《The Bizarre Wizarding World》


 Chapter 1 - 1 Hometown

    The sun dipped westward, and the orange-yellow light gradually grew weaker.


    After a while, the feeble light disappeared entirely, leaving only the pitifully pale moon in the sky and the sporadic lights on the island.


    On the southern slope of the island sat the stone house near the main entrance of the Lap Wizard Territory.


    The apprentices were in class.


    This was a spacious stone house, with ten long wooden tables made from raw logs neatly placed on the wooden floor.


    In front was a huge fireplace decorated with pebbles, and a high-legged brown lectern.


    The instructor in front of the lectern was a middle-aged man with a full beard, clad in a gray wizard robe, speaking at a leisurely pace,


    "¡­The essence of advancing as a wizard is the continuous growth and sublimation of the spirit¡­"


    Under the lectern, scattered about, sat more than forty apprentices, listening attentively to the lesson.


    They were both males and females, all sitting on their own brought fur seat cushions, wearing wizard robes of the same style as the instructor.


    However, the instructor''s robe was more elaborate, and the triangular badge on his chest differed from their dark iron color, shining a bright golden yellow.


    "¡­It''s about time."


    After a while, the bearded instructor finished a section. He glanced at his pocket watch and crisply announced, "Class dismissed."


    He then closed the hefty black book in his hands, tucked it under his arm, and stepped towards the door.


    But soon, as if he remembered something, he stopped, turned around to survey the apprentices, paused, and said,


    "For the next three months, there won''t be any monthly classes, nor will there be daily tasks¡­ I suggest you make your preparations early."


    His words scarcely faded when he left without dragging his feet, with a sweep of his left hand, extinguishing the Bright Crystals hanging from the brown ceiling.


    The soft white light abruptly vanished, replaced by the cold moonlight creeping in from the windows, adding a faint glow to the now darkened room.


    But the moon''s efforts were in vain; the room remained shrouded in darkness, where only the rustling noises of packing things and barely discernible sighs existed in the silence.


    "Friends!" a long-haired youth suddenly broke the silence, snapping his fingers.


    Flames burst abruptly from the tip of his right-hand index finger.


    Illuminated by the faint light, he slowly rose to his feet and surveyed the surrounding apprentices.


    Among the apprentices, some ignored him, some sneered, but most turned to look at him.


    "Nearly ten years ago, we all boarded a giant ship and were brought to this island by a Lap Wizard," the long-haired youth began slowly.


    He swept his gaze around then looked at a petite blonde girl and said, "Erica, that year you had just turned six, the youngest among us."


    The girl seemed somewhat shy; under everyone''s gaze, she smiled timidly.


    The long-haired youth smiled back at her and then pointed to himself, "I was ten that year, the oldest among us."


    Then he shifted his tone, "But even as the oldest, I''ve spent nearly ten years of my life, a full half, living together with all of you!"


    "We''ve attended classes together and studied witchcraft. Although we''re not related by blood, our relationship¡­"


    "Hmph!"


    At this moment, a boy with brown curly hair and slightly dark skin at the back right suddenly let out a scoff, rolled up his seat cushion, and left on his own.


    The long-haired youth paused for a moment, then as if he hadn''t seen it, continued,


    "¡­our relationship is even stronger than that of brothers and sisters!"


    "The last three months are here, and I expect that everyone present feels the same as I do, harboring little hope of advancing¡­"


    Although the long-haired youth seemed unaffected and continued to speak passionately,


    the brown-haired boy had set a precedent, and subsequently, more than a dozen others left one after another.


    Colin was also among them, quietly walking out of the wooden house, shouldering his backpack and rubbing his head which had been aching all day.


    His memory was still a chaotic mess, and right now, he just wanted to return as quickly as possible to the stone house where he used to live to properly sort through his recollections.


    In fact, had it not been for the severe punishment for missing class, he would not have left the stone house at all today.


    "Colin!"


    As he determined his bearings and prepared to leave swiftly, a clear female voice called out to him from behind.


    Colin turned around without betraying any emotion, his gaze met by a beautiful girl with golden hair and green eyes.


    Her satin-like golden short hair just reached her chin, slightly fluffy, and her pale face was adorned with green eyes like amber.


    Confused memories interwoven in his mind, relying on the short-haired young man''s address to her he just heard inside, and some fragmented recollections of the original owner of the body, Colin recognized her.


    "Erica."


    He responded in the way the original owner would have.


    Erica nodded her head and walked toward Colin, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as if she was thinking about something.


    "Let''s go," she whispered after reaching Colin''s side, and then continued walking forward.


    After a few seconds, she turned her head back, looking at Colin with confusion, "Why are you still standing there?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m coming," Colin said with an awkward smile, catching up to Erica.


    Erica didn''t notice anything amiss and, seeing him follow, continued thinking to herself.


    The two walked side by side on the gravel path.


    Colin remained expressionlessly calm, but his mind was incessantly pondering.


    ''Erica... what exactly is her relationship with the original owner? Why is she walking with him in silence... Could she be his girlfriend? But judging by the traces in the original owner''s home, he was clearly a bachelor...''


    Although he had crossed over nearly a day ago, his memories were still somewhat chaotic, seeming to need some more time to assimilate and sort out. Regarding the girl in front of him, all he could remember was a name.


    Colin felt a slight irritation in his heart and rubbed his aching head. To avoid giving himself away, he kept silent, waiting for Erica to speak first.


    They continued to walk in silence on the gravel path, and although there were no streetlights or flashlights, the moon''s clear light was sufficient to see everything in front of them.


    The scene made Colin involuntarily think of the nights spent in the countryside when he was a child in his previous life, when the moonlight was just as pristine.


    Yes, when the moon was bright at night, one didn''t need any lights to see things clearly... he had almost forgotten.


    Hometown, now as distant as his childhood.


    "Colin... what are you planning to do?" Erica suddenly asked.


    ''Planning? What plan?'' His mood of homesickness was abruptly broken, and Colin was taken aback upon hearing her words.


    After pondering for a moment, he vaguely answered without revealing anything, "Planning... what else can I plan, just the same as before."


    Erica nodded her head, as if understanding something, then changed the subject:


    "I wonder how many people Charlie can gather after his speech... But what you said before was right, the weak banded together are still weak. I don''t have high hopes for them. It''s not that easy to get by in the gathering places outside..."


    She ran her fingers through the wisps of hair beside her ear, fell silent for a moment, and then continued, "I''m planning to make a trip to the Dark Forest."


    ''The Dark Forest.''


    Colin paused, some sparse memories that he had related to that information.


    The Dark Forest was to the north of the entire wizard settlement, a black jungle filled with opportunities but extremely dangerous.


    For a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, going there was tantamount to suicide.


    He didn''t reply.


    But Erica suddenly asked:


    "Colin, you have a way to advance, right? You''ve been shutting yourself away recently..."


    Colin fell silent, his heart chilled.


    ... He couldn''t remember anything.


    But Erica glanced at the silent him, forced a smile, and continued, "Don''t worry, your secret is yours to keep... Wizards, who doesn''t have secrets? I''m not interested in it. I just want someone to talk to."


    "... Do you still remember Ryan?" After a pause, she continued speaking.


    Perhaps it was because he heard Erica say "Ryan," or maybe his memory reception was nearing its conclusion.


    Colin''s mind, like a freshly unsealed jigsaw puzzle of chaotic memories, began to sort itself out, slowly forming into complete recollections.


    "... I remember," after a while, Colin slowly began speaking, his voice strangely hoarse, "That''s our hometown."


    He was gradually remembering.

 Chapter 2 - 2 Secrets

    The cold moonlight shone down.


    On the gravel path, a boy and a girl walked side by side, their dark shadows swaying behind them.


    "Yes, our hometown..." Erica said, feeling somewhat emotional.


    About ten years ago, in the capital, Ryan, of the Holy Flame Kingdom, she and Colin had their wizard talents detected together. Along with other qualified children from various cities and nations, they were taken to this island by a mysterious and powerful wizard from the Lap School.


    Ten years... had just passed by.


    "I really don''t know if there will ever be a chance to return." Erica lifted her head to gaze at the pure white moon, her golden hair slipping from her youthful and pale face, softly cascading behind her head.


    "...There will be a chance." Colin replied softly, his face somewhat pale as he was concentrating on digesting his memories.


    Hearing this, Erica forced a smile, assuming that Colin was just comforting her. There were too many incalculable dangers at sea, and one could not return to Ryan without becoming an Official Wizard.


    "Do you miss Ryan, Colin?" She continued her questioning while looking at the moon.


    "I miss it." Colin nodded slightly, exhaling softly; he finally felt relief, and his head no longer ached.


    He lifted his gaze to the moon, which was exceedingly similar to that of his previous world, and added, "...Very much so."


    Ten years ago, the original host had been just over seven years old, born into a middle-class family with parents who loved him, and a two-year-old sister.


    In his memories, just like Erica, the original host had always missed Ryan very much.


    And he... missed Earth now.


    Even though he had only crossed over not long ago, the homesickness was much more intense than any homesickness he''d experienced on Earth when away from home.


    The gravel path beneath his feet, the Blackstone buildings beside him, the seemingly familiar moon above... everything was unfamiliar.


    He clearly and explicitly recognized that he was now in a foreign land, separated by who knows how many parallel universes...


    As for Erica and the original host, they actually didn''t have any special relationship; they had not even known each other back in Ryan.


    It was only later, because they both came from Ryan and naturally felt close because of their identities, coupled with living in neighboring stone houses in the Wizard Territory, that they now could be considered familiar friends.


    Erica had come to him because it was on the way back to the stone house where they both lived.


    "Colin... If it''s possible, I want to ask you for a favor." Erica withdrew her gaze from the moon and turned toward Colin, her golden hair sliding with gravity, once again covering her delicate ears,


    "If... I mean, if you become an Official Wizard later and return to Ryan, I hope you can send my regards to my parents..."


    Meeting Erica''s expectant gaze, Colin''s lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to explain something, but in the end, he simply nodded.


    After walking for a while, Colin spoke up:


    "Dark Forest... it''s too dangerous, even if you can''t advance after three months, it''s only a matter of living in the gathering areas outside, there''s no need..."


    "But then there will be no hope of ever going home!"


    Erica crinkled her nose, cutting off Colin''s words,


    "On this entire island, only the Lap School has Official Wizards, and only Lap School has the capability to train new Official Wizards...


    Moreover, staying with the School, even if you can''t become an Official Wizard, there''s still hope to return to Ryan with the School''s recruitment fleet which sets sail every five years."


    She sighed again and continued: "If I become a Wild Wizard out there, there will be no hope left.


    You know, once the assessment is over, we''ll no longer have the School''s protection, and those peripheral Wild Wizards have long been forming alliances.


    For basic level Apprentices like us... it''s hard enough to even stay alive, let alone attempt anything else."


    A look of despondency spread across Erica''s face as she said softly, "...Other than trying my luck in the Dark Forest, I have no other options, Colin."


    Colin remained silent, realizing that Erica had thought things through very thoroughly.


    The original host had been no different, after all. Erica had considered the same things he had... they both missed home in the same way.


    "I have no other options, I can only try my luck in the Dark Forest!" Erica repeated, her calm tone revealing her determination as if to encourage herself. Then she added:


    "Anyway, I won''t be like Annie, selling my body in order to stay at the School."


    At this, she couldn''t help but shudder.


    Colin, too, reflexively felt a wave of discomfort as the image of Annie''s hands and feet, replaced with several gray-black slimy tentacles, flashed through his mind.


    For a wizard, selling one''s body was a literal transaction, and not just in that sense.


    Even if they encountered a slightly nicer Advanced Apprentice, it was still a futile amusement, a loss far outweighing any gain.


    The two walked in silence for a while longer, and soon, they arrived at the residential area.


    The residential area for Basic Level Apprentices was segregated on the outermost western side of the entire School, forming a square region scattered with hundreds of individual stone houses.


    The stone houses they lived in were on the far left of the entire area, with Colin''s being even closer.


    As they arrived in front of the stone house where Colin lived, they both stopped.


    After a moment of silence, Erica spoke up,


    "Colin¡­"


    Boom!!


    Suddenly, a violent explosion accompanied by an eerie scream came from afar, interrupting Erica.


    Erica and Colin reflexively covered their ears and looked towards the direction of the sound.


    Over the wooden fence encircling the Lap Wizard Territory, at the foot of the mountain on the outer edge of the Wizards'' gathering place, an eerie green light glowed like a mist.


    The next second, an invisible transparent Spiritual Light came from the very center of Blackstone Castle at the top, just in time to envelope the entire Wizard Territory. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin took a few deep breaths to calm himself; the scream from afar was too eerie, and merely hearing it made him feel dizzy and nauseous.


    Fortunately, with the activation of the Protective Shield, although the scream still existed, it no longer had the eerie nauseating effect.


    "I wonder what sort of ghostly thing it is this time¡­" Erica muttered as she gazed at the green light.


    Colin was silent, a chill inexplicably rising in his heart as the distant green flames reflected in his azure eyes.


    He knew he was in the safest part of the entire Lap Wizard Territory on the island, and that the green light would be dealt with by the wizards of the Guard Team, but still, he felt a bit cold.


    ...That was probably the shock to the soul from a peaceful world upon witnessing the passing of life.


    "I wonder how many will die this time¡­" he whispered softly.


    Erica chuckled, no longer paying attention to the distant green flames, and turned to look at Colin, saying, "¡­You didn''t use to think like this."


    "Is that so." Colin tensed internally, reverting to emotionless, and responded without showing any change.


    "You used to only mock with a comment like, ''Death is simply because of weakness; and to be weak is to err!''" Erica teased, but then her expression sank again.


    "¡­You''re right¡­ to be weak is to err."


    Colin inwardly sighed, the embarrassment of recalling the previous owner''s melodramatic statements quickly fading away.


    For a moment, he didn''t know how to continue and could only maintain his silence.


    Power was the rule of this world... What would have been ridiculed as melodramatic in his previous life had here become the truth.


    "Let''s not talk about this, I plan to go to the Dark Forest tomorrow morning." Erica smiled and hesitated for a moment before continuing, "No matter what secrets you have, but if the day really comes, please remember my request... Greet my parents for me."


    She looked at Colin with eyes like amber, seemingly accumulating fog within their depths.


    Colin''s lips moved slightly, but in the end, he just silently watched Erica enter the adjacent stone house.


    ''The original owner had no secret that could help in advancing¡­'' he shook his head and opened the wooden door behind him.


    From the beginning, he wanted to explain to Erica, but after hesitating for a long time, he still hadn''t said a word.


    He understood that even if he told her, Erica wouldn''t believe it.


    And if she believed it, Erica would suffer even more.


    He could see that Erica''s trip to the Dark Forest was with the resolve of facing certain death.


    He even felt that Erica probably knew that the original owner didn''t have any secret that could help in advancing.


    She was merely seeking to place a hope on him¡­


    Colin walked into the house and locked the wooden door. Upon turning around, under the moonlight, he saw a huge, ruined pattern on the floor smeared with some unidentified blood.


    Seeing this pattern, he sighed again.


    "The original owner had no secret that could help in advancing¡­


    It was just a ritual that cost him his life."

 Chapter 3 - 3: 3 sheets of Golden Paper

    The pattern on the floor was in shambles, barely recognizable as its original four-pointed star shape.


    The traces of dried blood on it, under the moonlight, showed a dark, blackish red.


    Colin sat down by the bed, his thoughts drifting back to the early morning hours, just over a dozen hours ago¡ª


    ...the rough stonewall, the fireplace built of cobblestones, the open wooden window, the fresh bloodstains visible at his feet under the moonlight, and him sitting on the bed with a pale face, holding his head and looking around him...


    ¡ªThat was the scene just after he had first arrived.


    Before his transmigration, he was just your average corporate drone. Single, he had just bought a house this year with the help of his family and had financed a car as well; although his job was mundane, it was at least relaxed and stable...


    All things considered, life was bland yet happy.


    He had never imagined he would end up transmigrating!


    Colin snapped back to reality and leaned backward, letting his body fall onto the bed.


    Thud.


    But immediately, he sat up again grimacing in pain.


    He had forgotten that this was no longer his own soft, big bed.


    This was nothing more than a hard, cold wooden bed.


    Feeling unexplainably irritable inside, he abruptly rose from the hard and cold wooden bed, pacing over to the window and looking up at the moon above that was incredibly similar to the one from his previous life.


    Although the weather was fine tonight, there were still some clouds drifting in the sky, wavering around the full moon with the night breeze and being tinged with a pristine silver.


    It was a long while before he finally calmed down, stomping his feet and shaking his hands, warming his hands and feet that had been chilled by the early spring breeze.


    Before long, feeling the blood flow to his limbs, he slowly went over to the wooden table beside the bed and bent down to extend his right index finger.


    Hiss.


    There was no lighter, nor any magical props.


    Merely stretching out a finger, stirring up his spirit, and calling upon Magic Power, a flickering flame suddenly emerged on his fingertip.


    Colin stared at the flame dancing in his hand, his expression slightly startled, the beautiful azure blue of his pupils flickering with the flame, filled with an indescribable emotion.


    ''Apprentice trick¡ªthe Ignition Technique... true supernatural power...''


    After a while, he lit the oil lamp and extinguished the flame on his fingertip, preparing to start cleaning up the mess left by the original inhabitant.


    In the morning, he had been busy rushing to class and only managed to hastily wipe the floor with his foot before hurrying out, without even bringing his lunch; the floor was still a tangled mess.


    The stone house where the former inhabitant lived was a standard single room for Basic Level Apprentices, uniformly constructed by the Lap School.


    The size was neither too large nor too small, about fifty square meters, rectangular in shape¡ªwith a washroom and a kitchen on either side of the entrance hall, followed by the bedroom, and further in, a Quiet Room of about ten square meters for meditation.


    And it was beside the bed that the former inhabitant had drawn the ritual pattern, taking up almost half of the entire bedroom space.


    Scattered across it were various ritualistic items that would probably take a lot of effort to clean up.


    Fetching a broom from the washroom, Colin was ready to sweep the floor first.


    ''Disjointed bones... discard, ordinary cobblestones... throw away, crystals... keep, ...'' he cleaned up the floor swiftly.


    ''This is...''


    After a while, his actions abruptly stopped.


    He reached out towards a pure black orb, whose material was indiscernible, placed in the center of the ritual pattern.


    A wave of confusion filled his heart as this object did not exist in the former inhabitant''s memory.


    His slenders hand slowly approached the black orb, pausing just before touching it.


    ''This isn''t Earth... everything requires extra caution.''


    Colin inwardly commented, intending to retract his hand and find something more suitable to handle it with.


    But a sudden chill took him by surprise, emanating from his right hand!


    Colin''s eyes widened as the egg-sized black orb transformed into a mysterious mist, crawling over his hand which he hadn''t had the chance to withdraw yet, gradually spreading across his body.


    He staggered to his feet, raising his arm to watch the eerie black mist spread rapidly across his body, terror filling his eyes.


    Forearm, shoulder, chest¡ªin a flash, the mist had enveloped everything below his head!


    Then, as though the mist had found its target, it converged and rushed up towards his head.


    Whoosh!


    A buzzing filled Colin''s head, and he swayed, collapsing onto the bed.


    ........


    The next morning, the sky was faintly lit.


    Bang bang bang!


    A regular knocking came from outside the stone house,


    But Colin, lying on the bed, twitched his eyelids slightly, yet did not awaken.


    After the knocking continued for a while with no response, it gradually ceased.


    Zzt-zzt¡ª


    A second later, a brown envelope was pushed through the gap under the door. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The robust parchment paper made a slight scraping sound against the floor, and the red-blue gradient wax seal was firmly affixed at the mouth of the envelope, with a pattern of intertwined flames.


    Some time after, amidst the faint rustle of writing, a piece of paper followed and was stuffed next to the envelope.


    Then came the gradually fading sound of footsteps.


    The sun slowly rose from the horizon, gilding the jewel-blue sea with gold. Before long, the morning light peeked through the cracks of the wooden window, spilling onto the wooden floor, then slowly shifted, climbing up the bed to shine on Colin''s pale face.


    After a while, Colin''s slender eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he finally slowly opened his eyes.


    The sunlight was harsh, and he instinctively squinted, raising his right hand to shield his eyes.


    Then, as if he remembered something, he suddenly sat up, stood beside the bed, and looked around, then raised his hands, stretching them out, carefully observing them.


    His palms were pale and full, his arms long and healthy, without any excess hair or several additional tentacles, and upon checking his entire body... everything was normal.


    Colin let out a long sigh.


    A strange feeling lingered in his mind,


    After hesitating for a moment, he followed the feeling and willed a thought.


    Tiny pale golden particles abruptly appeared before him, eventually coalescing into a square Golden Paper.


    Colin''s eyes widened.


    The Golden Paper was densely covered with many bizarre yet aesthetically pleasing black lines.


    For some reason, these lines inexplicably reminded him of the black sphere from last night.


    And this Golden Paper...


    A thought struck him suddenly: ''Wasn''t this the craft I bought from an antique market in my past life?!''


    ''...Could this be my golden finger?!''


    The changes continued, and the bizarre black lines on the Golden Paper suddenly writhed and twisted.


    In no time, they transformed into a few lines of text he was most familiar with.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (53/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice-level Circulation Meditation (78/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Ignition Technique (87/100); Condensing Water Skill (68/100); Light Brightness Skill (41/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Points: 0]


    Two more pieces of information came simultaneously¡ª


    Before the limit, every practice must lead to progress.


    After the limit, the Limit Breaking Points can be used to break through the limits and continue to improve.


    His heart thumped uncontrollably, and Colin breathed deeply for a while, then seemed to think of something and stretched out his right hand.


    Hiss.


    An orange flame flickered at his fingertip, and then it was extinguished.


    Colin lowered his hand and exhaled, willing the Golden Paper to appear once more.


    The pale golden particles gathered, and the black text emerged again.


    His gaze quickly swept down, and in the witchcraft column, an ¡ü symbol appeared behind Ignition Technique before gradually fading away, returning to 87/100.


    Colin felt a rush of joy; though the progress of Ignition Technique had not changed, he could distinctly feel improvement... the consumption of Magic Power seemed to have decreased slightly, and the flame seemed a bit more stable.


    "Every practice must lead to progress, huh..."


    His heart pounded violently, and no amount of deep breaths could ease it.


    He quickly walked to the wall, pushed open the window, and the bright light made him squint momentarily. Once adjusted, he allowed his gaze to travel into the distance.


    Illuminated by the sunlight, the vast blue sea shimmered into the horizon, with flocks of white seabirds skimming low over it, emitting shrill cries.


    A breeze carrying the scent of the sea gently brushed his face, and amidst the refreshing sensation, he finally started to calm down.


    The appearance of the Golden Paper had dispelled much of the oppressive gloom that had lingered in his heart.


    This world was too dangerous!


    Strange rituals, an unfamiliar world, a three-month deadline, the eerie green flames from the gathering place last night...


    Now... he finally had something to rely on.


    ''But it''s not yet time to relax.'' He breathed out a foul breath, invigorated his spirit, and strode towards the Meditation Room, ready to make a careful plan for what to do next!


    Click.


    The next second, Colin halted in his tracks, puzzled, he lifted his foot, and underneath was a white seashell he had crushed.


    Having fainted in the middle of cleaning last night, the place was still in disarray.


    He pondered for a moment, then bent down to pick up the broom on the ground.


    "...I should clean up here first, to prevent anyone from discovering traces of the ritual."


    Then he touched his stomach, deciding to get something to eat after cleaning.


    After all, he hadn''t eaten anything since yesterday.


    Colin withdrew his gaze from the kitchen, ready to sweep the floor.


    But the next second, he looked up again at the doorway.


    A brown envelope and a white piece of paper lay quietly beneath the wooden door.


    The slight breeze that wafted through the gap between the door and the floor made the white paper flutter slightly.


    Colin frowned slightly, dropped the broom, and walked towards the door.

 Chapter 5 - 5 Magic Crystal

    "It must be because the Limit Breaking Point isn''t enough," Colin concluded after careful thought.


    On the Golden Paper, the ¡ü right after the limit of the Ignition Technique appeared more solid and was surrounded by a faint blue glow.


    In contrast, the ¡ü of the Meditation Method looked somewhat ethereal and also lacked the blue outline of light.


    Colin reached into the inside of his clothing and pulled out a gray cloth purse, fetching the last Magic Stone he had left and holding it in his hand.


    But soon, he released his grip, hesitant in his mind,


    "What if I absorb the last Magic Stone and it''s still not enough for the Limit Breaking Point?"


    He rose anxiously and stepped out of the Meditation Room to a window that faced the sea.


    The sun was setting, the world was dim, with only a few yellow glimmers left, signaling the coming of night.


    Leaning against the window, he pondered for a long time before finally putting the Magic Stone back into the cloth purse and then walked over to the wooden cabinet beside the bed.


    If using this Magic Stone wasn''t enough, earning new ones afterward would be difficult.


    He dared not gamble and prepared to take a more secure path, keeping the Magic Stone as capital for now.


    The cabinet wasn''t very big, and it took Colin a little while to sort through the contents.


    In the end, aside from some worn and miscellaneous items, the only things of value were¡ª


    a "Sunlight Breathing Technique," a "General Basic Witchcraft for Apprentices," and an "Introduction to Basic Level Magic Crystal Making."


    The "Sunlight Breathing Technique" was bought by the previous owner years ago from an old apprentice at the market, who claimed it could enhance ''that'' ability.


    Of course, the reason for the purchase wasn''t to enhance ''that'' capability.


    He primarily bought it because during that period, practicing the Knight Breathing Method was very popular among the apprentices.


    And since the book was cheap, he decided to get it.


    Regrettably, after trying for a long while, the original owner hadn''t even reached the beginner level and just threw it into the cabinet to gather dust.


    "General Basic Witchcraft for Apprentices" was bought even earlier at a bookstore run by the School.


    After learning a few witchcraft techniques for daily life, the original owner also set it aside.


    The owner had poor talent, which was evident in all aspects, including learning the basic knowledge of wizards.


    Wizard''s cultivation isn''t something that can be achieved overnight; it requires learning a vast amount of basic knowledge.


    Previously, apart from meditation, the owner''s days were spent pondering the newly learned knowledge, leaving no time for learning more witchcraft.


    It was only in the past two years, having mostly mastered the basic knowledge, that he had some spare time, but that too was invested in trying to advance his realm. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, if one cannot advance to Intermediate Apprentice within ten years, they would be expelled from the School.


    Moreover, with accommodation, food, and safety hardly a concern within the School, the owner had naturally chosen to focus entirely on advancing in realm.


    As for the last book, "Introduction to Basic Level Magic Crystal Making," that was precisely the safer route Colin was looking for!


    The previous owner had only bought the book recently, intending it to be a skill to make a living with after being kicked out of the School, but he later stumbled upon a bizarre ritual that could supposedly help him advance.


    So, he discarded the book.


    After all, who would prefer to venture outside to a gathering place if they could stay within the School?


    Unfortunately... the ritual had failed, and it cost him his life.


    Colin picked up the introductory book on making, opened it in his hands, and flipped through it.


    His plan was simple; he wanted to see if he could learn to make Magic Crystals in a short time using the Golden Paper.


    If he could, he would use the remaining Magic Stone to buy raw crystal materials and then make and sell Magic Crystals for more Magic Stones.


    If not, he would look for other alternatives.


    The pale yellow cover of "Introduction to Basic Level Magic Crystal Making" was slowly opened¡ª


    "Crystals, found near Magic Stone Veins, are naturally perfect carriers of Magic Power... thus Magic Crystals came into existence."


    This was the opening quote, mainly giving a brief introduction to the origin of Magic Crystals.


    Starting from the second page, it''s all substantial content; the first third is about selecting crystals, followed by more than ten different types of specific Magic Crystal making methods.


    The moon rose, and the shimmering sea displayed a silver-white path of light.


    Under the lamp, Colin read through the whole book word by word and then slowly closed it.


    Perhaps thanks to the Golden Paper, or perhaps because his talent exceeded that of the original owner, after reading the entire making manual, he encountered no points too obscure to understand.


    With a glint in his eye, he decided to strike while the iron was hot and start practicing Magic Crystal making right away.


    Luckily, because of the ritual, the original owner had left behind more than twenty crystals, which would serve as raw materials.


    Colin stood up with the book, took the crystals from the desk, and entered the Meditation Room to sit cross-legged.


    After carefully flipping through the book and pondering for a while, he decided to learn to make Bright Crystals.


    Bright Crystals are mainly used for illumination, especially indoors, being much brighter than oil lamps, odorless, and without the risk of causing fire, and they also last quite a while.


    Even the worst Mixed Crystals used for making Bright Crystals could usually be charged at least thirty times, with each charge providing about three hours of lighting.


    Therefore, there was significant demand for Bright Crystals in the market.


    Furthermore, among the few witchcraft techniques the original owner learned, one was the Light Brightness Skill.


    Although the Light Brightness Skill is very different from making Bright Crystals, they share a common essence, and choosing it might save some time.


    Without needing to meditate and adjust his state or light calming incense, Colin grasped a crystal and began crafting.


    According to the book, one must first mold Magic Power into a specific shape and slowly infuse it into the crystal at a special frequency.


    Time quietly slipped by; he either erred in shaping the Magic Power or in changing the frequency.


    However, with the Golden Paper, he felt improvement after each failure.


    Finally, after roughly an hour, he managed to successfully inject Magic Power into the crystal.


    After completing this step, the next was to etch a Magic Model into the crystal with Magic Power and establish a witchcraft circuit.


    Colin held his breath and carefully constructed the Magic Model with Magic Power.


    This step was unlike the first; a mistake here would cause the crystal to shatter and be ruined.

 Chapter 6 - 6 Going Out

    Hum¡ª


    A soft white light emitted, overpowering the yellow light of the oil lamp and illuminating the entire Meditation Room.


    Colin moved his neck, releasing a relaxed breath.


    It was now noon on the second day, with bright sunshine; had there been windows in the Meditation Room, it would be brilliantly lit at this moment.


    Of course, the Meditation Room was indeed brilliantly lit at this moment.


    In Colin''s hand, the Bright Crystal consistently emitted a gentle white light.


    With a thought, pale golden particles converged, and he looked at the Golden Paper.


    In the Limit Breaking Point column, a new entry had appeared¡ª"Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making."


    Using his thoughts to open it, a new line slowly emerged below¡ª"Bright Crystal Making (1/100)."


    Golden Paper classified apprentice-level witchcraft crystal making into major categories; upon opening it, one could see the folded progress information of different specific types of Magic Crystal Making.


    After depleting over twenty crystals left by the original owner and spending more than ten hours, Colin finally succeeded once, albeit by luck.


    This pace, although faster than most people''s first success, was nothing special.


    When he bought this book, an old apprentice who sold it mentioned someone had successfully made a Magic Crystal within half a day.


    Of course, Colin later realized that lucking out with one successful attempt and being able to make it consistently were entirely different matters, with a vast gulf between the two.


    However, he had the Golden Paper to assist him; as long as he kept making them, successful or not, there would be improvement¡ªsmall from failure, large from success.


    Only he could see the pale golden particles floating and dispersing in the air, his Bright Crystal radiated a comforting white light, filling Colin with a sense of security.


    "Maybe, just as Erica said, do I still have a chance to become an Official Wizard?" he shook his head, suppressing his wandering thoughts, "It all depends on how much the Meditation Method will improve after the Limit Breaking."


    But moments later, his thoughts uncontrollably began to drift again.


    "Apprentices are merely human, and even an Advanced Apprentice has a lifespan limit of 120 years; but an Official Wizard... if I remember correctly, Master Lap has been alive for nearly three hundred years... Three hundred years! How much the world has changed, dynasties have come and gone..."


    Gurgle¡ª


    The churning sound in his stomach interrupted Colin''s daydreams, and he got up to leave the Meditation Room, planning to fix himself something to eat.


    After lunch, Colin was so sleepy that he props onto his bed and slept until midnight, then rubbed his sleepy eyes, got dressed, and rose from his bed.


    Standing by the window, listening to the sound of the waves, feeling the sea breeze, and admiring the sparkling reflection of the starry sky on the sea surface for a while, he began to pack things, preparing to go out at dawn to purchase raw material crystals.


    "The School''s black iron identity badge... a must-have, brings a sense of security on the outside... not to mention the magic stone-filled pouch, must bring that too... It seems these two are all I need to take?"


    Colin, holding the pouch, seemed to recall something and walked toward the Meditation Room.


    After a while, with dust flying around, he picked up a dust-covered Knight Sword from the wooden rack in the corner of the Meditation Room.


    This sword was bought by the original owner along with the Breathing Skill.


    Before placing it there, the original owner had coated it with a layer of grease, so it was in good condition despite being stored for a long time, albeit a bit dusty.


    Unfortunately, for him who was not a Knight, this sword served only as a decoration, of little use if any danger arose.


    "Maybe later, I could start practicing the Knight Breathing Skill," he thought, as he placed the Knight Sword back on the rack.


    Wizards, since their magical power subtly enhances their physique during meditation, are not weak physically.


    However, that''s just it¡ªnothing more.


    At the Basic Level Wizard Apprentice stage, magical power merely keeps the body healthier.


    Quality enhancement would have to wait until one becomes an Official Wizard.


    That''s why many sufficiently capable Apprentices also trained in a Breathing Skill, keeping it as a fallback measure during their Apprentice stages.


    After all, an Apprentice in the basic stages, with limited mastery over witchcraft, theoretically would not be more powerful than a Peak Knight.


    And beyond a Peak Knight, a Great Knight not only could live up to 150 years but was also quite competent in combat.


    But still, they couldn''t compare to Wizards, even a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice.


    Of course, that''s assuming a fully-equipped Basic Level Wizard Apprentice... Colin didn''t qualify as such.


    After all, the Knight''s glaring weaknesses were too targeting-prone.


    A single Wizard''s standard spell against human knights¡ªMind Shock¡ªwas enough to handle most ordinary Knights.


    Of course, for them being both Wizard and Knight, there is no such weakness.


    Like those Basic Level Wizard Apprentices who had always been laying the foundation and had not learned too much witchcraft, they used the Knight''s methods more often in their daily fights.


    After all, the knight''s methods were more covert, quieter than most witchcraft.


    "Having many skills is not a burden¡ªbecoming a Great Knight through the use of Golden Paper and extending my life to 150 years might be more realistic than becoming an Official Wizard," Colin thought unintentionally.


    Then he bent down and pulled out a brown leather half-armor from the lower layer of the wooden rack where the swords were placed. This too was bought along with the Breathing Skill.


    Knight Sword, Breathing Skill, half-armor¡ªthey were bought as a set.


    Holding the armor, Colin did not disdain it this time but rather wiped it clean and immediately wore it under his Wizard Robe.


    After putting on the armor, although he knew it might not be very useful, he still felt a considerable increase in his sense of safety.


    Later, he wandered around the stone house for a few more rounds and finally found an iron plate the size of a human face in the kitchen''s corner.


    After some thought, he tied it to the chest of his leather armor, instantly feeling even more secure.


    After all the hustle, it had started to get slightly bright outside.


    After checking all the items he was carrying again, Colin took a deep breath, pushed open the wooden door, and walked out.


    By the seaside, the fog was thick, and it was still not completely bright outside, somewhat dim, with veil-like white fog undulating in the air.


    The pebbled pathway was extremely quiet, which was a usual state for the place they lived. Apart from the laborers who cleaned the excrements and the stewards who delivered food each month, few people visited here.


    Most Apprentices had heavy coursework and didn''t have much time for socializing, and since they didn''t need to hustle for meals, they mostly stayed home and seldom went out.


    Walking outside the residential area and following the wooden fence for a few meters, he reached the main gate of the Wizard Territory.


    Calling it a main gate, in reality, was just two sections cut out of the fence, making a simple wooden gate that could be opened and closed.


    One gate was wider for easy transportation of supplies, and the narrower one was for people to pass through.


    The narrow gate wasn''t locked but merely fastened with an iron rod.


    Colin pulled the iron rod aside and checked again if he was carrying his School badge before pushing the gate open.


    The wooden fence around the School wasn''t tall, barely over a meter high, serving only to prevent small animals from entering.


    The real barrier of the School was the semi-transparent Protective Shield he had seen rise up a few nights ago.


    That was a large Witch Array, which was why he needed to repeatedly check whether he was carrying the identity badge.


    The identity badge was bound one-to-one; one could only enter Lap School''s territory if they had it. Forgetting it would mean trouble.


    After stepping out through the narrow gate and walking a few hundred meters forward, buildings gradually started to appear, marking his true departure from the monitoring range of the Witch Array.


    Coming towards him was a row of neatly arranged gray buildings built on a hillside.


    This area primarily housed various shops run by the School and a trading market.


    Further down was a cluster of houses with various styles, inhabited by the best among those gathered in the Outer Territories of the Wizards.


    And farther still, at the foot of the mountain, lay the small town they referred to as the gathering place in the outer world.


    Ten minutes later, Colin arrived at the market in the center.


    Although the shops also sold crystals, and in complete varieties, with all sorts of qualities and in large quantities,


    the prices there naturally were a bit higher than those of the individual vendors at the market.


    Had it been a normal time, perhaps he could overlook a small difference in price for convenience.


    But now, with only one Magic Stone on him and wanting to buy as many crystals as possible, he had to head to the market.


    The market was a large, square open space; perhaps it was too early, and there were only a few stalls, none of which sold crystals.


    Colin stood and waited until the sun rose from the sea level, filling the sky with splendid morning colors, before the stalls that sold crystals appeared.


    "How much for the Mixed Crystals?" he approached to ask about the prices.


    "1 Magic Stone for 60 pieces, 20 Gold Coins for 1 piece," the vendor replied.


    Colin nodded but didn''t buy right away; instead, he waited a bit longer.


    After a while, a few more vendors selling crystals set up their stalls, and he went to ask about the prices.


    Finally, after several comparisons, he bargained for a while at the second-to-last vendor''s stall. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He exchanged the only Magic Stone he had for 65 pieces of Mixed Crystals and a small pack of crystal powder as a bonus.


    After that, he didn''t delay any longer and immediately started back on his return journey.

 Chapter 7 - 7: Retribution

    He quickened his pace until he entered the School''s domain and felt the power of the Witch Array. Only then did Colin finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Outside, although everyone maintained a respectful demeanor when they saw the black badge pinned to his chest,


    he himself was merely a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, and indeed he lacked confidence inside.


    The crystal vendor he bargained with was an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice!


    Although the vendor was estimated to be over sixty and had probably reached his peak in this lifetime... if the vendor chose so, he could still end his life.


    The feeling that his life depended on someone else''s whims was indeed somewhat oppressive.


    Colin subtly adjusted his half leather armor that had shifted slightly from walking, his face expressionless.


    He pushed open the narrow door, tethered his iron staff, then turned to look at the wide door next door.


    A few carriages were slowly passing by there.


    There were four carriages in total, loaded with goods, and the Coachmen driving were all common people.


    On the island, that meant they were slaves.


    Leading the way was a Steward, riding a brown horse alone, dressed in a plain gray Wizard Robe.


    From the badge on his chest that was slightly different in style but also black, he seemed to be a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, probably around forty years old.


    The Steward also saw Colin and gestured for the convoy to stop, then respectfully greeted him.


    Colin nodded in response and continued walking.


    The road in front of him was singular, and the middle-aged Steward was waiting for him to go first.


    After Colin walked in front of the carriages,


    the Steward waited a moment longer before signaling to the Coachmen behind to move on, then he dismounted and proceeded on foot.


    He didn''t seek to converse with Colin ahead, but rather maintained a proper distance, following behind.


    At this time of day, Basic Level Wizard Apprentices like Colin were hopeless for advancement.


    After being kicked out of the School in three months, his status wouldn''t even compare to the Steward''s, no longer worthy of currying favor.


    Of course, there was also no need to offend, simply maintain respect and keep a distance.


    ''Is it already April?''


    Listening to the clip-clop of hooves behind him, Colin suddenly thought.


    Usually, the delivery day for living supplies was the first day of each month.


    ''But that makes sense.''


    He pondered for a moment.


    Since the sixth year, their courses had become once a month, arranged according to whenever the instructor was available, and they would be notified in advance or at the last minute.


    The last class was precisely at the end of March, and now that a few days had passed, it should be April.


    ''Now that I think about it, starting today, there really are only three months left...'' a sudden surge of anxiety rose from the depths of his heart.


    "Cha... mmm!"


    Suddenly, a faint shout seemed to carry through the wind, turning instantly into a muffled grunt!


    Colin was startled and subconsciously slowed his pace, looking towards the Basic Level Apprentice living area not far ahead.


    Although he had been in this world for several days now, he still felt very insecure and was exceedingly cautious about every disturbance.


    There was no fence around the living area; the neatly arranged stone houses symmetrically flanked the main thoroughfare.


    He glanced over but saw no one.


    As the wind continued to blow, he gradually came to a stop and focused his attention on listening.


    "Jeff... clear... situation, or... Mutual Assistance Association... this month''s living supplies..."


    Another person''s voice carried over, and he pinpointed the specific location of the sound... it seemed to be on the right side of the main thoroughfare of the living area, S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The voice was faint and intermittent, incomprehensible, but there was an elusive sense of familiarity.


    "Sir, what''s the matter?" The steward, following closely behind with the transport of goods, saw Colin stop and, after a moment of silence, walked up to him, leading a horse and asked proactively.


    The distant sound was weak, and since he had been quite a distance from Colin, he hadn''t heard it.


    "...Nothing, just remembered something," Colin''s eyes flashed with an unusual light as he shook his head and explained, then added, "You need to hurry with the transportation of the goods, go ahead, no need to follow me."


    "Very well, sir."


    The middle-aged steward looked somewhat puzzled, but without overthinking, he signaled to the convoy behind him, then bowed to Colin, mounted his horse, and rode off.


    "Giddyap!"


    Colin stepped aside to clear the road, standing at the edge of the path, watching as the four-horse carriage passed by at a leisurely pace.


    The transport convoy was to deliver supplies first to the intermediate or higher level wizards residing in the distant castle.


    The main road in the middle of their residences was the necessary route to get there.


    Whatever was happening in the gathering area up ahead, it ought to be just strife among the apprentices and wouldn''t affect the convoy... but whether it would affect him was an unknown.


    For caution''s sake, it was best to let the convoy lead. That way, at least, he would have ample reaction time.


    In this strange world, one must be careful in all things.


    As the last carriage slowly passed by him, Colin''s gaze flickered, and he suddenly quickened his pace, walking alongside the carriage, keeping pace with it.


    Because it was laden with a large amount of goods, the carriage was not moving fast, and it was easy to keep up just by quickening his steps a bit.


    The coachman on the carriage felt the presence of someone beside the vehicle and turned his head for a glance.


    Accidentally making eye contact with Colin, he instinctively became flustered and quickly turned away, but then, in a state of panic, he turned back again, tremblingly mustering a smile.


    Colin waved his hand, unconcerned.


    Ordinary people, unless they were relatives of a wizard, would always be just lowly slaves on this island.


    Soon, the convoy entered the main road of the residential area which was not very wide.


    Colin quickened his pace, moving to the middle of the carriage so that his figure was completely obscured; the coachman sitting in front couldn''t help but straighten his back, his expression nervous.


    The convoy continued on, and using the gaps between the carriages, Colin turned his head to look to the right, from where the sound had come.


    His gaze swept over the tightly shut stone houses and empty alleys, seemingly peaceful, as if the earlier voice had been an illusion.


    Colin continued to observe. Soon enough, he noticed something unusual.


    In the third, dim alley sandwiched between stone houses.


    Three figures stood in the middle, effectively shielding the path tightly.


    They were all looking at the convoy passing by the alley.


    ''Charlie, Owen... and that person in the shadows, somewhat hard to make out, the black man Haywood? What were they doing gathered there?'' Colin wondered.


    ''Is that... Jeff?'' His pupils contracted suddenly, his heartbeat accelerating.


    Behind Charlie and the other two, someone with a bloodied face unexpectedly stood up.


    The features of the figure were somewhat obscured by the blood.


    But the dismissive scoffing from Jeff during Charlie''s speech in class that day, and the sight of him leaving first, remained vivid in memory.


    He was certain that he wouldn''t mistake it, that was Jeff!


    As the scene inside the alley gradually vanished from sight, Colin slowly turned his head back.


    ''Could it be Charlie taking revenge for the humiliation Jeff caused him that day?'' He speculated silently.


    Although the logic could match up, something still seemed off to him, ''But why would Haywood and Owen be with him? Did Jeff also offend those two, or were they helpers Charlie found?''


    ''And the "Mutual Assistance Association"...'' Now he remembered the vague voice from the wind earlier, which he suspected was Charlie''s.


    After following the carriage for a bit more, Colin turned into a small alley on the left, looping back to his own stone house.


    Upon returning to his stone house, he set aside the incident in the alley, hastily ate breakfast, and without further ado entered the Meditation Room.


    He was about to start crafting a Bright Crystal!

 Chapter 8 - 8 Sunlight Breathing Technique

    In the Meditation Room.


    Under the dim light of the oil lamp, piles of vividly colored crystals sparkled atop the brown blanket.


    Crack.


    With a sigh inside his heart, Colin tossed the crystal fragments in his hand into the wooden bowl on the left, then picked up a new Mixed Crystal from the pile in front of him and continued his work.


    Since returning to the stone house, other than eating lunch at noon and stepping out in the afternoon to move the life supplies delivered to his doorstep by the caravan, he spent all his other time making crystals.


    Whenever his Magic Power was depleted, he would meditate on the spot to recover. Once recovered, he would continue making crystals.


    It continued until evening.


    The oil lamp flickered in the Meditation Room,


    Colin saw a small heap forming in the wooden bowl for crystal waste on his left, while there were only a few completed Bright Crystals on his right.


    After a while, he breathed out slowly, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and placed the successfully made Bright Crystal to his right.


    Then he rubbed his throbbing head.


    The depleted Magic Power could be restored with meditation, but the spent spirit could only be replenished through sleep.


    ''There are still 35 left.'' Counting the remaining crystals, he gained a clearer understanding of how many Magic Crystals he could attempt to make in one day.


    ''Roughly about 30 per day, and I need to recover my Magic Power after every 10 I make.


    I estimate that the number will increase with skill proficiency and Rank.''


    He counted the number of successful Bright Crystals again on his right¡ª


    ''Seven in total... The success rate is a little over 20%.''


    With the market price of Bright Crystals, such a success rate was not profitable.


    But he was not worried.


    Under the influence of Golden Paper, his success rate for making crystals was soaring!


    According to the current progress, the remaining crystals were enough to increase his success rate for making Bright Crystals to 50%.


    And a 50% success rate meant breaking even, while anything above that signified turning a loss into profit.


    The next day at noon.


    After having lunch, Colin brought the 20 Bright Crystals he had successfully made from the previous afternoon and this morning to the market.


    By now, all 65 crystals had been used up.


    After some selling, buying, and haggling at the market,


    his 20 Bright Crystals had been exchanged for 45 Mixed Crystals.


    He walked briskly back to the stone house.


    In the evening, the sky blazed with sunset colors.


    Colin had just finished his meditation, stepped out of the Meditation Room, and leaned against the window, enjoying the view.


    He discovered that he suddenly had nothing to do.


    The day''s meditation already reached its limit, and so did the number of times he could make Magic Crystals.


    If it were a few days before he started making Magic Crystals, he could spend his time continuously practicing witchcraft.


    But the daily work of making Bright Crystals consumed a lot of his spirit.


    Although he could still cast witchcraft, practicing it non-stop was difficult.


    Thus, there would always be some spare time.


    Outside the window, the sun set like a blazing fire, and flocks of birds soared over the sea.


    He, however, lacked the mood to relax.


    Frowning and pondering for a while, he felt a surge of inspiration, turned around, walked to the wooden cabinet beside the bed, and bent down.


    When he stood up, he was holding an old book with a yellow cover¡ª "Sunlight Breathing Technique".


    The dreadful state of Jeff he had seen the day before kept making him uneasy.


    Since he was idle anyway, he decided to practice this Knight Breathing Method.


    As for learning witchcraft, if he still could find the time, then he would consider it.


    After all, studying witchcraft and practicing witchcraft were alike; they consumed spirit,


    and consuming spirit would also affect the crafting of Magic Crystals.


    The crafting of Magic Crystals was directly related to whether he could advance, which was his most important goal at the moment. Compared to that, everything else had to take a back seat.


    Time once again hit the fast-forward button.


    In the following days, Colin crafted crystals every morning, practiced the Sunlight Breathing Technique in the afternoon, and went to meditate in the evening, using the sporadic time in between to practice witchcraft.


    His life was full and regular.


    Two days later, the newly exchanged 45 crystals were sold out again,


    and Colin headed to the market, this time bringing back 75 Mixed Crystals.


    Another two days passed, and the 75 Mixed Crystals turned into 125.


    Soon, a week had passed.


    In the late afternoon, by the stone house bed,


    Colin was practicing the Sunlight Breathing Technique shirtless, his sturdy chest rising and falling rhythmically with the movements of the technique.


    Sweat dripped slowly down his well-defined jaw, falling onto the wooden floor and causing an almost imperceptible splash.


    His bare upper body was strong and well-defined, with a clear collarbone, sculpted chest muscles, six neatly arranged abs, and profound Adonis belts... His body''s muscle contours were defined without appearing too bulky.


    He hadn''t expected that in just eleven short days, his originally frail body would transform into this.


    On one hand, this was thanks to the Sunlight Breathing Technique.


    On the other hand, it was also thanks to the School providing food that was both ample in quantity and rich in variety.


    Otherwise, it would not have been so easy to improve to this level.


    As sweat continued to drip, Colin was focused, his chest and abdomen rising and falling rhythmically with his movements; he was nearly done with a complete set of the technique.


    After a while, Colin pulled back his arms and stood still with his feet apart, then took a long breath out.


    With a thought, golden particles appeared.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (53/100); Basic Level Knight (69/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Circulation Meditation (100/100) ¡ü; Sunlight Breathing Technique (100/100) ¡ü]


    [Witchcraft: Ignition Technique (100/100) ¡ü; Condensing Water Skill (80/100); Light Brightness Skill (85/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 1]


    A look of joy appeared on Colin''s face. Compared to the slower pace of wizardry cultivation, the training of a Knight was like being on a rocket.


    In these eleven days, not only had he pushed the Sunlight Breathing Technique to its limit, he had also turned from an ordinary person into a Basic Level Knight, and even surpassed his Wizard rank progress!


    ''If only wizardry cultivation could be this quick,'' Colin thought, shaking his head as he walked to the washroom, ready for a shower.


    Knights, in comparison to Wizards, were a weaker system.


    A Basic Level Knight, enhanced by Blood Energy, had physical capabilities comparable to an athletic champion from his previous life.


    An Intermediate Knight would reach the human body''s limits.


    An Advanced Knight solidified Blood Energy into a Life Seed, surpassing human physical limits.


    But even an Advanced Knight would still be of flesh and blood without armor, vulnerable to swords and susceptible to fire and water.


    This condition would continue until one broke through the peak of Knight power to become a Great Knight, wherein the Life Seed underwent sublimation and a qualitative change occurred.


    The power of a Great Knight far exceeded human limits, able to tear apart tigers and leopards with his hands, and Blood Energy could be extended into various uses, making him as well protected as wearing a layer of thick cowhide armor without a single cover.


    However, the human body had its limits, and the defense of a Great Knight was finite.


    Without the modifications of witchcraft, the flesh and blood body could not compare to steel or stone; the body of flesh and blood still feared high temperatures and poison gas.


    And their mental defenses were only slightly stronger than ordinary people.


    Faced with a fully-equipped Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, a Knight would more often than not be at a disadvantage.


    After all, for Wizards, most witchcraft could be instantly cast once mastered, and as long as one wasn''t at a very close distance, they could release a couple of Mind Shocks.


    And Mind Shock witchcraft, S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    even a Great Knight couldn''t withstand many hits.


    ...This was, after all, a world of Wizards.

 Chapter 9 - 9 Choices

    After taking a bath, there was still some time left before evening.


    Colin packed up the crystals he had made over the past few days, ready to head out to the market to sell them.


    By the fifth day, the production progress of the Light Brightness Skill Crystals on the Golden Paper had already been pushed to the limit, with a success rate reaching one hundred percent.


    He could now make up to about 45 Bright Crystals a day, which equated to approximately one and a half Magic Stones, excluding the cost of the crystals, the profit was 0.75 Magic Stones.


    In other words, he was now able to earn a stable 0.75 Magic Stones every day.


    It had been four days since his last trip to the market, and he had accumulated 160 Bright Crystals, worth 6 Magic Stones.


    He planned to keep some Magic Stones to replenish the raw materials for the crystals when he went to the market later and use the rest to absorb as Limit Breaking Points, to see if he could successfully break through the limits of the Meditation Method.


    ...


    "You''re here again," greeted the smiling owner of the Magic Crystal Store.


    "Mm, a total of one hundred and sixty. Count them," Colin said as he poured the Bright Crystals from the cloth bag onto a cotton-lined tray in front of the store owner.


    Since the first time he set up a stall to sell Bright Crystals, which took him all morning and also required paying the market stall rent.


    He had then chosen to sell them directly to stores specializing in Magic Crystals.


    The price difference between the two was not big, and it saved him a lot of time.


    "Alright, I trust your reputation," the owner said, even though his hands were busily counting.


    "Here are 6 Magic Stones for you," the owner said with a chuckle after counting for two minutes and handing the 6 Magic Stones to Colin.


    "Take care and welcome to come again."


    Colin nodded, took the Magic Stones, and put them in his pocket. Although his face was expressionless, he felt a little thrill inside.


    As he walked briskly toward Wizard Territory, he stealthily reached his right hand into the pocket containing the Magic Stones.


    With a thought, pale golden particles converged. His attention focused on the Limit Breaking Point section.


    ...1...2...3...


    The black characters slowly ticked by, and before long, the number reached 5, with two Magic Stones still left in his pocket.


    But a faint blue outline of light had quietly shrouded the Circulation Meditation Method behind the ¡ü symbol!


    A burst of joy rose in Colin''s heart, and he almost wanted to immediately return to the stone house to start the breakthrough!


    ''But now is not the time.'' Suppressing the excitement within him, he hurriedly arrived at the market and bought raw materials for the crystals.


    After looking around, he couldn''t find the crystal stall that used to be relatively cheap... It might have closed up.


    So he randomly picked a stall closer by, no longer having the patience to spend time bargaining with the stall owner,


    He simply used one Magic Stone and some leftover Gold Coins to get a round number, obtaining 80 crystals, then hurried back to Wizard Territory.


    After leaving the market, crossing the shops, he entered the range monitored by the Wizard Array of Wizard Territory.


    He was still few hundred meters away from the wooden fence at the edge of Wizard Territory.


    Between them was a road through the mountains that could be considered smooth and wide. Since it was uphill, steps had been made with stone slabs at the steeper places.


    If it weren''t for the aid of witchcraft, this mountain road and steps would make the monthly transportation of living supplies a headache.


    Walking on the compact mountain road, Colin''s face showed hesitation, but in the next second, he put his hand back into his pocket and absorbed the last Magic Stone into a Limit Breaking Point.


    He had kept the Magic Stones for the purpose of having capital to buy crystals.


    But now he could only make up to 40 crystals a day at most, unless he could break the upper limit. Otherwise, buying more would just mean he wouldn''t have to make as many trips to the market.


    So it would be better to turn them into his own strength as soon as possible, as his own power was everything.


    Soon, the last Magic Stone crumbled to dust, and the character behind the Limit Breaking Point slowly changed to 6.


    On both sides of the mountain road was a deep forest, and as he walked, he occasionally saw some wildlife.


    The sun was setting, its light growing weak and feeble, almost unable to penetrate the dense foliage.


    Strange cries began to rise gradually from the woods on both sides.


    Colin tightened his clothes against the strong evening sea breeze. The cries from the forest made him a little jittery, and he quickened his pace.


    Although the chirping of insects, birds, and some strange roars rang out from time to time,


    He felt the world around him was inexplicably silent.


    Along the long mountain path, it seemed as if only his own footsteps echoed.


    After a while, he suddenly paused, gradually coming to a stop.


    Around the corner ahead on the mountain road, a figure with golden hair appeared, followed by two more people.


    "Colin, what a coincidence," greeted the golden-haired figure in surprise.


    "Charlie, Wood, and Owen, are you guys heading out this late?" Colin responded with a ''smile,'' while continuing to walk forward.


    "Wait a second, Colin," Charlie said with a smile, raising his hand as if to stop him, "I was just looking for you."


    "Looking for me... What for?" Colin stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking, but his face showing just the right amount of puzzled inquiry. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s like this," Charlie approached Colin and patted his shoulder, then shouted back, "Jeff, come over here."


    "Alright, boss," another figure emerged from around the corner, the brown-haired Jeff, with a smile on his face and no scars visible on his slightly tanned skin.


    Colin was startled, but quickly regained a calm demeanor.


    Sensing Colin''s shock, Charlie gave a slight smile, which was the effect he intended to have by bringing Jeff over first.


    "Although Jeff was the first to leave after class, he later joined the Mutual Assistance Association."


    Charlie took the initiative to explain, and then his tone changed:


    "Colin, may I take a little bit of your time?"


    "I remember you also left early before, so this time I''m looking for you specially to introduce you to the Mutual Assistance Association... What do you think?"


    After speaking, Charlie looked at Colin with an expectant smile.


    Colin kept his expression neutral, but couldn''t help sighing inwardly.


    No wonder they chose to stop him here.


    Combining the scene he witnessed before in a back alley, he had figured everything out.


    Clearly, regardless of whether he listened to what Charlie had to say next, there was only one choice for him: to join the Mutual Assistance Association.


    Otherwise, what awaited him would likely be the same fate as Jeff had before.


    "...Go ahead." Colin hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

 Chapter 10 - 10 Limit Breaking

    Charlie pondered for a moment, then slowly began, "Just as you heard the name, the Mutual Assistance Association is an organization where everyone helps each other at the gathering place after this."


    "You might feel it''s not very useful¡­ but do you know what kind of situation we''ll be in when we get to the outside gathering places?"


    Colin shook his head.


    "Slaves."


    Charlie''s expression remained composed, "As soon as we leave the School, we lose our protection."


    "But for ten years, we have learned a vast amount of knowledge, receiving the most complete wizard education on the entire island."


    "This is a huge fortune¡­ a fortune we cannot afford. How many do you think in the gathering place would covet it?"


    Colin furrowed his brow, somewhat confused.


    "We all have signed magic contracts and cannot teach the knowledge we learned to anyone outside the School¡­"


    "But we are too weak!"


    Charlie interrupted Colin, declaring sternly,


    "We are merely Basic Level Wizard Apprentices. For ten years, a vast amount of knowledge has consumed most of our time and energy!"


    "The instructors have always emphasized advancing, with the ten-year period constantly hanging over our heads."


    "Besides simple tricks, who among us is willing to spend the time to learn powerful witchcraft which takes at least half a year just to get the basics?"


    He took a step forward, staring at Colin.


    "In the gathering place, although Basic Level Wizard Apprentices like us may not have as solid and comprehensive a foundation, over their lifetime, their limit may only be an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice."


    "But in terms of combat ability, they surpass us!"


    "You are right, Colin, we cannot pass on the knowledge we learned at the School."


    Charlie''s expression remained calm as he stared at the setting sun slowly sinking.


    "But we can be controlled, can be enslaved¡­ all it takes is a simple slavery contract."


    "Our talent may not be outstanding within the School, but it is considered medium or even above medium in a gathering place."


