familiar with Korsky, and he has invited a few friends. I can take one person with me. If you¡¯re interested, I can include you in the invitation.¡±


    ¡°Oh? There¡¯s an extra slot? In that case, I¡¯m interested,¡± Lynn agreed eagerly.


    Watching an apprentice make the transition to an official wizard was indeed a valuable opportunity.


    ¡°Alright, I will invite you a day in advance. The event will be at the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley. We can apply for the permit to go there a day before,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    After Xiao Yu departed, Lynn discreetly gathered information and confirmed that Korsky was indeed on the verge of his breakthrough to be an official wizard, and the event was to take ce at the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley. Once Lynn had verified this through various sources, he felt reassured.


    A weekter, Xiao Yu arrived a day early to extend the invitation to Lynn. They set out for the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley, which was located adjacent to Demon City. Xiao Yu led Lynn to the service hall where they registered and applied for a permit to ess the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley.


    Lynn had heard of the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley for quite some time, but this was his first visit. In Lynn¡¯s imagination, this ce should resemble the vast rift of the East African Rift Valley, an immense fissure that stretches beyond the horizon, with a deep valley floor beneath the feet.


    However, upon arriving, Lynn realized his imagination had been wed. The Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley resembled a series of tiered ¡°terraces¡± descendingyer byyer, with no end in sight.


    Scattered demons wandered across these terraces, but no matter how they moved, they were confined to the uppermost tier, as though an invisible barrier held them within.


    Upon arrival, Lynn noticed several apprentices already waiting. Among them was an old acquaintance¡ªJado.


    Recently, Lynn had enlisted Jado¡¯s help to contact an apprentice and exchange information for a special alloy form, which had been quite beneficial.


    The two had met a few times before and shared a cordial rtionship. Upon meeting, they exchanged smiles and greeted each other warmly.


    As the introductions were made, the surrounding apprentices realized that Lynn was the well-known wizard behind the recently popr Meditation Treasures. A few of them stepped forward to greet him as well.


    Everyone was a bunch of introverted homebodies, so after the brief greetings, the atmosphere fell into an awkward silence.


    One by one, the apprentices wearing cloaks or with their heads down, busy calcting data, continued to focus on their own tasks.


    Fortunately, Lynn was ustomed to such experimental environments.


    ¡°Are we all here?¡± one of the apprentices asked. ¡°Jado invited sixteen people, plus the additional friends, making a total of thirty-two.¡±


    Once everyone had gathered, they set off together. Lynn took the opportunity to survey his surroundings, preparing for any unforeseen events and nning potential escape routes if necessary.


    However, Lynn reasoned that there was unlikely to be any real danger. He had brought along his Alchemy Laboratory, which was not only equipped with numerous followers but also heavily packed with them, especially the fifth-level four-armed brute force demon. Lynn felt quite secure in the vicinity of Demon City.


    Even a typical first-level wizard, without the support of a wizard tower, would find it challenging to face a fifth-level demon alone.


    Yet Lynn was curious about why Korsky had chosen the Abyss Crossing Great Rift Valley as the location for his breakthrough. As they proceeded, they encountered several wandering demons. The further they ventured, the more demons appeared in the surroundings.


    Most of these demons were of low-levels, ranging from first to second, consisting mainly of inferior and minor demons. For a group of seasoned wizard apprentices in Demon City, these demons posed little trouble.


    After traveling a considerable distance, Lynn finally spotted a towering structure on the horizon¡ªa wizard tower.


    He marveled at the sight before him. The structure rose imposingly from the in, its shape reminiscent of a beehive but entirely blood-red with numerous openings dotting its surface. If it weren¡¯t for the distinctive fluctuations of runes that were characteristic of a wizard tower, Lynn would have had difficulty associating this grotesque edifice with a traditional wizard tower.


    ¡ª¡ª<ol><li>TL/N: He was first mentioned in chapter 97. ??</li></ol><svg ss="icon icon-cat"><use xlink:href="#icon-cat"></use></svg>


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