    "Given time, we could at least be Intermediate Apprentices, perhaps even Advanced Apprentices¡­ "


    "So even if they cannot obtain our knowledge, we ourselves are a form of wealth!"


    Colin''s lips moved slightly as if he wanted to object.


    Yet Charlie, seemingly perceiving his thoughts, preemptively responded, "The School won''t manage this, Colin."


    "The wizards of the School are high and mighty, they couldn''t care less."


    Charlie sighed, turned his head to look at Colin, his face calm, yet an inexplicable expression flickered in his eyes.


    "So, will you join the Mutual Assistance Association, Colin?"


    The sun sunk beneath the sea, plunging the earth into darkness.


    Buzz¡ª


    Behind Charlie, Owen took out a Bright Crystal and cast a spell to illuminate it.


    The soft white light emanated from behind Charlie, making his expression even harder to discern.


    Colin stood a distance away from Charlie, his thoughts churning silently.


    ''If what Charlie is saying is true, then joining the Mutual Assistance Association is undoubtedly a win-win.''


    ''However, if the outside gathering places are really like that, then what is the use of these Basic Level Wizard Apprentices gathering together?''


    ''When the time comes, not even an Advanced Apprentice could handle it...''


    ''What''s more, although Charlie''s words make logical sense, there is no concrete evidence, and the original protagonist never heard of such information¡­''


    Besides, with the Golden Paper, what he needed to do now was to have the Meditation Technique reach the Limit Breaking Point.


    If there was still no hope of advancing within three months after Limit Breaking, then it was time to consider leaving the School.


    "...Charlie, I need time to think," Colin said, furrowing his brow.


    His heartbeat accelerated slightly as he observed Charlie''s expression intently.


    Golden Paper had been summoned, ready; if Charlie turned hostile, he would promptly apply the Limit Breaking Points to skills like the Ignition Technique, hoping to escape a beating using Limit Breaking Witchcraft.


    Since the School forbids its members from harming each other''s lives, his life should not be in danger.


    "Hmm?" Behind Charlie, the tall, bald, black man Haywood frowned in anger, wanting to jump forward.


    Colin''s heart skipped.


    "Haywood," Charlie said gravely, raising his hand to stop him.


    After a moment of silence, he looked at Colin with a smile,


    "Haywood is just like that¡­ it''s fine, Colin, take your time to think, and I''ll come to find you later."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he led his three companions past Colin and hurried down the mountain.


    Colin turned his head to look at Charlie and his group disappearing in the distance, heaving a sigh of relief.


    He hadn''t expected Charlie to let him off so easily.


    ''It seems... I really overthought things, their running into me might just be a coincidence...''


    But soon, his brows furrowed again.


    ''I still feel... something isn''t right...''


    He pondered for a while, but couldn''t come up with an answer. He decided not to dwell on it anymore and released the Ignition Technique, using the faint firelight to hurry towards the Wizard Territory.


    As for Charlie''s final words about visiting again, he didn''t take it to heart.


    No matter what secrets there were, no matter what conspiracies... they were merely petty squabbles among Basic Level Apprentices.


    As long as he could advance, he would be able to step out of the chessboard, and everything would naturally resolve itself.


    ...


    "Boss, are we just letting him go like that?" Jeff suddenly asked as they walked.


    "Jeff, you need to understand... violence is the worst method. Colin will eventually willingly join the Mutual Assistance Association of his own accord," Charlie replied indifferently. He glanced at still somewhat puzzled Jeff and continued:


    "Once they know about the threats from external gathering spots, those who originally didn''t want to join the Mutual Assistance Association will also start to waver.


    In a few months, everyone will leave the Lap School. No one can stand alone... Eventually, they will realize that joining the Mutual Assistance Association is the only way out!"


    Jeff nodded emphatically, finally understanding. He had initially been reluctant to join the Mutual Assistance Association too.


    But after being beaten up and hearing about the dangers Charlie mentioned, he had started to waver.


    And today, Charlie had even taken the initiative to show him the evidence... In fact, he was now completely convinced by what Charlie had said.


    Previously, he had wrongly blamed the Mutual Assistance Association, misunderstanding Charlie''s intentions...


    *


    *


    *


    Inside the Meditation Room.


    Colin sat cross-legged on the middle brown mat, reaching out to light the calming incense.


    Hardly noticeable smoke accompanied by a comforting aroma appeared.


    Light gold particles converged as Colin took a deep breath and no longer hesitated.


    He focused his spirit and heavily pressed forward towards the symbol after the Circulation Meditation.


    Bang!


    Instantly, intricate knowledge appeared out of nowhere in his mind, prompting him to involuntarily close his eyes and enter into meditation.


    Time ticked by.


    In the night sky, the moon slowly rose overhead, bringing some dim light to the dark Wizard Territory; the Dark Forest to the north was deadly still, while to the south, the coast had waves crashing against the rocks, producing a muffled crashing sound.


    Unbeknownst to when, a streak of gold light quietly emerged from the eastern sea level, coating the gem-like blue sea with gold.


    In the Meditation Room, Colin, who had sat through the night, suddenly opened his eyes.


    It was as if one ring after another appeared in his blue eyes only to quickly disappear again.


    His mind stirred, and the Golden Paper appeared before him.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (54/100); Basic Level Knight (69/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Circulation Meditation I (1/100); Sunlight Breathing Technique (100/100) ¡ü]


    [Witchcraft: Ignition Technique (100/100) ¡ü; Condensing Water Skill (80/100); Light Brightness Skill (85/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 1]


    The Circulation Meditation had successfully broken through the limit!


    Compared to before, the meditation method had an additional blue outline on the Golden Paper after the limit break, and a ''I'' had been added, likely signifying a breakthrough.


    Of course, the most exciting thing was that the Rank column''s progress for the Basic Level Wizard Apprentice had also increased a bit!


    ''It''s just unknown whether it is due to his accumulation or the result of last night''s meditation.''


    Excitement was hard to contain in Colin''s heart. He suddenly stood up and paced around for a while before he gradually calmed down.


    ''I''ll know after another meditation session tomorrow... As for now, the duration for meditation is maxed out; I can''t try it again.''


    As the excitement faded, sensations of sleep deprivation and hunger followed.


    He stood in place and couldn''t help but yawn.


    Then he walked out of the Meditation Room, undressed, and lay down on the bed, sinking into a deep sleep.


    S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Bee Sting

    "Here you are," the shopkeeper said with a chuckle as he handed over the Magic Stone.


    Colin deftly caught it, slipped it into his bosom, and turned to walk out of the shop, stuffing the Magic Stone into his bulging grey purse while he walked away from the shopkeeper.


    By then, he could say he was much wealthier than before...


    However, in this world, wealth did not bring him the same sense of security as it did in his previous life.


    As he stepped outside, the weather was clear. He suddenly felt a notion and headed towards the market.


    ''Maybe I could buy some Knight Combat Skill or something... After all, a Magic Stone is just a Magic Stone in hand, but it becomes valuable when turned into strength,'' he pondered quietly to himself.


    The Sunlight Breathing Technique had only the practice method but no accompanying combat skills. As a result, he now had the rank of an Advanced Knight, but not the matching combat power.


    He arrived at the market.


    Colin wandered around but did not find any stalls selling Knight Combat Skills.


    But that was normal, too, whether it was the shops in the mountains or the market. Most of the goods sold were related to Wizards.


    Secret magic books, Wizard Tools and Robes, Magic Crystals, and various materials from demons were all readily available.


    But something like the Knight Breathing Technique could only be seen on very rare occasions.


    He looked up at the sky, and it seemed there was still time before nightfall.


    He hesitated, then continued towards the foot of the mountain.


    The island''s mountain wasn''t high and had a gentle slope.


    The entire settlement was situated on the southeastern side of the hillside, with the highest point being the Lap Wizard Territory; at the foot of the mountain was a small city.


    The island had a population of eighteen or nineteen thousand people, including ordinary folks. Among them, about eight or nine thousand were Wizards, and most of them were Basic Level Apprentices.


    Of the less than a thousand Wizards left, most were Intermediate Apprentices.


    And the Lap School was the only force on the entire island, with the sole Official Wizard.


    Thinking all this, he walked for a long while and finally saw a city gate, about four or five meters high, with yellow-grey earthen walls extending on both sides of the same height.


    Four burly men in steel armor were standing at the gate, each carrying a long sword on their back.


    Their strong vitality hit him in the face.


    ''They must be Great Knights,'' Colin guessed to himself.


    It was only upon arriving here that he truly came to the settlement on the island.


    Previously, the area on the mountain near the School was inhabited by Wizards of at least the Intermediate Apprentice Rank.


    It was closer to the Magic Stone Veins under the Lap Wizard Territory, where the concentration of magical energy was relatively higher,


    and only capable Wizards could live there.


    Most other Wizards and ordinary people were more likely to live in the small city at the foot of the mountain.


    Approaching the city gate, Colin noticed a grey plaque above the archway.


    Although the lettering was already quite blurred, he could still make out the words "Blackstone" if he looked closely.


    Under the respectful gazes of the Great Knight Guards below, Colin withdrew the identity badge he had pulled out of his pocket and stepped into the city.


    The original owner had been here a few times before. He was not unfamiliar with this small city and easily found his way to a bookshop.


    Before entering the shop, he pinned the School Badge on his chest then slowly stepped inside.


    The shop wasn''t large, and it resembled a jewelry store from his previous life more than a bookstore.


    Each book was solemnly kept in a sturdy iron cabinet.


    Some particularly valuable ones were even kept inside small protective shields.


    The shopkeeper was resting behind the counter at the time. He glanced at Colin as he entered, and upon seeing the triangular badge of the Lap School on his chest, he quickly stood up and greeted him enthusiastically,


    "Sir, welcome, what can I do for you?"


    "Do you have any Knight Combat Skills?" Colin nodded slightly in response.


    He was not surprised by the shopkeeper''s attitude; the Lap School was the undisputed ruler of the island.


    "Yes, sir, everything in this cabinet here."


    The goateed shopkeeper led Colin to a cabinet on the left side and then dug out a thick sheet of paper from underneath, handing it to Colin with both hands.


    "Here you are, this is the catalogue."


    Colin took it with a nod.


    The contents of the catalogue weren''t extensive, mainly listing names, brief descriptions, and prices.


    He looked for quite a while but did not see anything satisfactory.


    Combat skills of mortals were indeed quite weak.


    "I will take this ''Radiant Light''," he said after a moment''s hesitation.


    The list on the yellow paper ranked combat skills into six tiers based on their strength, and the most expensive tier offered just three combat skills, each with its secret technique.


    Colin selected one that seemed the most powerful from the description... although it wasn''t all that powerful, he could only hope for the "Golden Paper Limit Breaking."


    After paying a piece and a half of magic stone and signing a Universal Contract, with terms such as for personal use only and not to teach others,


    the bearded shopkeeper finally opened the steel cabinet and handed him the shining book.


    Colin flipped through it casually, frowning slightly.


    "What''s the issue, sir? Is there a problem with the book?" the bearded shopkeeper asked anxiously, his heart skipping a beat.


    "It''s nothing," Colin shook his head, denying it, then turned to ask, "Do you know where I can buy a rapier?"


    This shining book, he had briefly looked through, was a combat skill book focused on thrusting attacks and recommended the use of a rapier.


    But the knight sword from the original owner''s house was a regular long sword.


    "Yes, sir. I know a place," the shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly replied, "It''s just two doors away, a shop that specializes in knight swords."


    Colin nodded slightly, put away the shining book, and prepared to go purchase a rapier.


    With 1.5 magic stones entering his account daily, he could indeed be considered wealthy.


    When he was about to step out of the store, he suddenly paused, stopping in his tracks.


    Across the street, outside a general goods store, a familiar blonde young man was hurrying along.


    ''Charlie... What''s he doing here?'' Colin wondered.


    Coming here didn''t require a report to the School like going to places such as the Dark Forest,


    but normally School members wouldn''t come here without reason.


    ''Could it be that he, along with Jeff and the others, was coming here the other night?'' Colin recalled their previous encounter.


    He had thought that Charlie and his companions had probably just gone to the market outside the Wizard Territory,


    but now it seemed, maybe they had also been coming here that evening?


    Colin stepped back into the shop slightly, waved his hand to calm the nervous shopkeeper, and then peeked at Charlie from behind the counter''s cover.


    Charlie, oblivious to his gaze, hurried along and eventually turned into a small alley not far to the left.


    After his figure had completely disappeared, Colin left the shop, his gaze flickering towards the alley where Charlie had vanished.


    But then he quickly withdrew his gaze and headed to the shop that sold knight swords on the right, as the bookstore owner had directed.


    ''Not to worry over matters that shouldn''t concern me, not to do things I shouldn''t do...''


    The walls of the knight sword shop were adorned with all kinds of knight swords.


    "A rapier? Please wait a moment, sir. I''ll go look for one," the burly shopkeeper said with respect.


    Before long, he came back carrying a stack of long, narrow boxes.


    Opening the boxes one by one, they contained rapiers of varying lengths and designs. Since Colin had stated his preferences in advance, all that were brought were of high quality.


    Choosing a rapier didn''t take Colin much time; he had always believed in getting what you pay for and went straight for the most expensive one, priced at 1 magic stone.


    The rapier was called "Bee Sting," and together with the handle, it measured approximately 95 centimeters, with a simple, unadorned round guard.


    With that, today''s task was completed.


    Colin strapped the Bee Sting to his waist, his mid-length golden hair sleek and shining, and his azure eyes sparkling. Combined with the muscular physique obtained from practicing the Sunlight Breathing Technique and today''s outfit of a shirt and waistcoat, he was the spitting image of a handsome young knight from a theatrical play.


    He subconsciously caressed the exquisite scabbard of Bee Sting.


    A man''s fondness for weapons is etched into his very bones.


    In his former life as an ordinary person, he seldom had the chance to handle a real knight sword.


    In this world, without a phone or internet,


    apart from sitting by the window to enjoy the sea breeze and view, the thing he did most during his brief rest periods was play with the original owner''s knight sword.


    ''Now I have a new knight sword to toy with,'' Colin thought with a smile on his face. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Bee Sting, worth 1 magic stone, was clearly of much higher quality than the ordinary knight sword left by the original owner.


    Though its appearance was simple, its details exuded elegance.


    As he walked along the road, Colin frequently wanted to draw it and swing it around a few times.


    Unfortunately... this was the city.


    But once out of town, there would be plenty of bushes and shrubs on the mountain roads to indulge in.


    With this thought, he couldn''t help but quicken his pace.


    But soon after, he let out a wry, self-mocking laugh.


    He inexplicably remembered a time from his childhood in his previous life, when after school, he had found a long and straight stick next to a sprawling field of rapeseed flowers.


    Indeed, once he had the stick in hand, there was no end in sight to the ten-mile stretch of rapeseed blossoms.

 Chapter 13 - 13 Classes

    Alas, it was unknown if such vast fields of cauliflower still existed in this world.


    Colin, lost in his reverie, strode forward, the bee sting firmly fixed to the brown leather sword holder given by the shop owner at his waist, making no sound.


    As he walked on, evening arrived, and the sun set in the west, enveloping the land in a deep yellow hue.


    The small town had a curfew, and as night fell, more pedestrians appeared on the dirt roads, with carriages occasionally passing by.


    He walked among the crowd, yet it wasn''t crowded; the pedestrians around him consciously maintained a distance of one meter from him.


    On the island, social classes were distinct; those dressed like him in the small town were either core members of a gang, descendants of a family, or at least related in some way to a wizard.


    After walking a distance, he gradually reached the outskirts of the town.


    There, farmers with agricultural tools and fishermen with dark skin reeking of fish became more common, and carriages were rarely seen.


    The houses along the street changed from wooden houses to mud and seaweed buildings, and some were not even seaweed houses but merely crude tents made of palm leaves.


    The passersby became more meek; upon seeing Colin, they either shrank back into their homes or bowed their heads in fear and stood still.


    After walking a bit further, suddenly, the sound of a woman sobbing, interspersed with the loud cries of a baby, rang out.


    Turning a corner, Colin saw the source of the noise.


    In front of a palm lean-to by the roadside, a woman clad in tattered linen clothes was sitting on the ground, holding a baby wrapped in black cloth, crying.


    A few men dressed as fishermen surrounded her. The robust young man among them was holding a cloth bag;


    he handed the cloth bag to the woman, "This is all that''s left of Gal, take it..."


    "Hey!"


    At this moment, another man beside him spotted Colin and quickly alerted him in a low voice, then bowed his head and stood aside.


    The robust young man looked back, saw Colin, and quickly bent his head down as well.


    Colin, with a calm and expressionless face, continued forward.


    The woman also saw him, immediately swallowed her sobs with effort, and then forcefully covered her baby''s mouth with her other hand.


    Though the sound stopped, tears continued to flow unrestrainedly; large tears fell from her chin, hitting the ground, and forming dark stains.


    The face of the baby in her arms quickly turned red and struggled more fiercely.


    Colin sighed softly to himself and quickened his pace.


    But suddenly, whether the woman couldn''t bear it or the baby struggled too vehemently, the piercing cry of the child rose again.


    The woman''s expression dramatically changed and she hastened to muzzle the baby more tightly.


    Colin did not pause or turn his head; he just looked straight ahead and passed by quickly, expressionless.


    Soon, he had left that area.


    Although he hadn''t heard everything, he guessed that the woman must have lost her fisherman husband.


    The sea was vast and magnificent but also full of perils; such occurrences were frequent.


    More than that, he cared about the attitudes of the people in the ghetto towards him.


    "Class..." he sighed imperceptibly.


    On the island, aside from wizards, other ordinary people should all be on the same level.


    Those people hadn''t recognized him as a wizard; they shouldn''t have been so deferential.


    Yet, there were clearly distinctions among ordinary people; the ghettos'' inhabitants and those ordinary people connected with the wizards were worlds apart in status.


    Earlier, he had also heard that a father of a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice from the city had come to the edge of the ghetto deliberately to provoke people.


    Then, when those people could no longer endure and began to retaliate, he would use the formidable power of a knight to brutally kill them for amusement.


    Although the Guard Team later became aware of this issue,


    the punishment was only to forbid him from committing the act again and to fine him some magic stones...


    The island was poor in resources, the wilderness filled with fierce beasts and strange occurrences; ordinary people could only survive by relying on wizards, which was one of the reasons for wizards'' exalted status.


    An instructor once said that sixty years ago, before the Lap School came to this island,


    the original Official Wizards had died, leaving only some Advanced Apprentices relying on the relics left by their ancestors, barely holding off the night''s eeriness and the wilderness''s fierce beasts.


    Thus, the settlements became smaller day by day, continuously forced to reduce their area.


    Only when Lap Wizard arrived did the settlements gradually stop shrinking and even began to expand.


    Now, they had expanded back to their original peripheries, and the damaged outer mud wall had also been reinforced and repaired.


    This was the power of an Official Wizard and the unbreakable status of the Lap School!


    Thinking all this, Colin was about to reach the city gate.


    A thin man suddenly sprang out from a nearby path and then inexplicably stopped in the middle of the dirt road.


    Colin halted, frowning at him.


    The man, hunched over, stood sideways to him, his head down.


    The yellow light of the setting sun turned him into a dark silhouette, highlighting his emaciated figure.


    The backlight prevented Colin from seeing the man''s face clearly.


    After pondering for a moment, he decided to take out his identity badge from his pocket.


    In the small town, given his attire, most people wouldn''t bother him.


    And for the few who might, showing the identity badge in his pocket would usually resolve the issue.


    Colin watched the man while feeling for the badge in his pocket.


    As his eyes gradually adjusted to the backlight, the man''s figure became clearer in his vision.


    ''Why is he... trembling non-stop?'' Colin''s pupils constricted, and a wave of unease suddenly surged from his heart.


    He immediately withdrew his hand from his pocket, quickly formed a seal, his lips quivered, and he whispered a spell as he stepped backward.


    Just as his spell resonated, the man standing on the muddy ground in front of him suddenly made a move.


    He slowly raised his head, looking at Colin, his eyes glowing with a bizarre green light.


    Colin felt a sudden tightness in his chest, quickened his pace backward while continuing to chant the spell.


    At that moment, a noisy sound came from the right, from the direction where the man had just appeared.


    The man seemed to have some problem with his body, his head suddenly dropped heavily again, and he continued to tremble, hunched over.


    This time, even large pools of fresh blood spilled from his mouth, making a strange hissing sound when it hit the ground.


    After a few more seconds, the hunched-over man finally caught his breath and gradually straightened his back.


    By then, Colin had already retreated dozens of meters away, and his casting of witchcraft was nearing its end.


    Buzz¡ª


    Accompanied by the last syllable, a translucent white light enveloped Colin''s entire body.


    But it suddenly shattered and disappeared.


    Colin''s face turned pale as he suppressed the discomfort of the failed spell and pulled out the sting needle from his waist, continuing to retreat quickly.


    The white light was Steel Armor, a powerful witchcraft he had been learning recently.


    Unfortunately, despite having Golden Paper''s help, ten days was too short of a time, and he was still some distance away from mastery. The casting took a long time and was prone to failure.


    Seeing that he was getting farther away from the man with the eerie green glow, Colin breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    Although he was now an Advanced Knight, this strength was nothing in the face of real danger.


    The man''s bizarre appearance, eyes glowing green, was clearly beyond Colin''s ability to handle!


    Why risk it? Decisive retreat was the right choice!


    It was a pity¡­he had not succeeded in casting Steel Armor¡­


    Just as Colin was pondering, the now fully upright lean man suddenly stared at him!


    In the dim world, his eyes glowing green were strikingly prominent.


    Colin startled, kept his gaze on the lean man, continuing to retreat to increase the distance.


    Although they were already a fair distance apart, blindly turning around to run was still the poorest choice!


    The next second, the man suddenly charged towards him with a speed so fast that in the blink of an eye, he closed the distance to within ten meters.


    His heart clenched!


    "This speed, there''s no escaping."


    Colin let out a heavy breath, stopped in his tracks, gripped the sting needle in his hand, ready to fight!


    Whoosh!!


    Just then, a beam of orange-red light shot fiercely from behind the right side of the lean man.


    The man, startled, forcefully leaped while curling up his body.


    His reaction was quick, but his waist and abdomen were still grazed by the beam!


    The man grunted.


    At the waist, where it had contacted the beam, had vanished, leaving only a charred gash.


    But this only further provoked the man''s ferocity; ignoring the threat behind him, he charged headlong at Colin!


    It looked like he was intent on taking Colin down with him.


    Using his recent leap, the man was now only three meters away from Colin.


    He widened his eyes, his pupils gleaming with green fury, and roared hoarsely,


    "Die! Die! Die, all of you should die!"


    But what he didn''t expect was that a blinding white light suddenly burst forth from the handsome young man''s chest in front of him!


    "Ah!!" With his vision whited out, the man flailed his arms.


    At this time, only a trivial sliver of the setting sun remained in the sky, making it incredibly dim.


    The sudden explosion of white light temporarily blinded the unprepared man.


    Colin, looking at the eerie man in front of him, thought again.


    A flame abruptly appeared at the crotch of the man''s canvas pants.


    Then more flames appeared one after another in different places on the man''s clothes.


    The man roared in anger, but the flames on his body soon made him instinctively lie down and roll on the ground.


    Unfortunately, the man was wearing only plain linen clothes, which weren''t soaked in any fuel.


    The fire, under his rolling, was quickly brought under control.


    Seeing this, Colin hurriedly grasped the sting needle and stabbed towards the man''s head.


    Before the blade in his hand could touch the man''s skin, another orange-red beam of light struck his head first.


    Half of the man''s head instantly disappeared.


    Yet even after such severe damage, his body continued to move.


    Then another orange-red beam shot out, completely erasing the man''s head.


    Only then did his body gradually stop moving.


    The intense smell of charred flesh mixed with the scent of cooked meat filled the air.


    Causing Colin''s stomach to churn continuously, his complexion growing even paler.


    He looked up at the figure slowly approaching in a Wizard Robe, took out a triangular badge from his pocket, and gestured to the other person.


    S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 14 - 14 Exchange

    "The use of the Flash Skill is not bad, Third-Class Apprentice."


    The approaching figure was tall, wearing a gray robe, and pinned on his chest was a golden triangle badge of the Lap School. He was lifting his hood while casually praising Colin.


    After he lifted his hood, what appeared before Colin was a red-haired man with somewhat untidy hair and a circle of beard around his chin, exuding a somewhat weather-beaten look, probably in his thirties or forties.


    "Thank you, Instructor," Colin quickly bowed in thanks.


    The Third-Class Apprentice was another name for the Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, and the golden badge on the red-haired man''s chest indicated that he was an Advanced Wizard Apprentice from the School, that is, a First-Class Wizard Apprentice.


    Usually, the basic wizarding courses for people like Colin within the School were taught in turns by First-Class Apprentices like the red-haired man.


    So, they were commonly referred to as Instructors by Basic Level Apprentices like Colin.


    Moreover, apart from teaching knowledge, each First-Class Apprentice had different responsibilities, and the red-haired man seemed to be from the Guard Team.


    The red-haired instructor nodded indisputably, then waved his right hand.


    An orange-yellow fireball abruptly appeared, enveloped in heat waves, and whizzed to strike the incomplete corpse of the green-glowing man.


    Colin kept a serene expression on his face, but his heart skipped a beat.


    The flames blazed up, and the scent of meat in the air grew increasingly rich.


    Subconsciously, Colin took two steps to the side, positioning himself upwind.


    "Don''t be nervous, this is a necessary treatment for a Polluter¡ª"


    The red-haired man had already walked up to Colin and explained calmly, then abruptly changed the subject,


    "As for you, you also need to be tested."


    "Tested?" Colin asked subconsciously.


    The red-haired man didn''t answer, just stared at him with a neutral expression and said lightly, "Relax, don''t resist."


    He then moved his lips slightly, beginning the spell casting.


    The light from the burning corpse cast Colin''s face in an unsettled interplay of shadow and light. He clutched the sting needle in his hand, the wrapped leather handle felt fine and delicate.


    He did not know if the Golden Paper would be detected, nor did he know if the ritual the original owner had conducted would leave any traces on him.


    But he had no other choice.


    Colin stood quietly, trying to relax his entire body.


    Seconds later, a White Light emitted from the red-haired man''s hand, scanning Colin from head to toe.


    Wherever the White Light passed, it felt like being immersed in a warm spring, although it wasn''t uncomfortable, Colin still felt very uneasy.


    "That''s enough, Third-Class Apprentice, you may go," the red-haired man said after confirming the result.


    "Okay, Instructor."


    Colin bowed his head, relieved inside and yet filled with countless thoughts.


    ''I''m still not strong enough...'' he sighed inwardly.


    "Oh yes, there''s one more thing¡ª" the red-haired man called out to him.


    Colin stopped and turned back, perplexed.


    "That magic that looks a bit like the Ignition Technique... the second spell you cast just now, what was that? I''ve never seen it before. Did you improve it yourself?" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...No, Instructor."


    "It is a spell I purchased at the market, nameless. The seller called it Ignition Technique... The effect is similar to Ignition Technique, only it can ignite things from a distance, without physical contact. The range is about half a meter from oneself."


    Colin pondered for a moment and answered discreetly.


    The so-called Ignition Technique, and the Flash Skill that the red-haired instructor had previously mistaken, were actually just the Ignition Technique and the Light Brightness Skill after breaking their limits once.


    During this period, not only was he learning new witchcraft¡ªSteel Armor, but he had also broken the limits of all the witchcraft he had mastered at least once.


    As he expected, the might of tricks like the Light Brightness Skill and Ignition Technique hadn''t significantly increased after breaking their limits.


    However, sometimes, like today, with a bit of clever thinking and tactical usage, they could achieve surprisingly effective results.


    "Third Class Apprentice, I am very interested in this witchcraft and am willing to exchange for it with knowledge of equal value or a Magic Stone. Is that acceptable?" the red-haired instructor continued.


    "...It would be my honor, instructor," Colin was startled and hastily responded.


    "Then would you prefer a Magic Stone, or knowledge of equal value?" the red-haired instructor nodded satisfactorily and added, "If it''s knowledge you want, I have several spells of equal value for you to choose from."


    "I choose knowledge," Colin replied without hesitation.


    "Wise decision," the instructor praised, then turned his gaze toward the end of the street, "After dealing with this matter, we''ll find an appropriate place to exchange."


    Colin followed his gaze.


    At the end of the street, five people were running toward them. The one leading was wearing a Wizard Robe, sporting the silver badge of the Lap School, while the four behind him were clad in fine steel plate armor, carrying large swords.


    "My lord," the Wizard Apprentice leading the group greeted the red-haired instructor respectfully.


    The red-haired instructor nodded, then said, "The Polluter has been taken care of; I''m leaving now. Come find me if you need anything."


    He then signaled for Colin to follow him.


    Turning around, he seemed to remember something, pausing in stride, and looked back at the Intermediate Apprentice with a reminder, "Remember to cleanse the ashes later."


    "Yes, my lord," the Intermediate Apprentice replied respectfully.


    The red-haired instructor nodded and continued to walk forward.


    Colin quickly strode to keep up, but took one last look at the body still burning beside them.


    By then, the body had mostly burned away, and the newly arrived Second Class Apprentice, perhaps feeling that the fire wasn''t lively enough, stood aside, directing the four knights in plate armor to pour oil onto it.


    Colin also keenly noticed that within the churning flames, there seemed to be a sinister green light flickering, casting an uneasy feeling.


    As the thick oil was poured from the skin bags, the flames soared up to half a person''s height.


    Colin didn''t look any longer, turning to catch up with the silhouette of the red-haired instructor.


    The exchange of witchcraft wasn''t simple; it couldn''t be completed in a short period of time.


    Behind each spell lay a range of complex knowledge, sometimes involving dozens or even hundreds to understand.


    Take, for instance, a single breaking of limits for the Ignition Technique. To transcribe it completely on paper would take at least half an hour.


    Therefore, exchanging witchcraft usually required finding a suitable place and having tools like paper and ink at hand.


    Moreover, when wizards exchanged knowledge, there were generally two forms.


    One was to directly exchange manuscripts, transcribing the complete Magic Model and principles on paper.


    And the other, based on exchanging manuscripts, came with explanations, primarily elucidating the underlying principles and so forth.


    The second form was evidently the better way for both parties involved in the exchange.


    It not only reduced the time needed to start understanding new witchcraft but also verified the authenticity of the manuscripts.


    However, when there was a significant knowledge gap between the two parties,


    The one with the higher knowledge would generally prefer to exchange only documents.


    For the one with greater knowledge, unless the witchcraft being exchanged was in a field completely different from their expertise,


    They wouldn''t need explanations; a glance at the manuscript would suffice to understand the principles. Their exchange was merely about acquiring a fresh perspective through lateral thinking.

 Chapter 15 - 15 Explanation

    Before long, Colin and another person arrived at a stone house.


    The house was about one hundred square meters in size and was an uncommon three-story structure.


    A red-haired instructor led him to a study on the second floor.


    The study was not large; two rows of bookshelves lined the walls, and in the center was a set of maroon desks and chairs.


    "Take a seat," the red-haired instructor said as he pulled out a wooden chair for Colin.


    "Alright, instructor."


    "You don''t need to be too formal, we''re all from the School... Strictly speaking, I''m still your senior," the red-haired instructor leaned back in his chair and continued,


    "Berkeley Barnett, you can call me Berkeley."


    "Colin Leonard... just call me Colin, Instructor Barnett," Colin hurriedly responded.


    Although Berkeley allowed him to address him by his name, that was merely a polite gesture, which he heard but naturally couldn''t take seriously.


    In this world, there was no such thing as equality among all.


    Power determined one''s social status.


    "Then let''s get started," Berkeley sat up straight, took out a set of paper and pen from the drawer, and handed them to Colin, "Write this down first, those witchcrafts, I still need to organize them a bit."


    "Alright, Instructor Barnett."


    Berkeley nodded, stood up, and walked towards the bookshelves behind him.


    Under the bright white light shining from the Bright Crystal chandelier overhead, Colin wrote fervently.


    Unlike the feather quill he usually used, Berkeley had given him a black fountain pen.


    The design was not much different from the fountain pens of his previous life; the polished metal casing gleamed under the white light.


    Colin knew that fountain pens existed in this world.


    From his memories, the original host often saw instructors using fountain pens during lessons.


    However, the island was resource-poor and undoubtedly did not have the conditions to produce fountain pens.


    The technological or living standards on the island were only slightly more advanced than medieval Europe of his previous life.


    He guessed that these fountain pens were likely imported from the outside world.


    In other words, this implied the existence of higher technology outside.


    Creating a fountain pen was not an easy task, representing a series of mature industrial technologies.


    On Earth in his previous life, fountain pens were also invented and produced only after the Industrial Revolution.


    After about half an hour, Colin had finally transcribed the complete principles and models of the Limit Breaking Fire Technique onto paper, amounting to over a dozen pages.


    The handwriting was neat and there were not many corrections.


    This was mainly thanks to his current physical condition as an Advanced Knight and the complete knowledge gained from the Limit Breaking Fire Technique.


    Golden Paper Limit Breaking did not only provide results, but it conveyed the entire process from theoretical deduction, research, sudden inspirations, and eventual refinement back to Colin.


    In some sense, a Limit Breaking Fire Technique felt as though he had researched it himself.


    Thus, writing out a complete principle and model was not an issue, let alone producing a well-grounded research paper from the Ignition Technique to the Ignition Technique.


    "I have already transcribed it, Instructor Barnett," Colin handed the document to Berkeley who was sitting in front of him.


    Berkeley had already organized the witchcraft twenty minutes ago.


    It seemed he had a backup prepared.


    "Um, take a look at which witchcraft you want," Berkeley put down the book, took the document, and handed a piece of paper to Colin.


    The paper contained brief descriptions of the witchcraft he was prepared to exchange.


    Colin took the white paper and read it carefully.


    There were four spells listed: Minor High Temperature Tolerance, Choking Cough Skill, Arrow Shooting Skill, and Fireworks Skill.


    None of these were very powerful spells, but they were also uncommon and valued roughly the same as an Ignition Technique after achieving a Limit Breaking.


    Minor High Temperature Tolerance, as the name suggests, provides a brief ability to withstand high temperatures, specifically temperatures below 500 degrees.


    The Choking Cough Skill could force someone to cough and choke, which sounded useful for interrupting a wizard''s spell incantation.


    However, it was not very practical. On one hand, it was easily defensible and counterable, and on the other, wizards typically used instant-cast spells in combat.


    These spells required no incantation, thus they couldn''t be interrupted by the Choking Cough Skill.


    Arrow Shooting Skill could fire a metal arrow at an enemy, its power was average, and it required metal arrows as casting materials. Its benefit was its low consumption.


    As for the Fireworks Skill, it was used for setting off fireworks. Once mastered, one could create fireworks of various shapes and colors as desired, usually used for sending messages.


    Colin read and reread the white paper meticulously, back and forth twice.


    He finally made a decision. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I choose the Arrow Shooting Skill, Instructor Banette," he said.


    He interrupted Berkeley, who was engrossed in reading a document, and handed the white paper back to him.


    "Good choice," Berkeley responded casually, taking the white paper and rummaging through the stack of documents beside him to hand the Arrow Shooting Skill document to Colin.


    After pondering for a moment, he continued, "Take a look at the document... The Ignition Technique is quite interesting. After you finish, I''d like to hear your thoughts on it."


    "Alright, Instructor," Colin quickly agreed with a smile.


    Wizards valued equivalent exchange. Since Berkeley had asked him to explain the Ignition Technique, it meant he would also explain the Arrow Shooting Skill to him later.


    A First Class Apprentice''s explanation would certainly save him a lot of time in learning the basics of the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    Berkeley nodded affirmatively, then continued reading the Ignition Technique document.


    Colin also wasted no time and concentrated on reading the Arrow Shooting Skill document.


    He wanted to validate his hypothesis.


    He chose the Arrow Shooting Skill because the prerequisite knowledge section mainly listed knowledge about electromagnetism.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, perhaps with the ability of Golden Paper, he might be able to enhance it into an Electromagnetic Cannon!


    Of course, this was just a hope. To raise it to the level he imagined, the required Limit Breaking Points would surely be immense.


    Another hour nearly passed.


    Berkeley put down the document and spoke up first, "Leonard, have you finished?"


    "I have, Instructor," Colin answered.


    He let out a long breath and put down the document.


    Indeed, no spell was simple.


    "Very well, then I''ll start by explaining the Arrow Shooting Skill to you," Berkeley volunteered, then added, "It''s not suitable to cast it here. Follow me."


    He took the documents and stood, heading towards the door.


    Colin quickly picked up the Arrow Shooting Skill document and followed.


    The two walked to the staircase, descended two floors, and arrived at the basement.


    The basement was empty except for a dozen figures made of wood, stone, or iron on one side.


    They bore various marks of spell damage and were apparently specially made targets, indicating the area was a designated practice range.


    Berkeley went over to pick up a few crossbow arrows, skipped any preamble, and began to explain.


    "I''m not very proficient with the Electromagnetic System of witchcraft, but I can give you a basic explanation..."


    Colin listened intently.

 Chapter 16 - 16 Enlightenment

    Berkeley spent more than an hour talking about the principles, models, and demonstrations thoroughly.


    Colin felt he had taken a big step closer to successfully casting the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    "Thank you for your lecture, Instructor Banette¡ªI have gained a lot." He thanked earnestly.


    Berkeley did not say anything, just smiled.


    Following that, Colin began his explanation of the Limit Breaking Fire Technique.


    "...the Ignition Technique, in my opinion, is a variant of the Fire-making Skill, the main difference being that it can ignite from a distance."


    "As everyone knows, witchcraft that allows casting from a distance usually involves Spirit Mechanics, typically through the aid of spiritual power for positioning."


    "However, Wizard Apprentices cannot externalize spiritual power, so positioning through spiritual power is very challenging.


    The reason why the Ignition Technique can be accurately cast from a distance is not because it relies on spiritual power but on Spatial Positioning..."


    Colin spoke earnestly, and the knowledge involved in the Limit Breaking Fire Technique was not complex.


    Even Spatial Positioning only involved simple knowledge of three-dimensional coordinates and did not particularly exceed his rank, but was ingeniously conceived.


    Thus, he did not need to worry about appearing too outstanding.


    Likewise, Colin spent about an hour and a half before he finally finished explaining the Limit Breaking Fire Technique from start to finish.


    After listening to his explanation, Berkeley held the manuscript and fell into deep thought.


    Seconds later, accompanied by a burst of magic power fluctuation, a small orange flame suddenly appeared in front of him.


    It then disappeared unstably, and he shook his head but still had a smile on his face.


    He turned to Colin:


    "This witchcraft is very inspiring for me, you can also pick another skill from the previous witchcraft to take with you."


    Colin was startled and quickly expressed gratitude.


    The principle of equivalent exchange and the equal attitude from Berkeley were beyond his expectations.


    "...Secondary High Temperature Tolerance, Instructor Banette, I choose this." He pondered for a moment before making the decision.


    Defensive witchcraft could never be too numerous, and on the other hand, the Limit Breaking potential of Secondary High Temperature Tolerance might be considerable.


    "Good choice, fetch it yourself, Leonard," Berkeley nodded and continued to read the Ignition Technique manuscript, "Our trade ends here."


    "Alright, Instructor."


    After obtaining the manuscript, Colin hastily returned to the stone house in the Wizard Territory.


    On the way, his identity badge allowed him unimpeded passage.


    The white light sphere emitted by the Limit Breaking Light Brightness Skill provided him with adequate lighting... though it was somewhat draining on his magic power.


    By the time he arrived at the stone house, his magic power had been drained by more than half.


    In the following time, he continued his reclusive life, keeping to the same routine as before.


    Only, he reduced his practice of the Sunlight Breathing Method and spent more time on learning the new witchcraft¡ªSteel Armor, Arrow Shooting Skill, and Secondary High Temperature Tolerance.


    As for the Knight Combat Skill Radiance, having witnessed the power of strong witchcraft closely last time, he had decided to discard it.


    Knight Combat Skills were always just mere mortal strength.


    Perhaps continuously breaking limits with Golden Paper might reach the level of strong witchcraft.


    But if one had such abilities, why not directly enhance the witchcraft itself?


    Still, the Sunlight Breathing Method had to continue as it provided abundant energy, which was very beneficial.


    This, apart from breaking limits for the Circulation Meditation, Colin felt was the most cost-effective Limit Breaking Point he had used so far.


    Additionally, obtaining the Arrow Shooting Skill was an unexpected bonus and a reason he decided not to train in Radiance anymore.


    The original owner had left behind a book "General Basic Witchcraft for Apprentices."


    However, most of the witchcraft recorded in it were just tricks.


    Like the Fire-making Skill, Condensing Water Skill, Light Brightness Skill, only two were genuinely considered strong witchcraft.


    One was the Steel Armor, and the other was Mind Shock.


    These were two standard witchcraft for countering mortal Knights.


    The former allowed one to cover oneself with a solid layer of steel armor without any blind spots or burdens.


    The latter was the best witchcraft to use against mentally weak mortals, even Knights, as long as they were not Great Knights and didn''t have specialized protective Witch Tools.


    The result was not much different from mortals, being utterly helpless.


    At most, the difference was just being able to resist once or one and a half times more.


    But Mind Shock was not so effective against Wizards.


    In the same rank, at least eight attacks were required to inflict fatal damage.


    This was also one of the reasons he had initially chosen to learn knight combat skills.


    But now, with the Arrow Shooting Skill, his weakness in attacks was compensated for, and there was naturally no need to seek further.


    Another ten days had passed.


    In the Meditation Room, Colin Leonard slowly opened his eyes and exhaled the Golden Paper, gathering pale golden particles.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (75/100); Advanced Knight (81/100)]


    [Meditation Methods: Circulation Meditation for Apprentices I (15/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (35/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Fire-making Skill I (23/100); Condensing Water Skill Level I (18/100); Light Brightness Skill I (26/100); Steel Armor (2/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (1/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making I (100/100))]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 18]


    The progress in his rank had increased by a point, and Colin showed a satisfied smile, now needing only 25 days to advance.


    Additionally, yesterday he had successfully mastered the basics of the Arrow Shooting Skill, and the day before, he had just started on the Steel Armor.


    Berkeley''s explanation had been immensely beneficial; otherwise, even with the Golden Paper, it would have taken him at least ten more days or even half a month to grasp the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    As for Lesser High Temperature Tolerance and Mind Shock, he still hadn''t mastered their basics.


    Golden Paper allowed him consistent progress, but failure meant little progress while success meant more.


    Mastering witchcraft, especially powerful witchcraft, was not that easy.


    Moreover, his Limit Breaking Points had accumulated to 18.


    When he reached ten Limit Breaking Points, the symbol for Bright Crystal Making I, which had reached its limit, was surrounded by a golden outline.


    But Colin did not plan to break the limit again.


    On one hand, his Magic Stones were already sufficient.


    On the other, it was because this afternoon, when he went to sell crystals,


    the shop owner who purchased Magic Crystals specifically told him that after this batch, he would not buy Bright Crystals for a while.


    The reason given was market saturation.


    Colin believed this partially.


    Magic Crystals were indeed not cheap consumer goods; even the cheapest Light Bright Crystals were usually only affordable by half of the Basic Level Wizard Apprentices, and the total number of wizards on the island was not large, so a market saturation of Light Bright Crystals was possible.


    He also deliberately left some Light Bright Crystals at the market stall until sundown, but indeed, none were sold.


    The market was indeed not as hot as before.


    But Light Bright Crystals were, after all, consumable, and market saturation was only temporary.


    The shop owner''s refusal, however, was somewhat too decisive...


    "Maybe someone''s interests have been touched."


    Colin realized, sighed, and stood up, walking to the window facing the sea. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The gentle sea breeze brushed through his hair, over his shoulders, his cheeks, also calming his heart further.


    He realized that he had not played with his phone or accessed the internet for a long time.


    Making Bright Crystals, studying new witchcraft, practicing the Sunlight Breathing Method, meditation... His daily schedule was packed.


    The only thing that could be considered entertainment was perhaps leaning by this window, enjoying the sea breeze, observing the scenery.


    "...All this started because of the pressure of a three-month countdown."


    "But later... why did it continue?"


    Colin gently exhaled.


    In his ears echoed the suppressed cries of a grieving woman holding her baby, and the foul smell of meat seemed to linger at his nostrils. The shop owner''s words of refusal also resonated in his mind...


    And that night, Erica''s decisive expression...


    He lifted his palm, and the moonlight, like flowing water, gathered in his open palm.


    His fingers closed into a fist...


    He did not catch any moonlight.


    But the defined muscles of his forearm, the strong feeling as he clenched, the Magic Power circulating continuously through his body... all these brought him a profound sense of reassurance.


    He gradually understood¡ª


    If he wanted to live happily in this world,


    then power was the only thing he should pursue!

 Chapter 17 - 17 Invitation

    The moon was high in the sky when Colin finished arranging his plans and went back to his room to rest.


    Another week went by.


    In the stone house.


    Colin sat on the edge of the bed, lifting his left hand and then grasping the Knight Sword that lay beside him with his right hand, tentatively making a cut on his left palm.


    The metal blade brushed across the center of his palm, yet it remained unharmed!


    He pressed the tip of the sword against his palm, gradually increasing the force, the skin on his palm constantly indented.


    It was not until he applied the strength of an average adult male that Colin started to feel a slight stinging pain.


    He stopped trying and closed his eyes to feel the Life Energy within his body that was completely different from Magic Power.


    Just then, he had successfully broken through to Great Knight.


    The Life Seed inside him first shattered into surging Blood Energy, spontaneously circulating and transforming his body.


    This process lasted for two hours.


    During this period, he not only coughed up a large amount of thick, yellow phlegm and excreted an unspeakable amount of filth, but he also sweated foully impure sweat, shedding a layer of skin!


    After that, the surging Blood Energy recollected into a mass in his chest.


    From then on, Blood Energy could be manipulated at will, and he also gained a new ability¡ªBlood Energy Armor.


    When Blood Energy covered his skin, it formed an invisible armor.


    After several attempts, Colin roughly understood the strength of the Blood Energy Armor.


    It was roughly equivalent to wearing a layer of cowhide armor, a notch weaker than witchcraft Steel Armor in terms of physical attack protection, but it had a certain ability to resist spirit attacks.


    All in all, it was quite good.


    Of course, what made him happiest was the increase in his life expectancy after the breakthrough.


    The Sunlight Breathing Technique was biased towards enhancing vigor, and since vigor was naturally related to Life Force, he surmised that he should be among those who increased their lifespan the most.


    Based on the general lifespan range of 130 to 150 years for a Great Knight, he estimated that he could live to at least 145 years old.


    145 years was a very long time; for some with shorter lives, it might already have been enough for three reincarnations.


    Just as Colin lay in bed, temporarily relaxing and daydreaming, there came a sudden series of urgent knocks at the door.


    "Who is it?"


    Colin straightened up and walked to the door to ask.


    "It''s me, Charlie."


    The familiar voice came through.


    Colin was somewhat surprised; the last time he had declined Charlie''s recruitment, Charlie had said he would come to find him again.


    But in reality, after that, he had never seen Charlie again... he thought Charlie had given up on recruiting him.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then opened the door.


    Charlie stood outside with a smile, with Owen and Hayward still by his side.


    "Long time no see, Charlie. Do you need something?" Colin asked calmly.


    "Long time no see, Colin." Charlie greeted warmly, "After all this time, have you made up your mind?"


    Before Colin could respond, Charlie continued as he took an invitation from Owen''s hands:


    "Don''t rush to answer me, I know you still have some doubts about the news I told you."


    He stuffed the invitation into Colin''s hand.


    "Tomorrow night at eight, all those who have not joined the Mutual Assistance Association will be there."


    "At that time, I will present solid evidence to prove the things I''ve told you."


    He patted Colin''s shoulder.


    "After you see the evidence, tell me what you think."


    Having said that, he departed without delay, as if he still had to visit another Apprentice.


    The trio''s figures slowly disappeared into the distance.


    Colin closed the door, looking at the brown invitation in his hand. After a moment of thought, he shook his head, casually set the invitation on fire, and tossed it into the kitchen stove beside him.


    Despite being very curious about the evidence Charlie mentioned, he would not risk it.


    ***


    ***


    ***


    The following evening,


    inside a residence in Blackstone City,


    Charlie sat at the head of the room and looked towards Owen, who stood at the door, seeking confirmation through gaze.


    "No one else is coming." Owen shook his head, his lean face creased with concern.


    "Close the door," Charlie instructed emotionlessly.


    With a creak, the heavy wooden door closed, and Charlie turned to survey the five apprentices before him.


    "Where''s the evidence you spoke of, Charlie?" one of the male apprentices asked impatiently, arms crossed over his chest.


    Charlie had invited them over but had not spoken a word, leaving them in the dark about his intentions.


    Charlie did not respond; instead, he respectfully opened a secret door on the wall behind him.


    A middle-aged man in a black robe stepped slowly out of the shadows.


    "You''ve done well, Charlie," he said coolly, and with a wave of his right hand, an invisible barrier enveloped the entire house.


    The male apprentice lost his impatient demeanor instantly, and the queries came to an abrupt halt. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even a fool could sense something was amiss now!


    "How dare you, Charlie?!" another female apprentice couldn''t help but shout.


    Another male apprentice decisively began casting.


    The middle-aged wizard chuckled softly, paused, and quietly watched the apprentice casting.


    Seconds later, a ball of Magic Power gathered in the hands of the male apprentice, only to dissipate forcefully.


    Charlie gave a subtle signal.


    Haywood, who had been waiting, quickly stepped forward upon receiving the look, and firmly held down the male apprentice.


    The Basic Level Knight''s strength was useless against him.


    "Stop your futile struggle; you won''t be able to cast witchcraft here," Charlie advised the rest of the apprentices calmly.


    "We are forbidden to harm each other; that''s the School''s rule! Aren''t you afraid of the School''s blame, Charlie?" the male apprentice pinned against the brown table shouted.


    Charlie ignored him, turned respectfully to take a brown animal skin parchment from the middle-aged wizard, and walked towards the male apprentice with an expressionless face, murmuring,


    "Don''t worry, none of you will die, and the School... will find out nothing."


    The apprentices'' complexions paled; never had they imagined facing danger on the island, given their identities from the Lap School.


    Even though they would be expelled from the School in a month.


    Now, it seemed someone dared to challenge the authority of the School on the island...


    Half an hour later.


    "... Then I''ll return to the School first, sir." Charlie spoke with deference.


    Haywood and Owen, as well as the other apprentices, stood silently behind him.


    "Go ahead," the middle-aged wizard commanded calmly, "I recall you mentioned there was one apprentice you''ve yet to deal with..."


    "Within two days, sir, I will have it taken care of," Charlie hurriedly replied, his tone serious, "By my account, even if he doesn''t believe it in his heart, he will leave some traces."


    "Although... I don''t know why he didn''t come this time and didn''t give me a chance to show the evidence.


    But now, all other apprentices have joined the Mutual Assistance Association. I believe if I visit him with the other apprentices, we will definitely succeed!"


    "After all, joining the Mutual Assistance Association is all to his benefit; he has no reason not to join!"


    "Hmm¡­ You may go back, and remember not to slip up."


    "And be prepared; in a week, I will assist you in advancing."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Charlie answered again with respect, a hint of joy flickering in his eyes.

 Chapter 18 - 18: A Visit

    The orange-yellow fireball gradually emerged from the water''s surface, tinting the azure sea a crimson red, reflected in Colin''s eyes.


    In a daze, he even thought it wasn''t the sea but rather molten, scalding iron.


    Colin withdrew his gaze, put the bowl from which he had eaten breakfast and the wooden chopsticks he had made himself into the kitchen.


    Lately, every morning at breakfast time, he would lean against the window with his food in hand, admiring the sunrise in the distance.


    Although it was the same time and the same place each day, the view of sunrise was always changing.


    In the kitchen, the iron pot on the clay stove was boiling with water.


    After cooking on the stove, he always scooped a few ladles of water into it, partly to protect the bottom of the pot from getting burned by the embers and partly to provide hot water for washing dishes.


    In this world, there was no dish soap, so to get the dishes clean, hot water was still necessary.


    Just as Colin was about to scoop water to wash the dishes, a sudden and intense knocking came from outside the door.


    He put the wooden ladle aside, wiped his hands on a cloth, and went to open the door.


    The wooden door creaked open, and immediately before him stood Charlie and two others.


    Crowded behind them was a ring of apprentices.


    Jeff, Mia, Carissa, Kate...


    Colin raised an eyebrow. Had all the apprentices from his cohort come?


    ''They''ve all joined the Mutual Assistance Association? Could the evidence Charlie mentioned be true?''


    ''...But what are they doing here now? Could it be that they want me to join the association? But am I that important?''


    "Colin¡ª" The lead, Charlie, spoke first, his tone sincere and gentle.


    "All the apprentices from our cohort, except for Erica who went to the Dark Forest, have joined the Mutual Assistance Association."


    "I''ve come to continue inviting you to join the association."


    "Although I don''t know why you didn''t come yesterday, why you didn''t give me a chance to prove myself."


    Charlie continued, pointing to the apprentices huddled behind him:


    "But look, if what I said was false, why would they choose to join the association..."


    "As classmates who have lived together for nearly ten years, I sincerely want to unite everyone, and I truly want to help you."


    "We need your strength as well, Colin!"


    "Yeah, Colin, join us," the other apprentices chimed in from behind.


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Colin''s face.


    ''It seems... what Charlie said might indeed be true...''


    A confident smile played across Charlie''s face.


    ''You have no reason to not join, Colin.''


    But his smile quickly froze.


    Colin still shook his head:


    "...Sorry, Charlie, it''s not that I don''t want to join, I just don''t want to rush it. There''s still a month and a half before the three-month deadline, isn''t it?"


    Charlie''s expression was sincere; if what he said was true, it might really be in Colin''s best interest.


    But Colin truly didn''t need to join some so-called Mutual Assistance Association.


    According to his current progress, he would be able to break through to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice in just half a month.


    "Colin, the sooner you join the association, the sooner everyone can accumulate power... you might not know, I''ve obtained a group witchcraft. The more people we have, the more power we can gather... and practicing witchcraft takes time," Charlie continued to explain.


    His smile returned to his face.


    He had anticipated this response and was prepared for it.


    Colin furrowed his brows in thought.


    Charlie quietly watched Colin, waiting for his response.


    "...Sorry, Charlie," he pondered for a moment, then continued to decline, "I plan to try one more time, I might advance."


    These were his true thoughts, but to Charlie, they clearly seemed evasive, and anger flared in his heart.


    The other apprentices standing behind him also grew angry, with some even making sarcastic remarks:


    "He doesn''t even consider his own talent; he could at least find a credible excuse."


    "Hey, Colin! You''re too selfish! It''s clearly good for you and everyone else!"


    Charlie''s brows furrowed tightly, he did not speak but merely sighed and shook his head at Wood behind him.


    Wood sneered, baring his white teeth.


    Colin''s pupils shrank slightly, sensing trouble.


    ''Why!?"


    He quickly stepped back and forcefully shut the door.


    Bang!


    The newly closed wooden door was violently struck, making a loud noise.


    Colin, while casting Steel Armor, walked over to the wooden cabinet holding his bee stinger, his adrenaline secreted and causing his heart to beat slightly faster.


    He hadn''t expected Charlie to turn against him just like that, simply because he refused to join... and didn''t he care about the opinions of the other apprentices?!


    A few seconds later, a flash of white light streaked by, and a layer of invisible armor enveloped his entire body.


    At the same time, he also pulled the bee stinger from its sheath, gripping it in his hand.


    Bang!!


    The wooden door shook violently and in the next second was knocked to the ground, the boards falling amidst a cloud of dust on the floor.


    Haywood entered with a sinister smile, his large and robust body blocking out the sunlight that should have shone in through the doorway.


    He looked contemptuously at Colin, who was holding a Knight Sword.


    From the way Colin held his sword, it was clear he hadn''t learned any Knight Combat Skills.


    If Colin had started chanting a spell now, Haywood might be somewhat wary, but a physical fight with him... that was like a moth to a flame!


    Even so, he cautiously drew the steel giant sword he''d been carrying on his back.


    Colin''s pupils dilated slightly; although they hadn''t started fighting yet, the giant sword Haywood was wielding must weigh at least fifty pounds.


    Just from that, it was clear his Knight Level must not be low!


    Whoosh!!


    Without giving Colin time to think, Haywood took a fierce step forward and swung his sword diagonally at Colin, aiming for his sword-bearing right hand.


    Members of the School were not allowed to harm each other seriously, and Haywood held back a bit of his strength.


    Clang!


    The bee stinger clashed with the giant sword, emitting a crisp metallic sound.


    Haywood stepped back half a step, his expression full of surprise and doubt, and his giant sword had been indented by the bee stinger.


    Meanwhile, Colin stood in place, slightly rotating his right wrist, feeling a little relieved.


    He could tell that Haywood hadn''t used his full strength.


    But judging from the force that had been transmitted, even though Haywood had held back, he was at most at the peak of the Knight Level, and had not reached the level of a Great Knight.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so easy for him, lacking any Combat Skills, to block that sword.


    At that moment, Charlie also entered and his expression changed upon seeing the result of their exchange.


    With a thought, he swiftly launched an Air Missile at Colin at high speed.


    Colin''s heart skipped a beat, and he tried to dodge to the side.


    But Haywood seized the opportunity, raising his giant sword to strike at him!


    In the heat of the moment, Colin couldn''t resist and had to endure a heavy slanted blow.


    Thud!!


    Colin staggered from the hit and crashed into the wall.


    The Knight Breathing Method that Haywood practiced must have focused on strength, making that slanted blow extremely fierce!


    Although he was not hurt thanks to his Steel Armor and the inherent Blood Energy protection of a Great Knight, he looked quite disheveled.


    But Charlie was even more shocked than him.


    "...Steel Armor and the rank of a Great Knight." He had a fluctuating expression, "It seems we have underestimated... Ah!"


    Before he could finish speaking, a blinding burst of White Light suddenly exploded!


    It caused both him and Haywood to temporarily lose their sight, forcing them to hurriedly retreat.


    Colin stood up but didn''t rush to attack. Instead, he pulled out a pair of homemade crystal sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.


    Immediately after, a bright white orb of light hovered in front of his chest.


    Haywood, whose vision had just slightly recovered, couldn''t look directly at Colin due to the dazzling light and had to quickly pull Charlie back to retreat. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin pursued Haywood with long strides.


    Ever since the Light Brightness Skill had proven effective in a surprise attack against a Polluter after a Limit Breaking, he had often pondered other uses for it.


    This tactic of emitting a strong light while wearing sunglasses was a new application he had figured out.


    With the intense light disrupting the enemy, they couldn''t look directly at him, let alone see his moves clearly.


    Obviously, this was highly effective in close combat.


    Colin, holding a thin sword, stabbed toward Charlie''s shoulder. Just like Haywood and others didn''t dare to harm his life, he also didn''t dare to strike lethally.


    Thrust!


    The sharp tip of the sword pierced into flesh, but Colin looked surprised.


    He slowly withdrew the bee stinger from Haywood''s body.


    This strong black man had actually taken the initiative to block a sword for Charlie at the critical moment!

 Chapter 19 - 19: Confinement

    "When did those two get so close?"


    Colin watched Haywood, who was expressionless even as he clutched his stabbed right shoulder, and Charlie, shielded behind his robust figure, and couldn''t help but think crookedly.


    Charlie, obviously unaware of his indecent thoughts, finally recovered from the blindness and looked somewhat angry as he shouted outside:


    "Owen, bring everyone else in!"


    Colin furrowed his brows, a rush of thoughts crossing his mind. Although he was not afraid of being outnumbered, it wasn''t easy to hold his own without using lethal force, especially since he had no combat skills.


    "Looks like I have to avoid the brunt for now."


    He turned off his Light Brightness Skill and retreated towards the window.


    "What''s happening here?" Just then, a middle-aged man in a wizard robe walked in from the doorway, his silver badge on his chest shining brightly.


    He must be a Second Class Apprentice of the Wizard Territory Patrol Team.


    Colin stopped and started to explain the situation.


    However, Charlie was one step ahead of him, speaking to the Second Class Apprentice of the patrol team:


    "It''s nothing, sir, we were just sparring."


    "Is that so?"


    The Second Class Apprentice cast an inquiring look at Colin. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin paused for a moment, then decisively said, "They attacked me without any reason, sir."


    The Second Class Apprentice raised his eyebrow.


    "You''re slandering!" At that moment, the thin Owen burst in from outside.


    He looked at Colin and then feigned anger: "It was you who stole Charlie''s sword! That''s why we came to find you, you habitual criminal!"


    A surge of anger rose in Colin''s chest as he said in a deep voice:


    "The sword was bought by myself in town, sir, I can confront the shop owner."


    "That sword is clearly not ordinary; how could you afford it! Charlie was a Prince before coming here, and the sword was clearly his personal weapon!"


    "Sir, if you don''t believe me, ask the apprentices outside."


    Owen''s voice was loud enough to carry outside.


    And indeed, the outside voices chimed in in agreement: "Yes, sir, we can all testify!"


    Hearing this, the Second Class Apprentice frowned at Colin, skepticism evident on his face.


    Colin''s heart sank.


    "Have all those apprentices been brainwashed by Charlie? Why are they all speaking for him?"


    "Sir, I can find the shop owner to ¡­" he quickly tried to explain.


    "Enough!" The middle-aged Second Class Apprentice frowned and interrupted Colin, "I don''t care what the reason is, fighting is forbidden within the school, come with me to the confinement room."


    "Sir, they are framing¡ª"


    "Enough, you three," the Second Class Apprentice waved his hand, interrupting Colin again, then looked at Owen standing at the doorway, "and you, come with me to the confinement room."


    Charlie''s expression changed drastically; he tried to remain calm:


    "Sir! We were really just sparring¡ª"


    Buzz¡ª


    Semi-transparent ropes suddenly appeared on the four of them, binding them and momentarily sealing Charlie''s mouth.


    "I don''t like to repeat myself, now, come with me to the confinement room."


    Whoosh!


    As soon as he finished speaking, the semi-transparent ropes swiftly disappeared, and the Second Class Apprentice turned and walked toward the door.


    Charlie couldn''t help coughing a few times, his head lowered and his expression gloomy.


    Colin, however, didn''t feel particularly disturbed; he hadn''t removed his steel armor, and, being a Great Knight, he always wore armor, so the semi-transparent ropes hadn''t actually constricted him.


    He sighed, took off his sunglasses, and followed the Second Class Apprentice.


    At this point, confinement was inevitable.


    The Lap School generally did not encourage malicious strife among its members. After all, if members of the same power were fighting each other, how could such a power develop and grow?


    But the school also didn''t have too many specific regulations in place¡ªjust a red line that life shouldn''t be harmed.


    So, the punishment for such an actual brawl was generally based on the patrol team member''s discretion.


    And the Second Class Apprentice they encountered clearly disliked trouble.


    ...


    Ten minutes later, Colin and the others were brought to the confinement room.


    This was a row of small stone houses on the north side of the residential area.


    They were intermittently locked up.


    The confinement room had no windows, just a vent on one side of the ceiling that was also opaque.


    Bang!


    The iron door shut tightly, and the room immediately fell into darkness.


    Hum¡ª


    A soft white light emanated from Colin''s hand.


    He carried several Bright Crystals made of pure crystal.


    Bright Crystals made from pure crystal provided longer illumination, about 8 hours, and could be recharged around 30 times.


    Of course, they were also more expensive.


    With the white light, Colin could see the layout of the room.


    To the left was a wooden bed with only a straw mat on it, which looked relatively clean.


    To its right was a small earthen stove, and a toilet was placed at the foot of the bed.


    Being put in the Confinement Room wasn''t too severe a punishment; it was more like being sent to a different place for ascetic practice.


    Apart from not being able to leave and the absence of windows, life here wasn''t much different from being at home, including cooking for oneself.


    Personal belongings were not confiscated.


    Colin remembered being here before, back during his early adolescence.


    At that time, scuffles among children were inevitable.


    If the injuries weren''t too severe, confinement was often the punishment.


    A Second Class Apprentice had told them before leaving that the confinement would last ten days.


    ''Not too long a time; consider it closed-door training, especially since Bright Crystals aren''t selling well nowadays...''


    Colin leaped up and placed the Bright Crystal on the beam.


    Then, he tidied up the room briefly and continued with his usual study and cultivation routine.


    *


    *


    *


    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Though each day was full, Colin still felt somewhat haggard.


    He dismissed his earlier thoughts that it was almost the same.


    Life indeed hadn''t changed much, except that he couldn''t view scenery or sell crystals.


    Yet for some reason, everything felt different.


    One could say¡­ sometimes not being able to leave and choosing not to leave might look the same on the surface.


    But psychologically, they were entirely different concepts.


    But now, at last, the tenth day had arrived.


    He took down the Bright Crystal from the beam and placed it beside the bed.


    Sitting on the bed, with a thought, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    Pale gold particles converged.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (95/100); Great Knight (11/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation I (25/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (60/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Fire-making Skill I (40/100); Condensing Water Skill I (30/100); Light Brightness Skill I (45/100); Cleaning Technique (1/100); Steel Armor (50/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (50/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making I¡ü (100/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 18]


    Colin exhaled slowly.


    Finally, in five more days, the journey of a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice would reach its limit.


    ''I wonder if it''s like with Knights, without a bottleneck, and I can advance directly.''


    Creak¡ª


    Just then, the wooden door slowly opened, and the dazzling sunlight streamed in.


    Colin squinted his eyes involuntarily and extinguished the Bright Crystal.


    "Ten days are up, you can leave now," said the Second Class Apprentice standing at the door, indifferently.


    Although the confinement had been tough, it had avoided accidents.


    Colin''s heart stirred suddenly.


    But the next second, he looked up to meet the Second Class Apprentice''s cold expression, felt a chill in his heart, and quickly suppressed any further thoughts.


    He knew that just advancing wasn''t enough; he had to report to the Central Castle...


    The Second Class Apprentice in front of him was not easy to talk to, and if he delayed...


    "Understood, sir," he responded softly.

 Chapter 20 - 20: Preparing for Both Hands

    Colin stepped out of the Confinement Room into the blue sky and white clouds.


    The gentle sea breeze brushed past his face, lightly stirring his shoulder-length golden hair.


    He stretched his neck and shoulders, feeling exhilarated.


    But soon, he wiped the smile off his face.


    Charlie and his group from the confinement room on the left had just walked out.


    Charlie''s face was gloomy and worn, and with a fierce glare at Colin, he said nothing else, quickly gesturing for Haywood and Owen to leave with him.


    It seemed they were heading down the mountain.


    Colin stood back and watched the three of them walk away, a sense of puzzlement rising in his heart.


    During the ten days in the Confinement Room, he had pondered more than once why Charlie had suddenly turned against him.


    He repeated Charlie''s words over and over in his mind, always sensing something was amiss.


    Although the general idea seemed plausible, there were details that couldn''t be explained, even outright inconsistencies.


    For example, if what Charlie said was true, that a certain power enslaved Lap School''s rejected Apprentices in the settlement below, it must be a highly secretive matter. How did he come to know of it?


    So Colin had always felt there was something strange about it.


    Moreover, the way Charlie used violence to coerce him into joining the Mutual Assistance Association only increased this strange feeling.


    But in truth, if he hadn''t been confident about advancing, he really didn''t need to join the Association.


    The day Charlie invited him to see the evidence, he should have gone to check it out.


    Even ten days prior, when Charlie brought a group of people to extend the invitation again, he had actually believed Charlie''s words, considering so many people were there to testify for him.


    He simply didn''t need to join the Mutual Assistance Association, so he had no choice but to refuse.


    Yet, he always maintained a gentle tone.


    He thought that by refusing this time, Charlie might be angry, but that would be all.


    After all, Charlie could simply wait until three months later when Colin lost hope of advancing and had no reason to refuse, having experienced the harshness of the outside settlements himself, and then come to recruit him.


    Perhaps by then, he would even come forward on his own initiative... if the outside situation was really as dire as Charlie claimed.


    Yet, Charlie suddenly acted forcefully, as if he had to recruit him before the three-month deadline.


    ''To practice group witchcraft ahead of time, the more people, the more strength...'' Colin shook his head; this explanation from Charlie felt rather contrived.


    But all of that was none of his concern now.


    He walked back to his stone house with light steps.


    ''Just five more days until I advance. Whatever plot Charlie and his people have, by then I''ll be in a different world from them.''


    ***


    ***


    ***


    Inside a wooden house in Blackstone City.


    Charlie and his two companions knelt on the floor, their expressions filled with panic.


    "My lord, I never thought that despite so many testimonies, he still wouldn''t want to join us... so I thought to forcibly take him to you. But I didn''t expect the Patrol Team to show up."


    Though he said this, Charlie had come to understand afterward.


    The Patrol Team had probably come to check because they saw so many Apprentices gathered together.


    But he didn''t feel that his method was the problem, only that Colin was a haughty and arrogant aberration, always looking down on others, foolishly dreaming of advancing.


    He had already tried persuading, yet to be rejected still¡ªthat was simply incomprehensible!


    And... he had not expected Colin to possess such profound strength.


    The cabin was eerily silent; you could hear a pin drop, and Charlie and others couldn''t help but break out in a fine sweat on their foreheads.


    The middle-aged man, dressed in a black wizard robe, leaned quietly on a recliner, his black hood casting a shadow over his pale face, obscuring his expression.


    It was after a long while that he finally spoke slowly,


    "Do you think his claim that he can advance is true or false?"


    "Of course it''s false. No one from our group can advance in these three months!" Charlie replied subconsciously.


    "Then why... doesn''t he join you?"


    Charlie felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and his complexion gradually turned pale.


    He had never considered such a possibility... but if Colin was truly confident in advancing successfully, then everything would make sense.


    Colin had been refusing him all this time, not even coming to see the evidence, and even when being invited with so many people in tow, he still refused...


    It was all because he believed he could advance within three months!


    Charlie''s face grew increasingly unsightly.


    Such an event had occurred before; in the previous group, there was an apprentice who just happened to advance to the Intermediate level in ten years and just managed to stay at the school...


    "How much do you think he can guess?" the wizard in the black robe continued to ask.


    Tiny beads of sweat gathered on Charlie''s face and began to fall in large droplets, splashing faintly on the floor.


    The wizard in the black robe sighed.


    "Put off your advancement for now... you may go," he waved his hand, then seemed to remember something, and continued to instruct Charlie,


    "By the way, bring the apprentice from last time... I think her name was... Mia, over here."


    If things were as he thought, that apprentice would be able to continue staying at the Lap School.


    Allowing Charlie to advance now would clearly be inappropriate and too risky.


    He had to come up with an alternative plan.


    He hoped it was just his overthinking... forcefully advancing a Basic Level apprentice to the Middle Level wouldn''t be easy.


    Among this batch of students, only Charlie and Mia from the previous group met the criteria.


    If Charlie didn''t cut it, they''d have to invest resources again to cultivate Mia.


    ''Perhaps dealing with that apprentice is the best solution,'' thought the wizard in the black robe.


    But it wasn''t easy to carry out; as long as that student remained in the Wizard Territory for the coming period, he would be powerless and would have to rely on Charlie and the others to act.


    Based on Charlie''s description... the Great Knight''s physique plus the steel armor made it impossible for them to handle the apprentice without causing a significant commotion.


    And to be cautious, he could not give Charlie any tools for assistance.


    ...In that case, it''s better not to bother with that apprentice now; there are already more than thirty of them¡ªenough to suffice.


    He couldn''t help but rub his furrowed brow and looked up to see Charlie still standing there; he hesitated for a moment before urging,


    "You may leave if there''s nothing else. Hurry up and bring Mia here, Charlie."


    "...Yes, sir," Charlie''s lips moved as if he wanted to say more, but he ultimately bowed his head and left.


    On the way back, Charlie''s face was expressionless, but his mind was churning with thoughts.


    He had figured out the wizard in the black robe''s intentions and also sensed that he didn''t want him to continue to approach Colin, to avoid revealing more information. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''But how could I agree to that? It''s going to be me who advances to the Intermediate level and stays at the school!'' he roared silently in his heart.


    Then he glanced at Hayward and Owen, who were following beside him, showing no emotion on his face.


    Although these two completely followed his commands, their true master was always the wizard in the black robe.

 Chapter 21 - 21: The Whistling Arrow

    On the other side, Colin was cleaning the stone house.


    Ten days without occupants had allowed a thin layer of dust to accumulate.


    Fortunately, he had also learned the Cleaning Technique, and although he couldn''t cast it instantly, it was sufficient for cleaning purposes.


    Soon, under the effect of the Cleaning Technique, the inside of the house became tidy again.


    But Colin still had a headache.


    He looked at the brown wooden door panel lying on the floor at the entrance and sighed.


    It had been broken by Hayward last time and had been left there ever since.


    It was the same as before his confinement.


    Nothing had been stolen from home because there was nothing valuable inside, and what was valuable was locked further inside in the Meditation Room.


    It was just giving him a bit of a headache.


    You see, he didn''t know how to repair doors, nor did he have the appropriate tools.


    "It looks like I''ll have to wait until the beginning of the month when the living supplies are delivered to ask for help with repairs," thought Colin.


    But he quickly shook his head and chuckled softly.


    "Perhaps I won''t even wait that long."


    There was still a week left until the end of the month, and he only needed five days to advance, after which he would no longer be living here.


    After a moment of thought, Colin propped up the door panel and supported it with a stick, barely blocking the doorway.


    That would have to do.


    After all, if someone really wanted to, this wooden door wouldn''t stop them.


    He walked over to the window facing the sea and leaned against it.


    During his confinement, he had suddenly realized that leaning by the window and watching the sea had inadvertently become a habit he couldn''t let go of.


    The sky was azure; the sea was equally azure; white clouds were in the sky and also reflected in the sea; he felt the touch of the sea breeze and found it refreshingly clear.


    "I hope the place I live in afterwards will also have a sea view... and if there''s a balcony, that would be best," he thought to himself.


    *


    *


    *


    Five days flew by in the blink of an eye.


    In the Meditation Room, Colin slowly opened his eyes, and his gray Wizard Robe fluttered without any wind.


    With a thought, pale gold particles gathered.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (1/100); Great Knight (19/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Circulation Meditation Level I (25/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (60/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Ignition Technique I (52/100); Condensing Water Skill Level 1 (41/100); Light Brightness Skill I (54/100); Cleaning Technique (26/100); Steel Armor (60/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (60/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making I¡ü (100/100))]


    [Limit Breaking Points: 18]


    The curve of his mouth gradually widened, and Colin smiled silently.


    After a while, when he had calmed his emotions, he had another thought.


    Instantly, a white light flashed as an invisible armor covered his entire body.


    The Steel Armor and Arrow Shooting Skill had been advanced by him to 60/100 during this time, meaning he could cast them instantly.


    Colin carefully felt the changes after his advancement.


    Moments later, he removed the Steel Armor and then picked up an arrow that he had bought earlier, aimed at the target made of kitchen firewood in the corner of the Meditation Room, and used the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    The metal arrow shot out swiftly and with a clang, embedded itself in the wood!


    He did this with every witchcraft skill he knew, and finally came to a conclusion.


    The most direct sensation after advancing was the increase in Magic Power; his body now had at least five times more Magic Power than he did at the Basic Level.


    Even having cast all the witchcraft he knew once over, he had used up only a tenth of his Magic Power.


    Moreover, although he was casting the same witchcraft, it was noticeably stronger than at the Basic Level.


    This was not hard to understand: Advancing was like changing the core, and although it was the same witchcraft being run, the output power was entirely different, and naturally, so was the effect.


    ......


    The next day, dawn broke gently.


    Colin got up early, packed his things, and prepared to report his advancement to the Central Castle.


    The weather wasn''t great today; looking out, the sky was overcast with clouds, and it looked like it would rain soon.


    The Wizard Territory was overall a square, with a huge castle in the middle where the Wizard Lap lived. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Usually, those who advanced would report to the instructor on duty on the first floor of the castle.


    The Basic Level Apprentice residential area, however, was on the edge of the Wizard Territory, about a ten-minute walk from the Central Castle.


    Colin did not know what arrangements would come after his advancement, so this time he did not hurry to pack everything. He just took the bee sting and some metal arrows for self-defense.


    Walking on the road, the residential area was still deserted. The stone houses here were not built densely, and there were quite a few of them¡ªprobably around two to three hundred.


    But now there were likely fewer than one hundred people living here, most of whom were busy studying and cultivating.


    Thus, it was common to walk on the street without seeing a single soul.


    Colin strode quickly along the main road in the middle of the residential area.


    As he passed an alleyway, his footsteps couldn''t help but pause for a moment.


    "This seems to be the alley where Jeff was beaten up last time."


    The thought of Charlie''s unusual behavior crossed his mind, and he contemplated going in for a look.


    But soon, he shook his head and decided to keep moving forward.


    Swoosh!


    Just then, a sharp whistling sound suddenly came from behind!


    Colin''s pupils shrank, and in the nick of time, he violently leaped to the right, while with a thought, he activated his Steel Armor.


    Bang!!


    However, the incoming arrow flew with such speed that even a Great Knight''s agility could not fully evade it.


    The arrow grazed the outside of his left arm, and the half-formed translucent Steel Armor flickered violently before ultimately shattering,


    The arrow''s residual power even broke through the Great Knight''s Blood Energy Armor, leaving a shallow wound on the skin of his arm.


    While activating the Steel Armor again, Colin turned around to look.


    Behind him was an empty stretch, only neatly arranged stone houses on both sides... no person, no follow-up attack.


    He suddenly felt a sense of foreboding and hastily inspected the wound on his left arm.


    The wound was not deep, and fresh blood was slowly oozing out, a normal bright red.


    Colin breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment, a wave of dizziness abruptly overwhelmed him!


    His complexion changed drastically, a flood of thoughts raced through his mind, and with a flicker in his eyes, he collapsed heavily onto the muddy ground.


    The sky was covered with dense clouds, the air oppressive, and apart from the wind, the world was silent.


    It was unknown how long it had been.


    Charlie slowly emerged from an alley, holding a now-useless crossbow.


    He looked at Colin lying on the ground, a surge of exhilaration rising in his heart.


    He had waited a full five days, finally catching Colin as he left his home.


    Had it not been for the crossbow having only one shot, making an in-room attack less likely to succeed, he would have preferred a direct in-room assault.


    He carefully stored away the now-useless crossbow, feeling somewhat pained.


    That crossbow had cost him over twenty magic stones!


    Most of the magic stones he had scrounged from other apprentices had been spent on this.


    However, as long as he could successfully take Colin to the master, it would be worth it!


    This one-use "Sleep Crossbow" needed only to hit its target, and even a graze could plunge a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice into deep slumber.


    To counter Colin''s Steel Armor, he had even had a Sharp Rune inscribed on it... now it seemed all to be worthwhile.


    Charlie quickened his steps to approach; he did not want to be discovered by the Patrol Team like last time.


    Whoosh!


    A sound of air being torn passed through!


    Puchi!!


    Charlie instantly lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud.


    He looked at the large hole pierced through his knee, then at Colin, his face in disbelief.


    It took him a moment to clutch his right leg, groaning in pain.


    "Did it shoot off-target..."


    Colin frowned slightly, slowly propping himself up against the wall.


    His original aim was for the chest... but hitting the knee was acceptable.


    After all, his head was still spinning; hitting the target was not easy.


    He looked at Charlie on the ground, hesitating for a moment, then retracted the arrow he had prepared to finish him off and switched to a noise arrow the seller had included as a bonus.


    Holding it in hand, he pointed it skyward and activated the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    Wheeze!!


    The noise arrow friction with the air produced a piercing sound.


    Charlie''s face gradually turned ashen, and sweat beads formed on his forehead.


    He thought of running away but simply could not stand.


    He wanted to counterattack, but intense pain prevented him from using witchcraft... besides, Air Missile was no match for Colin''s Steel Armor defense.


    Soon enough, a figure in gray robes quickly approached Colin from the distance, a golden badge on his chest sparkling in the light.

 Chapter 22 - 22 Guard Team

    "Instructor, the situation went like this."


    Colin fought back dizziness to recount the incident to the gray-robed Instructor standing by his side.


    Charlie, who was beside him, seemed to have given up struggling, sitting in the same spot with a defeated look on his face.


    The gray-robed Instructor nodded expressionlessly and beckoned with his left hand, summoning the arrow that had injured Colin from afar into his hand.


    He then summoned the arrow that had penetrated Charlie''s knee and the crossbow hidden on him, carefully examining and inspecting both.


    A moment later, he made a judgment.


    He looked up at Colin and asked, "You''ve advanced to a Second Class Apprentice?"


    "Yes," Colin hurriedly responded.


    "Good."


    The Instructor was still expressionless, but his tone seemed somewhat kinder.


    With a wave of his right hand, a white light flashed over Colin''s body. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin instantly felt the dizziness in his mind vanish.


    "Thank you, Instructor."


    The Instructor gave an indisputable nod, then cast a cold glance at Charlie.


    Although the Lap School took a lenient approach to punishing brawls between apprentices,


    this leniency only applied to those of equal standing. Now that Colin was an Intermediate Apprentice, the School had always been strict with punishment in cases of insubordination.


    Charlie obviously understood this, but his current worry wasn''t the punishment, but rather his exposed plan.


    "Go wait for me at the entrance of the main tower of Black Castle. I need to handle this matter first."


    The gray-robed Instructor continued speaking to Colin, pausing before adding,


    "The First Class Apprentice on duty today is me. After we return, I''ll record your promotion."


    "Alright," Colin replied respectfully.


    He had not only described the process of Charlie''s attack to the gray-robed Wizard but also the backstory behind it.


    Clearly, the Mutual Assistance Association and the enslavement of School outcasts that Charlie had mentioned had captured the gray-robed Wizard''s attention.


    From his reaction, it seemed he had never heard of such occurrences before.


    This made Colin even more suspicious of Charlie''s story.


    Before long, he arrived at Black Castle.


    Black Castle was a massive castle at the center of the Wizard Territory, consisting of a central main tower and two connected side towers, forming an inverted U-shape with walls made entirely of Blackstone.


    A meticulously maintained lawn stretched before the castle, and Colin walked across a neatly paved stone path to reach the entrance of the main tower.


    Apart from him, there was a brown-haired boy standing at the entrance, roughly a bit over ten years old, probably one of the apprentices who came after them.


    The boy was indifferent, glancing at the black badge on Colin''s chest but choosing not to greet him.


    Colin, of course, had no intention of being warmly affable to someone so aloof.


    He didn''t have to wait long before the gray-robed Wizard descended from the sky and approached them.


    Watching the gray-robed Wizard''s flying figure, Colin couldn''t help but yearn.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, the gray-robed Wizard specialized in witchcraft revolving around force fields.


    "Good day, Instructor."


    Colin and the brown-haired boy greeted in unison.


    "Come with me," said the gray-robed Instructor with a nod.


    The two followed the Instructor to the outside of a heavily guarded room at the top of the main tower.


    "Give me your identity badges."


    Colin and the other respectfully handed over their badges.


    The gray-robed Instructor indicated for them to wait outside, then took the two black identity badges and entered the room.


    He was likely communicating with the Great Witch Array of the Wizard Territory to upgrade their identity badges.


    Each badge of the School was personally crafted by a Lap Wizard, bound one-to-one with each member, and the sole credential for entering the Wizard Territory.


    Even the commoners responsible for transporting living supplies each month had their own special identity badges.


    This vast and precise Witch Array was the foundation for the Lap School to root itself on the island, and it was of utmost importance.


    After a full half-hour, the gray-robed wizard came out with two silver identity badges.


    He then led them to a Quiet Room on the first floor.


    The gray-robed wizard pushed the door open.


    Inside sat two other wizards, who, judging from the badges on their chests, were also First Class Apprentices.


    The gray-robed wizard gestured for Colin and the other to sit on the chairs by the door and wait, then he walked over to the other two wizards.


    "Milne, has another Third Class Apprentice advanced?" the wizard sitting on the left asked with a smile.


    Milne nodded and said, "Yes, one for five years, thirteen years old, Second Class aptitude; one for ten years, seventeen years old, Fourth Class aptitude."


    The room was spacious, and the conversation between the two was not loud, as if deliberately kept low.


    The boy with brown hair sat quietly in his wooden chair, expressionless, clearly not having heard anything.


    But Colin, a Great Knight, relied on his sharp hearing to make everything out perfectly clear.


    "Let''s stick to the old rules... The one who''s been here for ten years is usually assigned to the Guard Team. Take him to receive his witchcraft later. As for the one who''s been here for five years..."


    "It''s our turn this time!" the wizard sitting on the right interjected, "The last and the one before the last promoted apprentices both joined you. This time, it should be our turn."


    "...That''s not necessarily the case. The previous apprentice who had a First Class aptitude and was only ten years old was assigned to you! I don''t need to point out the difference between First Class and Second Class..."


    The three wizards began to argue.


    Colin glanced at the quietly sitting boy next to him, silently reflecting.


    He had anticipated such a situation.


    A wizard''s aptitude was divided into five levels.


    Fifth Class being the lowest, First Class the highest.


    Here, aptitude simply referred to the affinity for Magic Power.


    It had an impact on a wizard''s growth, but it wasn''t absolute.


    In theory, even a Fifth Class aptitude could become an Official Wizard.


    And the ten years, five years mentioned by the gray-robed wizard likely represented the years they had been studying wizard knowledge.


    This was another aspect of a wizard''s aptitude.


    And he, Colin, clearly didn''t belong to the ranks of good aptitude.


    After a while, the three wizards finally came to an agreement.


    The gray-robed wizard and the one sitting on his left came towards Colin.


    "Come with me. I''ll take you to receive your witchcraft for the advancement," the gray-robed wizard gestured to Colin.


    The boy with brown hair was taken away by the other wizard.


    Colin followed behind the gray-robed wizard, his expression calm.


    The two made their way deeper into the castle.


    On the way, the gray-robed wizard pulled back his hood and came up beside Colin, saying to him:


    "Different from when you were a Basic Level Apprentice, after the advancement to Intermediate Apprentice, you''ll need to take on different tasks... You''ve been assigned to the Guard Team."


    Colin gave a noncommittal look towards the gray-robed wizard''s shining bald head and silently nodded.


    He had known this outcome all along.


    "...Instructor, what exactly does the Guard Team do?" After a long silence, he finally asked.


    "The Guard Team is responsible for protecting the city''s internal security, in collaboration with the wizards from Blackstone City below the mountain. Things like Fierce Beasts that run out from the Dark Forest, and the city''s internal security, all fall under the Guard Team," the gray-robed wizard answered, pausing before adding:


    "In the Lap School, the main jobs are divided into three parts: logistics, mining, and escort duties."


    "The duties of escorts are mainly taken care of by the Guard Team stationed in the city and the Patrol Teams within the Wizard Territory."


    "Stationed?" Colin involuntarily asked.


    "Yes, stationed. The Guard Team usually stays within Blackstone City."


    Upon hearing this, Colin''s heart couldn''t help but sink.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Descending the Mountain

    The reason the Lap School was built upon the mountain was not to display its status.


    Rather, it was because the magic power here was the most concentrated, which benefited wizard training.


    This was also why many wizards from Blackstone City chose to live halfway up the mountain, closer to the School.


    If one needed to be stationed in the city for an extended period, it would clearly affect their training progress.


    "Talents with less potential get assigned to the Guard Team..." Colin realized.


    The logic behind this allocation was clear when considered from the School''s perspective.


    Obviously, it involved prioritizing the training and advancement of apprentices with potential within the Wizard Territory.


    Whereas those with less potential were sent to hone their combat abilities in the city''s Guard Team, handling trivial matters.


    For the School, this was a perfectly rational way to distribute duties.


    But for Colin, it was quite the opposite, and he couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    "The Guard Team is actually a good gig." The wizard in grey robes discerned Colin''s thoughts and consolingly said with profound meaning, "You see... the School is the real ruler of this island."


    Colin was puzzled.


    "...When you get to the Guard Station in the city, you''ll understand why I say this..." The wizard in grey patted Colin''s shoulder and said no more.


    The Lap Wizard had been here for sixty years, but to this day, the School still had not produced a second Official Wizard.


    In his view, apprentices with Colin''s qualifications were obviously not destined to become Official Wizards.


    Going to the Guard Team to enjoy life was undoubtedly a better choice for them.


    The two walked a little further and arrived at a study room.


    Though it was called a study room, there was only one bookshelf inside, and upon closer examination, the books on it seemed to be duplicates.


    The wizard in grey took two books from the shelf in turn and handed them to Colin.


    "These are the magic spells rewarded by the School, if you want to learn others, you''ll need to use Magic Stones or contribution points to exchange for them afterward." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "However, because you''re going to the Guard Station, you''ll get two additional spells for dealing with Polluters, more than what regular apprentices receive."


    He found two more Magic Books.


    Colin accepted them, stacking them together, and oddly felt like it was reminiscent of receiving textbooks back in school.


    He looked down at the books he was holding, which were¡ª


    Detect Evil, Purification Evil Power, Hope Defense Field, Fireball Technique,


    The first two spells were the extra ones provided for free to the Guard Team.


    Polluters...


    He couldn''t help but remember the eerie man he had encountered in the city earlier.


    That must have been what was known as a Polluter.


    Aside from wizards, this world was filled with many phenomena that were hard to explain.


    Polluters were one such phenomenon.


    Their origins were varied and strange, with exposure to knowledge beyond their understanding being one of them.


    For apprentices like Colin, the first lesson they learned was¡ªnever to chase knowledge too fervently.


    In this world, knowledge came at a cost.


    After receiving the books, the wizard in grey also gave him a voucher and told him the address of the Guard Hall, letting him leave and report by tomorrow.


    The moment Colin returned to his stone house, a storm suddenly erupted outside.


    He silently leaned against the window, staring at the churning, boundless ocean outside, momentarily speechless.


    The waves surged in layers, their motion incessant; the loud thunder drowned out the noise of the rain and overpowered the sound of the waves; the white seabirds that were usually visible were nowhere to be found now.


    The world outside was an expanse of indistinctness, as the torrential rain seemingly connected the sea surface with the sky, blurring the distinction between the rain falling from the heavens or rising from the sea.


    The rain kept pouring while the clouds seemed to grow even thicker.


    Darkness had fallen inside the stone house.


    Colin cast a spell to light the Bright Crystal.


    A gentle white light spread uniformly inside the room. He sighed and prepared to tidy up his belongings.


    "Oooo¡ª"


    Just then, a dull cry suddenly erupted.


    Colin froze on the spot, as if his heart had been gripped tight, and it was two seconds before he recovered.


    For some reason, the rain outside began to gradually cease.


    With a pale face, Colin wasn''t frightened; instead, he stepped out the door.


    The rain outside the door had already stopped, but a careful observation revealed that a torrential downpour was still raging in the distance.


    Only this part of the island remained dry,


    ...as if an invisible umbrella had been held up over it.


    People from other houses were also coming out one after another, and they all, as if by tacit agreement, looked up at the sky.


    Colin also lifted his head.


    ...an indescribable amazement.


    A gigantic whale was leisurely roaming through the sky.


    Its massive deep blue body blocked all the rain, creating a dry area.


    From time to time, lightning struck at it, yet it was like a clay ox entering the sea, stirring no waves.


    This was the Thunderstorm Cloud Whale, a creature the previous owner of the memories had also seen a few years ago.


    It was gentle by nature, never attacking anything,


    which is why the Wizard Territory hadn''t activated the Protective Shield... though, of course, it might not have been effective even if they had.


    The Thunderstorm Cloud Whale usually lived in the deep sea, only occasionally surfacing in the sky during torrential rain to chase lightning.


    This was a rare and peculiar sight.


    Too bad, although the Thunderstorm Cloud Whale looked leisurely and slow,


    its flying speed was so fast that even an Official Wizard might not be able to keep up.


    Therefore, it soon vanished from Colin''s sight.


    The rain began to fall again.


    The rain continued until the afternoon when it gradually stopped.


    The clouds dispersed, sunlight shone down upon the earth once more, and a rainbow even appeared in the distance.


    Colin had also nearly finished packing his things.


    He didn''t have much to take with him, besides a change of clothes, mainly just books and bee stingers.


    As for the Knight Sword and armor left behind by the original owner, he planned to sell them at the market later.


    As his strength increased, the benefits of Knight training manifested more in terms of vitality; for combat, however, it couldn''t compare to witchcraft.


    Even the bee stinger at his waist had become more of a decorative accessory.


    Thus, Colin decided to only practice the Breathing Skill of a Knight, no longer expending energy on Combat Skills.


    After selling various things at the market,


    the items in the room had significantly diminished, probably enough to fill just one large bag.


    Colin got up and went to the bedside table to pack up the last of his belongings.


    Unintentionally, he saw a brown letter and a sheet of white paper inside.


    Colin''s expression briefly faltered as he slowly picked them up.


    Stroking the red and blue intertwined flame emblem on the brown envelope, he felt somewhat sentimental.


    That golden-haired cute girl, she had probably turned into a handful of yellow soil by now.


    He carefully placed the envelope and white paper into a grey backpack.


    Then, slinging the backpack over his shoulder, he took a final look around the stone cottage and stepped into the Meditation Room for a moment.


    Finally, he went to the window and, as usual, leaned against it, looking at the calm azure sea in the distance.


    The vast ocean stretched to infinity, with white birds circling above and their reflections on the glittering waves responding to each other in harmony.


    Colin took a deep breath, no longer lingering, and stood up to walk outside the house.


    Upon leaving, he turned to look back at Erica''s cottage next door.


    He hesitated for a moment, seemingly having thought of something, then turned and walked towards Erica''s door.


    A few minutes later, he set off again, heading down the mountain towards Blackstone City.


    He left Erica a sheet of white paper.


    It didn''t say much,


    just a simple recounting of recent events,


    about Charlie, the Mutual Assistance Association, and how he had Advanced and been assigned to the Guard Team.


    He also let her know he had received the white paper and letter and that if he had the chance to return to Ryan, he would take the letter to her parents...


    As evening fell, the sky flushed red.


    On the mountain road, Colin''s figure, carrying a bag, gradually moved farther away.

 Chapter 24 - 24 Distribution

    Colin walked slowly through the small city, following the address given by the grey-cloaked wizard, to arrive in front of a rare three-story building in the city center.


    He was a bit surprised, wasn''t this the same place where he had exchanged the Limit Breaking Fire Technique with Wizard Berkeley?


    Upon reflection, it seemed quite normal, after all, Berkeley was probably also a member of the Guard Team.


    Colin stepped inside and, after asking around, headed towards a room in the middle of the first floor.


    Before he got there, he could faintly hear voices conversing inside.


    The strength of a Great Knight combined with an Intermediate Apprentice rendered his senses exceptionally sharp.


    "...Recently, several Fierce Beasts have emerged from the Dark Forest, our colleagues there are suffering terribly... I heard that another wizard died, seems like it was someone from the Poke Gang."


    "Another wizard died?! Sigh, the beasts are getting stronger and stronger..."


    "I also heard from a brother in East City that the beaches there have been restless every night lately."


    The voices in conversation paused for a moment, then resumed.


    "It''s still better here... Giant Axe Tavern got some new dancers, you know..."


    Knock, knock, knock.


    By this time, Colin had reached the door and knocked on the wooden panel.


    "...Please come in."


    The speaking inside halted for a moment, then one of them called out.


    Colin pushed the door open.


    Seated behind the dark brown wooden table were two Intermediate Apprentices, one fat and one thin.


    "I''m new here to report," said Colin, approaching calmly and passing over his credentials and School Badge.


    "Welcome, welcome, we rarely get new people in the Guard Team; please, have a seat," the fatter wizard said with a flash of surprise on his face, smiling as he took the credentials and badge, speaking amiably.


    After verifying the credentials and badge, the fat wizard returned them to Colin, then continued,


    "Colin, is it? My name is Leiden Jeremy, just call me Leiden, and beside me is Jerome Elton... You go with him first to get your equipment."


    "I need to ask Master Red Flame for your assignment."


    With that, Leiden gave Jerome a knowing look.


    "Come with me," the lean Jerome stood up, smiling as he spoke.


    Colin nodded and followed him.


    As they went upstairs, walking on the staircase, Colin asked,


    "Senior Jerome, I wonder what Senior Leiden meant by ''assignment''..."


    "''Assignment'' refers to the area you''ll work in within the city; Blackstone City is quite large, and the Guard Team has three locations here."


    "One is this headquarters, and the other two are in East City and West City."


    Colin nodded in understanding, then asked, "Is there any difference between these three places?"


    "...No real difference, the treatment is all the same; it''s just that East City and West City are farther from the city center, not as lively and prosperous," Jerome paused before replying.


    Colin nodded, his expression calm.


    They soon arrived at a room at the end of the second floor.


    Jerome gestured for Colin to wait outside, then opened the door and went in.


    In a short while, he came out with a black Wizard Robe in hand.


    "This is the Guard Team''s uniform Wizard Robe, needed when on duty; a Cleaning Technique is permanently affixed to it, so you don''t need to worry about cleaning issues," he said as he spread out the robe, showed it fully to Colin, and then handed it over to him.


    .......


    Downstairs.


    The fat wizard Leiden was speaking to the Communication Witch Array.


    "...That''s too little, sixty Magic Stones are too few, at least eighty!"


    "...What, too much?"


    "You think it''s too much, I even think it''s too little! You know very well how rarely we get a new person."


    "If it weren''t for our good relationship, I would have sold them to someone else long ago! Do you know how many people in West City want to transfer back to headquarters?"


    "Others have given at least eighty..."


    "Fine, fine, why didn''t you do this earlier?"


    "Don''t worry, can''t you trust me to do the job? Would I ruin my own reputation?"


    Leiden closed the Witch Array with satisfaction. After giving thirty Magic Stones to Jerome, he pocketed another fifty Magic Stones for himself!


    He took out a pen and spread the records across the desk.


    Then, on the part of the record for West City, he slowly added the name Colin Leonard.


    He''d done this kind of thing more than once already. Initially, he was terrified, afraid of getting caught.


    But now he was adept at it, especially after dragging Jerome, who also managed the records, into the business, and he grew more audacious.


    In his view, it was a situation where no one lost out.


    He got his Magic Stones, his friends in West City got their desired transfer to headquarters.


    As for Colin,


    the young man wouldn''t be accustomed to the easy-going life at the headquarters.


    West City was more suitable for him.


    Not only were the conditions the same as at headquarters, but it was also close to the Dark Forest.


    Not to mention the beautiful scenery, occasionally, Fierce Beasts would emerge to provide practice for witchcraft.


    Those Fierce Beasts were valuable; their skin, fur, bones, and blood could all be traded for money. The group in West City was much wealthier than them!


    Sitting in his chair, the more Leiden thought about it, the more he felt his plan was considerate; no one''s interests were harmed... this was clearly a win-win-win situation!


    ''...With fifty Magic Stones in my pocket now, I can have another grand time at the Giant Axe Tavern...''


    ''I just can''t decide whether to go for the Half-Elf or the Merfolk lady, hehe...''


    Creak¡ª


    At that moment, the wooden door was pushed open, and Jerome returned with Colin.


    Leiden straightened his posture and put on a gentle smile, nodding slightly at Jerome''s probing gaze.


    "I''ve already asked Lord Red Flame, Colin, you''re assigned to West City," he said, looking at Colin.


    Upon hearing this, Colin nodded calmly.


    Jerome, standing beside him, sighed:


    "What a pity. If you were assigned to headquarters, Leiden and I would definitely take you to the Giant Axe Tavern every day... But West City is not bad either."


    He patted Colin on the shoulder and continued:


    "It''s getting late; you should hurry to West City with your certificate to report in; otherwise, it''ll be a hassle once it gets dark."


    Colin accepted the new certificate and nodded slightly. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''West City, huh...''


    Even though Jerome had earlier told him that all three locations were similar, the conversation he eavesdropped on when he arrived suggested otherwise.


    West City, being close to the Dark Forest, was obviously more arduous and dangerous.


    The mention of "another Wizard has died" from their conversation heightened his concerns.


    This place... was not within the protection of the School. Enemies would no longer hold back like Charlie and Hayward had, refraining from taking his life.


    ...Here, people could actually die.


    Colin, holding the new certificate, turned and left calmly, sighing inwardly.


    Unfortunately, the outcome of the assignment was not under his control.


    On the bright side, at least he no longer needed to worry about being expelled from the School.


    Jerome had also told him that members of the Guard Team received a salary of ten Magic Stones each month.


    Completing specific tasks would result in corresponding rewards.


    ...That was decent enough,


    Certainly much better than being a third-ranked Apprentice.


    He walked toward the door and left.

 Chapter 25 - 25 Lord Red Flame (Please vote for recommendation and monthly ticket!!)

    Colin hadn''t reached the door when it was pushed open, and a red-haired man walked in.


    "Lord Red Flame," Leiden and Jerome hurriedly greeted in unison, with respect.


    "Instructor Banette," Colin also hurriedly greeted.


    He listened to the way Leiden and Jerome addressed Berkeley and felt a bit surprised in his heart.


    ''So Berkeley is the Lord Red Flame they spoke of?''


    Berkeley glanced over the three of them, casually nodded, and then walked straight toward the bookshelves on the left.


    He seemed rather busy.


    Colin watched Berkeley''s retreating figure for a moment before continuing towards the outside of the door.


    The island was really small; he hadn''t expected Berkeley, whom he had met by chance earlier, to be his immediate superior now.


    Jerome had previously introduced to him upstairs: In the School, logistics, protection, and mining were each managed by three special Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    They were stronger than the typical Advanced Wizard Apprentices and were known as Peak Wizard Apprentices.


    They were the three most hopeful candidates in the School to advance to Official Wizard.


    The Peak Wizard Apprentice in charge of protection, also the direct superior of both the Guard Team and the Patrol Team, was the Lord Red Flame they mentioned.


    That was the Berkeley Barnett he knew.


    Colin gently pulled the door open.


    "Wait a moment."


    Just then, as if remembering something, Berkeley suddenly turned and called out to him.


    He looked at the silver badge on Colin''s chest with some surprise and said, "You''ve advanced to Intermediate Apprentice?"


    "¡­Yes, Lord Banette."


    Colin frowned, apprehensions rising in his mind as he reflexively glanced at Leiden.


    ''Hadn''t he reported this to Berkeley already?''


    Seeing Leiden''s unnatural expression, he seemed to understand something and added for Berkeley:


    "I''ve just advanced not long ago... The School assigned me to the Guard Team, and today is my first day reporting."


    "Hmm." Berkeley nodded, then asked, "Have you received your equipment?"


    "I have."


    "Good, do well here at headquarters in the future."


    The moment Berkeley''s words fell, Leiden and Jerome''s faces suddenly turned sour.


    They both looked at Colin with pleading eyes.


    Colin finally understood.


    He lowered his head, pretending not to see the look in Leiden and Jerome''s eyes, and said solemnly, "But wasn''t I assigned to West City, Lord Banette?"


    Berkeley raised his eyebrows, looked at the puzzled Colin, then turned back to Leiden and Jerome.


    "My lord, I think I remembered wrong and accidentally assigned him to West City!" Leiden hurriedly explained.


    Berkeley''s expression cooled, and anger flickered in his eyes.


    He clearly saw that Leiden was lying.


    The assignments for the Guard Team were always rotated; after the East City was last, it should be headquarters in the Middle City this time.


    If one wanted to change to another location, there had to be a mutual agreement for exchange, and both parties had to be willing,


    and finally, they had to apply to him, and only after his approval could the switch be made. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin in front of him was clearly unaware of this, and Berkeley had not received any applications, let alone given approval...


    Berkeley suppressed his anger and said nothing, just kept a cold face and continued to stare at Leiden and Jerome.


    Under his icy presence, Leiden''s defensive voice grew fainter until, unable to bear the pressure, he spilled the beans at last.


    "¡­That''s the situation, Lord Red Flame, it was my greed that blinded me!" Leiden said, hanging his head low.


    "My lord, it''s my fault too, I shouldn''t have covered for him!" Jerome added regretfully.


    After listening, Berkeley stood expressionless for a while before finally, he began to speak slowly:


    "I''ll deal with the two of you in a moment."


    He turned his head toward Colin and asked,


    "What''s your choice, Leonard, to stay at headquarters or to go to West City?"


    Colin reflexively wanted to answer stay in the city, but when he looked up and met Berkeley''s calm gaze, he suddenly changed his mind and said,


    "...Can you tell me the difference between the two, Instructor Barnett?"


    Berkeley''s expression remained calm as he nodded and replied,


    "If you choose to stay at headquarters, it''ll be as usual, no different from the norm;


    If you choose to go to West City, the eighty Magic Stones Leiden mentioned will all be yours."


    His tone was calm, unbiased, merely stating the facts.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then asked, "What specifically is the difference between West City and the city center, Instructor? I''ve heard that West City is especially dangerous, and even wizards have died there..."


    "...West City isn''t as bustling as the city center, with taverns and restaurants being quite rare, but it''s closer to the Magic Vein, therefore the concentration of Magic Power is higher."


    "Because it''s close to the Dark Forest, fierce beasts occasionally emerge, making it indeed very dangerous, but fierce beasts serve as good practice for witchcraft."


    "Regarding the wizards you mentioned who have died, this is true... However, casualties among our Guard Team members are exceedingly rare."


    "For a newcomer like you, there will be a month''s buffer period. During this month, you don''t need to do anything, just need to learn the four spells provided by your School."


    "Once you''ve learned them, you''ll start being responsible for patrols, and usually, in the beginning, you''ll be paired up with older apprentices."


    Berkeley paused, then added,


    "Of course, this doesn''t mean you''re guaranteed to be safe from life-threatening dangers, as I said. It''s rare for the Guard Team to have casualties, but it''s not non-existent."


    Colin thought quietly to himself, and soon, he made his choice.


    He looked calmly at Berkeley and said, "I choose West City, Lord Barnett."


    After hearing so much about it, he was clear about the differences between the city center and West City.


    If this had been in the past, he would have definitely preferred to choose a comfortable life within the city, but now his mindset was completely different.


    Power is the foundation for standing in this world!


    To give up the pursuit of power is tantamount to a slow suicide.


    The drawback of the lower concentration of Magic Power in the city center was intolerable for him.


    His hesitation before was due to the dangers of West City.


    But now, after Berkeley''s detailed explanation, he understood that West City was not as dangerous as he had imagined.


    Most of those who had died were probably wizards from other forces, perhaps even just Basic Level Wizard Apprentices.


    As an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice of the School, and with Golden Paper at his disposal, he believed that being cautious would be enough to avoid losing his life.


    Moreover, if he chose to stay in the city center, wouldn''t he be missing out on eighty Magic Stones for nothing?


    Eighty Magic Stones was not a small amount, and Colin had never had access to so many Magic Stones before.


    Although he didn''t immediately need so many Magic Stones, it was always good to have more.


    For now, at least the Limit Breaking Points needed for Bright Crystal Making I to break limits again had increased tenfold.


    If the second Limit Breaking also required a tenfold increase, it wouldn''t be long before he found himself in short supply of Magic Stones.


    So he needed to start accumulating Magic Stones as early as possible.


    Upon hearing Colin''s choice, Berkeley nodded, not saying much else.


    He simply instructed Leiden to take out eighty Magic Stones and hand them to him.


    Colin was somewhat surprised; Berkeley now had Leiden directly give him the Magic Stones, undoubtedly saving him a lot of trouble.


    Leiden, looking somewhat pained, took a purse and fished out eighty Magic Stones to hand over to Colin.


    Colin accepted the Magic Stones without a word, glancing at Leiden.


    Leiden''s face was full of pain, but beyond that, there seemed to be no other emotion.


    "Thank you... Lord Red Flame, I will now go to West City to report," Colin turned his head to Berkeley and said.


    "Off you go," Berkeley nodded.


    Colin pushed open the door and walked out.


    It was getting late, and he needed to hurry to report to West City.

 Chapter 26 - 26 Gold (Please Follow!!)

    After arriving at the Guard Team''s residence in West City, it was already approaching evening.


    The burly department head of the Guard Team''s West City division received him.


    There were a total of five Advanced Wizard Apprentices in West City, not including the burly department head himself, the other four each served as team captains.


    The department head was named Barton Keith, and he took Colin to a room at the corner of the second floor.


    Then he told him to stay here for the first month and peacefully practice witchcraft, as someone would be specifically responsible for providing food.


    After one month had passed, he would then be assigned a duty.


    Barton''s demeanor was gentle and calm; he didn''t seem to care that he had replaced an experienced member.


    But just before leaving, he reminded him once again to swiftly learn the Hope Defense Field and the Fireball Technique.


    Colin quickly agreed and nodded his thanks.


    Setting down his backpack, he looked around the room.


    The room wasn''t large, probably about one-third the size of the stone house he had lived in before.


    However, because it only contained a bedroom and a washroom, it still seemed spacious enough.


    For a temporary stay, it was entirely sufficient.


    Colin slowly walked over to the window.


    The windows were still wooden, but he could no longer see the familiar azure sea.


    He leaned out.


    What met his eyes were various types of low-lying buildings.


    To the left was the direction leading out of the city, where further away there were more buildings like palm huts and seaweed mud houses. They were densely packed, one on top of another, stretching into the distance, eventually obscured by the faint yellow city walls.


    To the right was the direction toward the city center. As one looked further inward, the buildings became more orderly, with brown wood houses and gray-black stone houses gradually replacing huts and mud houses as the majority.


    Leaning by the window, he stood for a while as the sun slowly sank.


    As evening fell, the surroundings gradually darkened.


    To the right, buildings in the city center had started to light up with spots of yellow light. Though not as dazzlingly colorful as the neon lights from his previous life, they still gave off an air of liveliness.


    Looking to the left towards the outskirts, only scattered lights were bright; most buildings were pitch black.


    In the surroundings as well, only a few households had lit their lamps.


    ''...No wonder everyone wants to stay at headquarters.'' Colin solemnly reflected to himself.


    He then withdrew his gaze and began his training.


    *


    *


    *


    Time flew by and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.


    Early morning.


    Colin sat on the carpet beside the bed, his thoughts moved, and he summoned the Golden Paper.


    Pale golden particles converged.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (2/100); Great Knight (29/100)]


    [Meditation Methods: Apprentice Circulation Meditation I (35/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (75/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Fire-making Skill I¡ü (100/100); Condensing Water Skill I¡ü (100/100); Light Brightness Skill I¡ü (100/100); Cleaning Technique¡ü (100/100);


    Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Armor¡ü (100/100); Arrow Shooting Skill¡ü (100/100); Basic High Temperature Tolerance (35/100); Hope Defense Field (32/100); Fireball Technique (43/100); Detect Evil (26/100); Purification Evil Power (18/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making I¡ü (100/100))]


    [Limit Breaking Points: 18]


    Just as Barton had instructed, Colin hadn''t left his room the entire month and had focused on learning witchcraft.


    After advancing to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, he felt noticeably that learning witchcraft was easier than before.


    In just one month, he not only brought Fire-making Skill and other tricks up to the limit once more, but he also successfully raised Steel Armor and Arrow Shooting Skill, two witchcrafts he had already mastered, to their limits.


    Furthermore, the four witchcrafts issued by his School and the Basic High Temperature Tolerance witchcraft he had obtained from his exchange with Berkeley had all been mastered.


    The only pity was that after advancing to Intermediate, the progression of wizard training had once again become slow¡­


    Fortunately, progress hadn''t completely stopped, and the Meditation Method could still be advanced further. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin gathered his thoughts and continued to examine the Golden Paper.


    Fire-making Skill I, Light Brightness Skill I, Condensing Water Skill I, and Bright Crystal Making I¡ªthe witchcraft that had broken their limit once stood out on the Golden Paper with a blue outline glow.


    Now, behind them, a golden outline glow surrounded the ¡ü symbols, signaling they could break their limit again.


    And the ¡ü symbols behind Steel Armor and Arrow Shooting Skill, like the Ignition Technique when it reached its limit, were also surrounded by a blue glow.


    "Blue signifies a single limit break and gold represents a second limit break..." Colin speculated in his mind.


    But his gaze quickly shifted to the Cleaning Technique, which had also reached its limit.


    Its ¡ü symbol was enveloped in a golden glow.


    Colin furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat puzzled.


    After long contemplation, he still couldn''t come up with a reasonable explanation.


    So he relaxed his brows and focused his attention on the ¡ü symbol after the Cleaning Technique.


    On the Golden Paper, the characters representing the Cleaning Technique gradually became blurry and soon transformed into something new.


    [Cleaning Technique¡ü(100/100)]¡ª¡ª[Cleaning Technique (Golden)]


    Colin was taken aback.


    Why did the Cleaning Technique, after a single limit break, not have a I but instead the word golden?


    "Could it be that this means the Cleaning Technique has reached its ultimate limit?"


    He recalled the information that appeared in his mind when the Golden Paper first emerged.


    "Before the limit, all practice shall see progress."


    "After the limit, one can use Limit Breaking Points to break through and continue to improve."


    He pondered for a moment and hypothesized,


    "Perhaps, due to my own knowledge or realm... different witchcraft have different numbers of times they can break their limits. And gold signifies having reached the current maximum limit of improvement!"


    He carefully understood the golden Cleaning Technique.


    Moments later, he stood up and cast the Golden Cleaning Technique on the bedding he had just cleaned that morning.


    Like a gentle breeze, the bedding seemed to be swept by an invisible hand, with the tiny impurities detaching and gathering into a ball, which landed in the trash can.


    Colin caressed the bedding, then bent down to take a sniff, and looked up satisfied.


    "No need to worry about cleaning ever again."


    Then he sat down again, took out a Magic Stone from his pouch, and summoned the Golden Paper.


    He began to add points frantically.


    ...[Fire-making Skill I]...[Fire-making Skill (Golden)]


    ...[Condensing Water Skill I]...[Condensing Water Skill (Golden)]


    ...[Light Brightness Skill I]...[Light Brightness Skill (Golden)]


    ...[Steel Armor]...[Steel Armor I]


    ...[Arrow Shooting Skill]...[Arrow Shooting Skill I]


    ...[Bright Crystal Making I]...[Bright Crystal Making (Golden)]


    A plethora of complex knowledge rushed into his brain.


    Colin closed his eyes tight, and soon sweat appeared on his forehead.


    But there was no headache, nor much discomfort, as the transfer of knowledge always maintained a level he could bear, overall quite gentle.


    As time passed by half a day, Colin finally opened his eyes, heart leaping with joy.


    He felt stronger than ever before!


    Unfortunately... there was no place for him to practice his witchcraft.


    He stored the remaining 53 Magic Stones back into his pouch and kept them close.


    This power enhancement had cost him 45 Limit Breaking Points.


    If it weren''t for the unexpected fortune of 80 Magic Stones, relying on the 18 Limit Breaking Points he had originally saved up, it would''ve been impossible to afford breaking the limit of all his witchcraft so lavishly.


    Looking at the rows of dazzling golden characters on the Golden Paper, Colin felt a satisfying and refreshing comfort.


    After all, Magic Stones were external possessions, while the strength that one attained was forever their own!

 Chapter 27 - 27 Follow-up (Please follow and add to favorites!)

    It was nearing midday.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    The sound of knocking arose.


    ''It must be the delivery of food,'' Colin thought.


    He set aside the bee needle and stood up to open the door.


    He had just been testing the strength of Steel Armor I.


    The results were quite satisfying.


    If the old Steel Armor was equivalent to 5 millimeters thick, then now it was at least 2 centimeters!


    ...If he were to encounter the arrow shot by Charlie again, he reckoned even his defense wouldn''t be breached.


    Creak¡ª


    Colin unfastened the latch and pulled open the wooden door.


    Perhaps because things near the sea corroded easily, doors here generally made a creaking noise.


    "Minister Barton?" He was surprised to see the burly man standing outside the door.


    "Good day, Colin," Barton nodded slightly, "A month has already passed, how are the two witchcraft schools doing?"


    "They are mostly mastered."


    "Good, Detect Evil and Purification Evil Power can be learned slowly afterward."


    "Our main issues in West City are still the Fierce Beasts, compared to that, Hope Defense Field and Fireball Technique are more useful."


    Colin nodded slightly, not mentioning that he had essentially mastered four schools of witchcraft.


    Barton stepped aside slightly, revealing a man behind him who appeared somewhat shorter compared to him.


    "This is Holt Caesar, your future team captain."


    Holt Caesar smiled, with a gentle demeanor and pale skin free of wrinkles; at first glance, he seemed about the same age as Colin.


    But upon closer inspection, it made one feel as if it were impossible to discern his exact age.


    "Captain Holt," Colin greeted quickly.


    Holt Caesar nodded slightly.


    "Alright, Holt will explain the rest of the matters to you; I will take my leave now."


    "Yes, Minister Barton," Colin said respectfully.


    Barton nodded slightly and strode upstairs.


    Holt Caesar withdrew his gaze from Barton''s retreating figure and said warmly to Colin:


    "You go and pack your things; there''s still plenty to do later."


    "Yes, Captain."


    Colin walked back inside.


    Holt Caesar didn''t follow him but instead slowly walked to the end of the corridor and stood by the window, gazing outside. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shortly after,


    Colin came out with a neatly packed gray backpack on his back.


    He looked around and eventually found Holt Caesar''s figure on the left.


    Although it was daytime, the corridor''s lighting wasn''t good.


    Only the windows at both ends and the light from the gaps in the doors on both sides allowed light to enter.


    The window where Holt Caesar stood happened to be sun-facing, and the brilliant sunlight shone upon him.


    For a moment, Colin felt as if he saw a large tree growing towards the light.


    Sprouting branches, budding leaves, the profusion of tender green and dark green, large and small oval leaves grew wildly!


    Soon, they filled every corner of his vision!


    His face turned to shock...


    The golden sunlight was still shining, but it emitted a chilling, eerie coldness to the core, seemingly without warmth, the corridor filled with shadows, the thriving tree, now appeared more like a twisted, monstrous black creature!


    Hum¡ª


    A fuzzy model of a Hope Defense Field inside his mind emitted a faint light, dispelling the darkness!


    There were no shadows, no monsters...


    Bright golden sunlight streamed in from the window, wrapping Holt Caesar in a soft halo.


    Colin was a bit dazed, his complexion pale, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    "...Captain Holt," he called out slowly, his voice somewhat strained.


    "Are you ready?" Holt Caesar turned around.


    Only then did Colin notice that Holt Caesar actually had a rare head of green medium-length hair.


    Holt Caesar also noticed Colin''s discomfort, raising his right hand.


    A gentle white light flashed over Colin.


    "...Thank you," Colin finally felt much more comfortable.


    Holt Caesar nodded slightly, advising:


    "Your intuition is quite high; later on, you could cultivate more mind-protective witchcraft."


    Colin nodded emphatically.


    The related knowledge, the original owner had studied before... but he had never known that his inspiration was so high.


    The recent abnormality must have been caused by the radiation of the Energy Field inadvertently emitted by Holt... to put it in terms of his previous life, he was "haunted."


    Fortunately, the Hope Defense Field was a Defense Spell that considered both physical and mental protection...


    "Let''s go; we should head back to the School first," Holt said, "It''s my turn to pick up the Magic Stones distributed in West City this month; I need to make a trip back first."


    The two descended the stairs.


    Holt cast a Floating Technique on Colin and then flew with him towards the Lap Wizard Territory.


    The speed of flying was indeed much faster than walking; what would normally take at least two hours by foot was estimated to take less than ten minutes now.


    After all, a large part of the walking path involved climbing hills and winding roads, far from a straight line. But flight was different; there were no obstacles, and it always took the shortest distance.


    Before entering the School, Colin saw dozens of Apprentice figures mysteriously gathering on the vacant ground below.


    He was somewhat puzzled.


    Not until he recognized many familiar faces did he suddenly realize.


    Considering the time, the three-month deadline must have just arrived.


    Those below should be Apprentices about to leave the School.


    He felt a surge of indescribable emotions, but they were quickly dispersed by the strong wind in his face.


    The two continued to fly toward the center of the Wizard Territory, apparently aiming to land directly at Black Castle.


    ...


    "...Did anyone succeed in Advancing?" asked an instructor standing at the forefront of the clearing, in a routine manner.


    As he expected, no one responded.


    "Line up, take out your identity badges one by one," he continued indifferently.


    The Apprentices were about to leave the School, so naturally, their identity badges needed to be collected and dealt with.


    Haywood stepped forward first, handing over his black triangular badge with both hands.


    "Extend your right hand," the instructor took out a black disc, placing the badge on one end while indicating the other end to Haywood.


    Haywood extended his hand and placed it on the surface, his expression calm.


    "Relax your body," the instructor advised, then began to infuse Magic Power into the disc.


    With the infusion of Magic Power, the disc slowly lit up with a faint White Light, only to dim suddenly the next second.


    Haywood''s eyes flickered with a trace of panic.


    The instructor frowned and examined the disc, then tried once more to infuse Magic Power.


    Hum¡ª


    This time the disc successfully lit up, with the White Light enveloping the identity badge.


    Soon, the inscribed "Haywood Moses" began to blur, eventually disappearing.


    On the other hand, the White Light also entered Haywood''s right hand and gradually moved towards his brain, ready to erase the imprint of the badge.


    For some unknown reason, however, it suddenly disappeared just as it was about to enter the brain.


    The instructor didn''t notice anything amiss and simply continued:


    "Next."


    Haywood withdrew his hand, his expression calm as he walked down the mountain with his backpack, not looking back.


    Meanwhile, inside Black Castle.


    Colin listened to the story of the gray-robed Wizard before him.


    After a long while, he spoke words of gratitude and watched as the gray-robed Wizard walked away.


    He was waiting on the first floor of Black Castle for Captain Holt to collect the Magic Stones.


    He had just happened to encounter the gray-robed Wizard.


    The gray-robed Wizard was Milne, the same one who had flown over during the day of Charlie''s attack.


    Colin had just asked him about the final outcome of the incident with Charlie.


    As he had guessed, what Charlie said was false; no evidence of any School Apprentices enslaved at the gathering place existed.


    The School had specifically called in many Apprentices to carefully check, and no traces of enslavement were found.


    As for why those people believed Charlie.


    According to Charlie himself, it was because of the "Sleeping Fantasy Flower."


    The Apprentices had been deceived by the Sleeping Fantasy Flower.


    The School had indeed detected remnants of the Sleeping Fantasy Flower in their bodies, which had now been uniformly cleared.


    As for Charlie, he had been demoted to slavery by the School and ultimately bought by the Peak Apprentice Nidham.


    ''Nidham...'' A chill ran through Colin''s heart.


    The person to whom Annie had originally sold herself was this Peak Apprentice in charge of logistics.


    He vividly remembered Annie''s final pitiful state, covered in tentacles.


    ''Charlie... is probably going to... huh?'' Colin suddenly looked up in surprise.


    Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.


    At the entrance on the first floor of Black Castle, Nidham was leading Charlie inside.

 Chapter 28 - 28: 28 Chapters: Reminiscing (Please follow and collect!)

    Charlie was numbly following Nidham, wearing linen shorts.


    His bare upper body was covered with dense, centipede-like gruesome wounds.


    His limbs were covered with dark gray hair, even the originally blond hair had been replaced by the deep gray fur of a wild wolf.


    Around his neck was a black leather collar, attached to a black iron chain.


    The other end of the chain was held in Nidham''s hand.


    Colin was silent inside.


    If it weren''t for the resemblance to his former appearance, he would hardly believe this was Charlie.


    He felt no sympathy for Charlie, yet he couldn''t help but feel vicariously sad.


    "...Good morning, Lord Nidham."


    Nidham approached slowly, and he hurriedly greeted him respectfully.


    "Good morning."


    Nidham nodded in response, his handsome face displaying an impeccable smile.


    It was just too pale, almost ghastly white, giving an uncomfortable feeling.


    Nidham continued walking forward.


    But the iron chain in his hand conveyed a sense of resistance.


    At the other end of the chain, Charlie stood still, staring at Colin with extreme hatred!


    Especially after seeing the Silver Badge on his chest, the hatred seemed to materialize, almost devouring him!


    Before this, he had learned of Colin''s advancement.


    But he didn''t believe it was such a coincidence!


    Why advance on the very day he attacked?


    He was filled with hatred!


    Even the pain of Nidham stripping the skin from his limbs and implanting the skin of a wind wolf couldn''t cover the intense hatred in his heart, gnawing like ants on bone!


    The beast blood had clouded his brain, he couldn''t understand the logic behind all this, couldn''t understand why he ended up like this.


    But on every sleepless night tormented by the wolf blood,


    Colin''s detestable face always surfaced in his mind!


    ...Now he only hoped one day to drink Colin''s warm blood, to tear and chew every inch of his flesh, every bone!!


    Nidham observed this scene with interest.


    He stood relaxed, yet possessed a distinctive aura. It was as if a finely dressed noble was watching a favored drama in a theater.


    "...It seems my little dog has some history with you," Nidham finally spoke slowly, his tone light.


    "...He was an apprentice in the same year as me, Lord Nidham," Colin replied calmly.


    "Oh... I see." Nidham walked over to Charlie, and with his gloved hand, caressed Charlie''s now slightly wolfish cheek.


    "Come on, little dog." He patted Charlie''s cheek.


    Then turned around, leading the leash and continued walking forward.


    Roar!!


    Dang!


    The metal chain instantly stiffened, and the steel under the immense force seemed to emit a sharp, twisting sound.


    Colin reflexively stepped back.


    The expression on Charlie''s face in front of him was fierce, angrily opening his mouth wide to roar at him!


    Even the skin at the corners of his mouth had cracked, blood oozing from the tears, flowing down the skin, condensing into tiny beads of blood on his chin, dripping onto the cold, hard gray stone floor of the Black Castle.


    But he was completely unaware, only staring intently at Colin with his muddy eyes as if stained with blood.


    His eyes were full of violent hatred!


    "What''s wrong, Lord Nidham?"


    Just then, Holt suddenly appeared.


    "Holt Team..." Colin subconsciously turned to look at Holt.


    Swoosh!!


    But before he could completely turn his head, a gust of wind came from in front, and Charlie suddenly leaped at him!


    Buzz¡ª


    Colin instinctively used his steel armor and pulled a dart from his waist to hold in his hand!


    But the distance between him and Charlie was too close, and caught off guard, he was still viciously tackled by Charlie, pressed against the cold, hard brick floor of the Black Castle.


    Seeing this, Holt hurriedly raised his hand, a green light flying towards Charlie.


    But immediately afterwards, a white light shot out abruptly from the side.


    Hiss.


    The green and white lights collided and ultimately annihilated each other.


    "Lord Nidham?!"


    Holt was taken aback.


    "Don''t be nervous, Holt."


    Nidham gracefully gathered the broken black iron chains,


    "Let my little dog catch up with him."


    "...Don''t worry, there won''t be any issues, your subordinate is a Great Knight¡­even if he is torn to pieces, as long as he is alive, I can ensure his safety," Nidham said in a gentle tone, his lips still wearing that impeccable smile.


    He paused, then added,


    "Besides, do you really think your subordinate can''t even handle my little dog¡­perhaps, he doesn''t need your help at all."


    A rare hint of annoyance flashed across Holt''s gentle face.


    Although Nidham said this, it was clear that even he didn''t believe Colin could withstand his little dog.


    Holt had no hope for it either.


    In terms of life transformation through witchcraft, Nidham was the foremost in the School, even the Wizard Lap admitted that in some areas, he couldn''t match him.


    How could Colin, who had just advanced to an Intermediate Wizard, cope with the transformed Charlie?


    Especially at such close quarters¡­


    Even Colin being a Great Knight wouldn''t help¡­after all, the human body has its limits.


    "Aren''t you afraid Lord Red Flame will be angry?!"


    Holt said sternly, "This lad knows Lord Red Flame, and it''s because of him that Leiden and Jerome from the Guard Team were dismissed!"


    "Aren''t you worried that Lord Red Flame will come after you?"


    Nidham''s smile remained unchanged, but a flicker of coldness passed through his eyes.


    Although he and Berkeley were both among the top three Peak Apprentices,


    Berkeley was universally acknowledged as the strongest¡­


    Just as Nidham and Holt reached a standoff,


    Splat!!


    "Ah¡ª!"


    A sudden scream erupted!


    Holt''s expression changed, and he quickly looked over.


    Nidham''s smile widened slightly, and he turned his head with composure. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the next second, his smile suddenly froze, and his pupils contracted slightly!


    Charlie was curled on the floor in agony, his abdomen bleeding profusely, slowly pooling into a puddle on the floor. Not far from him, a bloodstained arrow lay on the ground¡ªclearly the culprit behind Charlie''s injury.


    Colin stood unscathed on the side.


    In reality, Charlie had failed even once to breach the formidable defense provided by Colin''s Limit-Breaking Steel Armor; he had been momentarily overwhelmed and knocked to the ground, but then he had seized the opportunity to retaliate with a Limit-Breaking Arrow Shooting Skill.


    At this point, the rage in Charlie''s eyes also dissipated mostly under the pain.


    He tried to push himself up, slowly moving toward Nidham, his eyes downcast, with a hint of regret.


    ''I was too impulsive...damn the wolf''s blood.''


    His gaze grew slightly unfocused, but the hatred in his eyes churned.


    ''Survive, only by surviving is there hope!''


    "...Colin!!"


    He struggled toward Nidham, his eyes filled with hope.


    But the next second,


    His hopeful eyes suddenly dimmed, instantly losing their vitality.


    Thump.


    The werewolf''s body lost its strength and crashed heavily onto the floor.


    Nidham, expressionless, lowered his right hand and then replaced it with a smile.


    "Useless dog...doesn''t deserve to live."


    Then, he looked up at the unscathed Colin and bowed apologetically.


    "I apologize, my dog must have frightened you."


    His handsome face wore a sincere expression and a clean smile; if not for the overly pale skin, anyone would praise him: a sunny smile.


    Having said that, he elegantly turned and left, with Charlie''s body floating behind him through casting.


    Before leaving, he also cast a Cleaning Technique to clean the floor.


    Colin, standing behind, finally began to catch his breath.


    He turned his head to watch Nidham disappear around the corner in the distance and then slowly turned back.


    In front, Holt was looking at him with a face full of surprise.


    After a while,


    He finally spoke slowly, "Let''s go, I still have to acquaint you with your duties. We can talk as we walk."

 Chapter 29 - 29 Clamor

    At the foot of the mountain, the Blackstone City Gate.


    Apprentices led by Huo Wood had already arrived here.


    In front of the city gate stood a scattering of wizards, who were representatives from various major influences within the city responsible for recruiting the apprentices.


    Under their persuasion, some apprentices immediately decided on the spot to join a faction.


    More of them shook their heads in refusal, indicating a need to ponder further.


    Apprentices eliminated by the School could choose to join an island faction, become a free wizard, also known as a Wild Wizard, or wait for a merchant caravan to arrive and try their luck elsewhere.


    In the shadows atop the city wall, a wizard in a gray robe stood. His chest bore a golden triangular badge that shone brightly.


    After a good while, when the apprentices and the recruiting wizards had all departed without noticing anything unusual, he quietly slipped away.


    ...


    Elsewhere, Holt and his companion had also reached Blackstone City.


    He did not interrogate Colin intensively as everyone has their own secrets and, moreover, Nidham''s dogs, in his opinion, weren''t very strong.


    Upon reaching the Guard Station, Holt took out ten Magic Stones and handed them to Colin.


    "This is your first month''s salary... You''ll collect it from me every month hereafter."


    Colin accepted it.


    Then, Holt instructed Colin to wait there.


    He needed to first distribute the remaining Magic Stones among the other three captains, whereas the rest of his team members would receive their share during their duty shifts.


    ...


    "Our main responsibility is quite simple, to eliminate the Fierce Beasts that escape from the Dark Forest."


    Half an hour later, Holt led Colin to the outskirts on the west side of the city.


    This area was a long, narrow plain that ran alongside the city wall in both directions.


    This plain was Blackstone City''s primary food-producing land, with cultivated fields spanning as far as the eye could see.


    Many farmers were busily working in the fields at the time.


    Looking beyond the rice fields, without going too far, one could see the edge of the Dark Forest, which seemed to absorb the sunlight and appeared darker than other places.


    Holt pointed to a sturdy cabin not far away and continued, "What we need to do is take turns on duty here. If the patrolling knights report an incursion of Fierce Beasts, we deal with them. If not, we''re free to do whatever we wish."


    Colin nodded in understanding.


    Wooden huts like this one were scattered roughly a dozen in number along the edge of the city wall, each spaced out from the others.


    The farmland extending outside the city was vast and elongated, thus only such an arrangement of shifts could ensure timely management of any danger from Fierce Beasts.


    "Duty rotation is by squad. The cabins for team members on duty are connected. I usually live amongst you all."


    "Right, our turn for duty starts tomorrow, and it''s a night shift. Remember to come to West City Gate early to meet me," Holt added.


    Colin nodded once again.


    "Alright, you''ve pretty much seen everything here. Next, you need to find a suitable place near the Guard Station to buy a house."


    Holt stopped walking and continued.


    "Buy a house?" Colin asked, puzzled.


    "...Yes, buy a house. You don''t intend to keep living in the barracks, do you?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin shook his head. Staying in the barracks was indeed inconvenient ¨C not only was the space small, but it also lacked privacy.


    "Well then, you''ll certainly need to buy a house... not just a house, it''s best if you buy some maids too, to help you with chores like cooking and cleaning."


    "These aren''t expensive; a house at most costs one Magic Stone, and maids are even cheaper. As long as you don''t buy anything exotic, one Magic Stone is more than enough."


    "The reason you were allowed to stay in the barracks, besides the one month grace period, was also because you probably didn''t have spare Magic Stones to purchase a house and maids.


    Now that you''ve just received your salary, it''s a good time to settle these matters."


    "Oh, and," Holt seemed to remember something else and made a specific point, "make sure you hire a cook who is good at her job."


    Many slaves simply don''t understand cooking, so the stuff they make... you understand, right?"


    Colin nodded.


    On the island, resources were scarce and the living standards of the common people were low; to say their usual meals were "dark culinary arts" would be a compliment.


    Most people only knew how to haphazardly stew things, and many couldn''t even recognize all the spices.


    Later, Holt told him the location of the real estate transaction office and the slave market, then reminded him of some precautions to take and instructed him to remember to come here for duty tomorrow night before turning around and leaving.


    Half an hour later.


    Colin arrived at the real estate transaction office in the city center, where he was warmly welcomed by the manager.


    In this era, there were no pictures, so house hunting meant physically visiting each one.


    Accompanied by the manager and his entourage, he viewed over a dozen houses near the West City Guard Station.


    In the end, he chose the third to last stone house.


    This stone house was a bit far from the West City Guard Station, roughly a ten-minute walk away.


    The stone house was a two-story building with a basement. It covered just over a hundred square meters; though not large, it was considered a mansion in Blackstone City.


    It was clear that the neighborhood''s residents were not from the lowest social strata, as many had some connection with wizards.


    From time to time, you could even see some wizards appearing.


    The house was priced at exactly one Magic Stone.


    Houses in this world were not as cheap as in the last world... of course, one Magic Stone was not a small amount either, roughly equivalent to 1,000 Gold Coins.


    After paying the Magic Stone and seeing off the manager, Colin slowly made his way to the main bedroom on the second floor.


    It was obvious that the master bedroom was specially constructed for wizards, as there was an additional door on the innermost wall, leading to a Meditation Room of about thirty square meters.


    But that was not the reason he chose this house.


    He walked slowly to the balcony.


    It was a large, open balcony, easily over ten square meters, with intricately carved and exquisitely detailed railings.


    Leaning against the railing, Colin looked off into the distance.


    Beyond the city''s closely packed gray and white houses, over the earth-yellow city walls, at the edge of his vision, a shade of blue came into sight.


    The ability to see the sea was the real reason he chose this house.


    The terrain within Blackstone City was not uniform.


    The location of this house happened to be on high ground.


    Coupled with its two-story height, it offered the perfect conditions for an excellent balcony view.


    Not only could one enjoy a view of the sea, but the elevation also meant it was difficult for others to peer into the balcony.


    After quietly admiring the sea view for a while, Colin turned around to head to his next destination¡ªthe slave market.


    There were many slave markets within Blackstone City, and Colin went to the one closest to him.


    It was about a twenty-minute walk from this newly purchased house.


    Although it wasn''t his first time walking the streets of Blackstone City...


    ... he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    He wasn''t someone who liked to draw attention...


    ... but now, no matter what time or where he went, he was always the center of attention on the street.


    The last time he came here to buy a sword, he hadn''t worn his Wizard Robe, and the situation wasn''t as exaggerated as it was now. But this time, not only was he wearing the Guard Team''s standard Wizard Robe, but he also wore a bright, shiny badge of his School.


    Passersby wouldn''t even dare get within two meters of him.


    ''It seems I need to buy a carriage,'' Colin sighed to himself in his heart.


    He was like a red-hot knife through butter; wherever he went, the crowd would automatically split apart.


    As he walked a little further, he felt something was off.


    For some reason, there were particularly many people here.


    Up ahead, the sounds of commotion were faintly audible.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Numbness

    "These damn gang thugs, they can only bully us..."


    "Hush! Do you have a death wish?"


    "Ah..."


    "The Wizard Lord is here!"


    Just when Colin was puzzled, the crowd in front of him, like dominoes passed from person to person, suddenly parted to create a path.


    At the end of the path, a hairily robust short man was forcefully grabbing the wrist of a frail girl.


    Colin frowned slightly and continued to walk forward.


    The short man did not notice the unusual atmosphere around him; he leered at the girl and whispered:


    "Let me tell you the truth. There was nothing wrong with the bread from your bakery; I deliberately framed your mother."


    The girl''s lips were tightly pursed, her eyes filled with anger, tears streaming down her cheeks onto the ground.


    "Do you know?... Your mother was so naive to come and apologize to me... she didn''t even consider how I could possibly let her off," the short man said, with a smug smile as he saw the anger in the girl''s eyes.


    He loved seeing them angry yet helpless against him. Had her mother not been too old, he might have kept her for his own pleasure...


    But it was time to give the girl false hope and take her for himself.


    Like before, play with her for a few months, then sell her for a good sum...


    His tone shifted.


    "Of course, my aim was always you, Renee. Just agree to me obediently, and I''ll buy your sister back..."


    At this moment, he finally noticed something wrong in the girl''s gaze.


    He turned slightly, and when he saw Colin, his face instantly turned ashen!


    "My lord!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He quickly shrank back, dropping to his knees with a thud.


    Colin ignored him and walked on.


    Seeing Colin pass by without a glance, relief flooded through the short man''s heart.


    For commoners like them, comparable to weeds, if they offended a Wizard Lord, death would mean death, with no one to seek justice for them.


    He saw that Colin was moving further away and turned to look at Renee,


    Perhaps from the shock of seeing Colin, he felt a sudden surge of brutality and raised his hand, intent on slapping her face!


    The girl instinctively closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling with fear.


    Pfft!


    But what landed on her face was not a slap.


    It was a handful of warm, foul-smelling blood.


    A metal arrow clattered to the ground.


    The short man''s eyes quickly dimmed; his raised hand gradually lowered before he heavily collapsed.


    Colin withdrew his gaze, with the remaining traces of magic power from his witchcraft fading away.


    He continued forward, not dwelling on the deed he had done effortlessly.


    Although he was no good man,


    He found it difficult to remain entirely unaffected by such things.


    Especially when the right and wrong of the situation were crystal clear and the action required from him was but a simple gesture.


    Inside Blackstone City, commoners and Wizards were worlds apart in status.


    That short man, from his clothes, actions, and the words of the surrounding bystanders, clearly had no significant background.


    He didn''t even need to explain himself; the Guards would learn everything from the onlookers and take the initiative to clean things up for him.


    After walking a bit further, he suddenly frowned slightly and looked back.


    The girl he saved just now... her name was Renee?


    She was following at a distance.


    Seeing him look back, Renee''s face showed panic and she instinctively lowered her head.


    She was not pursuing Colin.


    It''s just that they happened to be heading in the same direction.


    Quickly, Colin also realized this and withdrew his gaze, continuing onward.


    Soon, he finally arrived at the slave market.


    The so-called marketplace in front of him was actually just a main street.


    People lined both sides of the street¡ªmuscular men and young women, all with collars on their necks and all common humans.


    Before coming here, Holt had told him that if he wanted to buy slaves like Half-Elves or other non-human ones, he had to wait for the biannual caravans or try his luck at the city center''s largest slave trade market.


    Non-human slaves were generally more expensive because they typically had innate talents in certain areas.


    However, most of the non-human beings who had fallen into slavery were not so extraordinarily gifted.


    Holt even gave an example.


    On the second floor of the Giant Axe Tavern in the city center, reserved solely for Wizards, there were a few non-human dancers, such as Half-Elves, Mermaids, Catwomen, and so on.


    But the non-human blood in their veins was already very diluted, and at most, they could bring about some slight changes, mainly in appearance.


    Such as the pointed ears of the Half-Elves, the fish scales of the Mermaids, or the cat ears of the Catwomen.


    Colin walked slowly down this street, his expression calm, but his heart somewhat heavy.


    Anyone seeing their own kind being sold as goods for the first time would inevitably feel uncomfortable.


    However, the slave traders lining the street didn''t think so; when they saw Colin, their eyes lit up, believing a big customer had arrived.


    But they didn''t dare to call out and beckon him, in case they offended the Wizard Lord.


    So, as if they had a plan, they simultaneously raised their whips and lashed out at their healthy slaves.


    In doing so, they attempted to catch Colin''s eye while showing off the strong bodies of the slaves.


    Crack¡ªcrack¡ªcrack.


    For a moment, the sharp snapping sounds were unceasing, mixed with faint groans of pain.


    Moreover, some slave traders directly tore off the clothes of the female slaves beside them, exposing their bodies, which were noticeably cleaner than the other slaves.


    Colin sighed inwardly.


    He wondered how these slaves were trained; they had such numb expressions that were extremely uncomfortable to see.


    The back of the long-haired male slave at the right front was gradually seeping blood.


    But as if feeling nothing, he stood blankly, his gaze vacant.


    The female slaves did not endure whipping, but their eyes were even more hollow than the males'', as if deprived of life.


    With no desire to continue browsing, Colin randomly walked into a shop.

 Chapter 31 - 31 Uncle and Aunt

    As he drew closer to the shop, his brows involuntarily furrowed.


    Outside the shop was a black iron cage about a meter square, inside which a little girl of about five or six was confined.


    At this moment, the little girl was soundly asleep on a dirty piece of rag in the cage, her mouth slightly open and dribbling a bit.


    If one merely looked at her expression, one might think she was lying on a soft bed, deep in slumber.


    Just then,


    A feeble figure suddenly walked by from the left, crossing in front of him toward the cage.


    Looking up, it was Renee, the young girl he had just rescued on the road.


    Colin paused slightly. He looked at Renee and then at the little girl in the cage who bore some resemblance to Renee; he instantly understood.


    "Move aside, don''t block the way of adults!"


    The slave trader behind suddenly ran to Renee''s side and hurriedly urged,


    "Trading slaves has strict regulations; what good does it do you to find me every day? I''m just a worker; you might as well try to save money. Once you have enough money, you can naturally buy back your sister!"


    Then he walked up to Colin with eagerness and asked with a smile,


    "My lord, what kind of slave do you need? I just received a new batch of good ones."


    "Do you have any slaves who can drive a carriage?" Colin asked.


    "Yes, my lord!" the slave trader quickly replied.


    "Bring them out for me to see."


    "Yes, my lord!"


    Colin watched the slave trader run toward the back and then called out to stop him, pointing to the cage with the little girl,


    "First, open this cage."


    "Alright!" The slave trader did not hesitate; he took out a bunch of keys from his bosom and found the right one to open the iron cage.


    Click.


    The sound of unlocking echoed.


    It was only then that Renee realized what was happening. She instinctively wanted to go to her sister, but the next second, she hastily knelt down.


    "Thank you, my lord, your character is admirable, and your generosity I will never forget..."


    Renee rambled on, her voice clear but somewhat faltering, seemingly not articulate.


    "Get up, " Colin waved his hand, cutting off her awkward flattery.


    "Go see your sister."


    Renee did not comply this time; instead, she insisted on saying all the praises she knew from beginning to end before slowly walking toward her sister in the back.


    Colin smiled faintly, though it was mere flattery.


    But who doesn''t like to hear good words?


    ...the girl in front of him was a person who knew gratitude.


    At this moment, the slave trader had just brought out a few slaves.


    Glancing around, there was nothing particularly appealing.


    After listening to the introductions, Colin casually chose the most reliable-looking one, who was also the oldest male slave.


    He said he was about 40 years old, and according to the slave trader, he was the best at driving carriages among them.


    "My lord, here," the slave trader handed over the indenture documents to Colin with both hands.


    Colin reached out to take them; there were two documents, one was for the little girl Demi Lydia, and the other was for the coachman Arthur.


    Arthur had no last name, only a first name.


    The two together were priced at fifty Gold Coins, equivalent to one-twentieth of a Magic Stone.


    Colin turned and looked at Arthur standing quietly before him, pondered for a moment, then pulled out some Gold Coins from his pocket.


    "You know how to buy a carriage, take this money and buy one to bring back."


    "Yes, master," Arthur responded.


    "You remembered the address where I live, right? Once you''ve bought the carriage, come directly here," he added.


    "I remembered."


    Seeing Arthur nod, Colin waved his hand, satisfied, urging him to hurry.


    "By the way, do you have any slaves skilled in cooking?"


    He turned back to ask the slave trader, almost forgetting that he still needed to buy a cook.


    "Yes, I''ll bring them for you, my lord," the slave trader hurried back inside.


    While waiting,


    he turned and slowly walked toward Renee and her sister.


    By this time, Demi had woken up and was giggling in her sister''s embrace, with tear stains at the corners of her eyes; it looked like she had just stopped crying.


    "My lord."


    Seeing Colin approach, Renee quickly greeted him. She had been paying attention to Colin''s side all along.


    Colin nodded slightly in response, bent down, and smiling at Demi, he patted her head.


    In his past life, he generally liked children, of course, excluding the unlikable and unruly ones.


    Demi''s skin, though somewhat dirty, was still visibly fair and delicate, with features resembling a refined doll, very appealing.


    In this world, kindness is a luxury.


    But if he occasionally managed to do a good deed like this, it still made him feel at ease.


    After all, it wasn''t much of a cost; it was just some inconsequential Gold Coins to him.


    Colin''s smile was warm and sunny, and he was handsome.


    Demi, who had initially been slightly fearful, now mustered the courage to return a shy smile to Colin.


    Colin stood up satisfied.


    "My lord, the cooking slave you requested has arrived."


    At that moment, the slave trader also came over with new slaves.


    All females, varying in height and weight... the only thing in common was their numb expressions.


    They looked just like dead fish being sold at a market.


    Colin slightly furrowed his brow, unable to hold back his criticism.


    It was unknown how they were trained, but these slaves were uniformly numb.


    ... Others might not know how they felt. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But as for himself, he felt no interest in purchasing.


    "What dishes can you make?" he still asked aloud.


    "Westmar."


    "What else?" Colin frowned slightly.


    Westmar was simply adding water and oil, stewing the ingredients until they became mush.


    "Small fish Westmar, mango Westmar..."


    "Stop," Colin interrupted her, then paused before continuing.


    "Give you a goat, how would you prepare it?"


    "This..." The female slave suddenly froze, she had never considered such a question.


    "Boil the goat head for soup, the fatty and lean goat meat can be directly roasted, the lean portions can be stewed with the bones, then stripped from the bones and eaten dipped in seasoning, and there are many other ways to prepare the ribs and legs."


    Suddenly, Renee spoke up beside him, her eyes pleading as she watched Colin.


    "My Lord, I have been learning culinary skills from my mother, who was a chef, since I was young. May I have the honor of becoming your personal cook?"


    After the joy of reuniting with her sister subsided, anxiety swept over her again.


    Renee was well aware that even though Demi had now returned to her side.


    What about after that?


    She had no power to prevent Demi from being sold off again... In fact, she could hardly even protect herself.


    ''Wizards¡­ both awe-inspiring and terrifying.''


    ''But now that our parents are gone, I can''t live carefree as before... You must seize the opportunity, take care of yourself, protect your sister!''


    She looked at Colin expectantly, silently cheering herself on in her heart.


    Colin was momentarily taken aback, but quickly smiled and replied to Renee:


    "Of course."


    A cook was just a cook, it hardly mattered whom he chose.


    The Renee in front of him was cute and pleasing to the eye, and according to her, her culinary skills were quite good.


    What was there to hesitate about?


    Worried about Renee bringing her sister along?


    Colin laughed at his own thoughts.


    ''As an intermediate wizard, am I not capable of supporting two maids?''


    The position of cook Renee was requesting was not that of an employee; the moment she became Colin''s cook, she became Colin''s personal property.


    It also involved processing a slave contract.


    After Colin had taken care of the paperwork for the slave contract, he turned back and asked:


    "Do you need to go back to pack up?"


    "...No, there''s no need," Renee hesitantly answered.


    "Sister, why don''t we go back? I want my little bear," Demi quietly asked beside her.


    "..." Renee looked troubled, then comfortingly said, "Can I make you another one later?"


    "...Okay," Demi responded with a slight dejection but still smiled at Renee.


    She was an obedient child, never crying or fussing even when she was locked in a cage.


    Renee couldn''t help but bend down and hug her.


    "Is there trouble back home?" Colin asked.


    "...Nothing, my Lord."


    "Renee," Colin''s tone became slightly stern, "My first rule here is, when I ask something, you answer."


    Renee was startled by his tone.


    "My Lord... I..."


    "...Don''t be nervous, just remember for next time," Colin''s voice softened.


    For the common people of this world who suffered oppression, there was no need for him to deliberately establish authority. They already had the hierarchy ingrained in them.


    So sometimes, being appropriately gentle could win their hearts even more effectively.


    Renee slowly revealed the reason under his gaze.


    ...


    "So, the thugs before were from the Poke Gang, and you''re afraid they might be waiting at your house, plus your uncle and aunt have already taken over your family''s bakery, so there''s nothing to pack up."


    "Yes, my Lord."


    "Let''s go, lead the way," Colin said with a light chuckle, urging them.


    Renee still seemed hesitant.


    Colin didn''t get angry but simply said:


    "My second rule here is, obey, obey my words..."


    "Yes, my Lord!" Renee hurriedly nodded in response.


    Colin didn''t say more and had them lead the way.


    Now that they had become his servants, if there were still some matters entangling them from before, it was convenient to resolve them now.


    On the one hand, it spared future troubles, and on the other, it was a display of both kindness and authority.

 Chapter 32 - 32 Settling In

    The gentle sunlight sprinkled across the earth.


    Colin walked on the road back home, followed by the Renee sisters.


    He led the way, his face calm.


    Behind him, Renee''s complexion was slightly pale, as if she still had difficulty accepting what had just happened.


    Demi, who knew nothing of the matter, held her teddy bear with a face full of joy.


    After they returned to the bakery, everything went as Colin had expected.


    He did nothing¡ªmerely stood there, and Renee soon reclaimed the ownership of her family''s bakery, which in the end was converted into gold coins and kept with her.


    But there were two surprises.


    The first was that the gang behind the stocky man he had killed on the road actually did come looking for him!


    And they had sent a fierce and intimidating strongman to wait for him at Renee''s bakery in advance.


    However...


    He came specifically to apologize and even brought a box of tea leaves as a gift!


    The other surprise was that


    The mastermind behind the murder of Renee''s parents turned out to be her aunt and uncle who had taken over the bakery.


    It was they who had colluded with the stocky man to murder Renee''s parents...


    This was also the reason why Renee''s feelings were so complicated now.


    Thinking of this, Colin sighed inwardly.


    In this world,


    for ordinary people, perhaps having beauty and wealth is also a misfortune.


    He thought back to his own past.


    Once upon a time, after listening to Charlie''s conspiracy theories,


    as a basic level Apprentice of the School, dismissed by others, he came to Blackstone City and didn''t even dare to wear the School''s insignia openly in the streets.


    But now, he had advanced to an Intermediate Apprentice and became a full-fledged member of the School.


    In terms of status, it was heaven and earth compared to before.


    ''All of this is because of power...'' Colin exhaled softly. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon after, they arrived at their home on Palm Street.


    When they reached their home on Palm Street,


    beside the wrough-iron gate,


    Arthur was sitting quietly on a single-horse, black carriage with curved sides.


    "Master."


    Seeing Colin, he hopped down from the carriage, quickly stepped forward, bent over to greet him, and took out the remaining gold coins from the purchase of the carriage and handed them to Colin with both hands.


    Colin nodded, took the gold coins, and then picked out two more from them, placing them back in Arthur''s hands.


    "Thank you, Master!" Arthur''s face lit up with surprise.


    "Take it and buy yourself a few decent sets of clothes. Keep the rest for yourself."


    Colin said gently, then he turned to Renee, handing her five gold coins.


    "You too, go buy some clothes for you and Demi. With the leftover money, buy some ingredients to come back and cook dinner tonight."


    He surveyed Renee and Arthur, adding:


    "In the future, you will both be able to get a salary of one gold coin each month from me... of course, on the condition that you work diligently."


    In Blackstone City, for an ordinary middle-class family, an annual income would be just over a dozen gold coins, so one gold coin a month was clearly a high salary.


    Strictly speaking, Arthur and others were slaves; Colin had no obligation to pay them any further.


    But a few gold coins were not much for him, yet could greatly improve the enthusiasm of people like Arthur towards work and also increase their loyalty. Why not do it?


    Opening the double wooden doors enveloped in wrough iron, Colin walked into the small courtyard of his home.


    The house he bought covered around six to seven hundred square meters, of which about five hundred were just the front courtyard.


    Facing the main gate was the main building, a two-story house with a basement, built in a Western style, its details revealing a sense of grandeur and nobility.


    To the right of the main house was an annex, a single-story bungalow, next to which there was a stable.


    "You can choose any room to live in, except for the second floor and the basement; anywhere else is fine," Colin instructed.


    "Sir, I''ll live in the annex on the right to take better care of the horses," Arthur said, taking the initiative.


    Colin nodded his head in a noncommittal way.


    Renee eventually chose a room on the first floor of the main house close to the kitchen, which had originally been where the former resident''s servants lived.


    Renee, with Demi in tow, entered the room and set down their luggage.


    There was no time to tidy up, nor to marvel at the servant''s room that was even more exquisite than her own home''s master bedroom.


    She soon pulled Demi out again.


    She hadn''t forgotten that Colin had asked her to go out and buy ingredients to prepare dinner.


    Before leaving, she sought Colin''s approval.


    "Go on, let Arthur take you. From now on, you don''t need to tell me about each purchase unless you''re short on money,"


    Colin replied and then gave Arthur additional instructions.


    "For expenses like the horse''s fodder and the like, find Renee, and she''ll come to me for reimbursement."


    Both of them consecutively acknowledged.


    ...


    As evening fell.


    Knock, knock.


    The sound of knocking came.


    "Master, dinner is ready."


    "...Come in."


    Colin, seated at the study desk, was absorbed in reading a book and responded reflexively.


    Creak, the door was slowly pushed open.


    Renee, carrying a silver platter, walked gently to the table and carefully set down the plate, careful not to disturb Colin''s reading.


    Appetizing aromas wafted to his nose.


    Colin closed the book and looked up at the two dishes and a soup laid out before him.


    The soup was a bowl of vegetable stew, the dishes consisted of a pan-fried steak, and steamed clams, served with white bread as the staple.


    It wasn''t exceptionally exquisite, but it was certainly above par, far surpassing his own culinary skills.


    "Well done, Renee," he praised, looking up with satisfaction.


    Upon seeing Renee more clearly, a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes, he added:


    "That outfit suits you as well."


    Renee before him was dressed in a black and white maid''s uniform, its waist-hugging design made her somewhat slender figure now appear graceful, as if she stepped out of a comic book as a blonde maid.


    Her golden hair was still slightly damp, suggesting she had taken a bath.


    Colin was also taken aback, as he had simply thought Renee and her sister''s clothes were a bit worn and had casually suggested they add a few new items to their wardrobe.


    But he hadn''t expected her to buy a maid''s outfit.


    Renee managed a strained smile upon hearing the compliment, her heart filled with more apprehension than the joy of being praised.


    Although she was frightened, she quickly exhaled deeply, regained her composure, and stood up straight once more.


    Fate had brought her hardships, but it had also given her the courage to face an unknown future!


    After making her choice, she had prepared herself to accept everything, otherwise, she wouldn''t have taken the initiative to bathe and change into new clothes.


    She tried to calm herself, accepting Colin''s scrutinizing gaze, but soon, an uncontrollable blush crept up her delicate neck and spread across her fair cheeks.


    Seeing this, Colin smiled, thinking she was bashful from the praise, and offered an out:


    "You should go eat as well. Just remember to come back and clear the tableware later."


    "Yes, Master," Renee responded respectfully and left, feeling slightly relieved.


    After she had left, Colin sampled the food on the table.


    The delicious flavors blossomed in his mouth.


    He couldn''t help but smile, increasingly pleased with his decision to welcome Renee into his home.

 Chapter 33 - 33: Fierce

    The next morning, Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin had just gotten out of bed not long ago.


    Renee brought him a steaming hot breakfast.


    Looking out the window at the still dim sky, Colin showed a satisfied smile.


    He then spent the entire day studying.


    With Renee cooking and handling miscellaneous affairs, his time was once again freed up!


    ... He never expected that one day, he would also lead a decadent life of having everything handed to him on a silver platter.


    At noon, Colin briefly introduced Lap School and some of the city''s forces to Arthur and Renee, letting them understand their position and know which people they could provoke and which they couldn''t.


    Of course, since he was not very familiar with the distribution of power in the city, he only gave a rough explanation and mentioned Lap School again.


    During this, Arthur and Renee were in awe; they had never imagined that the real overlord of the island was the distant and unheard-of Lap School at the mountain peak.


    Colin was not surprised by this, as ordinary civilians and wizards were completely different classes.


    Even though the wizards in Blackstone City didn''t conceal their existence, the ordinary civilians'' understanding of wizards was always limited.


    After hearing this, Arthur''s attitude towards Colin became even more respectful and even reached the point of fear.


    Renee, however, was somewhat dejected.


    Time quickly reached evening, and after having dinner, Colin rode by carriage to the west gate of Blackstone City.


    After getting off the carriage, he instructed Arthur to come pick him up at dawn the next day, then let Arthur leave.


    Then, he stood alone at the city gate waiting.


    After a while, as the sun set and only the last trace of sunset remained in the sky, Holt finally arrived.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you there."


    Holt said as he strode towards the outside of the city.


    Other wizards also arrived gradually.


    This was not unusual, as apart from Lap School, people from the Four Great Gangs and the three families were also on duty.


    Holt led him to the rightmost side of the city.


    "The duty cabin is not fixed; it rotates each time. Just remember to move right each time. This time we are in the five cabins on the far right, next time it should be the cabins on the far left."


    "Once you are familiar with it, you can come here directly by yourself. There aren''t many rules, just don''t forget to be on duty."


    "Okay," Colin replied.


    Holt dragged him to the middle cabin.


    The Guard Team, a squad plus the captain, five people in total, usually stationed the middle cabin by the captain for easy assistance and support.


    "On the first day of each month, all members will meet in the middle cabin, mainly to collect their monthly salary from me."


    "They should be almost here by now, and you can also get to know each other."


    Holt said as he pushed open the door.


    Colin nodded; he had been in the West City Guard Team for so long, yet he had only met Captain Holt and the minister, Barton.


    "Boss, you finally came!"


    As soon as the door was opened, an excited, thick male voice entered his ears.


    Colin looked in the direction of the voice. A fat man sitting at the innermost part of the middle wooden table was speaking, standing up as he did so.


    Beside him sat a man and a woman.


    "Captain."


    The man had a cold expression and called softly after seeing Holt come in.


    The woman was wearing a veil, making her face indiscernible, but her eyes seemed quite gentle.


    However, Colin soon retracted this assessment.


    "Orlando, one day you''re going to die because of that Half-Elf woman!" the woman loudly teased the fat man who had stood up before.


    Her voice was rough, and her tone was quite harsh.


    Orlando ignored her and earnestly approached Holt, reaching out his hand.


    "Catherine is right, you need to control yourself, Orlando."


    Holt sighed, feeling somewhat helpless, yet he still pulled out ten Magic Stones and handed them to him.


    Orlando took the Magic Stones and chuckled while scratching his head.


    "I know, boss..."


    Holt sighed again but didn''t say anything more.


    "Captain, aren''t you going to introduce the new member?" the stern Willard suddenly asked.


    The masked Catherine also looked over with interest.


    "This is Colin, who just advanced to an Intermediate Apprentice last month," Holt introduced.


    "So, he''s the newbie." Catherine looked at Colin and asked, "Can you instantly cast the Fireball Technique and the Hope Defense Field yet?"


    "Not yet," Colin responded, "but I..."


    Catherine frowned slightly then casually added:


    "With that level, you cannot handle Fierce Beasts... Stick close to me later, call me ''sister,'' and I''ll protect you."


    Her tone was spiteful, more teasing than caring.


    "Catherine, didn''t expect you to be into that. ''Sister,'' really? You''re over thirty, old enough to be someone''s mom, don''t you feel embarrassed?" Orlando''s mocking voice suddenly interrupted.


    The room went silent.


    Boom!


    Immediately after, a huge fireball shot explosively toward Orlando!


    Orlando''s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly put up a translucent blue Protective Shield.


    Still, he couldn''t withstand the fireball; the shield quickly shattered, and he was knocked to the ground.


    Seeing this, Colin''s eyelid twitched.


    Judging by the power of the fireball, another two shots could breach his Steel Armor.


    "Old woman! Was that really necessary?!" Orlando scrambled to his feet, furious.


    On closer inspection, aside from some slight scorch marks on his clothes, he seemed to have sustained no other injuries.


    "That''s enough!"


    Holt quickly intervened, raising his hand to extinguish the spreading flames.


    Then he cast a stream of green light, and the charred and damaged spots on the wooden cabin walls began sprouting and growing, slowly mending the holes.


    Yet Catherine couldn''t help but remain furious, her magic power brewing stormily.


    "I said that''s enough."


    Seeing this, Holt spoke out again, his voice coldly issuing a few words.


    As his words fell, a chilling aura suddenly descended inside the cabin.


    For a moment, Colin thought he saw a massive, tangled black ancient tree swaying in the shadows behind Holt.


    "Sorry, boss." Orlando hastily apologized.


    "...Sorry, Captain." Catherine also paled, her voice softening in submission.


    Though Holt was usually mild-mannered and didn''t mind their way of speaking, when he got angry, they still felt terrified.


    The chilling aura suddenly dissipated, and Colin exhaled in relief.


    He looked up just in time to see Willard across from him also exhaling lightly.


    The two exchanged glances, feeling an unintended camaraderie as collateral victims.


    Holt had returned to his gentle demeanor and handed out Magic Stones to Catherine and Willard.


    Then he urged them to quickly head to their cabins for their shift.


    Before they left, he specifically instructed Colin to stay in the cabin on his left, for easier coordination.


    Although he had a certain understanding of Colin''s strength and knew he was much stronger than a newly advanced Intermediate Apprentice,


    in his eyes, Colin was still just a month into his advancement; even if strong, his strength was limited... and in terms of versatility, he probably couldn''t compare to a seasoned Intermediate Apprentice.

 Chapter 34 - 34: The Unexpected Calamity

    Leaving the wooden hut, Orlando snorted coldly and pulled Willard to the right. Colin, on the other hand, was forced to go left with Catherine.


    They walked one after the other.


    "Kid, you better not have any ideas about me."


    Catherine suddenly said, turning back to glance at Colin, then coldly continued,


    "Orlando has nothing but junk in his head, and I hope you''re not the same!"


    Colin''s expression remained unchanged, but he was quite astonished inside, suddenly unsure of how to respond.


    Observing Colin''s calm demeanor, Catherine furrowed her brows and said sternly,


    "Sometimes, daring to admit your thoughts is what makes a real man."


    "...I really have no such thoughts about you."


    Colin stopped in his tracks and said solemnly. His face was calm, and his tone sincere.


    Catherine scoffed and continued walking forward, her expression disdainful.


    Colin frowned and chose to wait a few more minutes on the spot, until Catherine''s figure had become a small dot, then slowly began to walk.


    ''What an undeserved calamity,'' he sighed inwardly.


    He hadn''t anticipated Catherine''s terrible personality.


    Thankfully, the guardhouses were roughly five hundred meters apart from one another, which could spare him some awkwardness.


    Entering the hut, Colin took out a Bright Crystal and lit it up, placing it on a wooden lamp holder on one side of the wall.


    With the soft white light, he surveyed the inside of the room.


    It was laid out just like the one Captain Holt had been in, a large single room with a bathroom, with a set of tables and chairs to the left of the entrance.


    In the middle of the room was a clean-looking soft mat, similar to a tatami. It seemed to have been changed recently.


    Still, Colin cast a Cleaning Technique on it before slowly sitting down.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    Just as Colin had sat down, a knocking came from outside.


    ''Could it be that fierce beasts are attacking so soon?''


    He furrowed his brows and quickly got up to open the door.


    "My lord."


    As he opened the door, there stood a burly City Guard captain dressed in fine steel armor, taking off his helmet and placing it in his left hand, then respectfully touching his chest in greeting.


    Behind him were several City Guards, also in plate armor and having taken off their helmets to salute.


    "Is it a fierce beast attack?" Colin asked, "Why not launch the signal flare?"


    "No, my lord, we have come especially to meet you," the City Guard captain hastily explained, then added,


    "You''ve just started your duty, and you might not be aware that our squad is responsible for your lordship''s area."


    Before Colin could respond, the captain gestured behind him, took a huge gray cloth bag from one of his men, and passed it to Colin.


    "This is a little token of our regards; please accept it, my lord."


    The City Guard captain held the cloth bag with both hands, nervously watching Colin.


    For the patrolling City Guards, establishing a good relationship with the on-duty wizard was especially important.


    When fierce beasts attacked, perhaps just by the duty wizard paying a little more attention, spotting the signal flare sooner, and arriving a mere ten seconds to half a minute earlier, it could save them from losing a life.


    Colin hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take it.


    He had gradually become accustomed to the rules of this world.


    "My lord, we ask for your care in the future¡­ We won''t disturb you any further now."


    Seeing Colin take it, the City Guard captain sighed with relief and then asked to leave.


    Colin calmly nodded, watching them as they lifted their torches and marched away to patrol.


    The City Guards were a force apart from the Four Great Gangs and the three Great Families, directly under City Lord Price Bennett.


    Price Bennett was an aging Wizard Apprentice at his peak, about over 90 years old, frailer, with no hope left for advancing.


    His sole desire now was to see his bloodline flourish and spread.


    The Schools always looked down upon other forces from high above, unwilling to waste their energy on Blackstone City''s trivial matters.


    Thus, they quickly came to an agreement with Price.


    Price took care of the minutiae of running Blackstone City for the Schools, who, apart from sending the Guard Team to deal with Polluters, Cults, and fierce beasts,


    simply waited each month to collect their dues.


    Colin thought about this as he stepped over to the window, gazing into the distance towards the mountain top, where the Lap School was.


    ''In the Schools, the vast majority of Wizards stay in the Wizard Territory. They enjoy the offerings of the entire city, free from trivial bothers, focusing solely on climbing ahead, except for required missions.''


    "... but the Guard Team could only stay in this place."


    He exhaled and took out the Golden Paper.


    The progress of the Intermediate Apprentice above halted at 2/100.


    "It seems that my own Wizard training progress is so slow, not only because it becomes more difficult to improve after advancing but also because the Magic Power in Blackstone City is far less dense than in the Wizard Territory..."


    He sighed softly in his heart, walked to the cushion in the middle of the room, and sat down cross-legged.


    ......


    On patrol.


    The team members whispered among themselves.


    "Do you think the new Wizard can be trusted? He looks even younger than me!"


    "Yeah, just our luck! We finally get a new Wizard, and it just happens to be on our shift. Let''s just hope no Fierce Beasts attack this month."


    "Alas, the weaker they are, the nicer they seem. He looked so gentle when he was giving out gifts; his strength is probably..."


    "Shut up!" the Guard Captain scolded in a deep voice, "Do not discuss Wizards behind their backs."


    The team members fell silent.


    The Guard Captain paused, then added, "Be more cautious this coming month. If Fierce Beasts attack, run faster!"


    He casually supplemented, "Prioritize running to the nearest cabin... I remember the one on the left is that veiled Witch..."


    "Yes, Captain!"


    The team members immediately understood.


    Most of them came from the lower levels of the city, and although they had braced themselves for danger when they chose to join the City Guards, coming from the lower classes meant they were likely the main support of their families, which made them cherish their own lives even more.


    The Guard Captain continued to lead the patrol with a torch in hand, his expression calm while his heart was somewhat uneasy.


    The concerns of his team were also his concerns.


    It had been a long time since such a young Wizard had come to West City.


    In the past, they wouldn''t worry so much when a new Wizard arrived, since the Fierce Beasts were not strong.


    But in recent years, the power of the Fierce Beasts had been growing... and not long ago, a Wizard had fallen here.


    If the strength of the new Wizard from the Lap School was weaker, it wouldn''t affect him much. If in danger, the nearby Wizards would help, and it was hard to lose one''s life.


    But for them, it was completely different.


    Although he hinted that the team members should be smart and run towards the stronger Wizards, in reality, the lives of everyone in their squad were bound to the duty Wizard they were assigned to.


    If the Wizard died, so would they, eventually.


    ...


    Time flew by.


    That night was calm, without any attack from Fierce Beasts, only occasionally interrupted by the sound of City Guards patrolling.


    Colin glanced at the clock on the shelf on the wall, slowly stood up, gathered his things, and prepared to go home.


    The duty work for the Guard Team, as Holt had said, wasn''t very rule-bound.


    Just come when it''s time, leave when it''s time. There was no need to report to anyone, nor was there any performance assessment.


    Only improper handling of Fierce Beasts, such as being absent when an attack happened that caused damage, would there be punishment.


    Picking up the grey cloth bag the City Guards had given him last night from the wooden table, Colin opened the door and walked outside.


    Inside the bag was a large piece of fresh meat, which, if not mistaken, was probably Fierce Beast meat.


    But what kind of animal it was, Colin really couldn''t tell.


    However, whatever the type, Fierce Beast meat was a good thing; it could strengthen the bodies of ordinary people who ate it regularly.


    Of course, its biggest benefit was aiding Knights in their training.


    The reason why all the City Guards were Knights and the Captains were all Great Knights was due to the assistance from the Fierce Beast meat.


    Aside from that, Fierce Beast meat was also an invisible benefit for the West City Guard Team.


    Beasts killed by Wizards were all bought up by the City Guards.


    If they encountered many Fierce Beasts in a month, they could even earn a few extra Magic Stones. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Colin stepped out of the cabin, he happened to meet the Wizard coming to take over the shift, also a member of the Lap School. They greeted each other amicably.


    In fact, Colin had seen him from afar when he arrived at the cabin last night; however, probably due to spending some time in Holt''s cabin, they didn''t actually meet face to face.


    West City''s fields accounted for over eighty percent of Blackstone City''s food production, and any problems could lead to dire consequences.


    Therefore, essentially, there was always a Wizard guarding this place.

 Chapter 35 - 35 Fierce Beasts

    The days that followed were peaceful and fulfilling.


    Every evening, Colin would take a carriage to his shift, and return by carriage the next morning.


    Thanks to the abundant energy provided by the Sunlight Breathing Technique and Renee''s diligent and competent help, he found even more time for cultivation each day.


    On the third night.


    Colin was practicing in the cabin.


    Bang!


    The distinct sound of a signal flare came from afar.


    Colin quickly pushed the door open and looked in the direction where the signal flare had lit up.


    It was off to the far left.


    After the signal flare lit up, soon, there were faint roars and sounds of combat.


    Then, the brilliance of witchcraft followed from the area of the fight.


    If he was not mistaken, that should be beyond Catherine''s area of responsibility. According to what Holt had said, it should be the Chiwen Gang''s area.


    As Wizards began to join the battle, cries of wild beasts could also be heard increasingly.


    Colin suppressed his urge to go and check, and returned inside the cabin.


    Although Holt had introduced him to much knowledge about Fierce Beasts, he had never actually encountered them in person. After all, it was merely theoretical.


    Being able to observe a battle between a Fierce Beast and Wizards would surely benefit him greatly when he had to face Fierce Beasts alone in the future.


    It was a pity that it wasn''t wise to recklessly head to other Wizards'' areas in the dark of night.


    He resumed his cultivation.


    But the mournful cries of the Fierce Beasts and the sounds of their battle with the Wizards lasted a long time and seemed to grow closer.


    Colin couldn''t help but go out the door once more, his thoughts quickly changing as he leaped onto the roof.


    He looked to the left.


    A Wizard in the distance had cast the Light Brightness Skill for illumination. With Colin''s enhanced sight, he could clearly see a skinny figure in a Wizard Robe chasing a huge shadow of a Fierce Beast.


    A few City Guards with torches were following the skinny figure.


    Upon closer inspection, Colin finally recognized the shadow of the Fierce Beast.


    Thick black bristles, nostrils pointed skyward, and its snout flanked by two curved tusks¡­ It was undoubtedly an oversized wild boar.


    Colin felt a mix of shock and confusion.


    ''This boar is almost the size of an elephant from my past life¡­ Holt''s descriptions had never included one this large.''


    He cast the Golden Cleaning Technique below him on the roof and slowly sat down, facing the distance.


    Though the wild boar Fierce Beast was large, it had little resistance against the mighty power of a Wizard. It could only howl mournfully while fleeing in a pathetic state.


    Had it not been for its strong life force, and the fact that the frail Wizard seemed to have never learned any teleportation witchcraft, the wild boar Fierce Beast would have died at the hands of the Wizard long ago.


    But for the moment, the frail Wizard appeared to be slower than the wild boar Fierce Beast by a fair margin, and it would take some time to catch up.


    Regardless, the defeat of the wild boar Fierce Beast was only a matter of time.


    ''This will be a good learning experience.''


    Colin shifted his position, adjusting his angle to get a good view of the chase unfolding before him.


    However, it wasn''t long before his expression began to turn strange.


    The wild boar Fierce Beast''s life force was terrifyingly strong. He watched as the frail Wizard behind it fired several Energy Missiles in succession, blasting many large wounds on the back of the wild boar Fierce Beast.


    But the speed of the wild boar Fierce Beast seemed to increase instead of decreasing, showing no signs of faltering.


    It was about to run into the area under Catherine''s responsibility.


    Swoosh!


    Just then, the frail Wizard behind slowed down his pace and began to mutter. Two seconds later, a huge pale blue missile soared towards the wild boar Fierce Beast in front.


    Boom!


    This supercharged missile directly shattered the wild boar Fierce Beast''s hindquarters!


    The wild boar Fierce Beast crashed to the ground, its bulky body causing a dull thud upon impact.


    The frail Wizard also sighed in relief, slowing down and waiting for the City Guards behind to come and clean up the mess.


    On the roof.


    Colin stood up.


    The show was over, and now it was time to get back to his training.


    If the Fierce Beasts he would face were only of this level of strength, then he had nothing to worry about.


    Ssss~


    Suddenly, a strange sound came through. It sounded like the squirming of maggots on rotting flesh.


    Colin''s eyebrows furrowed as he looked towards the source of the sound.


    The next second, his pupils slightly constricted.


    The fierce boar that had fallen earlier was slowly getting back up!


    With his strong vision, Colin could still vaguely see that the shattered flesh on the boar''s originally mangled rump was unbelievably wriggling and healing!


    The boar continued to flee, quickly running into the territory of Catherine nearby.


    The skinny Wizard hesitated for a moment but ultimately continued the chase.


    The tenacity of this beast''s life force was beyond his imagination... but it probably was nearing its last leg.


    The wild boar raced swiftly, soon crossing most of the area under Catherine''s responsibility.


    Colin''s expression changed; if the boar kept running for a bit longer, it would reach his responsibility zone. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His legs bent slightly as he leapt off the rooftop, casting Steel Armor and Hope Defensive Field on himself while running towards the direction of the boar.


    As a Great Knight, he moved much faster than the skinny Wizard.


    In just a moment, he had arrived at the border of his and Catherine''s assigned zones.


    And the fierce boar in front of him was already not far away.


    Colin prepared for combat.


    But the boar seemed to have been merely on its last breath before, and its current state looked very poor.


    Its once bright red eyes had dimmed, it panted heavily from its mouth, and blood gushed from the wound on its back in large amounts.


    Whoosh!


    Another missile struck the boar from behind!


    With a thud, the boar fell to the ground again, its enormous body sliding forward a distance due to inertia.


    Finally, it stopped about 50 meters away from Colin.


    A piercing wail came from its mouth, and then gradually weakened.


    The skinny Wizard caught up at this moment, delivering another strike to the beast, conclusively killing it.


    Then, he looked up at Colin and nodded slightly as a sign of acknowledgment.


    Colin nodded back and turned to leave.


    ''This boar''s body could probably sell for at least 5 Magic Stones at the City Guards,'' he thought to himself.


    Whoosh!


    Unexpectedly, a heat wave surged from directly behind him.


    Colin''s hairs stood on end as he turned to look back.


    Bang!


    A Fireball exploded on the boar''s body, the scorching flames meticulously controlled by the Caster to singe only the dark fur before quietly dissipating.


    "What do you mean by this?"


    The skinny Wizard looked to the left, a gloom settling over his face.


    Colin followed his gaze.


    A veiled Witch accompanied by a squad of City Guards was slowly approaching.


    That was Catherine.


    "I''m dealing with the attacking beast. Are you blind?"


    Catherine coldly replied, then turned to command the City Guards beside her to deal with the beast''s carcass.


    "I killed this beast!" the skinny man said coldly, his voice unable to conceal his anger.


    "Where are we?"


    "Is this area under your responsibility? This beast was clearly killed by me in my designated area! Are you trying to steal the spoils of the Lap School?!" Catherine retorted sarcastically.


    Seeing the situation turning sour, Colin quietly slipped away into the background.


    "Besides, just because you say you killed it, does that make it so? Does anyone bear witness?"


    "...Do you have one?!" the skinny Wizard angrily challenged.


    Catherine laughed softly, responding in a calm and unhurried tone:


    "Of course, I do... isn''t that right, Colin?"


    She slowly turned her head, gazing silently at Colin. The skinny Wizard also turned his head.


    Both of them looked at Colin together.

 Chapter 36 - 36 Absurdity

    Colin stopped, his expression ugly.


    The arrogant demeanor of Catherine truly reshaped his understanding of the School members...


    And all he did was come to watch the fun, so why drag him into it?!


    What it meant to be ''collateral damage,'' he had certainly found out today.


    "Colin, as a member of the Lap School, can you tell him who killed this fierce beast?" Catherine asked again.


    The thin Wizard had initially been looking forward to Colin''s answer.


    But the next second, upon seeing the same triangular badge on Colin that Catherine wore, his expression changed.


    He almost forgot that this month, this whole area was under the patrol of Lap School members.


    The anger in his heart gradually faded. Looking at Catherine and Colin, he began to back down.


    Although the Male Wizard standing nearby seemed uninterested in intervening, what if he did?


    The Lap School always acted overbearingly; it was always their rivals who ended up on the losing side.


    "You are right, sir, since the fierce beast died here, it belongs to you. I won''t interrupt... After all, we are all Wizards on duty together, which can be called colleagueship; there''s no need to spoil the amity."


    The thin Wizard forced a smile, feigned a gentle tone, and then slowly began to retreat.


    Boom!!


    But what greeted him was another Fireball; his quickly deployed Defensive Witchcraft managed to block the burning damage, but the shock wave sent him flying high and crashing hard onto the ground.


    "Get lost!" Catherine snorted coldly.


    Suppressing the dizziness in his head, the thin Wizard got up, said nothing, and quickly left for the distance.


    In terms of status, he was just a Deacon of the Chiwen Gang; in terms of strength, he was far inferior to her, and even if the Male Wizard by her side didn''t intervene, he stood no chance.


    Staying any longer would have been simply humiliating himself!


    Although that was the case, his heart''s anger found no solace and instead intensified.


    He had already yielded and given her a way out!


    "Lap School! Masked bitches!!"


    His steps grew heavier, trampling the crops beneath his feet in frustration!


    Meanwhile,


    Colin was just about to speak up for the thin Wizard, but the words were unexpectedly caught in his throat.


    Watching the thin Wizard''s fleeing figure, any sense of justice within him shattered abruptly.


    He felt it was ridiculous.


    ''Just leaving like that, swallowing the insult?!''


    Colin stood there, feeling inexplicably annoyed.


    "Clean up quickly!"


    Catherine, standing nearby was urging the City Guards who were dissecting the fierce beast''s corpse, her expression arrogant.


    As for Colin beside her, she seemed to have already disregarded him.


    Colin stood there a while longer, watching the thin Wizard gradually disappear into the darkness. Only after the fierce beast was almost completely dissected did he slowly turn back to his own duty cabin.


    ...


    The next day, the sky was faintly bright.


    Colin walked out of the cabin, finishing another day''s duty.


    Although the Sunlight Breathing Technique had given him plenty of energy, a night without sleep was naturally tiring.


    He was looking forward to getting home.


    He thought Renee must have prepared breakfast meticulously for him... he wondered what he would have this morning.


    After eating, he would crawl back into a warm bed and comfortably sleep a little... life indeed could be satisfying.


    But a few steps out, the faint noise from afar caught his attention.


    As Catherine''s duty cabin was to his left, and so was the city gate further left, he always passed by Catherine''s area on his way back to the city.


    The noisy sounds were coming from the fields Catherine was in charge of.


    Colin looked over.


    Before him was an endless expanse of fields, which now bore signs of damage.


    He hadn''t noticed it last night, but in the daylight, the destruction of the fields was considerable.


    The fierce beasts, like wild boars, had rampaged through the fields like bulldozers, overturning crops and splattering mud everywhere, creating a long gully.


    Especially where the black-haired wild boar had fallen, a huge pit had formed.


    But the pit formed by the carcass of the black-haired boar was not as shocking as another dark, burnt pit nearby.


    That burnt pit was at least twice the size of the boar''s pit, radiating outward from the center, where the innermost wheat seedlings had turned into black ash.


    "It must have been when Catherine used the Fireball to attack the frail wizard last night and didn''t extinguish it in time," Colin surmised.


    Otherwise, a single Fireball couldn''t have caused such a large burnt pit.


    Right next to the pit formed by the boar, a group of emaciated farmers surrounded it, with City Guards standing behind them, and the noisy sounds were coming from there.


    Snap! Snap!


    Every now and then, the sound of a City Guard''s whip slicing through the air could be heard.


    Colin paused to watch for a while.


    The City Guards were urging and directing them to lift and replant the flattened crops.


    But it seemed ineffective; only a few of the crops could be salvaged, and most were beyond recovery.


    The wheat appeared to be near maturity; at least the wheat seeds on the ears looked almost ripe.


    The gaunt farmers picked up scattered wheat ears as they straightened the stalks, placing them in the bamboo baskets beside them.


    Colin thought inexplicably of Captain Holt.


    If he had been there, perhaps he could have saved some of the wheat.


    Unfortunately... in this world, wizards held themselves above all, and who would bother with such trivialities?


    The annual crop yield affected only ordinary people.


    Even if there were no harvests on the island this year, the wizards wouldn''t starve; they had other means to obtain food.


    In his previous world, the lower-class people in war-torn countries suffered severe famines, yet the rich lived in luxury.


    Such inequality was even more pronounced in this world. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If ordinary people weren''t necessary for some reason, wizards wouldn''t care about their fate nor specifically protect the fields.


    Colin shook his head and continued towards the city.


    Soon, his familiar black carriage appeared in front of him.


    This time, however, Arthur wasn''t the only one standing by the carriage.


    "Master," Renee greeted him as she approached.


    "Why are you here? Don''t you need to look after Demi?" Colin asked in surprise.


    "Demi can take care of herself now. I came to bring you breakfast, Master," Renee said with a slight smile, lifting the food basket in her hand to show Colin.


    Colin was somewhat surprised; West City was quite a distance from his residence, almost half an hour by carriage.


    So, after a night''s duty without any food, he indeed felt hungry sitting in the carriage.


    In the past few days, he had been eating only after getting home; he hadn''t thought to have Renee bring him breakfast directly.


    He was pleasantly surprised and praised Renee a few times.


    Renee bringing him breakfast meant he could eat on the carriage ride home and go straight to sleep once he got there, saving quite a bit of time.


    The two of them boarded the carriage together.


    Arthur remained silent throughout, merely bowing respectfully to Colin when he saw him.


    "He''s a competent coachman," Colin was quite satisfied with him.


    "By the way, Arthur, did you finish the thing I asked you to do?" Colin suddenly remembered something and asked Arthur just before stepping into the carriage.


    "It''s done, master," Arthur replied.


    Colin nodded in satisfaction. It seemed Arthur was quite efficient.


    What he had asked Arthur to make was actually a wooden target.


    To become proficient in witchcraft, one could not rely solely on theory¡­

 Chapter 37 - 37 Black-Maned Giant Pig

    Hiss.


    A barely perceptible whistling sound passed through the air, followed by a loud collision noise.


    Bang!


    It was intermixed with the shrill sound of bending metal.


    The metal arrow had pierced through the iron plate on the chest of the humanoid wooden target, and the remaining kinetic energy caused it to topple backward, making a thud as it hit the smooth basement floor.


    Colin stepped forward to examine it closely.


    The wooden target was nearly the size of a person, its lower half a huge counterweight block of iron.


    And on its chest hung a piece of iron so thick it could be called a block.


    The iron plate was about a dozen centimeters thick and had been completely penetrated by the metal arrow.


    A satisfied expression appeared on Colin''s face.


    This was still the first time he had used the Limit Breaking Arrow Shooting Skill on a physical object with full force... When he had killed the thug, North, he had only used one-tenth of his power, far from his full strength.


    Now it seemed that the power of the Arrow Shooting Skill after one Limit Breaking exceeded his imagination.


    At least the Steel Armor witchcraft before Limit Breaking was absolutely unable to defend against it. If it were the Steel Armor after one Limit Breaking, maybe it would be a fifty-fifty chance.


    ''But the metal arrows... seem somewhat inappropriate.''


    Colin slowly drew out the arrow, pondering deeply.


    Now that the Arrow Shooting Skill had its power deficiency compensated for after Limit Breaking, it still required arrows.


    But ordinary arrows were not convenient to carry... Perhaps it was time to switch to a more portable "arrow."


    After one Limit Breaking, his understanding of the Arrow Shooting Skill had deepened; he knew it was not limited to just shooting arrows.


    As long as it was a suitable metal, after certain adjustments, it could be launched via the Arrow Shooting Skill. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Putting thought into action, Colin walked upstairs, instructing Arthur to go to the blacksmith to forge several different models to test their effects.


    Upon receiving the order, Arthur immediately drove off. These days, such miscellaneous tasks had always been his responsibility.


    Meanwhile, Renee was preparing dinner on the other side, while little Demi played alone in the yard.


    The yard was originally supposed to be a well-maintained garden, but now it was overgrown with weeds, and there was a huge coconut tree on the left.


    After moving in, they only roughly cleared the weeds once and didn''t maintain it carefully afterward, making these random wildflowers and plants become Demi''s playground.


    She wasn''t afraid of Colin and just played around with a small wooden stick.


    Colin beckoned her over and pinched her face.


    Demi was five years old this year, both her looks and personality extremely likable. In the modern world, she certainly would have been the kind of child who walked around during New Year''s collecting red envelopes until her hands were sore.


    Initially, Colin was worried about her playing alone unsafely. For example, the coconut tree on the left often dropped coconuts, fearing that one might accidentally hit her.


    But the children of this world were far sturdier than those of his previous world and knew how to avoid many dangers.


    Eventually, he got used to her, a five-year-old, playing around by herself.


    After all, even her sister, Renee, was not worried.


    After playing with Demi for a while, Colin felt sufficiently rested and continued to return to the basement to practice witchcraft.


    He was ultimately not some non-human with a monstrously firm will.


    Apart from the Golden Paper, he was just an ordinary man, unable to continue training like a machine every day.


    No doing other things... no socializing, no entertainment.


    So he would occasionally chat with Renee, pinch Demi''s chubby cheeks.


    As for Arthur, he was a taciturn type and always stiff around him, so Colin rarely sought him out for a chat.


    The new "arrow" models were ready by the next day.


    Last night, another wild boar, a Fierce Beast of the same kind, had attacked.


    But unfortunately for it, it had stumbled into the territory of Captain Holt, and within a few meters, had been strangled to death by vines.


    To distinguish, Holt had named the beast the Black-Maned Giant Pig last night.


    Its characteristic was its unusually large size.


    The Dark Forest was an extremely dangerous place, perhaps only the wizards of the Lap School felt confident to traverse it safely.


    The origins of these fierce beasts within the Dark Forest remained unknown¡­


    The only certainty was that the beasts were growing stronger, something Colin had heard others lament more than once.


    After finishing his shift and waking up, Arthur had brought him several different models of new arrows.


    There were the simplest steel balls, as well as shuttle-shaped and diamond-shaped ones, among others.


    Colin immediately went to the basement to test them.


    One after another, ghostly lights shot out from his hand, pockmarking the iron plate in front of the wooden target.


    Finally, after careful testing, Colin chose the shuttle shape. This form was faster and more powerful.


    The custom-made shuttle-shaped arrows were only the size of a knuckle, making them easy to carry.


    The only downside was that they were more difficult to make compared to other types, so they were also more expensive.


    But they were still within the range Colin could afford.


    Over the next few days while on duty, they were attacked by the Black-Maned Giant Pig.


    And each time, it either happened on the neighboring territory of the Chiwen Gang or on their Lap School''s grounds.


    Although each incident ended with the wizards killing the beast, due to its robust life force and massive size, it always managed to cause significant damage to the fields.


    After finishing his shifts, Colin frequently saw many gaunt farmers trying to salvage the wheat, their expressions growing increasingly grim. Once he even saw a thin, elderly farmer lying on the ground, picking up wheat and shedding tears.


    The situation continued until his eleventh day on duty.


    That morning, after his shift was over and he was about to leave, Holt called him and the other team members back.


    The squad members rarely gathered together.


    Holt led them to an open area outside the city gates, where a middle-aged man with black curly hair was standing.


    "City Lord Price," Holt greeted him. Colin and the others followed suit respectfully.


    From his position, Price was at least on par with the three top apprentices of the School and perhaps even a bit more powerful. Clearly, he required deferent treatment.


    Price responded kindly.


    Colin looked up at Price; this was the first time he had seen the legendary City Lord of Blackstone.


    He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, albeit weathered.


    Moments later, five wizards from the Chiwen Gang arrived.


    Colin spotted a familiar, frail figure among them.


    Clearly, he also saw Catherine, his expression changed slightly, and he subtly hid behind his nearby companion.


    Catherine did not notice him, or perhaps she had forgotten him.


    "Everyone is here, so I''ll make it short," Price said gravely.


    "In recent days, the repeated attacks by the Black-Maned Giant Pig have caused severe damage to the fields. If this continues, many people in the city will die this year.


    It seems that a group of wild pigs has already appeared in the Dark Forest¡­ We can''t let them continue to reproduce.


    So, I''ve called you here to take the initiative tonight, led by the strongest among us, Wizard Holt¡­ Marlow, you have no objections, right?"


    "No, City Lord," the leading wizard of the Chiwen Gang, a first-class apprentice, replied.


    "Good. Afterwards, I will personally offer 150 Magic Stones as a reward, and if we manage to bring back the Black-Maned Giant Pig, I will buy it at the standard rate," Price nodded, then slowly continued after scanning the group:


    "That''s all I have to say. The specifics will be handled by Holt."


    With that, he turned and boarded the luxurious carriage behind him, leaving.


    Then, Holt briefly discussed the tactics,


    which essentially involved driving the wild pigs into a panic, making them flee back to the Dark Forest. From there, they would take the opportunity to follow them to their lair and eradicate all the wild pigs.


    Of course, given the dangers of the Dark Forest, if they ventured too deep, they would abandon the operation directly.

 Chapter 38 - 38 Proactive Attack

    The next evening, inside the duty cabin.


    One by one, new shuttle-shaped "arrows," or perhaps darts, were tossed by Colin into the soft, beast-leather pouch arranged on the table, clinking against each other.


    After it was half-filled, Colin secured it at his waist for close storage.


    This wasn''t the only place on his body where he stored shuttle-shaped darts. To avoid the embarrassment of running out, he placed varying amounts of the darts in multiple locations on his person.


    In addition, he also carried some dry food Renee had made, just in case.


    With everything ready, he waited quietly inside the cabin.


    By all logic, tonight the Black-Maned Giant Pigs should also attack.


    And what he needed to do was wait for the City Guards on patrol to detect movement, pull the signal flare, and then he would rush over quickly.


    Before that, Holt and Marlow, a First-Class Apprentice of the Chiwen Gang, would arrive before him to mark the wild pigs.


    Then they would wait for him to meet up with them at the spot, and together they would follow the marks in pursuit.


    Outside the window, the moonlight was bright, with silver moonbeams pouring into the room and quietly merging with the gentle White Light of the Bright Crystals.


    With the weather being clear tonight, the sky full of stars, and even without the need for torches, one could clearly see everything in the fields.


    Sitting inside the room for a long time, the signal flare took a while to come. Colin remained focused on it, and somehow found it hard to settle down to meditate.


    ''I still haven''t experienced a real battle...'' he thought to himself with a light chuckle, not really feeling any particular way about it.


    Tests, interviews, fighting bosses in games, or even before starting a trip, it''s hard for anyone to avoid a bit of an accelerated heartbeat.


    This feeling, a mix of excitement, tension, anticipation, and fear, is complex and only natural.


    Colin stepped out of the door, bent his knees slightly, and then leaped onto the roof.


    The landscape outside West City was flat, which was not only good for farming but also meant the view was rarely obstructed. He stood on the rooftop with a clear panoramic view.


    Groups of City Guards wielding torches patrolled the fields in a systematic rhythm, creating orange trails in the darkness.


    A cool breeze passed, and his heart gradually calmed. As usual, he cast a Golden Cleaning Technique on the rooftop below him, then sat down with his legs crossed, starting to meditate.


    Time continued to slip away.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    The footsteps of the City Guards approached from afar, then grew distant, patrolling back and forth.


    After an undefined period.


    Ziii!


    Boom!


    An orange signal flare burst suddenly into the night sky, distinctly visible. In an instant, Colin''s fair complexion was coated with a thin orange glow.


    His mind hadn''t caught up, but his body had already leapt down from the cabin.


    Before his toes even touched the ground, he heard a whizzing sound from the wooden house to his right!


    Looking up, he saw a figure soaring into the sky, hurrying towards the direction from which the flare had come¡ªit was Holt.


    Glancing to the left, there was also a Wizard flying rapidly through the night sky, probably Marlow from the Chiwen Gang.


    Colin exhaled slightly, feeling his blood inexplicably restless. He hesitated no longer and hurried along the ridges of the fields.


    The wind whistled past his ears, and his strong and agile legs accurately stepped on the narrow earthen paths.


    Before long, he saw flickering lights in the distance.


    After a short while, the distinct shrieks of the Black-Maned Giant Pigs also reached his ears with the breeze.


    As he drew closer, however, the shrieks of the Black-Maned Giant Pigs grew more distant.


    By the time he reached the spot of the lights, all he saw were a small troop of City Guards holding torches and the Wizards, Holt and Marlow, standing and waiting.


    Perhaps because the Black-Maned Giant Pigs had attacked in the area he was responsible for, he turned out to be the earliest to arrive next to Holt and Marlow.


    After greeting them respectfully, Colin stood aside and waited.


    In the field ahead, many stalks of wheat lay flattened, creating a clear, visible path leading towards the Dark Forest.


    "It seems Holt and his team have already marked the Black-Maned Giant Pig and driven it back to the Dark Forest," he speculated to himself.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    With the sound of footsteps drawing nearer, more and more wizards gathered around him, and it didn''t take long for everyone to arrive.


    After looking around and counting heads, Holt issued his command in a clear and concise manner.


    "Let''s move out!"


    He took the lead, walking ahead, while Marlow took up the rear of the group.


    Before long, they followed the tracks to the edge of the Dark Forest.


    "Once inside the forest, tighten formation, watch out for each other, and don''t fall behind!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before entering the forest, Holt stopped in his tracks, turned back, and solemnly reminded them.


    Colin walked right behind him, with Catherine and other squad members at his side.


    After Holt finished his reminder, he cast the Light Brightness Skill to summon a light orb that floated before him, then he stepped into the forest first.


    Colin followed closely behind.


    As soon as he stepped into the Dark Forest, he distinctly felt a stark contrast from the outside world... The Dark Forest was exceptionally silent, with an inexplicable sense of eeriness.


    Colin surveyed his surroundings by the soft white light of the orb.


    All around grew trees of various shapes, some with intertwined roots and crooked forms, others tall and straight with lush foliage... But they all shared one common feature¡ª


    That was the deep, almost black color of their bark and leaves.


    This color made them look like pure black shadows, staring for too long would even give one the illusion that they were twisting and swaying.


    Holt led the group forward steadily, occasionally making slight adjustments to their direction.


    Along the way, Colin spotted many signs of the Black-Maned Giant Pig''s activity. The group also encountered several snake and insect attacks, but Holt or Marlow resolved them beforehand.


    After a while, Holt suddenly quickened his pace, no longer adjusting direction, and headed straight towards a fixed point.


    ''That Black-Maned Giant Pig must have returned to its lair and settled down,'' Colin conjectured in his mind.


    After a brief swift march, the group arrived at a hollow in the hillside, facing a huge, pitch-black cave.


    "Stop."


    Holt motioned backward with his hand, caution apparent on his face.


    Rashly entering the cave was clearly not a wise decision.


    He pondered for a moment and called Marlow over.


    "I have a way to ascertain the situation inside the cave, but I may need your assistance," he said.


    Marlow nodded, indicating for him to continue.


    Holt took out a rice grain-sized seed from his chest and said:


    "This is a May Grass seed, which after growing, can roughly sense the vitality of living creatures nearby. I need you to help me scatter it evenly into the cave."


    "No problem," Marlow agreed.


    He took the brown seeds, tossed them into the air, and a gentle breeze lifted the brown seeds, quietly flying into the cave.


    Soon after, Marlow nodded and said,


    "It''s done."


    Holt nodded slightly and began casting his spell.


    Inside the cave.


    The May Grass seeds, scattered at intervals on the ground, quietly sprouted, their fragile husks gradually torn, the shoots peeking out and quickly growing into about ten-centimeter-tall May Grass, with fine fuzz swaying in the wind.


    Outside the cave, Holt closed his eyes and carefully sensed his surroundings. Moments later, he opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his face as he said lightly,


    "Let''s move out. There are only a few dozen ordinary Fierce Beasts inside, most likely all Black-Maned Giant Pigs."


    "This must be their lair."

 Chapter 39 - 39: Free to Kill

    A group of people entered the mountain cave.


    Colin only felt that this dark, gargantuan maw of a cave seemed like a terrifying mouth, slowly consuming them.


    But this was just an illusion, as in the next second, the wizards all cast Light Brightness Skill, and the gentle white light illuminated the cave as if it were daytime.


    They briskly moved towards the depths of the cave, and soon came to a wide hall where a group of black-maned wild boars were huddled together, sleeping.


    Holt scanned the area and, upon confirming that the only exit was the entrance they came from, gave the order!


    "Free kill!"


    He took the lead in casting his spell, as several coiled tendrils suddenly appeared among the boar group, seemingly slow but actually quickly entangling the nearby black-maned giant pigs.


    Yi~ Yi!!


    The entangled black-maned giant pigs let out agonizing squeals, and their sleeping companions were also roused by the noise!


    Marlow, on the side, wasn''t to be outdone, as he waved his hand and cast a pale cyan Wind Blade, each one taking the life of a giant pig with precision.


    Meanwhile, most of the intermediate apprentices had to expend much more effort, usually taking quite a while before they could completely kill a black-maned giant pig.


    However, to Colin''s surprise, fellow team members Willard and Catherine displayed a noticeably higher efficiency in slaughtering the black-maned giant pigs compared to the other apprentices.


    Willard''s use of Acid Liquid splash, a very common witchcraft, was incredibly powerful in his hands, as the afflicted black-maned giant pigs died shortly after due to the acid eroding their brains.


    And although Catherine was violent, one had to admit that her Fireball Technique was truly masterful.


    She did not choose to directly shoot the black-maned wild boars with Fireball Technique; instead, she allowed the fireball to continuously cover the faces of the black-maned giant pigs.


    Often in a short amount of time, accompanied by the scent of roasted boar brain, a black-maned giant pig would collapse with a thud, lifeless.


    Such maneuvers seemed effortless but were actually far from simple; just the precise targeting of the head was very difficult, not to mention maintaining the exploding Fireball Technique burning on the boar''s head like a lingering disease.


    Colin shifted his gaze and pulled out a custom dart.


    Whizz!


    Silently, a fully-grown black-maned giant pig on the edge of the hall suddenly had a huge hole blasted through its neck.


    Even with such a severe injury, the black-maned giant pig was still lively and jumping, with the wound on its neck swiftly healing.


    ''Missed the shot...'' Colin shook his head, then took out another dart and shot.


    Swish!


    Boom!


    This time he hit the target right in the head! The giant pig fell at the sound.


    ''5 Magic Stones in hand,'' a smile surfaced on his face.


    Speaking purely of killing efficiency, as long as he aimed a bit better, perhaps even Catherine wouldn''t be able to match him.


    As for Magic Stones... the den of the black-maned giant pigs wasn''t far from the edge of the Dark Forest, and it seemed very likely that they would be able to transport them out.


    If they could be transported out, they could be exchanged for Magic Stones.


    The ownership of the different black-maned giant pig corpses was clearly whoever killed them.


    ''Although 5 Magic Stones isn''t much, if I kill more, the final reward will still be substantial.''


    Thinking this, Colin quickly proceeded to take out another dart, selecting a suitable black-maned giant pig.


    Since the battle was going favorable, and black-maned giant pigs could be exchanged for Magic Stones,


    To avoid misunderstandings, usually, the same black-maned giant pig would not be focused on by multiple people, and everyone tacitly concentrated on dealing with the one they had selected for themselves.


    "What do you mean! That giant pig was about to be killed by me!"


    Just then, there was an angry shouting nearby.


    Colin glanced over, and it was an intermediate apprentice from the Chiwen Gang questioning Catherine.


    Catherine didn''t deign to pay him any attention, not even turning her head, and kept on brutally slaughtering the pigs.


    Holt and his companion nearby also did not bother with this quarrel.


    That intermediate apprentice ultimately swallowed his anger and switched to another giant pig to continue the attack.


    Catherine was currently summoning several fireballs, aiming them precisely at the very center of the hall.


    There resided a group of Black-Maned Giant Pig piglets, obviously a size smaller than the other giant pigs.


    Colin shook his head, just as he felt everyone was being restrained and in sync, Catherine overturned his thoughts.


    Swoosh!


    Another dart was shot out by him. Colin stopped overthinking and focused on killing the pigs, meanwhile seizing this rare opportunity to practice the precision of his Arrow Shooting Skill.


    Under continuous attacks from the group, the Black-Maned Giant Pigs were like fish trapped in a jar, their numbers dwindling.


    Especially after Catherine had killed most of the piglets in the middle, the remaining giant pigs charged towards them in a frenzy.


    Unfortunately, it was in vain, making their offensive efforts even more comfortable.


    "Roar!!"


    Just as Colin was engrossed in shooting, a ferocious roar suddenly came from the passage behind him.


    His movements stiffened as he quickly stepped closer to Holt before turning to look back.


    A Black-Maned Giant Pig, obviously different from its cohorts, was charging towards them.


    In terms of its overall appearance, it differed little from the regular Black-Maned Giant Pigs, except for its darker fur.


    But it was at least twice the size of a normal giant pig, looking to be at least two to three stories tall, nearly reaching the cave''s ceiling!


    Not to mention its strength, its sheer size exuded a strong sense of oppression... Perhaps it should be called the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    At this time, both Holt and Marlow turned around, their faces solemn.


    From their formation, they were already surrounded.


    "This Black-Maned Giant Pig is no longer just a Fierce Beast," Holt said in a low voice.


    "Yes, it seems much stronger than the average Black-Maned wild pig," replied Marlow, and then asked, "Will you take it on?"


    "Sure, you go help the others," Holt responded.


    Marlow nodded and moved to the other end.


    "Tighten the formation, come behind me!" At the same time, Holt called out in a deep voice.


    The Apprentices promptly adjusted their formation, positioning themselves between the two.


    "Roar!"


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King roared again, its bellow mingling with an inexplicable wave of magical power.


    After this roar, its rage-filled eyes fleetingly revealed a hint of fatigue.


    The twenty or so Black-Maned Giant Pigs still alive in the hall suddenly turned blood-red eyed, and the wounds on their bodies, already healing rapidly, began to heal even faster! The black mane also seemed to be shrouded in a thin layer of dark light.


    Their defenses became stronger, and their healing abilities enhanced!


    Now the attacks from the ordinary Apprentices posed much less of a threat to them. It often looked bloody one second, and the next, the wounds had healed as if nothing had happened. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, luckily with Marlow''s covering, they were not overwhelmed by the Black-Maned Giant Pigs in the hall.


    Colin hastily fortified himself with the Hope Defense Field. Before this, in consideration of magic power consumption, he had only used Steel Armor.


    He could no longer afford to conceal his true abilities, and the frequency of his dart shots suddenly doubled. The other Wizards also went all out.


    This way, they managed to stabilize the situation for a moment.


    Colin let out a small sigh of relief.


    Then, after a while,


    Under their carnage, the number of Black-Maned Giant Pigs in the hall gradually decreased, already fewer than ten. Victory was within sight.


    "Marlow!"


    But just then, a shout from Holt came from behind!


    Marlow quickly turned back to look.


    Colin''s heart also skipped a beat, instinctively glancing behind.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Desperate Situation

    After getting a clear view of the scene, his heart gradually settled down again.


    Under Holt''s attack, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King was currently bound in place by numerous strange vines, soaked in blood and clearly at a disadvantage.


    "Help me out!" Holt continued, persistently applying magic power.


    Only then did Colin notice that the vines entangling the Black-Maned Giant Pig King were snapping one by one!


    Marlow quickly cast a spell!


    But the Black-Maned Giant Pig King reacted faster.


    "Roar!"


    It suddenly let out a ferocious roar, its basketball-sized eyes flashing with a red glow, as the black mane on its body instantly stood up like steel needles, and its muscles abruptly swelled.


    With a forceful charge, the remaining vines suddenly shattered with a tearing sound.


    Perhaps sensing its inevitable defeat, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King merely cast a hate-filled glance at Holt and the others and then, without lingering for battle, turned its head and fled in an instant!


    With incredible speed, it had already put a distance of more than a dozen meters between them.


    "Chase! We can''t let it get away; the consequences will be dire!" Holt immediately called out to Marlow.


    "After you finish off the remaining Black-Maned Giant Pigs, just wait here for us to return."


    Marlow didn''t hesitate and quickly instructed the other apprentices, then chased after Holt together.


    The situation in the hall had become clear, and even without his presence, the remaining intermediate apprentices could handle the few leftover Black-Maned Giant Pigs.


    On the other hand, the terrain of the Dark Forest was complex and fraught with danger, dealing with a fierce beast whose strength was not inferior to the usual advanced wizard apprentice.


    Holt obviously needed his support more.


    As for allowing it to escape, that was obviously not an option.


    Not to mention that the Black-Maned Wild Boar King was a rarely seen high-level fierce beast, highly valuable.


    Just the hateful gaze of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King was enough reason to pursue it... Nobody wanted a fierce beast with the strength of an advanced wizard apprentice keeping them in mind every day.


    Soon, Marlow followed Holt''s figure as they gradually disappeared around the far corner of the tunnel.


    The cave became quiet for a moment, as the remaining apprentices looked at one another.


    But this silence was soon broken by the remaining Black-Maned Giant Pigs'' roar.


    They stopped thinking and continued to surround and conquer the Black-Maned Giant Pigs.


    After some time, Colin slowly exhaled and placed the dart in his hand back into the pouch at his waist.


    Now in the hall, only the last Black-Maned Giant Pig remained, being attacked by a member of the Chiwen Gang; it was at the end of its strength, barely clinging to life.


    According to unspoken agreement, this Giant Pig was his, no one else intervened, all merely watching quietly.


    But Colin seemed to think of something, glancing at Catherine not far away.


    His head hadn''t completely turned.


    "Roar!" A familiar roar suddenly sounded.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned back to look behind.


    A very familiar Black-Maned Wild Boar appeared around the distant tunnel corner.


    "How could it come back! Didn''t Lord Marlow go after it!?" a member of the Chiwen Gang asked in panic.


    "What do we do? It has the strength of an advanced wizard apprentice; we can''t handle it!"


    "It''s not the same one!" someone countered.


    ''Indeed, it''s not the same one,'' Colin observed carefully and concluded.


    This Black-Maned Giant Pig had a very similar appearance to the previous Black-Maned Giant Pig King but was slightly smaller in size.


    Bang.


    Just then, the last Giant Pig in the hall was killed and fell.


    Now everyone turned around to face the newly arrived, slightly smaller, Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Fear appeared on their faces.


    In the apprenticeship, advancing to advanced apprentice was a challenging leap.


    Usually, perhaps a dozen or twenty basic level wizard apprentices could contend with an intermediate wizard apprentice.


    But a dozen or twenty intermediate wizard apprentices couldn''t contend with an advanced wizard apprentice.


    Even when facing some stronger advanced wizard apprentices, doubling the number of intermediate apprentices might not be enough!


    At this moment, the tunnel they had come through was blocked by the large body of the new, slightly smaller Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Looking back, the hall behind them had no exits, with just a small pool of water in the corner.


    The slightly smaller Black-Maned Giant Pig King in front of them was clearly not much weaker than the previous one, comparable to an advanced wizard apprentice!


    They had reached a dead end.


    There was no time to think!


    If they did not unite, they would be defeated one by one, leading to certain death!


    Colin''s lips barely moved as he was about to suggest that everyone band together to fight...


    "It doesn''t matter if it''s the same one or not! Whether we can handle it or not, we have no way out. We have to prepare to fight together if we want any hope! Stop hiding your abilities, everything you''ve got, bring it out now!"


    Someone had spoken the suggestion before him.


    Looking up, it was a familiar face, Orlando, the unattractive chubby member of the same team.


    He grimaced in pain, clenched his teeth, and pulled out a yellow Magic Crystal from his bosom, activating it with Magic Power and holding it in his hand with a single wave.


    A spike as thick as a water bucket suddenly burst from the ground in front of the Black-Maned Giant Pig!


    "Roar!!"


    Caught off guard, the Black-Maned Giant Pig collided with it head-on, and its massive body was forced to a halt.


    But the spike was stopped by its thick skin and failed to cause much damage.


    Swoosh!!


    The Apprentices seized the opportunity, unleashing their full power in an attack!


    Many of them, like Orlando, took out their treasured Magic Crystals.


    Those who had become Second Class Apprentices were no fools; none of them were oblivious to the situation.


    If they were stingy with Magic Stones now and kept their trump cards hidden, it would be too late to use them if the Black-Maned Giant Pig was not dealt with!


    Fireballs, Ice Spurs, Acid Liquid, Darts, Wind Blades...


    Countless varied forms of witchcraft assaults were launched like a surge at the momentarily immobilized Black-Maned Giant Pig, exploding upon impact.


    Shockwaves kicked up dust from the ground, shrouding the area in dust and smoke so thick that the Black-Maned Giant Pig was barely visible.


    Moments later, the power of the Magic Crystals was exhausted, and the attacks slowed.


    In the distance, the dust gradually cleared, revealing a pair of eyes like blood-red flames silently emerging from the dust.


    "Roar!!"


    A fierce cry suddenly erupted, scattering the remaining dust!


    The figure of the Black-Maned Giant Pig became visibly clear, its body now strangely etched with red patterns.


    The next second, it was panting heavily, its legs slightly bent, ready to lunge.


    "We''re done..."


    The color drained from the Apprentices'' faces.


    Colin''s pupils also contracted slightly as if an invisible hand was clutching his heart!


    He didn''t have time to think any further and made a sharp leap to the right.


    But the Black-Maned Wild Boar was so fast that it went from being shrouded in dust one second to charging at close range the next!


    Even his Great Knight''s speed didn''t allow him to completely evade the attack.


    Bang!!


    His vision blurred all at once, and by the time he realized what had happened, he was flying through the air before crashing heavily into the slaughterhouse-like cave behind him.


    Three others shared the same fate, all members of the Chiwen Gang.


    It was probably because he stood at the very left of his own team, right next to the Chiwen Gang.


    The three from the Chiwen Gang were in much worse shape than Colin, essentially incapacitated.


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig''s weight was no lighter than that of an earth-moving truck from his previous world, and at that moment, with the red patterns enhancing its speed, it was even faster than a truck.


    The Defensive Witchcraft of ordinary Intermediate Wizard Apprentices couldn''t withstand such an impact.


    The Chiwen Gang Apprentices were left with barely a breath.


    But Colin, relying on the Hope Defensive Field, Steel Armor, and the Blood Energy Armor inherent to a Great Knight, ended up with only minor injuries.


    Bang!


    He hit the ground and quickly got back to his feet.


    Looking back at the Black-Maned Wild Boar, it was clearly sluggish after executing that charge, appearing to have expended a huge amount of energy.


    There was no time to hesitate: now was the perfect moment to counterattack!


    "It''s almost down, attack now!" Colin called out to Catherine and the others while drawing his darts.


    Meanwhile, Catherine and the others were just recovering from their shock.


    The recent charge by the Black-Maned Giant Pig had been overwhelmingly powerful, equivalent to a full-force blow from an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    They were relieved that they weren''t in the direction of its charge.


    When Orlando heard Colin''s shout, he instinctively wanted to move forward to help.


    Willard and the remaining frail wizards from the Chiwen Gang followed closely behind.


    Boom!


    But just as they took a step forward, a rumbling sound came from behind, and the cave passage started to collapse.


    Orlando and the others'' faces changed instantly, and they hurriedly turned and rushed back.


    At that moment, Colin also realized what was happening and turned his shocked gaze toward the inexplicably collapsing passage.


    He rushed toward the passage urgently.


    Unfortunately, he was too far away from it.


    Bang!!


    Before he could reach the passage, a huge rock crashed down, making a deafening noise.


    All Colin could do was stop in front of the rubble with a grim expression.


    And then. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Roar!"


    The roar of the Black-Maned Giant Pig once again came from behind!

 Chapter 41 - 41 The Curse

    Rocks plummeted to the ground, scattering dust and rubble in a shockwave.


    At the entrance to the outside world.


    Orlando made a desperate lunge forward, rolling to the ground, narrowly dodging catastrophe.


    "Catherine!"


    He sprang to his feet and roared at Catherine.


    Willard and the slender Wizard stood beside him, their expressions darkened.


    When they turned back, they clearly saw Catherine knocking down the rocks at the top of the passageway!


    Watching them successfully escape, Catherine slightly furrowed her brow, her gaze shifting.


    In a rage, Orlando swung his right hand, casting an Earth Cone directly at Catherine!


    A Fireball suddenly appeared in front of Catherine, blocking the path of the Earth Cone.


    Bam!


    Upon contact, the Fireball violently exploded, turning the Earth Cone into fragments.


    Orlando''s face grew dark. He was about to take another shot, with invisible Magic Power brewing in his hands.


    "A bunch of fools!" Catherine glanced at them and spat out coldly.


    Orlando couldn''t help but falter, blood rushing to his face, turning it red.


    "You!?"


    The expressions on Willard and the slender Wizard''s faces soured as well.


    "That Black-Maned Giant Pig King inside, it possesses at least the strength of an Advanced Apprentice; if we don''t use the rocks to block it..." Catherine said icily, "then none of us present here would stand a chance at survival."


    "Besides, with the passage so close by, are you still afraid you won''t be able to escape?"


    "The Black-Maned Giant Pig is so powerful that most of the Apprentices who were hit are probably already dead.


    Rather than risking our lives for nothing, it''s better to take this opportunity to bring down the rocks and escape."


    Willard''s rage on his face gradually faded as his mental scales tilted in favor of Catherine''s argument.


    The slender Wizard remained expressionless, silent.


    They tacitly didn''t mention Colin, who was still alive and begging for their help.


    Only Orlando still harbored anger in his heart; he wanted to retort, but Catherine interrupted him again.


    "I even suspect that the Black-Maned Giant Pig King deliberately lured Captain Holt away.


    Here, since there''s more than one Black-Maned Giant Pig, perhaps there isn''t just two..."


    Upon hearing these words, Orlando suddenly felt a chill in his heart.


    He looked over Catherine''s shoulder to the back of the deep cave passageway.


    Under such a pretext, an added sense of horror filled the place.


    It was as if, at any moment, another Black-Maned Giant Pig would quietly emerge from the darkness at the end of their line of sight.


    "Since this is the situation, arguing any further is useless; what''s most important right now is to quickly leave the Dark Forest."


    Willard suddenly interjected, glancing at the nearby passage with some fear.


    As Catherine had said, no one knew if there was a third Black-Maned Giant Pig. Staying here was undoubtedly a very dangerous thing to do.


    Orlando glanced at Willard, his expression constantly changing, finally relenting. He walked forward without a word.


    The slender Wizard kept silent the entire time. Being the only member of the Chiwen Gang present, it was best to speak less and do more.


    Furthermore, he too preferred to leave this place first.


    He stepped forward to walk alongside Willard by Orlando''s side.


    After a few steps, Orlando''s expression changed as he suddenly thought of something and stopped.


    No, Colin was still alive!


    The Lap School has severe punishments for members who harm one another''s lives!


    If the School were to find out about Catherine''s actions, she would be lucky to survive, let alone unscathed.


    With this in mind, how could she allow those of them who knew to live.


    Willard''s face also changed suddenly, a terrible suspicion arising in his heart.


    He charged forward hastily!


    Orlando and the slender Wizard also reacted, rushing forward.


    Catherine, walking ahead, gradually stopped and turned around to look at them, her expression playful.


    Orlando and the others had only taken a couple of steps when the air in front of them seemed to become a viscous liquid, making it nearly impossible to move. They were like insects trapped in amber, gradually immobilised in place.


    "You?!!"


    Orlando and the others were horrified, finally realising the truth.


    Catherine had never intended to let these witnesses go; her words were just to lull them.


    Catherine''s face turned slightly pale, the Magic Crystal in her hand crushed to dust, but she smiled, suddenly lifting her head.


    Swoosh!!


    A Fireball, nearly the size of a person, materialized with her will and shot towards the cave ceiling at high speed!


    "Ah ah!!" Orlando yelled in anger, but this time it was mixed with despair.


    Willard, holding a Magic Crystal, kept trying, his usually cool face now filled with panic as beads of sweat emerged.


    The slender Wizard was positively livid, his anger erupting like a volcano, flooding his brain and making him feel as though he were kindling set aflame.


    ''This masked bitch!''


    The humiliating scene from last time in West City flickered in his mind again, sparking a surge of anger in his heart that had nowhere to vent, causing his eyes to tear and bleed.


    Crack.


    The mountain rocks shattered, and tons of great boulders plummeted rapidly under the force of gravity.


    It was all a foregone conclusion.


    Catherine withdrew her gaze and carefully gathered the powdered Magic Crystal she had transformed into the palm of her hand until none remained, and stowed it away.


    Without leaving a trace.


    As for the falling rocks, her main reliance was on the shockwave from a Fireball explosion, which wouldn''t leave any noticeable marks. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She sighed, feeling some heartache.


    Up to this point, she had exhausted all of the trump cards she had acquired from a fortunate encounter in her early years.


    But it was all worth it; the Black-Maned Giant Pig was exceptionally fast. Only by using the boulders to restrict its movement could she ensure her successful escape.


    Otherwise, even if someone diverted its attention, it wouldn''t delay it for much time.


    With its speed, the Black-Maned Giant Pig could easily kill them one by one as they ran out of the Dark Forest.


    This was the safest method for her!


    As for the others, they were not at all in her consideration.


    The only pity was that she hadn''t managed to bury Orlando and the others with it.


    However, she had anticipated this and had prepared a contingency plan.


    After all, she wasn''t foolish enough to let these people in the know live.


    "...Masked bitch!"


    The noisy voice came again.


    The frail wizard in the distance was still furiously cursing her, his tone fierce as if tearing at his throat.


    But she didn''t care at all.


    The boulders were about to smash down on him.


    These shouts were nothing more than his futile struggles before death, just some noise.


    Though she had a bad temper, she wouldn''t waste her anger on a dying man.


    But the next second, a sudden premonition came over her.


    Whoosh!


    Dazzling flames rose from around her, forming a misty halo.


    Yet everything was calm as if nothing had happened.


    Catherine looked up at the frail wizard in the distance who was about to be buried by the boulders, just before the moment when the rocks hit the ground and crushed the three of them.


    Her pupils contracted slightly as if she saw something unbelievable.


    Boom!!!


    The shockwave hit, and dust rose everywhere. Catherine stood frozen, her mind replaying the scene she had just witnessed.


    Orlando and Willard had given up struggling and were only staring in despair at the boulders falling above their heads.


    But the frail wizard, the one who had been unnoticeable from the start and whose face she couldn''t even remember now, a Chiwen Gang Deacon, was clutching her with hatred in his eyes, looking incredibly eerie.


    ...His eyes emitted a nauseating green light, his flesh appearing to surge with life like waves, flesh waves. His skin cracked open, with yellow fat mixed with a dark aura rolling within his flesh.


    Under such inhuman torture, the frail wizard''s face was eerily calm as he stared at Catherine, his lips moving silently, saying something.


    "I¡­ curse¡­ you¡­"


    Amidst the dust, Catherine repeated the frail wizard''s lip shapes quietly.


    By now the rocks had completely collapsed, and after the loud impact, the world fell into a strange silence.


    In the long tunnel, it seemed there was only her breathing.


    Catherine couldn''t help but shiver, the flames burning around her failing to bring her any warmth.


    ''Evil God...'' she immediately concluded.


    The frail wizard''s last performance was a typical sacrifice... and to the Evil God, at that.


    An uncomfortable feeling surged within her.


    "Crazy man!" she muttered a curse.


    She hadn''t expected the frail wizard to be so extreme, to sacrifice himself to the Evil God to put a curse on her.


    And... he actually managed to successfully sacrifice himself... was he a Cultist all along?


    The discomfort in her body was getting stronger.


    She lowered her head to check herself.


    ''Supple and smooth arms, worm-like fingers, a body full of pustules¡­ Yes, everything''s normal.''


    Catherine''s furrowed brow relaxed, and it seemed she had worried too much. It''s not so easy to communicate with the Evil God to cast a curse...


    She put her mind at ease, using the tentacles below her to slither towards the cave''s entrance, making a soft rustling sound.


    Pale moonlight shone into the cave, casting behind her an eerie, snakelike shadow.


    As she neared the mouth of the cave, the shadow grew shorter, and on closer inspection, the odd shadow quivered and twisted, gradually returning to the normal human silhouette.


    Tap tap.


    Normal footsteps suddenly echoed, replacing the previous rustling sounds.


    Catherine walked out of the cave and stopped by the entrance, completely unaware.


    She carefully identified her surroundings, found her direction, and immediately started running forward with her restored normal legs.

 Chapter 42 - 42: 42ç«  Counterattack

    Splash!


    Inside the cave hall, Colin plunged into the deep pool like an arrow.


    "Roar!!"


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King pursued closely, its massive body entering the pool and stirring up high splashes of water.


    But soon, it stopped. The pool in the cave hall was long and narrow, an oval shape that wasn''t large¡ªonly about tens of meters wide¡ªbut it was very deep.


    With just a few steps, it felt like it was almost submerged.


    Its massive size, while offering great strength, made it a poor swimmer.


    However, it wasn''t in a hurry and stood by the edge, observing carefully.


    Underwater.


    Colin''s face was pale.


    The water was ice-cold and piercing, but not as cold as his heart.


    This was his second time diving in¡­ and he didn''t know how long this brief respite would last.


    In theory, a Great Knight''s physical abilities should allow him to hold his breath underwater for half an hour.


    But the Black-Maned Giant Pig King possessed exceptional sight.


    Often, it didn''t take long before it would find him in the pool and then charge with that swift, torpedo-like collision, fiercely striking him in the water.


    Colin took this brief moment to breathe and circled the pool once more.


    In the previous continuous chases, he had always tried to find another way out within the cave hall.


    He had checked the cave hall several times, and this was his second sweep of the pool, but he found no traces of a possible escape route.


    The entire cave hall was like a sealed arena.


    Colin, feeling the Magic Power he had left, felt disheartened.


    Under normal circumstances, he could dodge the impacts or bites of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    But when it was covered with dark red patterns,


    the speed of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King would suddenly increase, and increase drastically!


    With such an increase, Colin hadn''t successfully dodged even once to this date.


    The strong speed brought about powerful kinetic energy.


    If it weren''t for his own three layers of defense protecting him like a steel bean, he probably would have ended up like the Chiwen Gang Apprentices long ago.


    Why else would it be that although he was disheveled every time, he only suffered minor injuries?


    But such a situation was only temporary.


    Under the extraordinary charge of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King, his Magic Power was rapidly draining, now barely at one and a half percent.


    He was truly in a dire situation¡­


    Colin clenched his teeth¡ªhe hadn''t given up yet!


    Although this was the second sweep of the pool.


    In fact, without the illumination from the Light Brightness Skill, the cave was now completely dark, and underwater visibility was less than a meter.


    So, his first sweep in the dark, yielding no results, was quite expected. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he firmly believed there must be a way out in the pool.


    Before diving into the pool, he had observed carefully.


    The water was clear, not stagnant.


    And if it wasn''t stagnant, it meant there might be a connecting passage.


    This might be the only chance at survival.


    "Roar!!"


    The roar of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King entered the water a bit distorted.


    Swoosh swoosh¡ª


    It kept stirring the pool, and the once-clear water by the edges was now completely murky.


    After pondering for a moment, Colin moved his arms, shifted directions, and then kicked with his legs, swimming deeper into the pool.


    A little while later, he gradually stopped, closed his eyes, and relaxed his body from head to toe, floating like a feather in the air.


    Colin carefully felt the fluctuations of the water currents.


    Swish¡ªswish¡ª


    The rhythm was rapid and irregular like rain hitting a lute, clearly caused by the giant pig.


    He focused his mind, slowly filtering out these fluctuations.


    The world grew quieter and quieter, the distant roars of the giant pig seemed as if they were coming from another world, growing far away. Gradually, he felt his heartbeat slowing down.


    After an unknown length of time, Colin finally caught a consistent surge of current below the pool.


    He opened his eyes, a glint of surprise flashed through them, followed by no hesitation, and he immediately swam in the direction of the current.


    After a while, he felt his body completely enveloped by the current.


    "It''s time¡­ there''s no way to accurately pinpoint the passage any longer."


    He prepared himself, his heartbeat gradually quickened, and then with a thought¡ª


    A bright sphere of light lit up at the bottom of the pool!


    Instantly, the underwater became as bright as daylight. Colin quickly scanned the surroundings, trying to locate a possible flowing passage.


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King by the edge was taken aback.


    "Roar!!"


    Its eyes flashed a bright crimson light, and its heavy breathing caused ripples on the water surface.


    Shoo!


    It suddenly charged towards Colin''s position.


    Plunge!


    Like a torpedo exploding, the water surface erupted into meters-high white spray as it heavily slammed into the cave ceiling, then fell back into the pond.


    By then, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King had completely submerged, shooting towards Colin like an arrow, its speed creating a long white trail behind it.


    Meanwhile, Colin had no time to regard the impending danger behind him. He widened his eyes, frantically searching his surroundings!


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King hadn''t arrived yet, but the impact of the water flow had. Suddenly, it was as if he was a lone boat in a storm, propelled unwillingly forward by the currents.


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King was about to reach him from behind in the next second!


    Just at this critical moment, Colin''s eyes brightened, and he used all his strength to kick forward, swimming swiftly towards the front left side like a barracuda.


    Bang¡ª


    The giant pig collided with the cave''s stone wall, emitting a dull sound.


    "Roar¡ª" the Black-Maned Giant Pig King shook its head.


    In the narrow, person-sized tunnel ahead, Colin braced against the walls and turned around.


    The globe of light summoned by the Light Brightness Skill floated between him and the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Through the semi-translucent globe, he could clearly see the Black-Maned Giant Pig King watching him intently with its over one meter diameter crimson eyes.


    Bang!


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King suddenly backed up before violently slamming towards the tunnel entrance, its sharp tusks breaking off several pieces of stone.


    Whoosh.


    The water surged, causing Colin''s reflexive slight retreat, but he quickly stopped again.


    The underwater stone wall was hard, and the Black-Maned Giant Pig King had no leverage¡­ It seemed impossible for it to chase him in.


    Colin watched the Black-Maned Giant Pig King outside the passage, suddenly shifting his thoughts. Quietly, He retrieved a few darts from behind his waist, holding them tightly in hand, silently waiting for the right moment.


    Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King was still futilely colliding.


    Colin maintained a calm expression, clutching the darts even tighter.


    After a while, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King seemed to realize that its efforts were futile, and gradually stopped.


    It clumsily shifted its body, once again staring at Colin in the tunnel with its red eyes.


    ''Now''s the time!''


    Colin''s gaze intensified.


    Shoo!


    Three darts shot out of the tunnel like lightning towards the giant pig.


    Plop!


    At such close range, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King had no chance to react.


    The darts shot straight into its huge left eye.


    "Roar!!" The Black-Maned Giant Pig King let out a painful scream!


    Blood spurted out, quickly spreading in the water, instantly staining a large area red.


    Shoo!


    Colin didn''t pause. He continued to employ his Arrow Shooting Skill, launching more darts at the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Unfortunately, such a good opportunity only comes once.


    This time, the darts only hit the neck of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King and did not cause significant damage.


    The next second, as Colin was gearing up to continue the attack,


    the Black-Maned Giant Pig King suddenly dived downward, disappearing from Colin''s sight.


    Colin sighed.


    Within the tunnel, although his safety was somewhat assured, his field of vision and attack angles were severely limited.


    With thoughts rapidly crossing his mind, he hesitated for a moment before slowly moving toward the mouth of the tunnel.


    He needed to check the condition of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    ¡­Hoping that his last attack was lethal enough to kill it.


    He didn''t wish to rashly escape along the dark tunnel behind him¡­ Who knew where it would lead?


    ¡­The best method was always to handle the Black-Maned Giant Pig King in front, then wait in the cave hall for Holt and others to return.


    The cave hall contained the corpses of several Black-Maned Giant Pigs and a few corpses of Wizard Apprentices. Therefore, even if the passage to the outside world was blocked by debris, Holt and his group would most likely return, and they would find a way to clear the passage.


    While swimming toward the mouth of the tunnel, he stayed alert to any noises from outside.


    Initially, there were swishing sounds of the water and the distinct painful grunts of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King, but as he got closer to the tunnel entrance, they all gradually weakened.


    When he reached the entrance of the tunnel, everything had calmed down.


    Colin cautiously peered out of the tunnel but found nothing. The uneven walls formed many blind spots, blocking his view.


    Seeing this, he got an idea.


    Shoo!


    A ball of light quickly flew out.


    Colin carefully observed the outside.


    ¡­Nothing happened.


    All was calm and still.

 Chapter 43 - 43: Vitality

    "I can''t wait any longer..." Colin thought to himself.


    His time underwater was always limited; he couldn''t afford to waste more time.


    Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a dart and held it in his hand, his legs kicked out, and he slowly swam out of the passage.


    As soon as he left the passage, he swiftly swept a glance around, focusing particularly on the spot directly below where the giant pig had dived.


    With the aid of Light Brightness Skill''s white light,


    he saw clearly that an enormous creature was lying on the bottom of the pond below him.


    Silent and lifeless.


    A surge of ecstasy suddenly welled up in Colin''s heart.


    "The Black-Maned Giant Pig King is dead?!!"


    After the ecstasy came an intense weariness that nearly caused him to faint.


    It took him a good while to calm his excited joy, and then he slowly adjusted his position and headed towards the surface.


    But just as he kicked out,


    a sense of alarm suddenly struck!


    Colin glanced instinctively below and his face changed drastically; he hurriedly turned and swam back to the dark passage.


    The Black-Maned Giant Pig King at the bottom of the pond was now covered with numerous crimson veins, and as they lit up, it began to slowly regain vitality.


    Thump¡ªthump¡ªthump¡ª


    The drum-like heartbeat echoed rapidly through the water, causing Colin''s own heartbeat to involuntarily speed up.


    He once again updated his understanding of the healing abilities of the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Swoosh!!


    As he swam, he didn''t remain idle, trying to shoot darts to interrupt the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    But the lighting of the crimson veins had pushed its regenerative ability to a monstrous level. The large holes made by the darts often healed within less than a second, restoring to their original state.


    At this moment, Colin also realized the limitations of his darts.


    When facing such large creatures, his custom darts, only the size of a knuckle, although not lacking in penetrative power, left much to be desired in terms of killing power.


    "Roar!!" A dull roar from the Black-Maned Giant Pig King resounded.


    ¡­he had no idea how it could roar under the water.


    But no matter what, he didn''t have time to think about this anymore!


    Whoosh!!


    A rush of water currents surged from below!


    The dark passage was right in front of him, and Colin kicked out fiercely!


    In the end, he brushed past the Black-Maned Giant Pig King and narrowly returned to the dark passage once again.


    Thump~thump~thump.


    Colin, touching the walls of the dark passage, felt his heart pounding violently.


    He turned to glance back, and although now with only one eye, the Black-Maned Giant Pig King still seemed vigorous and alive; he sighed inwardly.


    Then, without hesitation, he turned his head back and swam deeper into the passage.


    The underwater passage was dark and narrow, with peculiar erosive patterns on the rock walls on both sides, and the pond water was ice-cold to the bone.


    Colin paddled with his powerful arms, maintaining a steady pace as he struggled to swim forward.


    Even with the illumination of the Light Brightness Skill''s white light, the passage ahead was still bottomless. At the end of his vision, there was only darkness.


    Colin steadied his mind, forcing himself not to overthink.


    At times like this, the biggest fear is often not the external dangers but the collapse of one''s own inner spirit.


    In desperate situations, the hardships and dangers encountered are not what''s most frightening; losing hope is¡­


    His Magic Power was running low, and there was no way to replenish it in the water.


    Colin lowered the intensity of his Steel Armor and the Hope Defense Field slightly.


    Since descending into the pond, he hadn''t encountered any living creatures other than the Black-Maned Giant Pig.


    But no one could be certain there wasn''t danger ahead.


    While maintaining basic defense, it was still necessary to reserve some Magic Power for unexpected crises.


    As he was thinking this, the passage ahead suddenly began to narrow.


    From an original diameter of over a meter, it suddenly shrank to about seventy centimeters.


    Colin''s heart sank, and with reluctance, he continued to swim forward.


    The cramped space prevented him from extending his arms; he could only progress with the kicking of his legs.


    After a while, Colin gradually came to a stop.


    It was not that he lacked the strength, but that there was no way forward.


    Illuminated by the Light Brightness Skill''s white light, the wall at the end of the passage was clearly in sight, solid and impenetrable.


    A sense of despair rose in Colin''s heart.


    But quickly, he gritted his teeth, the clear contours of his jaw muscle emerged, and a mysterious anger surged up within him!


    It wasn''t over yet; he wouldn''t give up first.


    He continued to swim forward, coming close to the wall.


    At that moment,


    Whoosh!!


    A sound of water abruptly surged from behind.


    Something was swimming towards him in this deep, narrow passage!


    Colin''s expression tensed, and he quickly turned around, clenching the dart in his hand, bracing himself for the encounter.


    Moments later,


    Bathed in the white light of the Light Brightness Skill, Colin discerned the form of the attacking creature.


    In the wider passage behind him, there emerged a smooth, white creature that resembled both fish and serpent, with a head featuring a single ring-shaped gaping mouth.


    Its body was roughly one meter thick, clearly too large to squeeze into the narrower passage on his side.


    As he had anticipated, the creature got stuck at the point where the passage narrowed.


    "Hiss!!"


    It opened its layered ring-shaped mouth and released a silent shriek.


    Swoosh!!


    Colin seized the opportunity, launching several darts violently towards it.


    Pfft!


    "Hiss!!"


    The metal darts hit their mark, and the creature let out a soundless cry of pain.


    Immediately after,


    Swoosh!


    A mass of yellow-green gel filled the entire passage and suddenly shot towards him!


    With no room to dodge in the narrow passage, Colin''s gaze sharpened as he increased the output of his defensive witchcraft.


    The yellow-green gel quickly engulfed him, causing the Spiritual Light of his defensive witchcraft to flicker and waver.


    Then, propelled by momentum, it continued to move and came into contact with the stone wall behind him.


    As soon as it touched,


    Hiss!


    A violent corrosive noise abruptly arose.


    The stone wall behind him and the passage walls that came into contact with the gel were rapidly dissolving.


    Seeing this, Colin involuntarily increased the output of his defensive witchcraft and shifted position slightly to move out of the range of the yellow-green gel.


    Thanks to the Hope Defense Field, he did not come into direct contact with the gel, but its astonishing corrosive power still gave him a start.


    As he moved, he turned his head slightly to survey the tunnel, noting the strange erosion patterns on it.


    ''Perhaps this passage was carved out by the creature itself.''


    He speculated silently but did not stop; reaching for more darts, he hurled them at the creature once more.


    "Hiss!"


    The creature''s shriek resounded again, but confined by the width of the passage, it could not reach Colin directly.


    Swoosh! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A larger mass of yellow-green gel gushed from its mouth!


    Like a sharp file, it expanded the passage wherever it passed.


    Colin''s face changed as he raised the darts to continue shooting at the creature.


    Just then,


    Crack!


    The sound of collapsing stonework came from behind.


    Followed by the surge and flow of water, as if something had been unblocked.


    ''Could it be?''


    Colin''s eyes brightened as he hastily looked back.


    The dead-end passage had now eroded a large hole at its terminus under the influence of the yellow-green gel.


    Seeing this, Colin''s face couldn''t help but light up with wild joy.


    But he didn''t rush to leave.


    Turning around, he faced the white creature, continuously oozing fresh blood from its body.


    The current position was advantageous¡ªa narrow passage that the white creature could not pass through.


    If he did not take the opportunity to kill it now, once the creature widened the passage with its corrosion and could move freely, he would no longer have the luxury of such a comfortable vantage point for attack.


    Colin pulled out several darts, focusing intently as he prepared.


    Moments later,


    Swoosh!!


    The Arrow Shooting Skill at maximum power propelled several metal darts to shoot out, speeding through the water!


    Pfft!


    "Hiss!"


    The white creature emitted a painful shriek, its blood diffusing and spreading in the water.


    Then it gradually fell silent.


    Under the illumination of the Light Brightness Skill, the white creature floated motionlessly in the water, its head shattered by the darts into pieces.


    It appeared to be dead.


    But just to be sure,


    Colin fired several more darts at the fish-creature, not stopping until he had broken its corpse into several pieces.


    After doing all this, he turned and quickly dove into the eroded large hole in the stone wall.


    The soft white light from the Light Brightness Skill lit up his surroundings.


    He passed through the hole that had been eroded.


    The next moment,


    His face lit up with wild joy!

 Chapter 44 - 44: Return

    Swish¡ªswish¡ª


    In a gray-white stone chamber, modified from a natural cave.


    Silence enveloped the space, save for the sound of water rippling in the pool.


    Beside the deep pond, a figure lay unconscious.


    After an unknowable length of time, his eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.


    Whoosh!


    The next second, Colin immediately sprang to his feet, standing upright.


    His gaze was fixed on the shattered pyramid-shaped structure not far away.


    As he moved, the blood scabs on his body fell off like catkins in the wind.


    ''What is this?''


    Caught off guard by the abnormality, a wave of alarm surged through him as he quickly checked his arms.


    However, he found nothing unusual¡ªonly smooth, even skin met his eyes.


    But Colin''s heart did not ease, instead a shadow fell over it.


    Suddenly, looking at the falling blood scabs, he seemed to realize something.


    He took out a dart and aimed it at his arm. After hesitating for a moment, he slashed forcefully.


    Under the sharp dart, a wound appeared instantly.


    But the next second, before the blood could even flow, the wound closed in the blink of an eye!


    Colin was startled. Although he was a Great Knight, such rapid healing was clearly not something he possessed.


    He stood still, finely attuned to his own body.


    Cool sensations emanated continuously from his brows, nourishing and enhancing his spirit.


    At the same time, a warm sensation came from his heart, fortifying his physique.


    Colin''s expression changed, recalling the recent events.


    Not long ago,


    He had successfully killed a white creature, crossed through the eroded hole, and found this pool.


    Then, the time he could hold his breath was almost at its limit!


    There was no time to think.


    He desperately swam towards the surface.


    After emerging, he saw what seemed to be this stone chamber remodeled from a natural cave.


    And the pyramid-shaped stone platform standing alone in the center¡­


    The moment he stepped onto the edge of the pool, he merely took a slight step forward,


    Instantly, an invisible repulsion emanated from the pyramid-shaped platform at the center,


    Whoosh¡ªit pushed him back into the pond.


    Amidst the splash of the fall, he heard the cracking and collapsing of the pyramid-shaped platform!


    Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a Golden Four-leaf Clover emerging from the shattered pyramid!


    Immediately following that, a strange fragrance suddenly reached his nose,


    Instantly, an indescribable hunger arose from every cell in his body!


    It was as if¡­ the soul itself was starving!


    Saliva incessantly secreted, swallowing could not keep up, and soon, it spilled out of his mouth, dripping down his chin into the pool. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then his consciousness blacked out, and he found himself in the present.


    It seemed he had obviously ingested the Golden Four-leaf Clover¡­


    Colin withdrew his thoughts.


    The injury on his arm, which he had just inflicted, could no longer be found.


    And the strange sensations at his brow and heart continued unabated.


    Clearly, all this was due to the Golden Four-leaf Clover originally hidden in the near, broken pyramid-shaped platform.


    ''No, that was definitely not an ordinary Golden Four-leaf Clover.''


    But soon, he shook his head.


    The Golden Four-leaf Clover, as the name suggested, was like a clover made of gold,


    Every heart-shaped leaf and even the root, gleaming gold, matured and exposed to the outside, it even released tiny particles of gold dust, something between the tangible and intangible.


    Ingesting it did not involve swallowing, but rather placing it one finger''s distance in front of the brow and then mobilizing spiritual power, capturing its released gold dust in a manner similar to capturing Magic Power during meditation.


    It was a rare Magic Potion.


    Yet, it was not a creation of nature, but something cultivated long ago by an unnamed Wizard.


    So unlike naturally grown exotic flowers and plants, which can have various side effects or strict taboos,


    Golden Four-leaf Clover has no side effects or taboos; its only possible flaw is that it is only effective for Official Wizards and below.


    But such a flaw is negligible compared to its effects!


    Its effect is also very simple, with only one kind¡ª


    That is soul enhancement!


    As one might know, improving the soul is not an easy matter.


    Apart from exceptionally rare magic potions like the Golden Four-leaf Clover,


    Wizards wanting to enhance their souls could only do so during major breakthroughs¡ª


    For example, when progressing from Wizard Apprentice to Official Wizard, or from First Rank Wizard to Second Rank Wizard, etc...


    Only then could they receive a boost in soul strength.


    Of course, the soul enhancement brought about by each advancement is a qualitative leap; the effect of the Golden Four-leaf Clover is not that strong.


    But it is also not to be underestimated.


    If what he consumed was indeed real Golden Four-leaf Clover,


    then at the earliest one week, at the latest two weeks, by the time the Golden Four-leaf Clover was fully absorbed,


    not only would his Wizard qualification be elevated at least from Fourth Class to Third Class, but it could even rise to Second Class.


    Moreover, his soul''s strength might become the strongest on the island, second only to Wizard Lap!


    Colin finished recalling the knowledge he had learned about the Golden Four-leaf Clover, but he couldn''t help shaking his head.


    If what he consumed was indeed real Golden Four-leaf Clover,


    then where on earth did this peculiar energy in his heart come from?


    And the powerful self-healing ability brought about by the heart''s energy.


    He sighed lightly in his heart, casting aside the useless doubts, and slowly approached the golden pyramid pedestal.


    Regardless,


    the feeling of enhancement from his body and soul wouldn''t lie, and there had also been no abnormalities on the Magic Stone.


    Optimistically speaking, maybe the Golden Four-leaf Clover was an enhanced modified version.


    After all, this place looks like it was especially designed for cultivating that peculiar Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    The shattered golden pyramid pedestal was clearly a special cultivation device.


    He gradually approached the broken golden pyramid pedestal.


    The golden pyramid pedestal, about three meters high, was built from gray stone blocks, and had already fractured in the middle.


    The gray stone blocks looked very ordinary, with no special textures or symbols.


    Thinking of this, the same question emerged in his heart again¡ª


    ''...Where exactly is this place?''


    He gradually stopped walking, standing beside the pedestal, and looked up around him. Smooth walls surrounded him, and no exit was in sight.


    This question, obviously, could not be answered at the moment.


    Colin then looked towards the pedestal next to the pond and suddenly had a guess.


    That white strange fish, perhaps it knew of the existence of the Golden Four-leaf Clover here, which is why it had burrowed out such a long tunnel.


    He walked a few more circles in the chamber, but still couldn''t find any exit.


    Colin sighed.


    He had been prepared for such an outcome and didn''t find it difficult to accept.


    His plan was to wait a little longer here,


    and then return to the previous cavern hall.


    He hoped that Holt and the others had returned successfully, having slain the Black-Maned Giant Pigs.


    It seemed that the chances of success were not high.


    But in reality, it was highly likely that Holt and the others would return.


    After all, even if they were indifferent to the corpses of the Apprentices in the hall, the many valuable carcasses of the Black-Maned Giant Pigs were there, all sources of Magic Stones; they wouldn''t give up so easily.


    Colin took another look around the stone chamber and felt a sense of awe.


    ''Who built this stone chamber... And how did they cultivate such a special Golden Four-leaf Clover...''


    Of course, seeing the layer of scab on the ground, he also felt fortunate in hindsight.


    Just this layer of scab made the danger he had just faced crystal clear.


    This special Golden Four-leaf Clover, while its effects are potent, had much greater risks than an ordinary Clover.


    If he were not a Great Knight, he presumably would not have survived.


    While thinking this, Colin used a Cleaning Technique combined with Fireball Technique to sweep over the chamber, turning his scabs into ash, erasing all evidence of his presence.


    He then waited for quite some time, adjusting his state, before diving back into the water and swimming towards the earlier cavern hall.

 Chapter 45 - 45: Return to the City

    Splash!


    Inside the cavern hall, a sudden burst of water splashed from the tranquil pond, and a vague figure emerged.


    "Who is it?"


    The City Guards slicing up the Black-Maned Giant Pig''s carcass changed expression dramatically!


    The two Wizards standing nearby also tensed up.


    This place was the Dark Forest, where they could not afford to be careless.


    "...Don''t be nervous," Colin said as he came ashore, standing at the edge of the pond and lifting his triangular badge slowly.


    The ping-pong ball-sized triangular badge in his hand emitted a silvery-white glow.


    The expressions of the Wizards opposite him eased.


    School badges were bound one-to-one, and that silvery-white glow could only be stimulated by the person themselves.


    "Is Wizard Holt still here?" Colin asked.


    Upon leaving the stone chamber and returning to the pond, it was just as he had thought¡ªthe Black-Maned Giant Pig that had cornered him was already killed by Holt and his comrade, and the passage connecting the cavern hall had also been reopened.


    Even now, there were City Guards in the cavern hall dismembering and transporting the Black-Maned Giant Pig''s body.


    It seemed that more time had passed than he had imagined.


    After all, being cut off from the world in the stone chamber with no light, it was difficult to perceive the actual passage of time.


    "Wizard Holt... should be in the city now," the Wizard on the left in front of him replied, then paused before adding, "You''re Colin, right? Everyone thought you had died..."


    Colin smiled and did not expound further but nodded politely to them.


    "I still need to find Captain Holt, so I won''t disturb your work."


    ...


    Forty minutes later, at the Guard Station in West City.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    Colin knocked on a wooden door on the second floor.


    "Come in," a familiar voice called.


    Colin pushed the door open.


    Holt was sitting behind a black wooden table, basking in the sun.


    "Colin?!"


    Surprise colored Holt''s voice at the sight of him.


    Although no body was found in the cavern hall, he had harbored little hope that Colin was still alive.


    "Captain," Colin calmly nodded his greeting.


    Despite the invariant Cleaning Technique, his Wizard Robe was still dry but tattered at the edges. His half-length golden hair was also wet and bedraggled.


    "It seems you have a lot you want to talk to me about," Holt said after looking Colin over and slowly began to speak.


    Following that, Colin recounted in detail what had transpired.


    Of course, he omitted the content about the stone chamber.


    He simply stated that he had used a fake death witchcraft and hidden in the pond to narrowly escape death.


    After listening to Colin''s narration, Holt frowned slightly and said,


    "...So what you''re saying is, Catherine and the others took the opportunity to run away while you confronted the Black-Maned Giant Pig, and they even blew up the passageway?"


    "I can''t be completely sure it was them who destroyed the passage, but I surmise it''s very likely," Colin explained with an even tone.


    "...Do you know that Orlando, Willard, and Beilek from the Chiwen Gang are all dead?"


    After a moment of silence, Holt suddenly asked.


    ''Everyone but Catherine is dead?!'' Colin was somewhat taken aback internally.


    Holt continued gravely,


    "I''m glad you''re alive... As long as one survives, nobody cares how you managed to do it."


    Colin looked at Holt, puzzled and not understanding.


    Holt furrowed his brow, sighed, and decided to clarify,


    "Catherine''s account is the complete opposite of yours, did you know that?"


    "Every word I''ve spoken is true!" Colin emphasized firmly. "I..."


    "Colin!" Holt shook his head to stop him, his tone no longer gentle, he spoke with a deep voice:


    "If, as you say, three senior Intermediate Apprentices were left half-crippled by the Black-Maned Giant Pig... then how are you still hopping around so lively? How could you stand against the Black-Maned Giant Pig on your own?"


    Colin hesitated slightly, about to explain. But Holt interrupted him again.


    "Catherine said it was because of your nervousness that the formation was disrupted."


    "Then, as the Black-Maned Giant Pig sent you flying, the ceiling of the cave also collapsed.


    In a chain reaction, a large part of the cave ceiling collapsed, and Willard and the others didn''t escape in time because they were overwhelmed by the Black-Maned Giant Pig."


    "In the end, only Catherine was lucky enough to survive..."


    Holt gradually calmed down, turned to look at Colin, his tone slightly soothing:


    "Colin, you have only just advanced... It''s normal to be nervous in battle, and nobody will blame you. There''s no need to make up this story..."


    Colin was shocked, a surge of complex thoughts flashing through his mind.


    He didn''t expect Catherine to play the role of the accuser first... and Orlando and the others were all dead?


    ''Could it be Catherine who killed Orlando and the others?!''


    As if by divine inspiration, this speculation emerged in his heart.


    But now was not the time to dwell on these matters.


    His eyes flashed, and with a ringing sound, he fiercely drew the wasp needle from his waist.


    Holt''s eyebrows rose slightly but didn''t take much notice. However, the next second, his pupils shrank a little.


    Colin raised his arm, thrusting the slender sword in his hand hard toward the palm of his own lifted left hand.


    Ding!


    The wasp needle collided with the palm, making a sound like metal striking stone.


    Colin continued to press hard, bending the wasp needle under the powerful force until it bent to ninety degrees before he released his hand.


    Then he looked up at Holt, his face calm.


    Holt wasn''t angry either; seeing Colin''s unscathed left hand genuinely surprised him.


    He knew Colin was a Great Knight.


    As a Great Knight at the peak of the Knight System, it wasn''t much compared to a Wizard.


    But this was only because Knights have overly singular attack methods and average personal defenses.


    In terms of attack power, the full-force thrust of a Great Knight usually cannot be defended against by the Defensive Witchcraft cast by an Intermediate Apprentice.


    After all, it was a thrust, not a slash or the like.


    Of course, no Wizard would be foolish enough to let a Great Knight get close.


    He also saw that Colin had exerted his full strength, and the wasp needle was a rare good sword...


    After pondering for a moment, he took the initiative to apologize:


    "I have wronged you, Colin..."


    "Don''t worry too much, Captain." Colin responded calmly. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As for Catherine, I will go find her and ask again for clarification."


    Holt continued, his gaze flashing with gravitas. He obviously also considered Catherine''s guilt.


    Seeing this, Colin didn''t elaborate further.


    He paused for a moment, then bid farewell to Holt and headed towards his home.


    One cannot act on mere conjecture.


    Otherwise, not only might you fail to avenge the real culprit, but you might also create unnecessary enemies for yourself.


    So, as soon as he returned to the city, he went to report to Holt first.


    But now, combining the information from Holt''s side and his personal experiences in the cave hall, he was eighty percent sure that Catherine was the one who collapsed the tunnel and also killed Orlando and the other two.


    Although he didn''t know how Catherine managed to kill all three at once, the truth was probably very close to his guess.


    However, he was not in a hurry to confront Catherine now.


    If it was as he thought, the School would take revenge for him without him having to lift a finger.


    After doing such a thing, Catherine had only one way to die; she couldn''t even dream of sparing her life, nor could she become a slave like Charlie!


    Of course... if the School didn''t do him justice.


    A shadow crossed Colin''s eyes as he thought to himself:


    ''Then I''ll just have to take matters into my own hands...''

 Chapter 46 - 46: Madness

    West City Guard Station.


    Inside a room on the second floor.


    Holt did not go straight to Catherine, but paced back and forth in the room, pondering deeply.


    Although he had believed Colin''s words, there were still doubts about the matter.


    The biggest doubt was¡ªwhy did Orlando and his two companions die under the falling rocks?


    According to Colin, it was probably Catherine''s doing.


    But if she did it, how did she manage?


    It was much harder than directly killing the three of them.


    If it were him, it wouldn''t be much of a problem.


    But for Catherine, also an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, to have Orlando and his companions die under falling rocks seemed incredible.


    "Maybe, Colin hasn''t told the whole truth either," he speculated quietly after much thought.


    If that were the case, then everything would make sense.


    After all, people are selfish, and their words tending to favor themselves is normal.


    However, all of this was still speculation; the concrete truth would require further investigation...


    ...


    On the other hand, Colin was walking on the road, his steps somewhat hurried.


    "I wonder how things are back home after being away for so long."


    He was eager to return to his own courtyard, primarily because he was hungry.


    Before he set out for the Dark Forest, he had brought some dry food made by Renee, but it had gotten soaked and become inedible.


    Now it was the afternoon of the second day, and he was already very hungry.


    Boom¡ª


    Suddenly, there was a sound of thunder in the distance.


    Colin looked up at the sky.


    The weather on the island was even more unpredictable than in the mountains. It had been clear just a moment ago, but now the sky was gradually being covered by dark clouds. It looked like it was about to rain.


    He quickened his pace.


    Once he advanced to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice and learned Flying Witchcraft, traveling would no longer be so arduous.


    He crossed the main street, turned into an alley, and walked for a few more minutes.


    Boom¡ª


    As another peal of thunder sounded, torrential rain poured down!


    Colin frowned and continued forward.


    However, at the next intersection, he gradually slowed his pace.


    Crack!


    A bright bolt of lightning streaked across and suddenly illuminated the dim world.


    It also illuminated the figure of a woman veiled in front of Colin. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...You didn''t die?" the woman asked indifferently, sounding somewhat surprised. Yet, the expression on her face was stiff and peculiar.


    It was somewhat reminiscent of certain over-surgeried women from his past life, seemingly having lost control over their facial muscles.


    "Thanks to you," Colin replied coldly without changing his expression.


    "Heh... heh... heh¡­"


    But to Colin''s surprise, after he spoke these words, Catherine froze in place like a crashed machine, her eyes toggling between anger and confusion, and a heh-heh sound continuously escaped her lips.


    "She''s¡­ gone mad because of what I said?" Colin felt momentarily bewildered.


    Woosh!


    A Fireball suddenly hurtled towards him.


    "Crazy woman!"


    Colin cursed quietly, but he was prepared; with a swift sidestep, he dodged to the side.


    The Fireball passed by his left side, bringing with it a wave of heat.


    Colin took out a metal arrow, ready to strike back.


    Boom!!


    Unexpectedly, Colin was struck from behind with a heavy blow!


    After the fireball, the size of a human head, brushed past him, it incredibly swerved and hit him again.


    "Heh... cough, cough..."


    Catherine coughed violently, her eyes regaining some clarity.


    After returning to the city, she slowly began to notice something unusual about herself.


    She hadn''t expected the Chiwen Gang''s final curse from Bellet to be so vicious. Her condition was getting worse, and it seemed she could no longer hold on...


    Hiss.


    A barely detectable noise whispered through the air.


    Then, with a "plop," Catherine''s abdomen suddenly burst open with a hole the size of a fist.


    Ding!


    A metallic arrow continued its trajectory unabated, embedding itself deeply into the stone wall behind her.


    Thud.


    Catherine spat out a mouthful of blood, lowered her head to inspect her wound, then looked back incredulously at Colin not far away.


    To think she hadn''t held back just now¡ªalthough it wasn''t lethal, she shouldn''t have remained unscathed.


    But she had no time to think anymore!


    Her severe injuries had already disrupted the temporary balance within her body!


    Buzz¡ª


    A bizarre rage accompanied by an unsettling whisper rushed into her brain.


    The lucidity in Catherine''s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by endless fury and madness.


    Wham!!


    Dazzling flames rose from her body, forming an ethereal halo.


    The torrential rain could not extinguish the seemingly thin orange-yellow flames; instead, it evaporated instantly, dispersing into a ring of mist.


    Sizzle¡ª


    At that moment, anyone with acute hearing could detect several faint noises beneath the sound of the rain.


    Gray-black darts arranged in a net-like formation, shooting continuously towards Catherine.


    Sizzle!


    The darts successfully penetrated the ethereal orange-yellow flames around Catherine''s body but had melted into molten iron, losing their hardness and hence their penetrating power, and were blocked by the inner defenses without causing much damage.


    Although heated to high temperatures, for someone adept in fire manipulation like Catherine, this temperature was clearly insignificant.


    Colin''s brows furrowed, but they quickly relaxed as his pupils contracted!


    Through the ethereal flames, he noticed a horrific transformation in Catherine!


    "Tsk."


    Behind Colin, at a street corner, a wizard in a black robe uttered a "tsk" through the curtain of rain.


    He turned to his companion and said,


    "It seems Bekeley was indeed killed by her... Flesh Curse. Don''t know what this woman did to make Bekeley willing to endure such pain to curse her..."


    "Whatever she did, we should clean up Bekeley''s mess now... If the Guard Team comes later, it won''t end well," his companion responded indifferently.


    "What''s the rush, it''s pouring; who would patrol in this? Her curse is about to detonate, a rare scene indeed."


    "Ah, there it comes!"


    His companion looked disdainful yet begrudgingly watched.


    Through the rain curtain, everything became hazy.


    Thud!


    Even as Catherine''s body swelled into a huge, dark-red tumor, eventually exploding under the Flesh Curse,


    It looked... more like a burst of blood-red fireworks.


    "...Truly beautiful!" the black-robed wizard exclaimed ecstatically.


    "..."


    "Let''s go, let''s hurry up and deal with that kid, or we might be too late."


    "You''re just too..." The black-robed wizard began to sneer, but his voice got stuck in his throat.


    Not far off, through the rain curtain, a figure was braving the rain, flying towards them.

 Chapter 47 - 47 Peeping

    Crack!


    Blue-white lightning streaked across the sky.


    "Colin!"


    Holt descended from the sky amidst the wind and rain, his expression grave.


    He scrutinized Colin carefully and, seeing that he appeared unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "You''re okay?" he still asked.


    "I am," Colin shook his head, his face very pale. The rain soaked his hair and dripped down his fair face, making him look somewhat haggard.


    He glanced again at the mess of yellow, white, and red flesh to his front left, feeling a surge of nausea.


    Tentacles within the pulp were still trembling as if they were alive.


    This was all that remained of Catherine.


    Just moments ago, he had been contemplating how to break through Catherine''s defenses when she suddenly transformed.


    Catherine''s entire body swelled like an inflated ball, her dark red skin marked with countless light yellow pus-filled bumps like those of a toad.


    Of course, what shocked Colin the most was the numerous slick tentacles that inexplicably sprouted from her body, thick and thin.


    Then there was a loud bang, and flesh flew everywhere...


    "Don''t look that way; pay attention to your mental state!" Holt warned.


    Colin was highly intuitive, but his soul was not strong, making him most susceptible to contamination by such bizarre entities.


    He still remembered the first time he saw Colin, how he had been haunted by the radiation he had inadvertently leaked.


    Heeding the warning, Colin shuddered slightly, nodding with some fear.


    In this world, it was often best to neither see nor hear too many things... He had heard too many stories of contamination.


    But soon, he reconsidered; he had seen such sights many times already... Apart from feeling disgusted, he had experienced no other sensations.


    Yet he had not forgotten the incident when Holt had slightly leaked radiation that haunted him.


    ''It must be thanks to the Golden Four-leaf Clover,'' he speculated silently.


    Then he raised his head and asked Holt with a puzzled expression,


    "Captain, how did you happen to come here?"


    Holt began to explain:


    "After you left, it wasn''t long before I went to find Catherine... But when I got to Catherine''s residence, there was no living person there.


    Moreover, ''Detect Evil'' indicated a strong presence of evil there."


    "So I followed the evil presence all the way here, just in time to see Catherine turn into a pool of flesh... This must be contamination by the Evil God!"


    Holt''s face grew solemn, and then he patted Colin''s shoulder, sighing,


    "Thank goodness you''re alright. This time, it was my oversight that failed to detect the abnormality in Catherine."


    He was truly apologetic; many had already died. If his negligence had led to Colin''s death as well, he might not face severe punishment, but he would have still felt some remorse.


    Moreover, he once again felt foolish for his previous narrow judgment.


    ''When did my thinking become so rigid?''


    ''...It''s not the first time¡­ Why couldn''t Catherine just let Orlando and his three men die under the falling rocks? And why couldn''t Colin tell the whole truth?''


    "Don''t underestimate others¡­" he cautioned himself inwardly.


    Judging from the battle traces at the scene, both Catherine and Colin were much stronger than he had imagined.


    Especially someone like Catherine, a Polluter, who was usually either very weak or, due to bizarre contamination, very strong.


    Catherine was clearly the latter, and Colin, being able to fight her and remain unscathed, was certainly no weakling.


    Had there not been similar cases before?


    During the Second Class Apprentice period, spending too much time practicing witchcraft often led to slow progress. But once advanced, their strength was usually formidable.


    He thought of Colin''s exceptionally strong Defensive Witchcraft... Perhaps it was precisely because Colin had practiced this witchcraft that his promotion had been so delayed.


    Understanding dawned on Holt; he glanced at Colin beside him and said:


    "If you have no other matters, you should head back first."


    "This matter involves the Evil God, I need to report it to Wizard Lap."


    "Yes," Colin nodded solemnly, taking a slight step to the side.


    The rain poured down heavily, and the collected water washed Catherine''s remains away, spreading the blood to his feet.


    Holt noticed this and frowned with a thought.


    Immediately, the scattered remains and blood were covered by a semi-circular transparent protective shield. The water on the ground and the rain from the sky were all blocked out.


    After doing this, he continued to urge Colin.


    "Alright, you should head back and rest... um, remember to come for your shift in West City tonight."


    "...Yes."


    "We need to work a bit harder recently, after all, seven Second Class Apprentices have died, and we''re short-staffed for night duty in West City," Holt explained and comforted, then added, "This situation shouldn''t last too long. Lord Red Flame has already reported this incident to Wizard Lap."


    Holt glanced at the distance, and then said somewhat meaningfully,


    "...Perhaps, in a while, there will be significant changes in West City."


    Colin was puzzled, but Holt just shook his head.


    "Then I''ll be going," he reluctantly bade farewell to Holt and turned to leave.


    As he was leaving, Colin inadvertently glanced into the distance.


    The curtain-like rainstorm blurred everything, making it unclear, but there seemed to be no one there.


    Looking at Holt again, he seemed not to have noticed anything unusual.


    ''Perhaps it''s just my imagination?''


    Colin stopped pondering and turned to hurry home.


    ...


    In the distance, under the eaves,


    The black-robed Wizard sighed and said,


    "Let''s go, there''s nothing to see here, and we can''t resolve Holt instantly... Hurry back and report to the master."


    "Ah, that''s the only option, luckily Bekeley had some brains to use a flesh and blood curse..." his companion also sighed. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The figures of the two gradually disappeared in the rain.


    The rain pattered down, forming long columns that hit the eaves, splashing large water droplets that then slid down the corner of the eaves, merging with the puddles on the ground.


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    Barely audible footsteps came.


    Colin slowly walked out from around the corner of the house, scanning his surroundings.


    ''The place I felt the gaze just now is right here.''


    He had intended to go straight home.


    But as he walked, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the sense of being watched wasn''t just his imagination.


    The Golden Four-leaf Clover gave him extremely sharp senses.


    Even if Holt didn''t seem to have noticed, he shouldn''t doubt his own senses.


    After all, theoretically, his senses might now be stronger than Holt''s, so being more sensitive was quite normal.


    So, he took a detour, planning to investigate a bit.


    Just to be safe, he first secretly spied from a distance, and after confirming no one was around, he walked over.


    Now it seemed there were no traces here... perhaps they were there before, but the heavy rain had destroyed them.


    But more likely, the observer here had just been an ordinary passerby.


    He carefully observed the surroundings once more, and after finding nothing, he decided not to think further.


    However, just to be safe, he planned to mention this later to Captain Holt.

 Chapter 48 - 48 Talent

    When Colin reached the doorstep of his home, the torrential rain had already ceased.


    The massive iron gate was unlocked, and Colin pushed it open to enter.


    The courtyard looked much the same as before, except for the right-side horse stall which was eerily empty; he had no idea where Arthur had gone off to.


    On the lawn to the left, Demi was frolicking in the water. She paused for a moment upon seeing Colin.


    In the next second, she quickly scurried her little legs towards the main building.


    "Sister! The master''s back!"


    "Little Demi..." Colin had barely started to greet her when he swallowed his words, involuntarily touching his nose.


    Soon, the main building''s door was flung open, revealing Renee''s figure.


    "Master!" She looked at Colin with a face full of surprise and asked.


    "Mm," Colin nodded, stepping into the main building while asking, "Where did Arthur go?"


    Renee, holding little Demi''s hand, followed behind him and replied,


    "Master, he went to the West City gate to wait for you."


    "How long has he been gone?" Colin paused in his steps.


    "Not long... he had come back earlier for lunch."


    Colin nodded; he hadn''t expected to just miss Arthur.


    "I need to take a bath, is there hot water?"


    "Yes, master."


    "Good," Colin said approvingly.


    Although he could use the Cleaning Technique, he occasionally enjoyed soaking in a bath after completing his shift.


    Renee, uncertain of when he would want a bath, generally prepared hot water every day.


    However, it was now afternoon, and for Renee to still have hot water ready was indeed thoughtful.


    Reaching the master bedroom''s washroom on the second floor, Colin waited quite a while before he saw Renee, somewhat strained, carrying up a basin of hot water.


    Every time for a bath, Renee would go up and down the stairs like this five times to bring enough hot water.


    ''Perhaps I could teach her the Sunlight Breathing Technique.''


    Colin couldn''t help but think that, although she was only responsible for looking after him, these tasks weren''t easy in a world without the convenience of various appliances.


    If Renee could become a Knight, at least she would be more efficient the next time she brought him his bathwater.


    He slowly stepped into the tub, sighing comfortably.


    ...But all these were for later. Right now, he didn''t have the spare time to teach Renee how to cultivate.


    After the bath, Colin came out of the washroom.


    On the wooden table outside, Renee had already prepared a tableful of sumptuous, steaming-hot meals for him.


    Colin sat down and eagerly began to eat.


    Compared to his time in the Wizard Territory, the quality of his life had significantly improved.


    While eating, he suddenly turned to instruct Renee,


    "Renee, go and call Arthur back later. I have to go on duty tonight."


    "Of course, master," Renee nodded and replied.


    After dinner, he instructed Renee not to disturb him and then went down to the basement alone.


    After locking the iron door to the first floor behind him,


    He thought for a moment and summoned the Golden Paper.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (3/100); Great Knight (30/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Phase Circulation Meditation I (39/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (80/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Slight; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Armor I (10/100); Arrow Shooting Skill I (11/100); Minor High Temperature Tolerance (43/100); Hope Defense Field (45/100); Fireball Technique (49/100); Detect Evil (31/100); Purification Evil Power (26/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    Colin meticulously scanned the Golden Paper from top to bottom, and found nothing unusual.


    ...His Wizard Level finally increased by 1 point... With this rate, it seemed that he could progress one point every twenty days.


    However, that was the speed before. Now that he had been transformed by the Golden Four-leaf Clover, his training speed was likely to change.


    Colin glanced at the Golden Paper again, and for some reason, he always felt a bit peculiar in his heart.


    He followed his intuition.


    And saw that just behind the Meditation Method section on the Golden Paper, a new line of characters had quietly emerged¡ª


    [Talent: Intermediate Strong Life (23/100)]


    Colin was startled for a moment, but soon realized what it meant.


    This Intermediate Strong Life Talent undoubtedly referred to the substantial self-healing ability that the unusual Golden Four-leaf Clover had given him.


    Therefore, it seemed that the primary effect of the Golden Four-leaf Clover was likely not to strengthen the soul, but to grant the consumer this Strong Life Talent.


    And moreover, the energy in his heart area had not yet been fully digested... It would follow that, if it ever fully digested, Intermediate Strong Life might not be the final effect.


    Of course, what thrilled him the most was¡ª


    Just like the other magic or Meditation Methods on the Golden Paper, the Talent Intermediate Strong Life also had a progress bar behind it.


    This undoubtedly meant that the Intermediate Strong Life could also be forcibly advanced through practice, and after reaching the limit, it could even break through the Limit Breaking Point!


    ''But how should this Talent be trained?'' A hint of doubt arose in Colin''s mind, and he inexplicably thought of his ability to heal rapidly.


    ''Could it be that I need to practice in a way that breaks me before remaking me?''


    Once this idea surfaced, it was unstoppable.


    Clang!


    After hesitating for a moment, he resolutely drew the needle from his waist!


    He gritted his teeth against the pain and viciously slashed his arm.


    The blood had not even begun to flow out before it immediately congealed, followed by the wound gradually closing into a red line, which then slowly vanished.


    His arm returned to its unscathed state.


    Colin let out a small breath and looked towards the Golden Paper.


    The progress behind Intermediate Strong Life hadn''t budged an inch.


    ''Perhaps the number of practices isn''t enough...''


    He slashed once more but then realized something was wrong.


    There wasn''t even a flickering ¡ü symbol behind the progress of Intermediate Strong Life on the Golden Paper... This was abnormal.


    Due to the effect of the Golden Paper, no matter what magic or Skill he practiced, there would always be progress.


    And the corresponding flickering ¡ü symbol behind the progress on the Golden Paper would appear with each practice.


    This time, after "practicing" twice, there were still no signs indicating improvement on the Golden Paper.


    ''It seems I got the direction of practice wrong.''


    After pondering for a moment, Colin put down the needle and instead began to practice the Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method.


    A sequence of movements was quickly completed, and he looked at the Golden Paper once more. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, surprise flickered in his eyes.


    Now, three items on the Golden Paper had the flickering ¡ü symbol appear behind them.


    Apart from the progress of the Great Knight Level and the practice of the Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method... as he expected, behind that Talent Intermediate Strong Life, a flickering ¡ü symbol had also emerged.


    He gradually understood.


    The fundamental logic of the Intermediate Strong Life brought by the Golden Four-leaf Clover was probably grounded in a strong Life Force, with self-healing being just one of its external manifestations.


    In other words, he should practice Life Force.


    But this kind of Life Force training clearly had no special technique... Or perhaps, techniques like the Sunlight Breathing Method, which can train the body, could more or less all increase the progress of Intermediate Strong Life!


    A smile slowly appeared on Colin''s face.


    He glanced at the time. It was getting late, and soon it would be time for his shift.


    So, he straightened his attire and left the basement.


    By then, Arthur had also returned.


    After eating dinner hastily, Colin headed straight to his shift in West City.

 Chapter 49 - 49 Folly

    The sun sank in the west, and the moon rose.


    Inside the duty cabin, Colin stood by the wooden window.


    It had just poured in the afternoon, and now the stars twinkled like diamonds against the night sky, as numerous and dense as the gravel along the riverbank, beyond counting.


    ...but not a single one was familiar to him.


    For some reason, he felt that this night was lonelier than usual.


    It seemed to be an illusion, but it was not an illusion.


    Guarding the fields was not voluntary labor; it involved the distribution of interests among various forces.


    Now, with seven duty wizards suddenly dead, it was impossible to adjust and replenish the manpower promptly.


    Therefore, in what used to be a long area connected by ten cabins, now only he, Holt, and Marlow remained.


    If the cabins were ordered from left to right, from one to ten.


    Usually, he would be in the seventh cabin, while Holt would be on his right, in the eighth cabin.


    Marlow would be on his left, occupying the third cabin.


    But tonight, Holt, perhaps having a clearer understanding of his strength and wanting him to do more, had moved one cabin to the right.


    He had divided the areas that he and Catherine were responsible for between Colin.


    So at this moment, the cabins on both sides were unoccupied.


    However, Colin wasn''t worried about being overwhelmed.


    After all, they had nearly wiped out the Black-Maned Giant Pigs in the outer perimeter yesterday, and it was unlikely that a large number of fierce beasts would attack anytime soon.


    Drip~ Drip~ Drip.


    The footsteps of the City Guards on patrol gradually approached.


    Soon, a team of armored strong men carrying torches appeared in Colin''s line of sight.


    The captain of the City Guards caught sight of Colin, paused briefly, and bowed respectfully.


    Colin gave a slight nod.


    This captain was the same Guard captain who had brought him a gift on his first day of duty, a familiar face. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing his nod, the Guard captain continued to lead his team forward, quickly passing by the duty cabin.


    Colin also left the window and walked back to the center of the room to continue his training.


    The group of City Guards walked along the furrows for a while, then turned left and, following the fixed patrol route, entered the dark fields.


    The further they got from the wizards'' duty cabins, the more cautious their expressions became.


    Although the stars were brilliant tonight, the moon was dim, making it a typically dark and windy night. Without the use of torches, it was impossible to see clearly.


    After walking for a short while.


    Swoosh!


    A dark shadow hurried past them, accompanied by the sound of the wind.


    "Be alert!"


    The Guard captain bellowed while reaching for a signal flare.


    Clang.


    His subordinates drew their swords from their scabbards, looking tense.


    The group slowly moved towards the direction in which the shadow had fled.


    It was not yet confirmed if it was a fierce beast, so they couldn''t hastily shoot off the signal flare.


    For a moment, the whole world seemed to quiet down.


    Only the whooshing of the flames burning and their anxious heartbeats remained.


    As the City Guards got closer to the shadow and its details were illuminated by the torchlight, the leading Guard saw what it was.


    "Damn it, it''s just a rabbit!" he suddenly cursed under his breath and readied his bow and arrow.


    Swoosh!


    The arrow whirled through the air and pinned the rabbit to the ground with precision.


    The others released a sigh of relief upon seeing this.


    "...I wonder when the new wizards will come," the Guard who had shot the rabbit complained as he walked towards the animal.


    "Yeah, I always feel uneasy. Such a long area with only three wizards... can they really handle it?" someone chimed in.


    "Sigh, we''re still better off here; at least we have one wizard. There are many areas with no duty wizards at all... right, captain?"


    The Guard captain''s face remained calm, and he didn''t answer. After the archer picked up the rabbit, he continued to lead the team forward.


    He did not stop the team members from continuing to chat.


    After all, these City Guards risked losing their lives every day on patrol, and it was important to have an outlet.


    As they walked and talked, someone suddenly asked:


    "Actually, why did so many wizards suddenly die?"


    "¡­I heard it''s because a terrifying creature appeared in the Dark Forest."


    "A creature even the wizards couldn''t handle?"


    The crowd went silent.


    "Don''t worry, that creature has been dealt with," the lead Guard captain, noticing the conversation, suddenly spoke up to reassure them, then added:


    "Do you remember the huge Black Pig from before?"


    The group nodded.


    "The creature the wizards encountered in the Dark Forest was just like it... only several times larger."


    He then shared all the information he knew with his teammates.


    ¡­


    Just after sharing, a young Guard who had recently joined asked incredulously:


    "Captain, your friend isn''t exaggerating, right? There really was a pig that big?"


    The Guard captain just laughed, saying nothing.


    His friend had personally gone to the Dark Forest to carry pork back, so it couldn''t be a lie.


    The young Guard didn''t pay it much attention either; it was just an exclamation.


    The Black-Maned Giant Pigs that had previously appeared in the fields were already beyond his imagination in size, and to think there could be even larger ones was unfathomable.


    After a while, as if something occurred to him, he asked:


    "Captain, isn''t the duty wizard for our area a newly Advanced wizard?


    Why is it that only he and the other two Advanced wizards survived?"


    The Guard captain shook his head:


    "I don''t know¡­ but no matter how they survived, since they were able to, they must have exceptional qualities.


    ¡­At least, they are exceptional when it comes to survival."


    He paused for a moment and then continued:


    ""


    "My friend said that when he was dissecting the giant pig''s carcass, he just happened to encounter the wizard coming out of the pool," Colin couldn''t help but scare him quite a bit."


    "..."


    "...Hiding in the pool?" After a while, someone murmured softly.


    The patrolling crowd was filled with myriad thoughts, but nobody paid him any mind, and the topic came to a halt right there.


    The Guard captain was also somewhat anxious. He inexplicably thought of what Colin had hinted to the guards on the day he arrived...


    Having strong survival skills doesn''t mean one is powerful...


    After a while, he seemed to feel that the atmosphere was too silent and spoke again:


    "There''s no need to worry too much, the wizards have already wiped out the giant pigs in one fell swoop this time. There shouldn''t be any more giant pig attacks."


    "But even if there are no more giant pigs, there are still other fierce beasts... Weren''t there no giant pigs before?" A member of the team quietly contended.


    The Guard captain also realized the oversight in his own words and fell silent for a moment.


    After a while, he sighed, "Anyway, be careful..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly closed his mouth, raised his hand to signal everyone to be silent, and then tilted his head slightly, pricking up his ears.


    Crack-crack.


    A faint sound came from the nearby Dark Forest.


    It seemed to be the sound of branches breaking, sounding as if something was continuously crashing through the forest... and it seemed to be getting closer!


    The Guard captain''s face changed slightly, and he unfastened the signal flare from his waist.


    Whoosh!


    The next second, a Black-Maned Giant Pig burst out from the Dark Forest. Even in the darkness, its massive body was unmistakable without needing a clear view.


    "Fall back!"


    The Guard captain''s expression was calm as he ordered his men while quickly launching the signal flare in his hand.


    Swish!


    The signal flare shot up into the sky.


    "Howl!"


    A fierce wolf howl suddenly rang out!


    Bang!


    The bright signal flare burst open in the sky.


    Illuminated by the light from the signal flare, the City Guards could clearly see the scene before them.


    Behind the panicked Black-Maned Giant Pig were eight or nine grey giant wolves, each only slightly smaller than the pig!


    Among them, the one at the rear of the pack, a white giant wolf with an extraordinary demeanor, was now eyeing the City Guards with an almost human-like gaze.


    "Run!"


    The Guard captain instantly sensed danger, and with a sharp cry, he led the way toward the cabin where Colin was.


    The Wolf King had noticed them, and who knew if it would suddenly decide to make them its extra meal.


    "Howl!"


    The worst had happened.


    At the command of the Wolf King, the pack split, with two grey wolves breaking off and chasing in their direction.


    The Guard captain''s pace involuntarily quickened.


    But as he ran, he suddenly noticed something amiss.


    After a subconscious glance around, his expression dramatically changed, and he urgently shouted:


    "Come back! Don''t run off in other directions!!"


    He had never imagined that one-third of his men would foolishly choose to run towards the cabin where the Advanced Wizard Holt was on duty, an even farther location!


    What he expected even less was that after hearing his shouts, another one of his men who had stayed by his side gritted his teeth and suddenly turned to run toward the Advanced Wizard Holt''s cabin as well.


    He was anxious and angry!


    Fools!


    He understood the guards'' thinking. They just felt Colin couldn''t handle these giant wolves...


    But hadn''t they thought it through? Even if Colin was as weak as they imagined!


    They wouldn''t have time to reach where the Advanced Wizard Holt was before being overtaken and torn apart by the giant wolves!


    Such foolishness!


    "Howl!"


    The howling resumed, and the sound of the pursuing giant wolves'' footsteps suddenly lessened behind him.


    It was clear that one had gone after the other City Guards.


    The Guard captain was panting heavily, his thoughts now too crowded to entertain anything else.


    The giant wolf behind him was drawing ever closer, and he felt as if he could already smell its fetid breath.


    "Ah!"


    But just then, a young City Guard at his side cried out in pain and fell heavily to the ground, apparently having twisted his ankle.


    He instinctively reached out to help but misjudged the young Guard''s falling force.


    In an instant, he was pulled off balance and fell to the ground alongside the young Guard.


    ''It''s over...'' As he lay there, with the presence of the giant wolf drawing near behind him, a strong sense of fear filled his heart.


    And the City Guard by his side had had the bad luck of falling on his head and was now unconscious!


    Sss!


    But at that moment, a faint sound of slicing through the air suddenly came.


    Bang!


    Immediately after, he felt the ground shake as if something heavy had fallen.


    Then, a pair of booted feet appeared in front of him.


    The Guard captain looked up, slightly taken aback.


    He hadn''t expected that after falling, what awaited him was not the horrific wolf''s kiss... but rather, Colin''s figure.


    He glanced back instinctively and then jerked back sharply.


    A grey giant wolf lay less than half a meter behind him, its wide-open wolf head facing him.


    If it weren''t for the hole that pierced completely through its skull, it would appear to be still alive.


    Thus, caught off guard, he was startled.


    Upon seeing that the Guard captain seemed to be unharmed, Colin didn''t linger and continued to chase after the other giant wolves.


    However, he didn''t understand why some of the City Guards had run off in the distance. Could it be panic?


    He sighed softly. Given his current speed, it would be difficult to save them...


    At this moment, the Guard captain finally came to his senses. He watched Colin''s figure receding into the distance, his pupils slightly dilating, his heart full of shock.


    It was a long while before he slowly got to his feet.

 Chapter 50 - 50 Lap Wizard

    Under the shroud of night, on the dark, endless fields, a cluster of flames had gathered at this moment.


    At the center of the light, Holt and Colin stood side by side, facing a colossal White Wolf that lay dead on the ground, apparently felled by a massive penetrating wound to the head.


    A few City Guards were busy dismembering the wolf''s carcass.


    "The number and strength of Fierce Beasts are increasing¡­ Such giant wolves have never appeared before," Holt suddenly remarked with solemnity.


    Originally, he had not planned to come after seeing the signal flare.


    But then, a series of wolf howls followed, one after another, indicating an overwhelming number of attacking beasts.


    Although he was not worried about Colin''s safety¡ªafter all, Colin''s Defensive Witchcraft was already among the strongest of Intermediate Apprentices¡ª


    Colin was still just an Intermediate Apprentice, so after some thought, he decided to come over and lend a hand.


    What he did not expect was that by the time he arrived, the battle had already ended.


    It seemed Colin was as formidable in offense as he was in defense.


    Colin, upon hearing this, nodded silently.


    He did not feel much about it, as this was only his first month on duty.


    The giant wolves who attacked tonight¡ªif it were a one-on-one fight¡ªin his opinion, were not as powerful as the previous Black-Maned Giant Pigs.


    They were only capable of hunting Black-Maned Giant Pigs because the pigs lacked strong offensive abilities, and the wolves had numbers on their side. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I didn''t expect the area near the outer perimeter of the Dark Forest, which was just cleared, to be invaded by Fierce Beasts again so soon," Holt continued with a sigh.


    "But those giant wolves could be chasing the Black-Maned Giant Pigs, could this be a coincidence?" Colin wondered.


    "It''s a coincidence, but it''s not," Holt explained with a smile, "The Black-Maned Giant Pigs were undoubtedly the overlords of this region. In other words, the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the Dark Forest was their territory."


    "Now that they''ve been nearly eradicated by us, the vacant territory naturally attracts other Fierce Beasts to fill the void."


    Colin nodded in understanding; it made sense.


    Bang!


    At that moment, a signal flare suddenly burst in the distant sky.


    Colin looked toward the flare; the flickering lights in the dark distance indicated another probable beast attack.


    "The frequency of beast attacks is indeed more frequent than before," he couldn''t help but lament, then diverted his gaze back to the wolf carcass.


    By now, the City Guards had completely skinned the White Wolf, exposing the bright red muscles underneath, indistinguishable from those of an ordinary wild animal.


    Mysterious doubts arose in Colin''s mind.


    "What exactly are these Fierce Beasts?"


    The case of the Black-Maned Giant Pigs was clear enough, as they visibly possessed supernatural bloodlines¡­ But these giant wolves, apart from this White Wolf, were just larger versions of ordinary wild wolves.


    Lacking in Magic Power and with ordinary bloodlines, yet curiously strong¡­


    He looked up at the Dark Forest shrouded in darkness.


    The secrets behind this, he thought, might only be revealed once he became an Official Wizard and ventured into the forest to explore¡­


    Holt followed Colin''s gaze, as if sensing his worries, he reassured proactively:


    "You don''t have to worry too much, the increase in beast attacks is only temporary¡­"


    "Because¡ªWizard Lap is already aware of it."


    At this point, his tone shifted, filled with confidence as if Wizard Lap''s awareness alone would solve everything.


    Colin nodded noncommittally, catching sight of flickering lights moving in the corner of his eye.


    Looking over, he saw the Guard Captain and a young City Guard with a bandage wrapped around his head carrying a stretcher away into the distance.


    The lights came from torches tied to either side of the stretcher.


    "Alright, I''ll head back now; you continue on your patrol," Holt said.


    "Sure," Colin replied, as he watched Holt ascend into the sky, disappearing into the darkness, then he too returned to the patrol cabin.


    Meanwhile,


    The young City Guard silently shed tears as he carried the stretcher.


    It was his first encounter with such an incident since joining the City Guards.


    "Ah¡­ Don''t cry," the Guard Captain turned to comfort him.


    "...I''m not crying." The young man lifted his left hand, instinctively reaching to wipe away his tears.


    However, with the loss of support from his left hand, the stretcher tilted abruptly, nearly sending the body on top tumbling down.


    Fortunately, he recovered in the next second and stabilized the stretcher again.


    "You..." The captain of the guards instinctively looked back, wanting to scold him, but upon seeing the young City Guard, he just sighed in the end.


    After all, there were only two and a half men left in their team of City Guards.


    Himself, the young man, and a disabled man who had lost his legs...


    After a while, the captain spoke again:


    "You''re new here, not used to it yet. Once you''re accustomed, it''ll be better...


    People like us, we work with the sword at our necks... Death is a common occurrence."


    "However..." he said, suddenly changing his tone, "you must remember the lesson this time. Don''t ever be as foolish as Jack and the others!"


    "A tailor who''s foolish once loses perhaps just a bolt of cloth.


    But when we''re foolish once... what we lose is our life!"


    ...


    Inside the duty cabin.


    Under the illumination of the Bright Crystal, Colin spread out a sheet of white paper on the wooden table.


    After the practical test in the Dark Forest, he noticed some issues with the darts.


    Although the darts were quite effective against most targets of smaller size, forming a large hole with a single hit,


    they fell short against large creatures like the Black-Maned Giant Pig King.


    Therefore, he prepared to design a new kind of dart, one specifically for attacking large creatures.


    So time passed quietly.


    The latter half of the night was calm.


    The footsteps of the patrolling City Guards were few.


    As dawn approached, the distant eastern sea began to light up faintly.


    Hu.


    Colin let out a soft breath, stretched lazily, and glanced at his pocket watch.


    ''Another day''s duty has ended.''


    He organized the draft papers on the table, packed them up, then picked up the white wolf meat the City Guards had brought over and turned to leave the duty cabin.


    Whoosh!!


    Just as Colin opened the door, he saw a flame-colored light, carrying a breath-stopping momentum, arriving from the horizon.


    ''Wizard Lap!''


    Without any explanation, Colin already knew the identity of the flame light.


    Such momentum could belong to no one else; it had to be Wizard Lap!


    The flame-colored light stayed in his view for only a moment, then sped across the sky and plunged straight into the Dark Forest.


    At that moment, Colin oddly recalled the confident words of Holt from the night before¡ª"Wizard Lap already knows."


    ''Could it be that Wizard Lap has come personally to clear out the Fierce Beasts?''


    Watching Wizard Lap enter the Dark Forest as if entering a land devoid of humans, he felt a myriad of emotions.


    ...


    Back at home.


    After eating and waking from sleep, he began his usual practice.


    The new dart designs had already been given to Arthur in the morning to have someone custom-make them.


    He completed a set of the Sunlight Breathing Technique.


    Colin exhaled a murky breath, feeling his body''s strength increase a bit more, and his mood became pleasurable.


    He then focused his attention on the front of his chest.


    The energy at his heart was a bit less than before... the Sunlight Breathing Technique seemed to promote its absorption.


    At the current pace, it wouldn''t be long before he could absorb all the energy at his heart.


    After practicing the Sunlight Breathing Technique, he began to practice witchcraft.


    What he mainly practiced was the Hope Defense Field.


    Recalling the narrow escape from death, the greatest credit obviously went to his powerful defense.


    And the progress of the Hope Defense Field had only just reached halfway and couldn''t even be activated instantly.


    Clearly, it needed to be improved as soon as possible.

 Chapter 51 - 51 Changes

    The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the tide ebbs and flows at the seashore.


    In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop~


    Sigh~


    In front of the west gate of Blackstone City, the black carriage gradually came to a stop.


    Colin stepped out of the curved black carriage and made his way towards the city gate with familiar ease.


    He was dressed in a deep black wizard''s robe, with a silver-white triangular badge on his chest and a white wolf-skin shoulder bag in his hand, containing manuscripts, Bright Crystals, and other sundries.


    From a distance, the soldiers dressed in steel armor by the city gate greeted him respectfully.


    Over the past month, they had become quite familiar with this new Wizard.


    Entering the duty hut, Colin set his shoulder bag down, stretched a bit, and then continued his training.


    In a few more days, his month-long duty would come to an end.


    Since the last visit from Wizard Lap, the number of fierce beasts attacking from the Dark Forest had gradually decreased.


    Their strength had also diminished, shifting from initially comparable to Intermediate Wizard Apprentices to now at most being on par with ordinary Basic Level Wizard Apprentices.


    Several times, it was the City Guards led by a Great Knight who handled the situation directly.


    There was no need for him to make a move.


    And now, for the past few days, there hadn''t even been any creature attacks.


    However¡­ whether for this reason or not, their squad had yet to be assigned any new Wizard Apprentices for guard duty.


    To this day, it was still just him and Holt on guard in the far right area of West City.


    In contrast, the Chiwen Gang next door had long since replenished its guard manpower.


    Moreover, for most of the recent period, he was the only one in the entire area¡­ Holt seemed preoccupied with something and was often nowhere to be seen.


    After practicing the Hope Defense Field several times, Colin summoned the Golden Paper with a thought.


    Pale golden particles converged.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (4/100); Great Knight (45/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice''s Circulation Meditation I (40/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (95/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Basic; Zero-Level Witchcraft: Steel Armor I (17/100); Arrow Shooting Skill I (19/100); Lesser High Temperature Tolerance (58/100); Hope Defense Field (70/100); Fireball Technique (64/100); Detect Evil (46/100); Purification Evil Power (41/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making]


    [Talent: Intermediate Strong Life (95/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    His gaze slowly moved across the Golden Paper, and the intermingling glow of blue, gold, purple, and black caught his eye.


    From previous attempts, he had learned that gold indicated a limit reached, blue represented one Limit Breaking, and black denoted the initial state of a skill.


    But now a new color had emerged¡ªpurple.


    This purple hue enshrouded the outside of the Intermediate Strong Life talent.


    ''Perhaps this signifies the equivalent of a second Limit Breaking?'' he speculated in his mind.


    Every time he practiced Steel Armor, a witchcraft that had undergone one Limit Breaking, the flashing ¡ü symbol behind it was also the same shade of purple.


    So it seemed, the display of the Intermediate Strong Life talent on the Golden Paper slightly differed from that of witchcraft,


    Perhaps this was because their starting points were different¡­ After all, unlike witchcraft, which one trains from scratch, talent is at the Intermediate Strong Life level from the moment it''s attained.


    In addition, the energy from the Golden Four-leaf Clover had been completely assimilated by him five days earlier.


    His soul''s strength had been greatly enhanced, and the progress of his Intermediate Strong Life talent finally settled at 95/100.


    Although he hadn''t broken through to Advanced, compared to before, his self-healing ability had significantly improved.


    For wounds of the same severity, the time now required to heal was merely half of what it used to be!


    The only thing that worried him was that¡ª


    after the energy at his heart disappeared, although the flashing "¡ü" symbol would still appear every time he practiced the Intermediate Strong Life Sunlight Breathing Skill, the speed of improvement had become very slow.


    It had been five days since the energy was completely digested, yet there had been no increase at all.


    However, aside from this, he had successfully practiced the Hope Defense Field and the Fireball Technique to the point of instantaneous casting, and the Sub-Level High Temperature Tolerance was only 2 points shy of instant casting.


    Other witchcraft skills had also improved to varying degrees. It hadn''t been a complete waste of time.


    "Unfortunately, there''s still not enough time," he sighed softly and closed the Golden Paper.


    Although with Renee and Arthur''s assistance, he now didn''t have to deal with any miscellaneous tasks and could devote all his time to cultivation,


    he still felt there wasn''t enough time.


    Due to the reward from the Black-Maned Giant Pig incident and the exchange of fierce beast carcasses, he now had a total of 109 Magic Stones.


    109 Magic Stones were equivalent to 109 Limit Breaking Points.


    With so many Limit Breaking Points in hand, he was eager to improve himself... it was just a pity that nothing on the Golden Paper had reached its limit yet.


    But it was close.


    At least the progress of the Sunlight Breathing Technique he needed to break through once was at 95/100; he was only 5 points away from another advancement.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.


    "Colin." Holt''s voice came from outside.


    Colin got up with a puzzled look and opened the door.


    "Good evening, Captain," he greeted Holt.


    "Good evening, Colin," Holt''s expression was complex, a mix of expectation and melancholy. He looked at Colin and said, "There''s something I need to talk to you about."


    Colin nodded, watching him intently.


    "Our team... might not get any new members," Holt sighed.


    Colin''s brow furrowed slightly, his face showing confusion.


    ''No new members? ...Does that mean from now on, it''s just him and Holt on duty?''


    "...Or rather, the team is considered dissolved," Holt sighed again and added, "I need to return to the Wizard Territory for a while... I just got notified by Minister Barton today."


    He paused and then continued,


    "This is probably a punishment for the Dark Forest incident..."


    "Moreover, you''ve noticed that the attacks by fierce beasts in West City have been less frequent. This means that West City might not need as many duty Wizards for the time being..."


    "And with me gone, you''ll be the only one left in the team, so it''s as if it has dissolved. You will likely be reassigned to another team, or another Guard Station within the city..."


    Colin fell silent, absorbing the sudden news.


    ...He hadn''t expected to be transferred again less than a month since he started duty in West City.


    "By the way, do you remember Catherine from before?" Holt paused again and then suddenly asked.


    "I remember," Colin nodded.


    "She was indeed corrupted by the Evil God... and the degree of corruption was very high. I heard that in the end, it was Wizard Lap himself who took care of her body.


    And it seems like there are shadows of Cultists behind this..."


    Holt hesitated, then said, "¡­You''ll most likely be sent back to the headquarters, in charge of city security... Although you''re strong, those Cultists, those Polluters, are often tricky and difficult to deal with."


    "You should practice Detect Evil and Purification Evil Power witchcraft more when you have time..."


    Perhaps due to the imminent return to the Wizard Territory and the inability to leave for a while, Holt was feeling melancholic and rambled on for quite a bit before bidding Colin farewell.


    Colin stood at the door, bidding farewell to Holt, watching as he walked away.


    Holt was gentle and friendly, never putting on airs. Although sometimes he had his faults, he was undoubtedly a good captain.


    He had no idea when he would have the chance to see Holt again after this return to the Wizard Territory.


    He closed the door, turned around, and looked out at the bright moon through the window, feeling a sense of the unpredictability of life¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 52 - 52 Patrol Department

    The next day.


    After his shift ended, Colin headed straight for the Guard Station in West City.


    The previous night, Holt had told him that he needed to go see Minister Barton early in the morning to get his specific transfer orders.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    "Come in."


    He walked into Minister Barton''s office.


    Unexpectedly, there was another person inside.


    "Lord Berkeley, Minister Barton," he greeted respectfully.


    "You''re just in time, we were just discussing you," Berkeley turned his head and looked at Colin with a faint smile, "You''ve been called back to headquarters, Colin."


    Beside him, Barton also took out a transfer order and handed it to Colin, patting his shoulder and speaking with a laugh:


    "Holt recommended you to me, saying that your strength is not bad... When you get to headquarters, don''t let us down here in West City."


    Colin took the transfer order with a smile and looked down to check it.


    ''No wonder Holt told me last night that there was a high chance I would be transferred to headquarters... It turns out that it was his recommendation.''


    The transfer order listed the date and address for reporting.


    The date was the day after tomorrow, and the address... 28 Oak Nut Street?


    "Minister, is this address a mistake?" he couldn''t help but ask looking up.


    28 Oak Nut Street was located in West City, and was even closer to his home than the West City Guard Station here.


    "There''s no mistake," Berkeley explained, "Last week, on the recommendation of City Lord Price, Wizard Lap ordered the Guard Station to be split into a new, parallel department¡ªthe Patrol Department."


    "The former headquarters of the Guard Station is now the headquarters of the Patrol Department. The West City and East City Guard Stations have been slightly reduced, specifically tasked with handling Fierce Beasts and the strange creatures on the beaches."


    "The new Patrol Department has also established three locations in the city center: east, west, and middle. You are to go to the West City Patrol Department.


    However, both the East City and West City Patrol Departments are now managed by the city center''s Patrol Department headquarters, so technically, you''ve been called back to headquarters."


    "I see, thank you," Colin nodded.


    He hadn''t expected that so much had quietly happened while he was on duty.


    ...To think that a new department was established?


    He wasn''t surprised that Price managed to convince Wizard Lap to change the structure of the Guard Team.


    After all, the Guard Team was essentially a force that Wizard Lap provided for Price.


    In fact, although Berkeley was nominally in charge of the Guard Station in Blackstone City, the daily management orders were usually given by Price, with Berkeley''s main responsibility being the Patrol Team within the Wizard Territory.


    "Well, if there''s nothing else, go home and rest. Remember to report the day after tomorrow."


    "Alright."


    Colin left the Guard Station, boarded a carriage, and headed home.


    He pondered while eating the breakfast that Renee had brought.


    ''The establishment of the Patrol Department is clearly to strengthen the forces within the city... Perhaps this has something to do with Catherine''s pollution?''


    He pondered this in his heart but couldn''t come up with an answer.


    The clues were still too few.


    But there must have been something happening behind the scenes that he wasn''t aware of...


    ''I''m still too weak...''


    Colin took the handkerchief offered by Renee and wiped his mouth.


    Even though his strength had improved significantly compared to before, in this world, he was still at the mercy of his superiors, being arranged and carried by the tide.


    He had just gotten used to the life on duty in West City, seeing fewer and fewer Fierce Beast attacks, the night shifts getting more relaxed, and now he was being transferred to a new post...


    The only consolation was that he could stay in West City.


    At least this way, he didn''t have to think about moving houses.


    ...


    Palm Street.


    The basement at home.


    Colin held two long, slender, pointed darts in his hand, inspecting them closely.


    These cone bullets, just by their appearance, were somewhat similar to the bullets from his previous world and could perhaps be referred to as Cone Bullets.


    These were new ammunition he had custom-made for his Arrow Shooting Skill, designed specifically for killing large creatures.


    After actual combat, he had carefully reviewed the shortcomings exposed by the shuttle-shaped darts.


    The Shuttle-shaped Dart, just like the armor-piercing rounds from rifles in his previous life, had strong penetration power. However, often it was this very powerful penetration that caused the kinetic energy to not fully impact the target, leading to less than satisfactory damage.


    The two new large cone bullets that had been custom-made included one variety with a copper tip and a hollow interior.


    Upon hitting the target, the tip would deform, causing a shift in the center of gravity, prompting the bullet to tumble unstably within the body of the target, thus releasing its kinetic energy to maximum effect and inflicting extensive damage.


    The other type, a solid cone bullet, was used for piercing armor.


    Using the same principle, Colin had also produced a batch of finger-sized hollow cone bullets and solid cone bullets to diversify his ammunition.


    The shuttle-shaped darts he had previously used were thus phased out.


    In this way, when facing different targets, he could choose the appropriate cone bullet.


    *


    *


    *


    28 Acorn Street


    "This must be it." Colin looked up to survey the gray building in front of him before stepping inside.


    Two days had quietly passed, and today was the day he was supposed to report to the Patrol Department.


    Upon opening the door, he was met by a simply decorated hall.


    A fat man was seated on a chair to the front left.


    He was dozing off, with a plate of greasy, crispy pork belly beside him.


    "Hello? I''m here to report for duty," Colin said as he took out his orders and addressed the fat man.


    Flower slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Colin, took the paper orders from his greasy hands, and set them aside.


    "Yeah, I know... As you see, I''m your future team leader, Flower..." He grabbed a piece of pork, put it into his mouth, and began to chew as his eyes closed once again.


    "All right, stop standing there and bothering me. For everything else, go to the back room and find the deputy team leader to talk things over with you."


    Colin remained calm and seemed indifferent. He nodded and headed to the room at the back, as directed by Flower.


    It was attitudes like Flower''s that were the common way for those higher in the hierarchy to treat those below them... Holt was an exception.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    Colin knocked on the door at the very back.


    "Come in."


    A somewhat sharp voice came from inside.


    He pushed the door open to find a young man inside with mutton chop whiskers, slightly sunken cheeks, and a somewhat pale complexion. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wore a silver badge on his chest, which meant he was likely an Intermediate Apprentice, like Colin.


    "You must be Colin."


    Before he could introduce himself, the young man took the initiative, smiling as he spoke.


    "My name is Barney, and I''m your deputy team leader."


    "...Deputy Team Leader Barney."


    At hearing his title repeated, the smile on Barney''s face grew broader.


    "Welcome to the Patrol Department," he continued. "We''re short-staffed here. I''ve heard you''re quite strong, which is perfect because there''s something I need you to do."


    ...


    Two hours later,


    Barney led Colin to the outside of the last pub.


    "This is the last spot, Team Leader Flower''s favorite grilled fish is from here. Remember that?"


    "...Yes, I''ve got it."


    "Do you also remember the other restaurants and pubs we visited before?"


    Colin silently nodded.


    It wasn''t so much that he had tried to remember; rather, his memory had been greatly enhanced after being fortified with the Golden Four-leaf Clover... He couldn''t forget anything Barney said after just one mention.


    "Good. Your task is simple. At different times each day, buy various foods and bring them here." Barney nodded, satisfied, and then stressed, "Remember, first bring them to me through the side door."


    In truth, such menial tasks did not require a wizard like Colin.


    He merely wanted to make Colin understand the importance of his position as deputy team leader, to understand the meaning of hierarchy!


    "Barney, is this all the Patrol Department does every day?"


    He couldn''t help but feel speechless and questioned with a frown.


    "Deputy Team Leader Barney!" Barney scowled, interrupting him.


    He paused, then adopted a serious tone to advise,


    "You''re young, you don''t understand... There are no dangers within the city. I''ve been at the headquarters for several years and have encountered fewer than ten incidents. There''s really no need to patrol as per regulations."


    "Keep in mind our team leader, Flower, is second to none below the level of Peak Apprentice. If you please him, just..."


    Colin''s impatience grew inside, and he started to tune Barney out, unsure of what to say...

 Chapter 53 - 53: 53rd Chapter: Old Acquaintance

    "Get lost!"


    Flower waved his large hand, knocking the crispy roast chicken aside.


    In the simple decorated hallway of the Patrol Department, Barney stood in place, watching Flower''s massive figure disappear at the end of the hall, his face showing nothing but astonishment and confusion.


    It was already Colin''s second day at the Patrol Department, and today he had intentionally arrived late.


    As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Barney, sycophantically carrying a plate of roast chicken, walking toward Flower¡­ It seemed like Barney, unable to wait for Colin, had gone to buy food for Flower on his own. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Colin had not expected things to develop this way.


    Barney stood there with an empty plate in hand, paired with the fallen roast chicken on the floor and his bewildered expression, he looked somewhat desolate.


    "Ha, what a fool."


    A female voice suddenly came from his right. The voice was melodious and pleasant, inexplicably familiar to Colin.


    Barney, hearing this, turned shades of red and pale, finally reacting.


    He turned his head and asked harshly,


    "Regina, what do you mean by that?!"


    Colin followed his gaze to the right.


    There, behind a red wooden table near the stained-glass window, sat a young woman, approximately eighteen or nineteen years old, leafing through a thick book.


    Her features were not extraordinary, just average. Yet, she possessed a tranquility that, despite looking only about eighteen or nineteen, gave off the vibe of an older sister. A pure black cat lazily lying in her lap added an air of mystery to her.


    Regina continued to flip through the book without lifting her head, merely saying lightly,


    "Next time you want to please someone, remember to gather some intelligence first¡­ Everyone in the Wizard Territory''s Patrol Team knows that Lord Flower indulges in feasting for one week and fasting the next.


    ¡­Oh right, I almost forgot you''re not from the Patrol Team, you are just from the Guard Team, with lackluster Talent..."


    She slightly lifted her head, gazing at Barney.


    "...fool."


    Barney was stunned by her words, finally realizing what she meant, his face turning ugly.


    But he did not think it was his fault.


    The Patrol Department was newly established, comprising not only members from the original Guard Team but also some from the Wizard Territory''s Patrol Team.


    He came from the Guard Team in Blackstone City, while Flower was from the Patrol Team on the mountain in the Wizard Territory¡ªit was normal for him not to know, but Regina clearly knew¡­


    A surge of embarrassment and anger suddenly welled up inside him, his face contorting as he shouted,


    "You knew, why didn''t you warn me?! I am your deputy leader!"


    "Oh, a deputy leader who got his position by begging?"


    Regina sighed, feeling rather speechless.


    She put down the book, slowly raised her head, looking at Barney and said word for word, "Lord Flower simply can''t be bothered with trivial matters, and you, as deputy leader¡­ are nothing but a servant handling menial tasks."


    At this point, her tone changed, becoming icy:


    "Plus, from where do you get the courage to speak to me like that¡­ Are you planning to order me around again using your deputy leader status like last time?


    Or perhaps last time''s lesson wasn''t enough for you?"


    As each word fell, the black cat that had been lying on her thighs suddenly opened its luminous green eyes and leapt onto the carpet.


    It elegantly stepped forward, its form swelling with the breeze, transforming in a blink from a forearm-length black cat into a two-meter-tall, fierce, leopard-like beast with sharp teeth.


    Roar!


    A deep roar erupted from its throat, reverberating through the entire hall.


    "You!" Barney''s face first turned pale, then flushed deeply, he gasped for air violently but eventually said nothing, only silently turning away to leave.


    Wizards, as always, revered strength. Barney had experienced Regina''s ferocity before and naturally did not want to ask for more trouble.


    Head bowed, Barney brushed past Colin and walked out of the Patrol Department.


    Colin withdrew his gaze, ready to find a place to sit and rest.


    He had also understood that Barney was merely a jumping clown, thinking he was in Flower''s good graces.


    But in reality, whether it was Flower or anyone else, none took him seriously.


    That so-called deputy leader wasn''t even an official position within the Patrol Department, probably just something Flower had mentioned in passing.


    He truly had no authority to command them¡­


    "¡­Have I seen you somewhere before?"


    Just as he was about to walk toward a table by the window on the left and sit, Regina suddenly spoke up and stopped him.


    Colin turned around, just as the black cat gradually returned to its original size and jumped back into Regina''s lap, curling up.


    If it wasn''t for this being an otherworld, he would have dismissed her words as a clich¨¦ pickup line.


    But that wasn''t the case now, looking at Regina, his brow slightly furrowed.


    He also felt that the Regina in front of him looked familiar.


    "Are you¡­ Colin?" Regina observed him for a while, asking uncertainly.


    At that moment, Colin finally remembered Regina from a corner of his memory.


    Regina was an apprentice from the same period as him, only much more talented. She had successfully advanced to Intermediate Apprentice in the fourth year.


    He hadn''t seen her for nearly six years.


    Six whole years without seeing each other, no wonder her image had faded in his memory.


    "I didn''t expect you to have advanced as well, congratulations," Regina said calmly.


    Having remembered who Colin was, and resolving her own confusion, she lost interest in him.


    "Thank you, I just advanced not long ago."


    Colin nodded politely in response, and took the seat by the window on the left.


    The daily work of the Patrol Team mainly consisted of taking turns sitting in the office for two days each week and also taking a night patrol once.


    It seemed that Regina was scheduled to sit in the office on the same day as him.


    Unless a Guard came to report, there was generally nothing to do while on duty.


    The hall fell quiet for a moment.


    Only the sound of both of them flipping pages could be heard.


    After a while, Regina suddenly asked,


    "Has Barney ever abused his position as the vice squad leader to order you around?"


    "...Yes."


    Colin hesitated before answering, feeling somewhat puzzled.


    "Barney is just a foolish petty man, not worth bothering about," Regina began to laugh, then her tone shifted, "However, among wizards strength is respected. If you can''t beat him... you''ll just have to obediently follow his orders¡­"


    Colin remained silent with a frown, not responding.


    Regina glanced at him and added, "What I mean is, I could help you... Of course, it''s not for free, but it would only require some compensation."


    "The compensation is not much... just five Magic Stones."


    Regina put down her book and, while stroking the smooth fur of the black cat in her arms, calmly watched Colin.


    Every month, to earn enough Magic Stones to feed her little darlings, she worked tirelessly; she was unwilling to miss any opportunity to earn Magic Stones.


    ''I see.''


    Colin finally understood the reason Regina had spoken up. He paused for a moment, then responded politely and gently,


    "Thank you, I''ll come to you if I need help."


    "Mm, you''re welcome anytime," Regina also nodded gently.


    Although Colin didn''t agree outright, which was somewhat unexpected for her.


    But she had just asked casually; if the deal went through, good, but it was fine if it didn''t.


    Regina lowered her head and continued reading.


    *


    *


    *


    Tap, tap, tap~


    In the empty streets after curfew, Guards carried lanterns on their patrol.


    Colin stood on the watchtower, which was considerably taller than the surrounding buildings, watching them slowly passing below, moving away, and finally turning into a line of faint lights.


    Watchtowers like this were networked throughout Blackstone City, one appearing every few blocks.


    From here, he could see everything around him clearly. The watchtower''s constant dim light and the Witch Array also allowed him to discern all movements around him in the darkness without fear.


    Today was his fifth day with the Patrol Team, and according to the schedule, it was his turn to be on night duty.


    Over these days, to better cope with these sinister occurrences, he had put other witchcraft practices on hold.


    Apart from practicing the Sunlight Breathing Method, he focused on practicing Detect Evil and Purification Evil Power witchcraft.


    He had successfully increased his skill level in Detect Evil to 64/100 and in Purification Evil Power to 61/100, reaching the point where he could cast them instantly.


    The Sunlight Breathing Method I also reached 99/100, just one point away from another Limit Breaking.


    Colin silently surveyed his surroundings.


    All was peaceful and tranquil.


    ''It''s no wonder Barney is so indifferent to his daily duties.'' he thought silently.


    Since Wizard Lap had established the Guard Team on this island, the number of sinister spirits in Blackstone City had gradually decreased, and serious incidents caused by malevolent spirits were now seldom heard of.


    However, he felt an unease.


    He did not believe that Wizard Lap and Price had created the Patrol Team separately from the Guard Team for no reason.


    Compared to him, Wizard Lap undoubtedly had access to more information. Their decisions were never without aim.


    Moreover, just two days ago, Flower had also specifically emphasized the importance of their duty. He could not afford to take it lightly.

 Chapter 54 - 54 Command

    The next day.


    In the basement, by evening.


    Colin, bare-chested, finished his practice and stood quietly, exhaling a long breath of turbid air.


    If he had to say, working for the Patrol Team was somewhat easier than his original night shifts in West City.


    According to the duty roster, Mondays and Tuesdays were his office days, while Friday nights were his to keep watch.


    This meant that after completing his night shift yesterday, he wouldn''t have to work until the day after tomorrow, Monday.


    He silently summoned the Golden Paper.


    Today, he had finally pushed the progress of the Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method to its maximum once again.


    But the upwards arrow symbol behind it was, for now, just a dim black without an outline glow due to the lack of sufficient Limit Breaking Points.


    Without any hesitation, Colin took out a Magic Stone and concentrated on converting them into Limit Breaking Points.


    The black characters at the bottom of the Golden Paper kept jumping.


    0...1...2...5...10.


    Colin paused slightly and looked again at the Sunlight Breathing Method.


    The arrow behind it was still black, unchanged... which meant there were not enough Limit Breaking Points.


    Colin frowned. Based on his previous experience with enhancing the Ignition Technique, logically, it should have increased tenfold.


    But then he considered that the Ignition Technique and the Sunlight Breathing Method were completely different at their limits, so why would the required Limit Breaking Points grow according to the same pattern?


    It seemed, then, that the amount by which Limit Breaking Points needed to multiply might vary for each witchcraft, Meditation Method, Breathing Skill, and Talent when reaching their respective limits.


    He continued to absorb the Magic Stone.


    ...10...11...12...


    Not until reaching 50 points, with nearly half of his Magic Stone pouch depleted, did the purple outline glow start to faintly emerge behind the Sunlight Breathing Method I.


    Colin let out a gentle breath, put down his pouch, and then, without hesitation,


    he focused his thoughts and emphatically pressed a point behind the Sunlight Breathing Method!


    Boom!


    His heartbeat abruptly quickened, and his blood began to rush and circulate rapidly.


    Sweat gradually emerged from his forehead, nose tip, back, and neck, eventually steaming up as hot vapor.


    After an unknown stretch of time, Colin finally opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.


    He looked at the Golden Paper.


    Sunlight Breathing Method I (100/100) had now transformed into Sunlight Breathing Method II (0/100).


    He closed his eyes again, contemplating the Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method.


    Ordinarily, becoming a Great Knight was seen as the pinnacle for a Knight.


    But the new Sunlight Breathing Method took it a step further, using the innate Blood Energy of the Great Knight to further develop the body.


    According to the new Sunlight Breathing Method, after the Great Knight, there was another breakthrough... perhaps it could be called the Ultimate Knight. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This level was only marginally better than the Great Knight in terms of physical quality, with no substantial gap.


    However, in terms of speed, especially reaction speed, it greatly enhanced the transmission speed of nerve signals by optimizing the nerves through Blood Energy.


    Simply put, it reduced the body''s delay.


    The lower the delay, the more reactions one could make in the same amount of time.


    Such an improvement, although seemingly merely shaving off a few milliseconds in reaction time, could often make the difference between life and death in actual combat.


    This was undoubtedly a significant enhancement... It''s just a pity that it couldn''t break the boundary of the Great Knight.


    ''Wonder if the Sunlight Breathing Method can still be improved,'' Colin thought ambiguously.


    He stood up and slowly started practicing the second stage of the Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method.


    After a while, as he finished his practice and stood quietly, he looked at the Golden Paper.


    As usual, the blinking upwards arrow symbol appeared behind the Sunlight Breathing Method II.


    Colin carefully observed the outline glow around the arrow symbol.


    ''Not gold... but red. It seems like there is still room for improvement,'' Colin realized.


    As long as it''s not gold, it means it hasn''t reached the true limit yet, and improvement could still be made.


    He looked again at his Intermediate Strong Life Talent, which remained stagnant at 95/100.


    But from a feeling perspective, a second Limit Breaking in the Sunlight Breathing Method should have increased the efficiency of the Intermediate Strong Life.


    It was just uncertain how much it could increase...


    While thinking, he got dressed and walked upstairs.


    He stood on the balcony of the master bedroom, leaning on the railing and looking into the distance.


    Suddenly he saw a carriage stop at his doorstep, and a familiar figure stepped down using the coachman as a human cushion.


    After the figure alighted, the black coachman immediately got up and hastened to the door, knocking vigorously.


    "Barney, what is he doing here?" Colin furrowed his brows.


    He pondered for a moment, then turned and walked downstairs to the door.


    At that moment, Arthur, who lived in the side house, heard the knocking and just opened the main door.


    "Colin."


    Barney, stepping past Arthur''s figure, saw Colin and greeted him with a smile.


    The black slave in front of him and Arthur both respectfully stepped aside,


    Allowing the two men to face each other.


    "Barney," Colin responded.


    Since the last time Barney had been humiliated by Regina in his presence, he had never come to see him... It was unknown what he wanted now.


    "... Are you still getting used to working at the Patrol Department?" Barney, hearing how Colin addressed him, slightly knitted his eyebrows but quickly forced a feeble smile, asking in a condescending, faux-affable tone.


    Colin didn''t speak, just calmly stared at Barney.


    Barney''s smile gradually solidified, and he retracted his smile, frowning slightly as he said,


    "I''m here to assign you a task, Colin."


    "Tonight, you have to go on night duty again."


    Colin, with a slight frown, asked softly, "Is this Captain Flower''s arrangement?"


    Barney paused, his expression growing colder, "Why so many questions? Just follow orders, don''t forget I''m your deputy captain!"


    He looked at Colin, feeling inexplicably angry as if he saw Regina''s shadow on him.


    This shadow, like fuel to fire, only intensified his anger!


    Although he had complemented Colin''s strength at their first meeting, it was merely a courtesy. If he couldn''t handle Regina, could he not handle a mere Colin?


    That day, he hadn''t gone far and had overheard Regina''s conversation with Colin afterward.


    Colin had only been advanced for a few months; what did he have to be so arrogant about?


    In his eyes, Colin was clearly influenced by Regina, failing to see his own place.


    He was about to explode, but then thought of something and pulled out a pocket watch from his chest, checking the time.


    It was getting late... If he went any later, there wouldn''t be a choice anymore.


    In fact, if it weren''t for Lord Flower emphasizing the importance of night duty, he wouldn''t have spent the time coming to find Colin to cover for him.


    Based on past habits, he would have just not shown up.


    He suppressed his anger, speaking impatiently,


    "In any case, just go if I tell you to go!" Barney paused, then added, "From now on, every Saturday night duty is yours! Sort yourself out!"


    After speaking, he definitively left without giving Colin any chance to interject.


    "Drive!"


    The black coachman cracked his whip and drove off.


    Colin, standing behind, furrowed his brows tightly but soon relaxed them.


    He felt somewhat amused.


    ''Barney truly is a cowardly and petty man... Does he really think I can be easily manipulated?''


    ''... Orders, going to night duty tonight... As if I would go!''


    He shook his head, closed the door, and went inside.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Convene

    After dinner,


    Colin habitually went to the Meditation Room to start meditating... As for Barney''s words, he didn''t take them to heart at all and had long since discarded them.


    Lighting the calming incense and sitting on the soft mat in the Meditation Room, he began to meditate.


    Since he had absorbed the Golden Four-leaf Clover, he had clearly felt that his magic power increased faster during meditation than before.


    His talent had obviously improved... it had probably reached Second Class.


    These changes were reflected on the Golden Paper, which showed that the progress of the Intermediate Wizard Apprentice rank was increasing faster.


    In the past, increasing the progress by one point would take about twenty days, but now it should only take about ten days.


    As night fell, Colin concluded his meditation.


    He could indeed feel his talent had improved, though he could only estimate vaguely and it was not precise.


    At that moment, he had a thought¡ª


    "Perhaps¡­ I should buy a Talent Crystal Ball to test my specific talent after the enhancement."


    ...No sooner said than done.


    The next morning, he took a carriage straight to the city center.


    There were only two places on the island where one could find Talent Crystal Balls, one was a shop outside Wizard Territory on the mountain, and the other was Wizard Alley in the center of Blackstone City.


    If he went to the mountain, the steep paths would be difficult for ordinary carriages, and he would have to walk. Starting from outside the city gate, it would take him more than an hour to reach the shop outside Wizard Territory, and even longer from his home on Palm Street.


    However, if he chose to go to the city center, though it took more than an hour as well, he wouldn''t have to walk as he could reach there directly by carriage.


    Between the two options, the choice was clear.


    Sitting in the carriage, Colin lifted the window curtain of the carriage compartment and absentmindedly surveyed the outside.


    Passersby were coming and going, most dressed in linen clothes, looking slender.


    Soon, the carriage reached a long yellow mud slope. On both sides, many vendors carrying sea fish or other miscellaneous goods were peddling.


    This area clearly had more people than other places. The speed of the carriage also slowed down.


    And with more people, the smells became mixed, especially on an island with limited sanitation.


    In a moment, the stench of sweat, the fishy smell of sea fish, the stench of feet, and even a faint smell of urine all wafted in from the window.


    Colin slightly frowned and lowered the curtain.


    ...


    Sigh~


    "Master, we''ve arrived," Arthur said respectfully.


    The black carriage gradually stopped, and Colin opened the door, stepping down at a leisurely pace.


    His eyes were met by a narrow brick stone street, flanked by various shops on both sides.


    The environment here was somewhat better, at least.


    The sanitary conditions of Blackstone City were indeed not to be complimented. Only rich neighborhoods like his residence and this city center were slightly better.


    Walking into the alley, in a daze, Colin felt as if he had returned to Wizard Territory. Most of the pedestrians here were wizards; ordinary people were nowhere to be seen.


    Speaking of which¡­ the last time he bought Knight Combat Skills and bee stingers here. Unfortunately, plans couldn''t keep up with changes, and he had yet to practice that resplendent skill even once.


    After all... his energy was limited, and there were many skills on the Golden Paper that he hadn''t practiced to the limit yet, not to mention practicing a normal knight combat skill.


    While thinking, he walked into a general store.


    Before long, he came out with a Talent Crystal Ball the size of two fists.


    This crystal ball wasn''t cheap, costing him five Magic Stones.


    Hurrying home, he couldn''t wait to go down to the basement. Focusing his mind, he placed his hand on the transparent crystal ball.


    Moments later, a white mist began to slowly rise inside the crystal ball.


    Colin carefully observed the size the mist occupied¡ª


    It was about seven-tenths.


    A flicker of understanding crossed his eyes; seven-tenths was already the highest level of Second Class, any higher would be First Class.


    Although he had anticipated it, knowing the specific results still made his heart leap with joy.


    A wizard''s talent, besides inherent ability, consisted of at least half learning capacity.


    But still, inherent ability also accounted for half; considering the original owner''s talent was only Fourth Class, even though the Golden Paper indirectly enhanced his talent, the True Talent was still Fourth Class... Now being upgraded directly to Second Class was indeed compensating for a deficiency.


    Time flew by quickly.


    To Colin''s surprise, although he did not take over Barney''s night shift that evening, Barney did not bother him again afterward.


    "Maybe he thought I went?" Colin speculated to himself.


    A week passed, and Sunday arrived.


    That morning, the sky was faintly lit.


    Oak Street.


    There were few pedestrians.


    Clip-clop!


    A carriage sped down the dirt road, with a Guard Knight dressed in leather armor riding a black horse alongside it.


    Inside the carriage, Colin frowned slightly, as it was supposed to be his day off.


    However, for some unknown reason, Flower had sent a guard to deliver a message, instructing them to gather at the Patrol Department immediately.


    Upon receiving the news, Colin called to Arthur to ride to the Patrol Department, and they were now on their way.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop~


    The horse hooves struck the dirt road, kicking up a slight dust that merged into the thin morning fog.


    Soon, he arrived at the Patrol Department.


    After getting off the carriage and approaching the entrance, he gently pushed open the doors of the hall and walked in.


    At that moment, Flower was sitting in the middle of the hall on a recliner, taking big bites of a crispy roast chicken.


    Some people had already gathered in front of him, but by the looks of it, a few were still missing.


    Colin stepped forward, walking into the crowd, and waited quietly.


    Crack~ Crack~


    Time passed slowly with the sound of Flower crushing chicken bones.


    After a while, more people arrived, but it seemed not everyone was there yet. Flower had not begun to speak; he was just focused on eating his roast chicken.


    Colin carefully scanned the room and mentally counted the number of people.


    ''Only one person is missing, and that seems to be¡­ Barney?''


    At that moment, the door to the hall was pushed open.


    Barney rushed in, looking somewhat disheveled, with sweat on his forehead due to the hurry.


    ''He must have just gotten out of a woman''s bed.''


    Colin observed Barney discreetly from a distance, and he could smell the scent of Barney''s perfume.


    Barney positioned himself on the far left and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    Flower looked up at Barney, swallowed the last bite of food, and slowly began to speak:


    "Now that everyone is here, I''ll keep it short."


    "Barney," he said coldly.


    "...Yes! Lord Flower," Barney stammered, promptly responding.


    "Come here." Flower slowly stood up, smiling mysteriously at Barney.


    Barney stepped out of the line with a puzzled look on his face.


    As he saw Flower''s smile, his heart skipped a beat.


    He felt a mix of nerves and anticipation.


    "Could it be¡­" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he knew it was impossible, the impossible thought suddenly sprang to his mind.


    "Could it be that Lord Flower, noticing my hard work over these past days, plans to announce my appointment as Deputy Leader in front of everyone!"


    This thought overwhelmed him, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt it might not be so far-fetched. Subsequently, every minute action of Flower, even the grease staining his hands, seemed to be evidence supporting his theory¡­


    Although he thought a lot, only a moment had passed in reality.


    Feeling the gaze of those behind him, Barney straightened his back, feeling a surge of pride.


    After adjusting his expression, he ''casually'' turned his head with a detached look, his gaze sweeping from left to right, pausing on Regina for a moment, before he put on a solicitous expression and stepped toward Flower.

 Chapter 56 - 56: 56 chapters Punishment

    As Barney approached, Flower''s smile suddenly disappeared.


    He raised his palm and placed it on Barney''s shoulder.


    Barney only felt an overwhelming force coming from his shoulder, and, caught off-guard, he fell heavily to his knees.


    Bang!!


    "Ah!"


    His knees collided with the hard wooden floor, emitting a dull sound.


    He felt as if his knees had shattered. He couldn''t help but cry out in pain!


    He looked up, bewildered, gazing at Flower as if questioning why?


    The surrounding apprentices also jumped, but afterward, they all smiled.


    Regina was the one who took the most pleasure in his misfortune.


    Barney was a real scoundrel; it wasn''t that he had a poor reputation, rather he had none at all.


    Turning back, Flower settled into his recliner again, watching Barney as he slowly began to speak,


    "Last night, where were you?"


    "I was on duty..." Barney started to respond automatically about his night duty of the previous night.


    But he quickly realized, since Flower was asking, that Flower must have known he hadn''t been on duty.


    "...Why didn''t you go on duty?" Flower continued.


    ''Didn''t go on duty... Didn''t Colin take over for me?'' A trace of confusion flashed in Barney''s eyes.


    Flower did not wait for his response, continuing to speak on his own,


    "Last night, at 79 Tulip Street, a woman and her twelve maids were all brutally murdered and their hearts were gouged out.


    It wasn''t until the early hours that the guards discovered something was amiss..."


    Flower paused slightly, then asked,


    "Barney, did you know?


    ...That woman''s house is only twenty meters away from the watchtower."


    As Flower leisurely spoke, Barney''s face turned increasingly pale, sweat continually beading on his forehead.


    His heartbeat thundered, as if standing by the edge of an unfathomable cliff, making Barney feel a wave of weakness.


    Flower leaned back in his chair, quietly watching him, waiting for an answer.


    "I, I..." Nervousness rendered Barney momentarily speechless.


    But the next moment, as if grasping at straws, he cried out urgently,


    "Mr. Flower! Last night, last night it wasn''t my turn for duty! Yes!... It wasn''t my night, it was Colin''s turn!"


    As if to bolster his argument''s credibility, he suddenly turned, staring at Colin with a resentful gaze, and bellowed accusingly,


    "Why didn''t you go on duty last night?!"


    Flower raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze towards Colin.


    With this new twist, the apprentices also looked on with interest at both Colin and Barney.


    "On duty? What night duty?" Colin, feigning confusion, said, "Barney, what are you talking about? I don''t know."


    As Barney looked at Colin''s innocent expression, he faltered, then said,


    "I clearly instructed you to be on duty last Saturday night..."


    "Sorry, Barney! ...I really can''t understand what you''re saying," Colin waved his hand and raised his voice to interrupt.


    "If you mean to say that you once came to ask me to cover your duty... then let me ask, did I agree?"


    "Everyone''s duty schedule," he pointed at the notice board on the wall close by, "is clearly written there. My duty night is every Friday. And last night was Saturday..."


    He spread his hands and shook his head.


    Out of frustration, Barney blurted out furiously,


    "I am the deputy captain. I gave you an order, and you had to follow it, you insubordinate fool!"


    "Hahaha!" Regina suddenly burst into laughter from the side. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, respected Deputy Captain Barney..." her tone was full of mockery.


    "Hahahaha!" The other Apprentices around also burst into laughter.


    "They really think they''re something."


    "Yeah, Deputy Captain, so impressive!"


    Upon closer inspection, those who spoke out had been transferred from the mountain Patrol Team.


    They weren''t afraid of displeasing Flower, their understanding of him was much deeper than Barney''s.


    "I follow the commands of Lord Flower," Colin responded with a slight smile in a timely manner.


    "Enough," Flower said flatly.


    He had already figured out the cause and effects of the incident.


    He was not concerned about the conflict between Barney and Colin, nor did he care whether or not Barney had sought Colin to take over his duty shift or by what means Colin had been made to cover for him.


    All he knew was that, according to his rules, Barney was supposed to be on duty last night.


    And yet, no one had been on duty last night.


    No matter the reasons or causes... from his perspective, it was all Barney''s fault.


    Barney wasn''t wrong to seek someone to cover his shift; he was wrong not to make sure the cover was successful.


    Especially at such a critical time...


    Especially when the murderer''s method was similar to those filthy vermin...


    Perhaps... if someone had been on duty last night, they might have caught their trail...


    Flower sighed inwardly, this thought further soured his mood and led him to decide to punish Barney severely, to set an example for others.


    He swept his gaze over the crowd impatiently and asked,


    "I have emphasized to you all the importance of being on duty at night, haven''t I?"


    "Yes, Lord Flower," the group hesitated for a moment, then replied in unison.


    "Good," Flower nodded.


    "Remember that, Barney is your lesson!"


    "Lord Flower...I," Barney felt a surge of foreboding and his face turned pale.


    "Barney..." Flower said gravely, "you are dismissed from the Patrol Team!"


    "Furthermore, go back to the mountain and accept your punishment, mine in the Magic Stone Mine for a year."


    Barney felt a chill in his heart, his face gradually turning ashen.


    He hadn''t anticipated that missing just one night''s duty would bring such severe punishment...


    Mining in the Magic Stone Mine, digging through Magic Stone Veins, brought a strange, energy-rich disease from the vast primitive Magic Power, and ordinary people couldn''t survive there for a day without dying from mutation.


    Wizards could resist, but as an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, it would not be easy for him; it was undoubtedly a grueling task.


    But, that was bearable, what he truly couldn''t accept was being kicked out of the Patrol Team.


    With the Lap School''s well-established structure also came rigidity; only by advancing in Rank could he climb higher, yet he lacked the Talent.


    Thus, he was stuck in a vicious cycle, no Talent to advance, no way to climb higher; no way to climb higher, no access to more resources to advance; unable to advance...


    Therefore, he had exerted an enormous effort to be transferred to this newly established Patrol Team, just to make a name for himself, just for more chances to climb higher!


    But now... everything was ruined.


    "Yes, Lord Flower," he answered quietly.


    Although no one else spoke, he felt as if everyone''s gaze was like thorns on his back.


    His heart was filled with mixed emotions, wishing he could flee this place immediately.


    Yet gradually, an image formed in his mind.


    "Colin..."


    As this image appeared, the complex feelings in his heart boiled down to anger, intense anger!!


    So, under the surprised gaze of everyone, he slowly stood up.


    Barney turned around, staring at Colin,


    took off the triangular Silver Badge he wore on his chest, and threw it at him.

 Chapter 57 - 57 Arrogance

    Click.


    The metal triangle badge struck the floor with a crisp sound.


    "Barney!" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Flower''s brows furrowed as he called out sternly.


    "My lord."


    Barney didn''t turn around, his gaze fixed on Colin as he continued,


    "According to the rules of the School, when members of the same rank encounter irreconcilable differences, they can cast aside their badges and engage in a duel to the death, can''t they?"


    He paused, then spoke again with a resentful tone,


    "I wish to wash away the humiliation I''ve endured, Lord Flower!"


    Flower''s expression gradually cooled,


    How could he not know what Barney was plotting? It was nothing but an attempt to use combat to avenge himself on Colin, relying on the fact that he was of slightly higher strength.


    "I said, enough." His face expressionless, his voice calm yet as chilling as a winter''s wind, "Barney."


    "Lord Flower!" Barney couldn''t help but turn and call out, "I just want to wash away my humiliation! Please agree!"


    Not just Flower, but everyone around couldn''t help but frown at this moment.


    "The one who brought you shame was not Colin, but your own blind arrogance," Flower said, barely containing his impatience.


    Barney obviously still did not think it was his fault...


    In fact, if Barney had the power and status his mindset suggested, then such thoughts wouldn''t be wrong... The mistake was in Colin, who had not followed his orders.


    But sadly... Barney did not.


    His thinking, then, was arrogance... blind arrogance, out of step with his actual abilities...


    "Barney, I''ll say it one last time, go back to the Wizard Territory and take your punishment..."


    "But...!" Barney looked back at Flower, his already gaunt face twisting further, his carefully groomed mustache resembling disheveled weeds at the moment.


    ''Why!''


    ''Why do they all side with Colin!''


    ''Isn''t it him who caused all this by not following my orders!!?''


    He looked around and saw only mockery, disdain, and indifference.


    He gasped for breath, struggling to squeeze a few words through his teeth, "I understand, Lord Flower..."


    "I accept your challenge."


    A smooth, calm voice interrupted.


    He looked up, shocked at Colin standing not far ahead.


    The hall suddenly fell silent.


    All eyes focused on Colin.


    The young man''s face was calm as he unfastened the silver triangle badge from his chest and tossed it forward.


    ...Barney''s despicable behavior was simply nauseating... To cleanse shame, ha! As if not obeying orders was the real error...


    But by what right should I obey?


    Click.


    The badge landed on the floor, bounced, and finally rolled to a stop beside the triangle badge Barney had removed, on the wooden parquet.


    Flower looked up at Colin, furrowed his eyebrows, and said nothing more.


    The next second, he slowly rose from his recliner, walked past Barney and Colin, and headed for the door, his impatient voice floating into the hall,


    "Do as you please, fight your duel... just make sure to record it with a ''Bright Crystal''..."


    Creak.


    The door to the Patrol Department swung open, and Flower left the place.


    Once his massive figure was gone, sunlight rushed in through the newly opened door.


    Barney watched Colin basking in the sunlight, his heart swept up in ecstatic joy.


    He hadn''t expected that just when he was about to give up, Colin would unexpectedly agree to the challenge, and for a moment he could hardly control his own excitement.


    He even felt like breaking wizard principles, tempted to thank the Divine...!


    Even in the backlighting, Colin''s face, shrouded in shadows,


    seemed to hint that the youth before him was about to die...


    And the victor who would take his life¡ª


    would surely be himself.


    Barney''s twisted expression suddenly calmed.


    His sharp features attempted to muster a solemn expression as he clumsily gestured an unknown noble salute.


    But before he could fully gather his emotions, he heard Colin''s calm urging,


    "Where shall we duel? Time is precious."


    "?!"


    Barney, who had been disagreeable to calm down, suddenly twisted his face in anger. It took him a moment to suppress his rage and continue performing the noble etiquette.


    After a moment of thought, he said,


    "The eastern seaside, it''s beautiful there, fitting for your burial."


    He wanted to choose a place worth remembering for this duel.


    Colin frowned.


    He looked at the Barney before him, drenched in sweat and disheveled, appearing utterly wretched and even somewhat bizarre, with a touch of confusion.


    Ever since Colin had accepted the duel, Barney had been like this, seemingly immersed in some inexplicable emotion.


    But Colin just wanted to deal with the buffoon in front of him as quickly as possible.


    "No need," Colin shook his head, "I think the Patrol Department''s basement will do."


    Considering this was West City and the eastern seaside was at least a three-hour drive from here, he didn''t have that much time to waste on this matter.


    "You''re just an Intermediate Apprentice who has recently advanced; where do you get the audacity to speak to me like that?!" Barney finally lost his patience and could no longer maintain his composure as he questioned.


    "Just advanced?" The surrounding Apprentices who were still watching were also surprised.


    "Regina, weren''t you on the same shift with Colin... Barney said he has just advanced, is that true?"


    Regina nodded to her friend beside her and said indifferently, "Let''s go, there''s nothing to see here, we didn''t bring any Bright Crystals."


    She and her friend turned and left.


    After Flower left, the watching Apprentices, except for a few who had brought Bright Crystals hoping to make a little money later, began to leave one after another.


    Not many people were interested in spending their time on a duel that was unrelated to them.


    After Regina left with her friends, a few more people left.


    In the end, aside from Colin and Barney, only three male Apprentices remained.


    Barney, looking at Colin''s calm face, clenched his teeth and said,


    "If you''re so eager to die, fine! Let''s go to the basement now."


    Colin nodded, unable to agree or disagree.


    He couldn''t sympathize with Barney at all.


    In his view, Barney was just a little man who was angry out of embarrassment.


    They arrived at the basement.


    The Bright Crystals embedded in the walls lit up the entire basement as if it were daylight.


    "Two Magic Stones each," the remaining three huddled together for a while and then addressed Colin and Barney.


    "Fine!" Barney was the first to respond.


    Colin also nodded indifferently.


    The two Magic Stones per person were to be their compensation for recording the entire fight with the Bright Crystals later.


    Lap School had strict rules for duels.


    Firstly, a duel could only be established between members of the same level; an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice could only challenge another Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.


    Secondly, from the moment a badge was thrown down, it meant that the duel would end with only one survivor... This was a matter of dignity among Wizards!


    Additionally, for a duel to be established, it needed not only the agreement of both parties but also the consent of at least one higher-level School member.


    Lastly, during the fight, there must be a higher-level Wizard among the spectators, or at least two Bright Crystals to record the entire battle.


    Flower''s final words were clearly an acceptance of their duel, but also a signal that she did not plan to watch.


    This was also why the last three Wizards stayed.


    Buzz¡ª


    The Bright Crystals were successively activated by the three spectators, standing at different angles to record the fight.


    Stepping on the cold stone slabs of the basement, Colin and Barney stood at opposite ends.


    The air grew inexplicably tense.


    The two exchanged a glance, and Barney sneered at Colin, making the first move!


    A burst of white light flashed, and his figure vanished from the spot.


    He glared at Colin, sneering internally while making his plan.


    First, use Adaptive Mimicry, then approach swiftly with agile steps, and finally, strike with a Shadow Spike...


    He imagined seeing Colin lying in a pool of blood!


    Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!


    But at that moment, several faint sounds came through the air.


    Immediately afterward, with two spluttering sounds, Barney suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his figure gradually appearing about ten meters in front of Colin.


    Looking at the exploded holes in his chest and the right side of his lower abdomen, feeling the hard Cone Bullets chaotically bouncing and piercing through his body, causing excruciating pain, Barney''s face displayed disbelief.


    But soon, his eyes dimmed,


    And he fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

 Chapter 58 - 58 Receiving Orders

    Colin pocketed the remaining cone bullets.


    Then, somewhat begrudgingly, he took out six Magic Stones and handed them to the three apprentices standing beside him with a Crystal of Remembrance, their faces a picture of astonishment.


    After improving the ammunition for his Arrow Shooting Skill, the power was clearly enhanced compared to before.


    Once hit, it was either death or injury.


    But, Colin had not expected to resolve Barney so quickly.


    Most likely, this was because Barney hadn''t cast any Defensive Witchcraft.


    As for why he hadn''t used Defensive Witchcraft¡ª


    Perhaps Barney was overly confident in his Adaptive Mimicry''s ability to hide and his Light Spirit Steps'' evasion tactics.


    Adaptive Mimicry was indeed powerful, virtually undetectable to the eye alone.


    But since enhancing with the Golden Four-leaf Clover, Colin''s senses had greatly improved.


    Although Adaptive Mimicry made Barney visually disappear,


    the strong scent of women''s perfume clearly couldn''t be concealed by Adaptive Mimicry,


    and Colin could still get a rough sense of direction by relying on his extraordinary sense of smell, even if he couldn''t pinpoint Barney''s exact location.


    Therefore, he fired several cone bullets in a covering pattern in the general direction and took Barney down effortlessly.


    After all, the speed of the cone bullets fired by his Arrow Shooting Skill had now surpassed that of many rifles from his past life... Barney evidently couldn''t react in time, even with Light Spirit Steps.


    ...Perhaps, only with the Enhanced Reaction Speed gained from the second Level Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Technique, combined with Light Spirit Steps, he could barely dodge.


    After collecting the Crystal of Remembrance from the apprentices who had been watching the combat, Colin walked towards Barney''s body and crouched down to remove the black money pouch from his waist.


    Opening it, he roughly counted about thirty Magic Stones inside.


    A look of pleasure couldn''t help but surface on Colin''s face as he realized that not only had he covered his recent expenses, but he had also gained unexpected wealth!


    It was a pity, though... aside from what was left on the body, the rest of Barney''s estate would be confiscated by the School.


    ...Perhaps this was to avoid members of the School deliberately challenging each other to plunder resources.


    Colin searched thoroughly once more, but only found a few incomplete witchcraft research papers.


    They must have been what Barney had been researching lately... not a complete set and of no value.


    ...


    The next day,


    it was Colin''s turn to be on duty.


    He arrived at the Patrol Department, also planning to hand over the Crystal of Remembrance to Flower.


    Approaching the office door, and just as he was about to knock,


    "Come in," came Flower''s voice from inside unexpectedly.


    Colin hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.


    However, he wasn''t surprised; after all, he hadn''t been trying to move stealthily, so it was normal for Flower to notice him.


    Once inside, he was taken aback again.


    In the spacious office, apart from Berkeley, there stood two others.


    "Lord Berkeley, City Lord Price, Captain Flower," he greeted each respectfully and promptly.


    Yet in his heart, he found it somewhat strange,


    ''Why do I see Berkeley everywhere... and now City Lord Price is here too...''


    He couldn''t help but think back to the previous encounter with Berkeley in West City at Barton''s Guard Station office.


    Logically speaking, Berkeley was rarely seen in West City, and Price even less so...


    "Colin..." Flower seemed surprised to see him enter and couldn''t help but ask, "Didn''t you have a duel with Barney yesterday?"


    "A duel?" Berkeley, intrigued, asked from the side, "What duel?"


    "It''s like this..." Flower briefly described the background and aftermath of the events.


    "Not accepting the duel was wise," Berkeley nodded at Colin, sighing slightly in his heart.


    ''I never expected that for such a reason, a great opportunity would be wasted.


    Perhaps¡­ if someone had been on the night shift, they could have caught their tails.''


    Perhaps truly feeling regret, Berkeley sighed again:


    "That Barney, I''ve seen him before, and I''ve warned him to recognize his own limitations, but I didn''t expect him to be so¡­"


    "Foolish," the City Lord Price on the other side concluded succinctly, adding, "A year''s punishment in the mines is still too lenient."


    Flower nodded as if something had occurred to him, and turned to Colin, asking:


    "So¡­ what brings you here to see me?"


    Finally, Colin had the chance to interject. He paused and said:


    "¡­Captain Flower, Barney is dead. This is a projection crystal from yesterday''s duel."


    He took out the projection crystal and handed it over.


    Flower was startled and took the projection crystal.


    Berkeley raised an eyebrow, glancing at Colin, while even the typically stoic Price showed a ripple of emotion on his face.


    Flower activated the projection crystal,


    and three projections appeared out of thin air, gradually converging to form an adjustable image.


    The three watched together.


    The duration of the fight wasn''t long, and soon it ended.


    After watching the crystal, they all fell silent.


    "¡­It seems you''ve improved a great deal, Colin."


    A moment later, Berkeley was the first to praise, "You have a talent for witchcraft improvement."


    He recognized that Colin was using the Arrow Shooting Skill, which they had exchanged before, but it was clearly enhanced.


    Although he didn''t know the cost, in terms of power it was at least above average among witchcraft used by Intermediate Apprentices.


    "Just an occasional inspiration¡­ Thank you for the praise," Colin said, his expression calm.


    When confronting Barney, he hadn''t unleashed the full power of the Arrow Shooting Skill¡­ Actually, to hide the secrets of Golden Paper, ever since he had broken the limits of the Arrow Shooting Skill, he had been controlling its display of power.


    Apart from the incident with the Black-Maned Giant Pig King, he only used his full strength in his home''s basement.


    And he always carefully disposed of the used iron targets.


    As for the Black-Maned Giant Pig King incident, he had later personally inspected its corpse and, perhaps due to its strong recovery power, there were no signs of anything unusual.


    He wasn''t worried that the projection crystal would reveal anything unusual to Berkeley and the others.


    The specific changes in witchcraft are hard to observe with the naked eye during casting, much like a clock; all clocks move their hands, but how many gears are inside is hard to gauge just by looking at the exterior.


    Therefore, as long as he didn''t expose the complete model and theory of the breakthrough Arrow Shooting Skill, no one could tell that this originally ordinary Arrow Shooting Skill had been completely transformed.


    The reason Berkeley could recognize it was probably from the unusually high power evident in the projection crystal and the ammunition¡ªCone Bullets¡ªthat differed completely from ordinary arrows.


    Berkeley smiled, as if suddenly struck with an idea, and turned to Flower and the others to suggest:


    "Since we''re unsure who to choose, why not let Colin assist? What do you think?"


    "Acceptable," Price nodded calmly.


    "Good," Flower also nodded, then explained to Colin:


    "Colin, do you remember the murder case I mentioned yesterday?"


    "I remember, Captain Flower."


    "Excellent, we would like you to help Regina investigate this matter."


    "¡­Yes," Colin nodded, not feeling anything particular,


    As a member of the Patrol Department, he would inevitably be responsible for such investigations, it''s just earlier than expected.


    "Regina is currently at 79 Tulip Street. Go there and find her," Flower added.


    Colin agreed and turned to leave.


    S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 59 - 59 Traceless

    79 Tulip Street.


    When Colin arrived, the entrance was already being guarded by guards in plate armor.


    Passersby had pulled away, forming a vacuum zone in front of the mahogany gate.


    Colin made his way through the crowd and into the gate. The guards at the entrance bent over to greet him respectfully.


    The layout of this residence was similar to his own on Palm Street, except that it was a single-story house rather than a multi-story building, and it had an extra wing, forming an inverted U-shape, with the wing and main house connected by two sections of European white columns adorned with rose patterns.


    He stepped into the main house.


    In the center of the living room on the first floor, several guards stood in front of Regina, recounting something to her.


    "Colin¡­" Regina looked puzzled to see Colin enter the house, "why have you come here?"


    She looked at Colin, her expression somewhat complex.


    The results of the duel from yesterday morning had been quickly spread by the three apprentices who stayed to record it.


    Regina obviously knew about it too... She couldn''t help but feel a bit surprised.


    "Regina, Captain Flower sent me to assist you in investigating this homicide," Colin explained.


    He slowly approached and handed over the paper commission that Flower had given him to Regina.


    He could clearly sense a difference in Regina''s attitude towards him from before.


    ''Indeed, constant low-key behavior... cannot bring real peace.


    It is also important to show strength when appropriate,'' he thought to himself, realizing the situation.


    "...I understand," Regina nodded after reading the commission, her expression having returned to calm.


    "I''ll take you to see the crime scene first. The murder happened last Saturday night, at about three to four o''clock in the morning."


    She led Colin towards the wing on the right.


    "79 Tulip Street, the residence houses a total of 13 people, one mistress and twelve maids.


    Ten maids live in six rooms in the wings on both sides, while only the mistress and two personal knight maids reside in the main house."


    Walking through the corridor with beige floor tiles, they arrived at the servants'' room on the far right.


    The servants'' room''s brown-yellow wooden door was flung open, and a strong smell of blood emanated from inside.


    "This room housed two maids, and the evidence suggests the killer began the slaughter here."


    Colin edged closer and peered inside.


    The bodies of the two maids were twisted and piled on top of each other, lying on the wooden floorboards, their faces contorted, eyeballs protruding. There was a large hole through the front and back of each one''s left chest.


    Dark brown, coagulated blood was visible everywhere¡ªon the walls, the bedding, and even the ceiling.


    It looked as though a monstrously strong demon had suddenly entered the room, piercing the maids'' left chests with immense force, ripping out their hearts, and then discarding their bodies like straw on the floor.


    "Pay attention to the room''s floor," Regina suggested at that moment.


    Colin glanced over.


    Apart from the two maids'' bodies, the brown wooden floor was smeared with a huge puddle of blood and radiating splatters of bloodstains.


    It looked normal at first glance... but no!


    Colin frowned slightly.


    These bloodstains splattered in all directions, with evidence of splashes on every side. However... if the killer had pierced the maids from the front, obviously the front would not have much blood splattered due to blockages like arms.


    Yet now, the splatter patterns on the front appeared as though they had faced no obstruction at all.


    Upon closer inspection of the floor, besides the maids'' dark red blood, a little brown dust, and a few strands of hair from the maids, this room showed no other sign of anyone else''s presence.


    There were no footprints, no smell¡­ nothing at all.


    Even the door was completely unharmed.


    It was as if a ghost had done everything¡­


    "It seems our killer is invisible," Colin said, stroking the smooth brown wooden door''s surface before pausing.


    "Yes." Regina nodded and led Colin to the next room.


    "At first, I thought it was a ghost, but Detect Evil showed no trace of a ghost''s presence¡­ or rather, no trace of any evil presence at all.


    No demons, no ghosts, no evil entities, no tainted auras, no signs of witchcraft, absolutely nothing¡ªas if a normal person had done everything."


    She quickly took Colin through the horrific scene in the maid''s room.


    Most were much the same as the first, with hearts gone and a hole piercing the chest.


    "But from the traces at the scene, it looks more like Cultists did this," Regina said, stopping in the living room.


    Colin nodded his agreement.


    Such systematic heart extraction likely had another purpose.


    The two headed for the master bedroom.


    As soon as he entered the master bedroom, Colin furrowed his brow. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the pink canopy bed, a naked female corpse was spread-eagled, with signs of violation. Leather shackles with moon patterns were fastened around her ankles and connected at the wrists on the side.


    The chains were pulled so tight that her limbs were distorted.


    Her left chest, like the other maids'' bodies, bore a large hole, and the heart had flown away.


    The blood had dyed the bedding beneath her into a stark dark red.


    "There are signs of violation, but nothing was left behind," Regina said with a slight frown.


    It was unclear whether the perpetrator had been driven by lust or some ritualistic necessity.


    "Good morning, Esteemed Members of the Lap School," a hoarse voice suddenly came from the door.


    A wizard with a goatee followed by a Guard entered; his skin was dark, mostly unwrinkled, but some white hair revealed his not insignificant age.


    "Good morning," Regina replied tersely, turning her head and whispering to Colin, "Bigu is the owner of this residence, an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice. The woman Lisa, who died on the bed, was his mistress."


    Colin nodded almost imperceptibly.


    "Eminent Guests, may I ask what you need of me?" Bigu spoke, his brow slightly furrowed as he glanced at Lisa on the bed and sighed.


    On the way here, he had heard about the incident from the Guards. Initially, he was angry, but after seeing the bizarre scene, his anger gradually subsided.


    He was old now, only wishing to spend his last days in peace, not wanting to get involved in such affairs¡­ even though Lisa was his favorite mistress.


    "I need to understand a bit about her," Regina said, pointing to Lisa on the bed.


    Bigu nodded and began to recount.


    According to him, he had met Lisa two years ago and had been keeping her here ever since. Normally he lived in the residences outside the Lap School on the mountain and only occasionally came down to see her.


    The last time he had visited Lisa was half a month ago.


    After listening to his story, Regina pondered for a moment and then asked:


    "Do you have any suspects in mind?"


    "No, ever since I met Lisa, she''s been living here with maids attending her daily. If she had made any enemies, the maids would have told me... At least up until half a month ago, Lisa had never made any enemies¡­"


    Bigu shook his head decisively. Although Lisa was his favorite mistress, she was after all just a plaything kept captive, and he knew everything about her daily whereabouts like the back of his hand,


    ...in his eyes, it clearly wasn''t a killing spurred by vengeance.


    Lisa had most likely just been an unlucky soul.

 Chapter 60 - 60: Unusual

    Elsewhere, in the office of the Patrol Department.


    Berkeley and his two companions were still in conversation.


    "...How confident are you that this incident was their doing?" Berkeley asked Flower, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the mahogany desk.


    "Only about thirty percent," Flower shook his head,


    "I''ve been to the scene and, judging by the state of the bodies, it somewhat resembles their style... but I didn''t sense that familiar, nauseating aura."


    At this, he couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    This latest murder case had closely followed the contaminant incident involving Catherine from the West City Guard Station, and he subconsciously linked the two events.


    However, upon actually visiting the scene, he found it somewhat different from what he had expected.


    "We''ll know soon enough," Price, who was sitting beside them, interjected, "If it really is the Bloody Thorn, then they will definitely act again."


    "And what about Regina?" Flower asked.


    "Let them keep investigating," Berkeley interrupted.


    "Alright," Flower nodded, then asked, "Should we report this to Wizard Lap?"


    "No need," Berkeley shook his head,


    "Nothing has been confirmed yet, and there''s no point in bothering Master Lap... This may just be an ordinary murder case like any other."


    He turned to look out of the stained-glass window, paused, and then reminded,


    "But we shouldn''t let our guard down either; the source of Catherine''s contamination has been identified by Wizard Lap as the master of the Bloody Thorn..."


    Flower nodded vigorously, his jowly neck quivered.


    Afterwards, the three said their goodbyes.


    Berkeley left the Patrol Department.


    Outside, the sun was shining brightly, the sky azure blue,


    People were coming and going in Blackstone City.


    Peaceful, serene, a day like any other...


    But no matter how he looked at it, he always felt as if there were undercurrents swirling in the shadows.


    *


    *


    *


    79 Tulip Street.


    At the ornately carved gate with roses.


    Bigu was saying farewell to Regina and her companion.


    "Lord Bigu, if you think of any useful information later on, please contact us immediately," they said.


    "I certainly will," Bigu replied with a smile,


    "I''ll be heading back now."


    He said goodbye to Regina and her companion and turned to step into the carriage behind him.


    Off you go!


    The carriage carried him away, slowly disappearing at the corner of the street.


    Colin and Regina returned to the living room and sat down on the apricot-colored velveteen sofa, both frowning simultaneously.


    Bigu''s answers had provided them with no useful information.


    And with no traces to be detected at the scene, Regina''s black cat couldn''t smell anything unusual either.


    The murder case''s investigation had hit a deadlock.


    "...How about we return to the Patrol Department and go through the archives of recent murder cases with extraordinary factors?"


    After pondering for a moment, Colin suggested.


    Clearly, this murder case was very likely the work of cultists, most likely not an act of vengeance.


    And if it was not vengeance, then investigating personal relationships was undoubtedly the wrong direction.


    In the current situation, with the only clue being their signature, ghost-like, traceless manner,


    Finding whether there was a related homicide was clearly the only breakthrough.


    Regina obviously realized this too, and nodded her head.


    She got up neatly and returned to the Patrol Department with Colin.


    This time, the victim was just an insignificant common man; in principle there was no need to pay too much attention.


    But because the incident itself involved supernatural powers, and it was very likely related to Cultists, it was no longer a trivial matter.


    It wasn''t long before the two arrived at the archive room of the Patrol Department, where all the files had been moved from the previous Guard Station.


    In the farthest corner, a huge brown bookshelf housed all the cases of homicide with supernatural elements that had occurred on the island over the past sixty years.


    The two of them flipped through the files one by one in chronological order, starting from the present and moving backwards in time.


    The sunlight by the window crawled from the legs of the table onto the tabletop, and then onto Colin, before finally, gradually disappearing.


    It wasn''t until evening, after they reviewed all the homicides related to supernatural factors from the past year.


    Yet, they still hadn''t found an incident identical to the recent Tulip Murder, not even anything similar.


    Dusk fell.


    In the end, Regina and Colin had to put down the files and took a carriage ride back to their respective homes.


    Regina lived in the opposite direction, and by the time Colin''s carriage turned the corner onto Acorn Street, Regina''s figure was no longer visible.


    "Let''s go to Tulip Street first," Colin suddenly instructed the coachman Arthur at that moment.


    "Yes, master," Arthur responded promptly, steering the carriage towards Tulip Street.


    Before long, the carriage slowly stopped at number 79 Tulip Street.


    Colin stepped out of the carriage.


    Outside the latticed gate carved with roses, there were still two armored Guards standing watch.


    "Sir," the two Guards greeted respectfully, curious as to why Colin would return so late, yet they asked nothing and remained silent as they opened the gates for him.


    But as Colin approached the entrance, he paused, waved to the Guards, and then suddenly turned back to the carriage.


    "Let''s go, Arthur," he ordered.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop.


    The carriage started moving.


    Inside the carriage, Colin''s expression was calm.


    The sole reason he returned here was to confirm the indescribable feeling he had experienced that morning.


    Although Detect Evil and Regina''s cat had found nothing at the crime scene that morning, he still felt something was off¡­


    A very faint oddity, so faint that he had once thought it was just an illusion.


    Not until he had thoroughly perused the archives that afternoon and carefully pondered did he gradually confirm that this slight oddity was not an illusion.


    In theory, as just an ordinary Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, since both Regina and her black cat, as well as Detect Evil, had not detected anything unusual, he should not have been able to detect anything either.


    But he had indeed discovered something¡­ and it was certainly not an illusion.


    ...Without a doubt, this was also one of the benefits of the enhancement of his soul.


    After the enhancement with the Golden Four-leaf Clover, his soul''s upgrade might not seem as significant as his physical body''s, having not received a Talent like his body had.


    But in terms of actual quantification, his current soul strength was undoubtedly one of the strongest on the entire island, excluding Wizard Lap.


    Moreover, the Golden Four-leaf Clover seemed to provide a special enhancement to perception, so it was quite normal for him to sense oddities that a normal Intermediate Apprentice could not.


    Nevertheless, obtaining the Golden Four-leaf Clover still needed to be kept a secret, and the strength of his enhanced soul should not be revealed lightly.


    Therefore, after confirming his sensation that afternoon, he said nothing.


    He chose to come back later at night to take a closer look.


    However, as he approached the door, he abruptly realized.


    There was absolutely no need for him to come here alone at this moment.


    With nightfall already upon them, the vast residence at number 79 Tulip Street had only the two living Guards outside, while the rest inside were mutilated, horrific corpses.


    A gentleman does not stand beneath a collapsing wall.


    If he wanted to check again¡­


    Waiting for the daylight tomorrow or revisiting with Regina another time would undoubtedly be the safer choice. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 61 - 61: Blood Mist

    The next day, dawn broke.


    Colin rose from the soft, large bed in his bedroom, and after washing up, Renee had already brought the steaming hot breakfast to him.


    He glanced at his pocket watch, 6:43 AM. He had slept for only about four hours last night.


    But now he felt refreshed, without a hint of fatigue.


    He looked again at the Golden Paper, noting improvements in every category.


    It was undeniable; seeing progress each day, feeling oneself constantly improving, was addictively satisfying.


    In fact, since arriving at the Patrol Department, his workload had decreased compared to his previous night shifts with the West City Guard Team.


    He could afford to enjoy life a bit more.


    After all, in Blackstone City, with the purchasing power of Magic Stones, he was undoubtedly one of the top tycoons.


    But this world hardly had much entertainment.


    More importantly, he could not resist the temptation of slowly pushing forward his progress.


    Cultivation had become his biggest hobby...


    Perhaps it was a strange aspect of human nature¡ªwithout progress, without visible improvement, it was hard to continue.


    Yet, with progress, even the dullest, most tedious activities could generate an almost alien persistence and determination, pushing one to keep going.


    "Unfortunately, I can''t spend all my time on cultivation," Colin couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    Even though the tasks at the Patrol Department were very relaxed, the continuous trivial matters still took up much of his time.


    But he merely sighed lightly.


    After all, he enjoyed the resources and benefits that came from the School.


    Naturally, there was a price to pay.


    Compared to the benefits he gained, working like this for the School was quite worthwhile.


    After breakfast, Colin took a carriage straight to 79 Tulip Street.


    He had agreed to meet Regina there this morning.


    They planned to carefully examine the scene again, hoping to find more useful information.


    Upon reaching Tulip Street,


    two carriages were already parked in front of No. 79.


    One was Regina''s, with a chestnut horse and a beige carriage, adorned with patterned gilding.


    The other carriage looked substantially larger than Regina''s, with two horses pulling a simple black carriage.


    "Perhaps it belongs to Captain Flower."


    Colin alighted from his carriage and walked into the yard, heading towards the master bedroom.


    Regina was standing by a pink bed,


    and the large figure of Flower next to her confirmed Colin''s guess.


    "Captain Flower."


    Flower nodded almost imperceptibly, his focus remaining on the woman''s corpse on the bed.


    "Colin," Regina turned around and whispered,


    "Captain Flower came over after hearing that we hadn''t found any traces."


    Colin nodded, a flash of realization crossing his face.


    "In fact, I had already been here once at the very beginning," Flower suddenly interjected,


    "I just glanced briefly back then, without giving it much thought. But I didn''t expect that even your cat, Regina, wouldn''t find any traces."


    He spoke while casting witchcraft.


    Sensory enhancement!


    The misty Magic Power flowed from his lower abdomen upwards, gathering in his eyes, the tip of his nose, his ears...


    Colin''s expression shifted slightly as he concentrated his mind.


    It had been only a day, yet the odd sensation seemed to have faded considerably.


    He focused his attention on the body of Lisa on the pink bed canopy, the unusual feeling gradually clarifying, like a bluestone sculpture being cleaned of its dirt, revealing its original reliefs.


    A swirl of red and black miasma, like mist over water, slowly appeared over the woman''s corpse.


    This red and black color was not visual; he didn''t see it but felt it.


    And as this trace of red and black became apparent, a chilling sensation, as though needles were pricking his forehead, enveloped him.


    Colin frowned, suppressing this inexplicable fear and looked more carefully.


    Apart from that most noticeable red and black trace, there were also faint wisps of red mist on other parts of the woman''s body.


    Did this represent... longer contact time in the deeper colored areas?


    No, that wasn''t right.


    Rather than prolonged contact, it was better to say the traces were fresher...


    Those fainter red mists seemed like earlier red and black traces that had faded.


    "If that is the case... Could the murderer have come last night as well?!"


    Colin''s eyes flickered with a trace of fluctuation.


    If he had rashly entered last night...


    "There''s nothing to be found." At this moment, Flower turned around and suddenly spoke.


    He shook his head, and the Magic Power that had gathered on his face quietly dispersed.


    Colin paused, let out a slight breath, and no longer paid attention to the red mist.


    As his focus shifted, the sense of fear in his heart gradually disappeared.


    "Thank you, Lord Flower." Regina replied, with an unmistakable disappointment on her face.


    Colin looked at Flower without a change in his expression.


    ''Even Flower couldn''t find anything unusual?''


    Flower shook his head again and tried walking around the room once more, finally stopping and sighing: Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There are indeed no traces... Perhaps this is yet another strange event."


    Regina nodded noncommittally, "I think so too."


    Colin nodded in agreement.


    This world had always harbored inexplicable, unexplainable strange events, locations, and objects.


    They were collectively termed as strange phenomena.


    But this incident, it was obviously not an unexplainable strange event...


    Colin stood in the spacious master bedroom, his expression inscrutable.


    Bright sunlight streamed in from the window, brushed across his body, and fell on the beautiful moon-patterned carpet.


    This scene should have been fresh and bright¡ª


    But underneath the pink bed canopy lay a twisted, naked female corpse, with barely discernible faint red mist dispersing...


    And that draped the scene with a terrifying hue.


    "This incident¡­" Flower stood by the bedroom door and slowly began, "try investigating it again."


    "If there''s still no lead, then temporarily treat it as a strange event and seal it off."


    Flower let out an almost imperceptible sigh; he was increasingly doubting his previous judgment.


    ''This matter is most likely unrelated to the Blood Meat Thorns Sect... It''s just a coincidence.''


    But one couldn''t blame himself for overthinking¡­ Lap the Wizard had just solemnly established the Patrol Department, and the incident with Catherine had just passed not long ago...


    It was inevitable for him to initially associate this matter with the Blood Meat Thorns Sect.


    "Clean up and process the scene." Flower instructed again.


    Even he could not discern any traces now; preserving the scene clearly had no use anymore.


    Additionally, with the weather being hot, if it wasn''t cleaned up soon, the body here would start to decay and breed maggots.


    He trudged with heavy steps and slowly climbed into the coach.


    "Drive!" the Coachman cracked his whip.


    The two tall horses neighed, straining forward, pulling Flower gradually away.


    Colin watched the black coach drive past him, about to withdraw his gaze.


    But he suddenly paused,


    His turning head hesitated for a moment, then feigning nonchalance, he directed his gaze again towards the street corner at the far right end of his vision.


    There, several street vendor stalls were set up.


    He focused on a stall selling roasted fish and bread in the middle.


    But his actual attention was on a stall selling live fish in the periphery of his eye.


    There, a middle-aged man was packing up, seemingly preparing to leave.


    Dressed in nothing more than plain grey linen clothes, with a dusky complexion and a numb expression, his appearance was as ordinary as could be.


    Such common people could be found on practically every street in Blackstone City.


    Yet to Colin, the faint red mist emanating from the middle-aged man, identical to the one from the female corpse in the master bedroom, rendered him extraordinary.


    He stood out like a crane among chickens.


    "Colin, what''s wrong?" Regina asked, puzzled,


    Following Colin''s gaze, she let out a bemused chuckle and said, "Didn''t you have breakfast this morning?"


    Colin hesitated, then replied, "I did, but I''m feeling a bit hungry again now."


    "It looks like your maid isn''t competent enough," Regina laughed, "not preparing enough breakfast for you."


    "Perhaps." Colin smiled and shook his head, then pointed towards his coach, "I''ll have my Coachman get me something to eat; could you ask the Guards to clean up the scene first?"


    "Sure."


    Colin nodded and strode towards his own coach.

 Chapter 62 - 62 Sudden

    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    Colin was sitting in the carriage, quietly listening to the information Arthur had brought back, with a grilled fish by his side.


    When Arthur returned, the residence had already been tidied up.


    At Regina''s suggestion, he was now on his way with her to the Patrol Department''s archive room.


    After a while,


    "...Master, that''s all the information I''ve managed to find," Arthur concluded his report.


    Sigh~


    Just then, they arrived at the Patrol Department.


    "Mm," Colin responded without changing expression and got out of the carriage with Regina to enter the archive room.


    As soon as they entered the archive room, Regina immediately started flipping through the archives without pause.


    Colin, with a calm demeanor, followed suit, waiting for the right moment.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed.


    Regina, frowning, suddenly sighed,


    "There''s still no trace to be found...


    Perhaps, this is truly nothing more than a bizarre incident."


    She slowly put down the archive and continued,


    "Even if that''s not the case, there''s no point wasting more time on this matter given the current lack of leads..."


    Colin said nothing.


    If he had not noticed anything amiss, he would undoubtedly have agreed with Regina and put this matter aside, waiting for a similar event to happen again, or simply letting it fade away.


    Such an approach was very common in this world.


    After all, only a few ordinary people had died in this event.


    Had a wizard been involved, the matter may not have passed so easily,


    and if it had involved a peak apprentice like Berkeley, it might even have directly alarmed a wizard from the Lap School...


    But it was not so... it was merely the deaths of thirteen insignificant common people.


    Colin sighed inwardly.


    Although he lacked the urge to right wrongs and champion justice, the existence of the Patrol Department, Holt''s final words, and the emphasis that people like Berkeley placed on such events still led him to sense an unusual air.


    ...No supernatural force uncontrolled by a School could be permitted on the island.


    After all, he was still a member of the Lap School.


    He understood very well the principle that one''s fate is linked with others''.


    "Perhaps there''s another possibility."


    Colin put down the archive and said casually all of a sudden.


    He had instructed Arthur to inquire about that man from the surrounding vendors after he left.


    Most vendors knew nothing about the middle-aged man shrouded in red mist, but as luck would have it, the grilled fish vendor did recognize him.


    Tempted by ten copper coins, the vendor told Arthur everything he knew.


    According to the vendor¡ª


    The man''s name was Phil, who lived in the slums of West City, and was a fisherman. He would come to sell the sea fish he caught to the vendor.


    It seemed he was a bachelor, always coming and going alone; he was not seen to have family or friends.


    But it was said that he had been married before and had a wife.


    Indeed, coincidentally, that wife had left him just two years ago.


    "Another possibility?" Regina asked, puzzled.


    "Yes, another possibility," Colin stood up and put the file he was holding back onto a shelf in the corner.


    "We may have been investigating in the wrong direction... Perhaps the situation isn''t as complicated as we imagined."


    He turned to face Regina and said slowly,


    "The missing woman in the murder case, Lisa, actually had a husband before becoming Bigu''s mistress.


    It was only after Bigu took a fancy to her that she abandoned her husband and followed Bigu."


    "You mean to say, Lisa''s former husband killed her a long time ago?" Regina said, her tone somewhat mocking.


    She had already come across this information at the start of the investigation.


    "Perhaps," Colin replied with a faint smile, unconcerned by the sarcasm in Regina''s voice, "at least, Lisa''s original husband had ample reason to do all this."


    "A commoner? A mere fisherman?" Regina shook her head, "How can that be, Colin?"


    "Why not find that fisherman and question him?"


    "Colin." Regina shook her head, stood up, placed the file on the shelf in the corner, and turned to look at Colin.


    "The traces at the crime scene at Tulip Residence No. 79 were obviously caused by supernatural powers, while Lisa''s original husband was just an ordinary fisherman."


    She sighed.


    "In fact, before you arrived, I had already sent Guards to investigate him, his name seems to be Phil or something... but no matter what, he''s just a regular person, a regular fisherman." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin remained silent, although he knew that even if Phil wasn''t the murderer, he was inextricably linked to him.


    But he could only hint so much; he couldn''t explain why he knew...


    The two packed up the files and walked out.


    Today just happened to be Monday, their turn for desk duty.


    Inside the lobby on the first floor, Regina expertly made her way to her usual window seat and quietly pulled out a hefty book to read.


    Colin also went to another window seat across the way and sat down; it was also the seat he had chosen the first time he came here.


    As usual, he took out the Hope Defense Field and began to read it carefully.


    Although the Patrol Department''s basement had a training ground, it clearly wasn''t convenient for practice during desk duty. After all, when practicing with Golden Paper, you can''t adjust the output power like in a battle; it had to be at full force.


    But exerting full force would easily reveal his unusually rapid improvement.


    And for traditional Wizards, mastering Witchcraft often doesn''t rely solely on practice but more on continuous research and learning.


    If he practiced continuously, that too would seem conspicuous.


    To master Witchcraft, practice alone is not enough; one must also research and learn to fully understand the underlying principles and thought processes.


    Usually, Witchcraft manuals only provide a standard template.


    Being able to cast Witchcraft does not mean one truly has mastered it; it''s very possible one merely follows the steps outlined in the manual.


    Only by truly understanding the principles behind it does one truly master Witchcraft.


    Take the Fireball Technique as an example.


    Any Wizard casting it for the first time produces fireballs of the same size, the same shooting speed, and identical explosion timing.


    But as one''s understanding of the Fireball Technique deepens, Wizards can adjust the size, speed, and other variables as required.


    A Witchcraft manual is just a template.


    The stimulating principle behind the template is the true Witchcraft.


    Unfortunately, for Colin, this kind of research and study obviously isn''t as efficient as using Golden Paper.


    After all, Golden Paper requires constant practice.


    Yet, some improvement can still be made. On the other hand, it also allows for the verification and consolidation of the knowledge gained from Golden Paper.


    He slowly flipped through the pages of the Hope Defense Field manuscript in his hand.


    But Colin was somewhat unable to concentrate.


    That invisible blood-red fog always made him feel restless.


    In any case, now that he lived on this island, he was, in a sense, tied to the fate of the island, or rather, to the fate of the Lap School¡ªif...


    Creak¡ª


    Just as he was engulfed in concern, the door beside him suddenly opened.


    A Steel-armored Knight walked in.


    "Gentlemen," he removed his helmet and made a gesture of respect across his chest.


    Then, lifting his head, he spoke clearly and swiftly:


    "The Heart-Ripper Devil has appeared again."


    Colin''s expression grew stern as he slowly put down the manuscript.


    The Guards had privately coined the term "Heart-Ripper Devil" for the perpetrator of the Tulip Residence murder case.


    "Give us a detailed account of what happened." Regina put down her book as well, her brow furrowed as she spoke in a grave tone.

 Chapter 63 - 63: Heart of Revenge

    In the spacious and bright hall of the Patrol Department, sunlight poured in.


    The Guard, clad in Steel Armor, respectfully bowed his head.


    "... Sir, that''s what happened."


    Regina closed the book in her hand, a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    "You mean... Bigu is dead? Died at the residence of another one of his mistresses?"


    "Yes, sir. It''s not just Bigu, everyone there is dead," responded the Guard without hesitation, having recognized Bigu since he was the one who had previously been sent to summon Bigu for questioning.


    "First Lisa, now Bigu... and both with the same traceless heart extraction..."


    "It''s too much of a coincidence!" Colin emphasized in a deep voice.


    Regina turned to look at him, murmuring, "Yes, it''s too coincidental."


    Lisa, Bigu, if there was any common connection between these two, or say, a common enemy, it could only be...


    She couldn''t help but think of Colin''s recent conjecture.


    "You''re right, Colin... Phil is suspicious, no matter how you look at it." Regina took a breath and stood up, "We can''t delay, let''s bring him in now!"


    She was decisive, ready to lead the Guards out of the Patrol Department.


    Originally, she would not have suspected Phil, after all, she had already sent a Guard to investigate him once, and he was just an ordinary fisherman.


    But now Bigu was dead.


    If it were only Lisa''s death, Phil''s suspicions might have been ten percent, but now, that suspicion had risen to at least fifty percent!


    "Wait!" Colin abruptly extended his hand to stop her.


    "Bigu, he was also an Intermediate Apprentice," he said without giving Regina a chance to argue, and continued:


    "I know that compared to us School Wizards, Bigu, as a Wild Wizard, was much weaker.


    But just to be sure, let''s first report to Lord Flower."


    School-trained Wizards and self-taught Wild Wizards were completely different concepts.


    For example, when learning witchcraft, School Wizards can use their previous knowledge to understand the principles behind witchcraft, command it with ease, and even innovate.


    But Wild Wizards often lack a complete knowledge system, making it hard for them to fully grasp the principles behind witchcraft, and thus hard to master it thoroughly.


    Regina paused in her tracks, her brows furrowed as she looked at Colin.


    But then she relaxed her gaze, nodding and saying:


    "You''re right, Colin."


    The two came to Flower''s office and reported the situation.


    "... I see."


    A moment later, Flower nodded behind his mahogany desk, pondered quietly for a moment, then said, "I''ll come with you."


    "Yes," Colin and Regina nodded.


    Flower stood up and walked toward the door.


    But as he reached the doorway, his steps paused slightly, doubt in his mind.


    ''If it really is the Blood Meat Thorns Sect, I might not be able to handle it alone... Should I report to Lord Red Flame and City Lord Price?''


    His brows were furrowed tightly, and with the flesh piled upon his face, his eyes seemed even smaller.


    "What''s wrong, Captain Flower?" inquired Regina.


    "Nothing." Flower eased his brows and replied indifferently, continuing to walk forward.


    ''Right now, nothing is certain, rashly reporting to Lord Red Flame and the others... would not be wise.''


    He led Colin and the others to the staircase, ready to descend.


    But then he shook his head, turned to Colin and the others and instructed:


    "Wait here for a moment."


    Colin and the others were puzzled but didn''t dare to ask further, just silently watching Flower return to his office.


    *


    *


    *


    In a dark basement,


    Bang!


    Bo Wen pushed open the wooden door, flipped back his black hood, and looked angrily at Saroyan sitting behind a low table:


    "A Intermediate Wizard Apprentice is dead! Do you want us all to be exposed?"


    "Don''t be hasty, my friend." Saroyan''s lips curved into a slight smile, his tone soothing, "On this entire island, those who can see the crimson fog of my lord, aside from us devout followers,


    perhaps only that decrepit old man Lap..."


    "Moreover, I will soon harvest the Heart of Revenge and retract the crimson fog. Before long, all traces will disappear.


    By that time, even if Lap himself came, all that would be visible is the ordinary corpse of Phil."


    Bo Wen''s expression eased slightly,


    Souls that had not been enhanced and elevated indeed could not feel the miracle of the lord''s crimson...


    But his tone remained cold as he continued to ask:


    "Before that, the revenge was complete, why didn''t you retract the crimson fog in time?"


    Saroyan shook his head, his voice rising confidently as he continued:


    "Phil''s revenge is truly complete now!"


    Saroyan turned to look at Bo Wen:


    "Phil never resented his wife Lisa." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Even though... she abandoned him and strangled their young child to death."


    He brushed his cheek with his right hand, gently caressing it while speaking in a sing-song manner:


    "Phil hated Bigu, he hated Wizards, he hated the high and mighty Wizards of the island!"


    Bo Wen stayed silent.


    Saroyan chuckled softly and lowered his hand that had been caressing his cheek, consoling,


    "Don''t worry, I will soon take back the ''Crimson Mist''...


    And besides, think of it this way, one heart imbued with the vengeance of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice can match up to a hundred ordinary ''Hearts of Revenge''..."


    *


    *


    West City, the slums.


    It was nearing dusk.


    In a decrepit shanty house.


    Phil lay on a straw mat bed, staring at the palm leaf roof.


    Perhaps because of the wooden racks filled with drying fish, the whole shack was permeated with the stench of sea fish.


    But he was long accustomed to the smell, and although the rich golden light of the sunset shone through the holes in the roof onto him, it could not bring him the slightest warmth.


    Phil wore a wooden expression.


    But a closer look would reveal the reminiscing, or perhaps relishing in his lifeless eyes.


    Lisa...


    He slowly raised his right hand as if to grasp the golden beam of light in front of him.


    ...But how can light be grasped?


    Swoosh.


    The next second, his rough, dark hand that reached for the light transformed in an instant into a ghastly claw composed of invisible ''Crimson Mist''.


    However, the sunlight continued to shine through, unobstructed.


    Phil''s vision blurred.


    Lisa.


    Lisa¡ª!


    At this moment, the sunset was descending, the sky clear.


    But he felt as if he were in the deep, dark night of a storm two years ago!


    The greatest happiness of his life...


    was meeting Lisa four years ago... the beautiful Lisa.


    So beautiful that he still can''t believe he had her.


    And as if gifted by fate, Lisa became pregnant just a few days after being with him, bringing little Bri into his life.


    He loved Lisa dearly.


    Perhaps that''s why.


    He never let her work, instead going out to fish before dawn and not returning until late at night.


    Life was hard and difficult then, but it was the happiest time for him...


    Until that nightmarish night arrived.


    ...That afternoon, he had caught a huge sea fish and hurried to the market while it was still fresh to sell it.


    When night had fully fallen, he returned home with a big bag containing a dress with a rose pattern that Lisa liked.


    He looked forward to the surprised look on Lisa''s face...


    He returned home full of anticipation...


    Only to find the empty shack and the tiny, cold body...


    ...


    "Phil, it''s time." A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ear.


    Phil paused, lowered his arm, and got out of bed.


    He stood by the bed, tears blurring his vision as he looked at Saroyan walking into the shack.


    He stepped forward and approached Saroyan.


    The light from the left-hand window sliced their faces into light and shadow.


    Phil''s expression was calm, yet tears continued to flow.


    He never hated Lisa...


    He only hated this island, he only hated that lofty Wizard who took Lisa away!


    ...He only hated that he was a common man.


    After a while, he barely moved his lips and murmured in an inaudible voice,


    "My lord... will your god really redeem us?"


    Saroyan''s lips curled up in a faint smile, his gaze calm and solemn.


    "Of course, all flesh is equal, our god will redeem this island!"


    He paused and lamented,


    "One day, the lord of ''Blood and Thorns'' will return!


    He is wrath, He is redemption!


    The invisible ''Crimson Mist'' will ignite the everlasting ''Flame of Revenge'',


    And the everlasting ''Flame of Revenge'' will burn the world with fury!


    And in those flames, we shall all find redemption..."


    Amid such a lament,


    Squish!


    Phil swung the claw formed of the invisible ''Crimson Mist'', plunged it into his chest, and slowly pulled out his beating heart, handing it to Saroyan.


    Then he leaned against the wall, sliding down to sit by the window.


    Before his head bowed and his gaze dimmed,


    He mustered his last bit of strength to look up,


    Glancing at the little skull on the bedside... and next to it, the silver bracelet belonging to Lisa.

 Chapter 64 - 64 Exposure

    Dusk approached as the sun set in the west.


    Saroyan, dressed as a fisherman, slowly walked out from the neighboring shack, a burden of salted fish resting on his shoulders.


    After cautiously surveying his surroundings, Saroyan stepped left and merged into the flow of people.


    Just as he entered the crowd, a flicker in his peripheral vision caught sight of a man and a woman, both Wizards, advancing under the escort of several Steel-armored Guards at the distant corner of the street.


    Saroyan continued forward, his expression calm, showing not a hint of fear.


    He recognized these two Wizards; he had seen them before at 79 Tulip Street.


    "Merely two Intermediate Wizard Apprentices that I could dispose of with ease¡­" he thought to himself.


    He glanced at the silver-white badges on their chests, maintaining his dull expression, and made his way to the side of the street.


    Finding a suitable angle, Saroyan set down his burden of salted fish, organized the bamboo baskets filled with salted fish, and sat on the ground.


    Having done this, he blended in with the vendors around him, all stealing awe-filled glances towards the two Wizards as they entered the decrepit shack.


    But unlike the other vendors, behind the template of fear in Saroyan''s eyes was a nearly imperceptible hint of anticipation.


    Bang!


    The wooden door was violently kicked open by the Guards.


    Two shield-bearing Guards, clenching shields engraved with the emblem of the Lap School, took a deep breath and led the way into the house.


    Colin and Regina stood outside, magic power blooming in their hands.


    Regina was on alert, her body tensed, with a black cat that had transformed into a large beast guarding her.


    Colin was also vigilant, but a closer look revealed his gaze becoming gradually serene deep within.


    After the Guards broke through the door, he concentrated his spirit to observe carefully. Although he could not make out the specifics, the scarlet aura inside was faint. Either the fisherman Phil had left or there was some other situation.


    "My lord, there is only one body inside!"


    Very soon, the Guards who entered had ascertained the specifics and turned to report back to Colin and Regina.


    Their findings confirmed Colin''s speculation.


    Regina frowned, pushed past the Guards, and strode inside.


    Colin followed closely behind.


    Though the shack was broken down and small, it still had several rooms sectioned off.


    Crossing the threshold, in the inner room on the right, they found Phil''s body.


    This fisherman, like the previous bodies, had his heart carved out. The body was now leaning against the wall under the window, head drooping.


    Regina silently waved her hand.


    The enormous black cat squeezed into this somewhat cramped room and sniffed Phil''s body.


    After a moment, it returned to Regina''s side and growled softly.


    "Damn!" Regina sighed and dispelled her Detection Magic.


    Turning to Colin she said, "Inform the Captain they can come. The place is secure, and there is only one body."


    Previously, after their report to Captain Flower,


    for the sake of caution, Flower decided to come with them.


    But as they reached the staircase, he turned back to the office.


    Later, Colin and Regina found out that Flower had gone back to report the matter to Berkeley and City Lord Price.


    Not long after, Berkeley and Price arrived at the Patrol Department in succession.


    After discussing, the three of them decided that Colin and Regina would check the situation in the open.


    To avoid startling the snake, they stayed hidden in a nearby alley.


    Thus, they hoped to lure out more behind-the-scenes villains.


    Colin furrowed his brow but did not answer.


    He concentrated his spirit, closely examining the body.


    To notice the scarlet mist, he had to focus intently; otherwise, he would experience only an extremely faint sensation of abnormality, which could easily be overlooked.


    In fact, if he had not spent enough time at the scene at 79 Tulip Street, he would not have noticed anything unusual at all.


    As he focused his attention, the familiar feeling of cleansing grime off a bluestone resurfaced, accompanied by the same chilling sensation.


    A thin reddish mist appeared on Phil''s body, thinnest at the gaping wound in his chest.


    Whirr¡ª


    Magic power condensed. Regina, beside him, was performing Fireworks Skill, preparing to release a signal of safety.


    Colin unconsciously turned his gaze elsewhere.


    But as he swept his eyes over the window above Phil''s body, his pupils shrank slightly.


    He continued to turn his head, appearing to examine the bloodstains on the wall, but his focus was entirely on the corner of his vision.


    Through the window with wooden stick grating, far down the road, he saw rising scarlet mist.


    It was an ordinary middle-aged man, much like Phil, blatantly observing the shack.


    A realization hit Colin.


    Because of the noise they made approaching, no pedestrians remained around the shack; the nearest was the small vendor where that middle-aged man was.


    By all logic, Red Flame and City Lord Price should have already noticed the man.


    Could they not perceive his anomaly as well?


    Colin was struck once more by how unusual his ability to sense the scarlet mist was.


    The next moment, he suddenly furrowed his brow.


    In the corner of his eye, the middle-aged man enveloped in scarlet mist began packing his stall, seemingly preparing to leave.


    And Regina, with magic power gradually accumulating, was about to release the Fireworks Skill that represented a safety signal!


    A stream of thoughts flashed rapidly through Colin''s mind.


    Looking at Regina, he suddenly had an idea and scoffed loudly.


    "If you had listened to me earlier, we wouldn''t have come up empty-handed!"


    "?" By his side, Regina froze, her nearly formed Fireworks Skill suddenly dissipated.


    "Colin¡­ what do you mean?!" Regina''s brows shot up in anger,


    "Roar!"


    The black cat at her side took a few steps forward, lowered its body, baring its teeth and roaring angrily at Colin.


    Colin paused, as if realizing his blunder, and turned away with a cold face.


    He looked at Phil''s body, still seemingly irritated, and scoffed again.


    "Cunning heart-devouring devil!"


    Still not satisfied, he pulled a solid cone bullet from his bosom and, seething with rage, fired it toward Phil''s body leaning against the wall! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hiss!


    Bolstered by the powerful kinetic energy bestowed by the Arrow Shooting Skill, the metal cone bullet instantly passed through Phil''s body as though it were piercing paper.


    And the thin wooden panel behind offered even less resistance.


    After penetrating them, the metal cone bullet did not pause for even a moment and sped toward an ordinary-looking middle-aged man by the roadside in the distance.


    Time rewound several seconds earlier.


    Saroyan, with a sidelong glance, watched the nearby shed through the window, his extraordinary hearing allowing him to clearly catch Colin''s frantic words.


    The corners of his mouth turned up in a hint of a smile.


    "The might of my lord is not something a mere common Intermediate Apprentice could uncover."


    He loved watching scenes like this, relishing the sight of self-important wizards helpless before the scarlet fog.


    But the show was over... Now it was time to leave.


    He stood up and re-shouldered his basket filled with salted fish.


    Bang!


    But just then, a needle-like sense of crisis assaulted him.


    No escape!


    Without time to think, he instinctively executed the Defensive Divine Skill.


    His dark skin quickly faded, revealing its original pale color, and dark red patterns spread across his body in an instant.


    Ding!


    The cone bullet collided with his skin, barely penetrating before its kinetic energy was lost, and it halted.


    "Ah!" The vendor nearby finally realized what was happening and hastily scattered, fleeing in all directions.


    The flesh at his waist squirmed, expelling the twisted and deformed cone bullet.


    Saroyan, somewhat shaken, looked up angrily at Colin and Regina by the window of the shed, stunned.


    Then he frowned and raised his arm...


    Quick battle, quick decision.


    Swoosh!


    But at that moment, a rush of wind from behind him caused his expression to turn grave, and he swiftly turned around.


    What he saw were three figures emanating a formidable presence.


    *


    *


    *


    "Gather everything meticulously! Leave nothing behind!"


    Still inside that ramshackle shed, but now under the cloak of night.


    Colin and Regina stood aside, watching the Guard Captain directing his men, painstakingly collecting items from inside the building.


    With Berkeley and his companions at hand, Saroyan''s fate was not up for discussion.


    Unfortunately, Saroyan had carried out a brazen suicide, leaving no survivors.


    By now, his body had been taken away by Berkeley and others to the Lap wizards.


    Colin and Regina, meanwhile, were charged with commanding the guards to collect and seal all items within the shed.


    Colin leaned against the wall, his expression calm; Regina continuously observed him, puzzled.


    Ever since he fired that cone bullet, Regina had been watching him with a bewildered gaze, seemingly forgetting her earlier fury over his words.


    With a slight sigh in his heart, he stepped past Regina and moved forward.


    "What is this?"


    He pointed to the still-unshaped skull on the bedside table and the silver bracelet lying beside it.


    Regina, her gaze fixed on Colin''s retreating back, imperceptibly shook her head, dismissing the odd conjectures in her mind.


    "It must be just a coincidence."


    She too moved forward and approached the bed.


    "... This should be Phil''s son''s skull," she said, looking at the small skull, "the guards found out Phil once had a son."


    Regina then shifted her gaze to the bracelet, hesitatingly adding,


    "This seems to be... the signature bracelet of the prostitutes from the Giant Axe Tavern..."


    "Hm," Colin responded with some confusion.


    What would the bracelet of a prostitute from the Giant Axe Tavern be doing here?


    But he didn''t dwell on it, merely nodding slightly as he watched the guards carefully pack the skull and bracelet into a wooden box.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    A few words off-topic.


    First, I''m requesting your collection and hoping those reading from external sites will support this book on QiDian Chinese Network or the QiDian Reading APP!


    Here you''ll find interesting author''s notes and a lively comment section. Only reviews published here will be seen by me!


    ...


    I''m thinking of adjusting the update time slightly, feeling that updates in the early morning hours might affect follow-up reading.


    I will see if I can push to change it to the afternoon.


    Also,


    Thank you for your continued support!


    I read all your comments,


    Except for personal attacks, which I will delete and ban, and repeated spam, I accept all reasonable suggestions and criticism.


    After all, writing is like cooking; readers, as customers, are entitled to comment on the dish.


    Of course, there are a few who make brainless personal attacks or spam nonsense, and they are not included in this discussion.


    Additionally,


    I''m begging for your votes!!


    Recommendation tickets, monthly tickets are all welcome, and those who can afford to contribute are also appreciated (gesturing with hooked fingers).

 Chapter 65 - 65 Cost

    "You mean to say, Lisa was originally a prostitute at the Giant Axe Tavern¡­ and was later expelled from the tavern because she deliberately became pregnant with a client''s child?"


    Patrol Department lobby, first floor.


    By a window of natural wood color, bathed in sunlight.


    Colin and Regina were sitting across from each other on a gray velveteen armchair, engaged in conversation.


    Colin looked somewhat surprised.


    "Yes." Regina nodded, her fingers brushing the strands of hair by her ear, then sighed.


    "So you''re saying, Phil''s son isn''t really his own?" Colin put down his book, his expression odd.


    "If there are no accidents, that should be the case." Regina responded again, her face uncertain of what expression to wear.


    It had been about a month since their last visit to the shanty area to arrest Phil.


    During this time, the Patrol Department had thoroughly investigated Lisa and Phil, including their identities, past experiences, and social relationships.


    Phil was nothing special, a native fisherman born and raised on the island, with a past not much different from any common fisherman¡ªsimple and clear.


    However, his ex-wife Lisa had a much more complicated story.


    Although Lisa was just an ordinary person, her grandfather had originally been a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice serving the Blackstone Family, who once ruled the island.


    The common tale followed: the family fell into decline, a descent in status, leading the young woman to prostitution, unwilling to accept her lowered status and scheming to return to a life of affluence.


    Regina sighed again, "Only with power can one dictate their own fate."


    "Maggie."


    She turned her head, calling out to the black cat lying nearby.


    Maggie''s ears twitched slightly, then she leaped onto Regina''s lap, curled up, and lay down again, letting Regina pet her as she pleased.


    Colin gently caressed the manuscript in his hand, remaining silent.


    Perhaps it was that last Cone Bullet he had fired back in the shanty house that truly startled Regina.


    Since then, instead of holding his final remarks against him, she had actually taken the initiative to become more familiar with him.


    Although they could not yet be considered good friends, they managed to chat a bit while on duty.


    "I''m preparing to advance to Advanced Wizard Apprentice."


    After a while, as Regina petted the black cat Maggie, she suddenly spoke.


    "Congratulations."


    Colin arched an eyebrow and set down his manuscript, offering his congratulations.


    "Thank you." Regina managed a smile, then removed her hand from petting Maggie.


    "I don''t know if I''ll succeed¡­" Her tone held bewilderment and fear,


    and with a light sigh, she murmured:


    "Knowledge''s end is weirdness¡­"


    "...and the only beacon that can anchor reason is humanity."


    Colin timely continued the sentence.


    Compared to Basic Level and Intermediate, the Advanced Wizard Apprentice status was relatively special.


    From this state on, the fog entangling the spirit would gradually dissipate, meaning they would truly start to touch the "reality" of the world.


    This reality is the Tainted Babbling that pervades the entire world...


    It makes knowledge become distorted!


    If one cannot maintain their humanity... if the grasp of knowledge is not precise, one will pay the price.


    The prices are varied and strange, some are temporary, some are permanent.


    But regardless, this is each wizard''s deepest secret, not easily disclosed.


    However, in reality, some prices are hard to hide.


    Such as Flower''s gluttony, anorexia...


    At this point, Colin''s thoughts drifted to Holt.


    Perhaps Holt''s fondness for sunbathing was also one of these prices.


    Though some of these costs are permanent, many more will gradually lessen, or even disappear, as one''s understanding of knowledge deepens.


    Berkeley, as a Peak Wizard Apprentice, was distinguished by his lack of overt anomalies, unlike Holt and Flower.


    A silence suddenly fell between the two.


    Regina was likely worried about whether she could successfully advance.


    Colin, on the other hand, was pondering whether the knowledge acquired through Golden Paper Limit Breaking, which required no learning to fully grasp, might lessen some of the cost.


    After a while,


    Regina seemed to have adjusted her mood, looked at Colin, and suddenly had a thought, inviting him,


    "Tomorrow, there will be a small gathering among us Wizards from the Patrol Department. Are you interested in coming?"


    As soon as Regina finished speaking, she somewhat regretted it.


    She suddenly remembered that the attendees would mostly be former members of the Wizard Territory Patrol Team¡­


    "A gathering?"


    "¡­Yes, or rather, more like a party where everyone gets to know each other better and shares some experiences and insights into practicing witchcraft."


    Regina paused, then added, "You don''t have to come if you don''t want to, there''s no need to apologize. I was just asking."


    Colin nodded and politely smiled,


    "It''s not that I don''t want to come, it''s just that I''ve advanced not long ago and don''t have much to share¡­ so I won''t be going."


    Of course, that was an excuse. The real reason was that he didn''t like socializing.


    Moreover, with Golden Paper, he didn''t need others'' experiences or insights.


    Regina nodded, her expression unchanged, but she felt relieved inside.


    It wasn''t that she looked down on Colin, but ever since the day they advanced, these two groups had been divided into different circles.


    She interacted more with Colin and understood him better, so she felt differently.


    But her colleagues who had always stayed in the Wizard Territory Patrol Team might not think the same.


    ¡­Apprentices who stayed in the mountains tended to look down on those assigned to the foothills.


    After all, if the Patrol Department hadn''t been established, these two groups might never have met in their lifetimes.


    "I wonder when the School will deliver your reward?"


    To relieve the awkwardness, Regina spoke again,


    Although Colin had inadvertently exposed the Cultist, he had done a deed deserving of a reward from the School.


    "I don''t know¡­ maybe in the next couple of days, it''s already been a month¡­"


    The two chatted sporadically for a while, then focused on studying witchcraft.


    Time flew.


    As the sunlight became rich as golden honey, their day''s work came to an end.


    Colin and Regina said goodbye, boarded the carriage, and went their separate ways.


    When he got home, Renee had already prepared a lavish dinner.


    During dinner, Colin watched Renee, who sat quietly by his side, and couldn''t help feeling a bit of regret.


    Not long ago, he had tried to teach Renee the very basic Sunlight Breathing Technique.


    He had found the manual at a roadside stall, and aside from being cheap, it also had the benefit of being freely teachable to others.


    Unfortunately, Renee still hadn''t grasped the basics yet ¡­ or even started formal practice.


    This was mainly because she hadn''t received much of an education and could barely recognize some letters.


    Even though they ran a bakery at home and weren''t exactly poor, it was clear that they couldn''t afford to hire a private tutor.


    As for schools, there weren''t any on the island.


    Moreover, the Knight Breathing Skill seemed simple, but as something that could grant superhuman abilities, how simple could it actually be?


    So it wasn''t just a matter of learning to read¡­ Renee lacked many things and clearly couldn''t master it in a month.


    ''It''s good that I reincarnated as a member of a traditional Wizard School.''


    Colin silently sighed to himself again.


    As for Arthur, he was far too rigid in his thinking to change.


    ''¡­Perhaps, I should research some life-altering knowledge and harshly endow Renee and the others with power.'' Colin contemplated this idea once again.


    S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 66 - 66: Improvement

    After dinner, Colin made his way to the basement as usual.


    Normally, he practiced his Breathing Skills and witchcraft in the basement, while meditation was done in the Meditation Room of the master bedroom.


    But this time was somewhat different¡ª


    He brought along his gray money pouch.


    Entering the basement, he placed the money pouch on a wooden table to the side.


    Colin began to practice witchcraft in rotation, with streams of light flickering over him.


    As such, time quietly passed by, the moon reaching its zenith, and the night deepened.


    Finally, Colin stopped practicing.


    With a thought, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    For a month now, he had not slacked off, continuing to work hard from dawn to dusk¡ª


    The Hope Defense Field, Lesser High Temperature Tolerance, and Fireball Technique, he had just pushed the progress of these three witchcraft skills to their limits.


    Picking up the money pouch and converting enough Limit Breaking Points, he did not hesitate and began the Limit Breaking.


    With a determined thought, he pressed heavily on the ¡ü symbol!


    Bang.


    With the shimmer of golden light, Colin involuntarily closed his eyes. His mind felt as if a fresh spring had been uncovered, knowledge bubbling forth like spring water.


    His brain whirred rapidly, causing his face to slightly redden.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, he opened his eyes and looked at the Golden Paper again.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (7/100); Great Knight (80/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Circulation Meditation I (60/100); Sunlight Breathing Method II (10/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Summary; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Armor I (34/100); Arrow Shooting Skill I (38/100); Lesser High Temperature Tolerance I (0/100); Hope Defense Field I (0/100); Fireball Skill I (0/100); Detect Evil (85/100); Purification Evil Power (89/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making (Golden))]


    [Talent: Intermediate Strong Life (99/100)] sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Limit Breaking Points: 0]


    This time, breaking the limits of three witchcraft skills cost a total of three Limit Breaking Points, or three Magic Stones.


    From now on, he had 89 Magic Stones left.


    Colin''s gaze slowly shifted downward.


    In the Talent section, Intermediate Strong Life was about to reach its limit.


    ''Maybe¡­ today?'' he pondered with a flicker in his eyes.


    After all, the progress of Intermediate Strong Life had already reached 99/100 five days ago. Based on the past rate of progress, the time to reach the limit should be today!


    With that thought in mind, Colin immediately began to practice the Sunlight Breathing Skill without even trying out the three witchcraft skills post-Limit Breaking!


    Time flowed like water.


    After completing the Sunlight Breathing Skill for the third time, the progress of Talent Intermediate Strong Life on the Golden Paper gradually changed, reaching 100/100. A black ¡ü symbol began to slowly emerge behind it.


    Just like before, Colin eagerly started to convert Limit Breaking Points, paying close attention to the ¡ü symbol behind Intermediate Strong Life on the Golden Paper.


    When the edge of the ¡ü symbol began to shine with a dazzling halo, it meant that the converted Limit Breaking Points were sufficient to break the limit!


    One Magic Stone, two Magic Stones¡­ they were swiftly converted into Limit Breaking Points.


    But gradually, Colin''s expression began to change.


    The amount of Limit Breaking Points he had converted had reached 40!


    Yet the ¡ü symbol behind Intermediate Strong Life remained unchanged, its black color still dull.


    He momentarily paused in his conversion of Limit Breaking Points and then continued.


    Although whether it was the witchcraft learned earlier or the Breathing Skills, the cost had never exceeded 10 points on their first limit break, the highest being 5 points for the Circulation Meditation Method.


    But after all, when Intermediate Strong Life first appeared on the Golden Paper, it was enveloped in a circle of purple light, while other witchcraft, to this point, only had the twice Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Method in purple.


    So it was quite normal that the first limit break required more Limit Breaking Points.


    After a while, Colin suddenly stopped the action of converting Limit Breaking Points.


    When he checked the Golden Paper, at the very bottom under the Limit Breaking Point section, the number of Limit Breaking Points had reached 81.


    Yet, the ¡ü symbol after the Intermediate Strong Life remained completely unchanged.


    And the Magic Stones in his hand now numbered only eight.


    Just as when he first enhanced his Circulation Meditation without gambling, this time, he didn''t intend to gamble either.


    Moreover, by deduction based on color¡ª


    The Sunlight Breathing Technique, also purple, had consumed a full 50 Magic Stones to break the limit for the second time and turn purple, while it had only taken 1 Magic Stone for the first limit break.


    If we calculate using the same increase, the cost in Limit Breaking Points for the third limit breaking of the Sunlight Breathing Technique would likely be 2500 stones.


    Thus, for the Intermediate Strong Life, also purple, it probably would take far more than merely another 8 Limit Breaking Points to break through.


    "Perhaps, it''s time to revert to the old business of accumulating Magic Stones..."


    Colin stored away the remaining Magic Stones and began testing the witchcraft he had just broken through with.


    First was the Hope Defense Field.


    After casting it, Colin picked up a bee sting¡ªrelegated to a mere ornament next to him¡ªand thrust forcefully into his other arm!


    Under his powerful force, the slender blade of the bee sting bent quickly, and after a careful feel, Colin retracted the sting.


    The Hope Defense Field now provided at least twice the defense compared to before¡ªthis boost was in physical defense, and the mental aspect... would presumably not be too far off.


    As Colin withdrew the sword, the flexible blade of the bee sting snapped back to its straight form instantly, and the tip vibrated with a buzzing sound.


    It has to be said, the bee sting was indeed a fine sword... it was just a pity that in his hands, it was at most an ornament. By the time he was so pressed as to need the bee sting, it likely would be of little use.


    Next, he tested the Fireball Technique.


    Whoosh!


    The fireball flared up in his palm abruptly, its brightness casting an orange glow over Colin''s skin.


    He considered the small basement and hesitated before slightly reducing the intensity of the Fireball Technique.


    Only then did he shoot it towards the iron-clad wooden target in the distance.


    Boom!!


    The moment the orange fireball came into contact with the wooden target, it exploded violently, the shock wave knocking down the target and the intense heat causing the iron plate on the chest of the target to turn slightly red.


    Looking at this... a Fireball Technique after one limit break would be equivalent to the more powerful hand grenades from his previous life. Of course, this was only a rough comparison¡ªafter all, grenades mainly rely on shrapnel, while the Fireball Technique relied on flames and shock waves.


    Regarding High Temperature Tolerance, the Second Level.


    Colin approached the iron-clad wooden target which had become slightly red from the Fireball Technique, cast the spell, and then tried touching it with his finger. It was very hot but not enough to burn and cause pain.


    His gaze flickered as he drew a solid iron cone bomb from his pocket, concentrating his thoughts.


    An orange flame from the Ignition Technique appeared beneath the cone bomb, heating it continuously.


    The color of the cone bomb first turned to a dark red, then to orange-red, getting brighter and shifting to orange-yellow.


    It was at this moment that Colin began to feel a burning sensation in his hand.


    "Likely, it can provide immunity to temperatures below 800 to 900 degrees."


    Colin set the cone bomb aside to cool and nodded in satisfaction.


    A breakthrough in the second level of High Temperature Tolerance, Hope Defense Field, Steel Armor, and Blood Energy Armor, made his defense undoubtedly top notch among the Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    Not to mention he also had the life-saving Talent of Strong Life at its peak.


    He could already imagine the despair on his enemies'' faces when, after much effort to pierce his defenses thinking they could seriously wound him, they would find that any injury they inflicted would heal in the blink of an eye!


    On the other hand, his Fireball Technique had also broken through the limit, and when combined with the Arrow Shooting Skill, his offensive capabilities were also quite adequate.


    Colin couldn''t help but smile and then pondered in silence.


    "With offense and defense already solid, the only shortcoming right now... might be evasion."


    Thinking this, he suddenly regretted converting a full 51 Magic Stones into Limit Breaking Points...


    Otherwise, he could go to the trade street tomorrow to see if he could find a fitting witchcraft.


    But then he thought again. Arrow Shooting Skill was just an ordinary witchcraft after all.


    He still had 8 Magic Stones, and perhaps he could find a comparable witchcraft to enhance through the Golden Paper.


    "I''ll go have a look tomorrow," he silently decided.

 Chapter 67 - 67 Resuming Old Trades

    Dark tides surged.


    At this moment, dawn had not yet broken. Colin stood quietly at the spacious balcony of the master bedroom, leaning on the balustrade and gazing into the distance.


    Before long, a bright glimmer of gold appeared where the sea met the sky, and the surface of the sea was immediately sprinkled with flecks of shattered gold.


    The dark undercurrents of the tide became even more noticeable.


    Although he was only watching from afar, the mere sight of the scene seemed to bring the salty, humid sea breeze to his nostrils, and the sound of the surging tides echoed in his ears.


    Knock knock knock¡ª


    Just then, a gentle knocking sound came from the wooden door of the bedroom.


    Colin turned around, re-entered the room, opened the door, and walked out of the bedroom.


    "Master," Renee greeted respectfully.


    "What''s for breakfast this morning?" Colin asked casually as he walked downstairs to the dining room.


    "It''s the seafood porridge that Master taught me to make last time, with pan-fried fish and mushrooms."


    "Mhm," Colin nodded with satisfaction.


    Although Renee''s talent for knightly training was abysmal, her culinary skills were quite the opposite.


    She often got it nearly perfect just by listening to his instructions once and even did better than he could the first time she tried¡­ bear in mind, in his previous life, he had lived alone for several years, and aside from entertainment and work, cooking was what he had devoted most of his time to.


    He couldn''t say his cooking was exceptional, but being surpassed at first attempt was enough to prove Renee''s talent in the culinary arts.


    Upon reaching the dining room on the first floor, a bowl of steaming hot seafood porridge was already placed at the head of the square-shaped long dining table, capable of seating eight people. The soup was clearly visible with fish and shrimp meat, far better than the ones from his former life which were only for reference in pictures.


    Next to it were two fragrant pan-fried fish fillets, accompanied by mushrooms.


    "Go call Arthur to prepare the carriage," Colin instructed Renee after sitting down.


    His daily routine typically involved going to bed around two in the morning and waking up at six. Logically, servants like Renee and Arthur should go to bed later and rise earlier than he did. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Indeed, this was how Renee started out.


    Such a routine could be managed for one or two days, or even a few days. However, it''s quite difficult to sustain over the long term for ordinary people...


    For average mortals, serving as a servant to wizards, these Transcendents, is no easy feat¡­


    ...


    Sigh~


    Clip-clop clip-clop~


    The pace of the horse pulling the carriage slowed down and gradually came to a stop.


    Colin stepped down from the carriage and found himself once again in the familiar street of Wizard Alley.


    Inside the alley, there were many shops selling witchcraft knowledge. Colin went straight to the most prominent and largest one of all.


    There was no signboard, just a flag on the eave with a red background and gold embroidery, bearing the emblem of the Lap School.


    In this shop, one could not only buy but also sell witchcraft knowledge.


    Unquestionably, the store was operated by the school, which had similar premises on the mountain outside Wizard Territory.


    Besides that, no other shops were opened by the school. After all, the school didn''t rely on shops for profit. The primary purpose of setting up a shop for witchcraft knowledge was to collect more information.


    A Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, already of a certain age, guarded the shop.


    Initially, when new Wizard seeds joined and couldn''t reach the Middle Level within ten years, they weren''t simply cast out of the school.


    Instead, they were assigned to do miscellaneous tasks.


    Unfortunately, Blackstone Island wasn''t large, and the positions for menial labor at the Lap School were even more limited.


    By the time Colin or earlier batches arrived, the positions were already filled. Those who couldn''t advance had no choice but to leave the school.


    "What does the gentleman require?" The old Wizard Apprentice, already in his sixties, stood up to greet Colin upon seeing the silver badge on his chest.


    "I would like to look at some supportive witchcraft related to evasion and speed."


    "Very well, sir. If you could wait just a moment."


    Soon enough, the old Wizard brought over a sheepskin catalog.


    Colin carefully read from the beginning.


    Mirror Image Skill: Creates a silent, static optical illusion to confuse enemies.


    ''Three-dimensional Projector? Looks to be quite versatile and practical. Limit Breaking potential¡­ unknown, perhaps evolving toward more or larger projections, from static to moving, or possibly into real-time projection.


    Hm, surely an optical projection can''t evolve into an actual clone in the end.''


    "Not bad, might be an option," Colin couldn''t help pausing and patted his thinning purse before continuing to look down.


    But this time he chose to look at the prices first.


    Frog Jumping Skill... 35 Magic Stones.


    Slippery Soles... 42 Magic Stones.


    ... 36 Magic Stones


    ...


    As he quickly skimmed the catalog for witchcraft related to evasion and speed, Colin''s expression grew increasingly grim.


    Perhaps the School''s shop only had premium items, but regardless, the cheapest here started at no less than 10 Magic Stones.


    He saw several that he longed for... unfortunately, his wallet was embarrassingly empty.


    Next, he visited other shops selling witchcraft knowledge, but overall, the story was the same: he couldn''t afford what he liked, and he didn''t like what he could afford.


    Still, it wasn''t that he came away with nothing.


    Since he was here, though he didn''t buy any witchcraft, he had browsed all the evasion and speed-related witchcraft on sale, thereby broadening his horizons.


    He already had his eye on the witchcraft he desired; all he needed was to save up enough money to come back and make a direct purchase!


    Exiting the last shop, it was already past 11 a.m.


    Colin turned and headed towards a store selling witchcraft materials.


    Before long, he emerged with 120 pure crystals and headed back home on his carriage.


    These pure crystals had cost him 4 Magic Stones in total.


    Bright Crystals made from pure crystals were of higher quality than those made from mixed crystals, usually capable of being recharged 60 times, with each lighting lasting about 6 hours. A single crystal could last two months, and with some frugality, even three to four months.


    Naturally, the price was also higher than Bright Crystals made from mixed crystals; one Magic Stone could only buy ten.


    Therefore, after turning all these pure crystals into Bright Crystals, he expected to make a profit of around 8 Magic Stones.


    According to his current gold-level Bright Crystal Making skill, it would take him about two days to process 120 pure crystals.


    This was tantamount to an income of 4 Magic Stones per day, already considered very considerable on the island.


    At least much higher than the 10 Magic Stones monthly salary from his position at the Patrol Department.


    Regrettably... compared to the hundreds, possibly thousands of Limit Breaking Points needed for Intermediate Strong Life, his earnings rate was still too low.


    "Perhaps, it''s time to try finding some other ways to make money," Colin mused, sighing to himself as he sat in the carriage.


    He lifted the cloth curtain from the carriage window and looked out.


    By now, they had reached the West City area, where the buildings along the road visibly became more modest, yet there were still exquisitely luxurious homes, like the wealthy street he was now passing.


    Most houses here were individual villas with their own large courtyards.


    Outside these mansions, Colin noticed a residence not far ahead covered with green climbing vines, surrounded by luxurious carriages parked outside.


    "So many carriages at the entrance...


    This looks like Regina''s house..."


    "...It must be the gathering she mentioned yesterday," Colin recalled.


    Unexpectedly, this gathering was being held at Regina''s home.


    Speaking of Regina, she truly possessed exceptional talent. It took only four years for her to transition from Basic Level to Intermediate, and a substantial part of that time was spent learning various foundational knowledge.


    And now even more astonishingly, in just six years, she was already preparing to advance to Advanced Apprentice...


    "It seems like my own Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation will soon reach its limit again..." Colin thought, rubbing the bag of pure crystals by his side.


    In time, the carriage brought him right outside Regina''s gate.


    For a moment, a mix of bustling sounds¡ªsizzling fat from roasted meats, clinking knives and forks, people''s conversations, and laughter¡ªcontinued to enter his ears.


    Without even seeing it with his own eyes, these noises alone allowed him to imagine an exceptionally lively scene inside...


    Dropping his hand, the curtain fell back into place under its weight.


    Colin''s face remained calm as the carriage carried him further and further away.


    Those bustling sounds also slowly faded as the distance grew...

 Chapter 68 - 68: The Unadorned Reward

    Two days had passed in a flash.


    Today was already Friday, and it was Colin''s turn for the night shift again.


    But before his night duty, he had to do one thing¡ª S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was to take the Bright Crystals he had made over the past two days and sell them on Wizard Alley in the city center.


    In these two days, he had also studied a range of Magic Crystal Making, hoping to find more profitable types of magic crystals.


    For magic crystals like those of the Light Brightness Skill, if one only considered the material cost and not the labor, the pure profit was mostly similar to that of the Bright Crystals.


    But because they were not as commonly used as Bright Crystals, they were also harder to sell.


    Aside from these trivial crystals, the selling price of higher-level magic crystals could be somewhat higher, as the raw materials remained the same, and if the making difficulty was comparable, the profits should also be higher.


    However, in order to make other magic crystals, he needed to purchase the corresponding craftsmanship books first.


    These books were not cheap either, with each costing at least ten Magic Stones. And he also needed to practice up to Limit Breaking to ensure a good success rate and then pursue efficiency afterward.


    All this required Magic Stones and time.


    After breakfast, Colin instructed Arthur to prepare the horse carriage just as before.


    But as soon as he walked to the door, an unexpected reward suddenly arrived.


    "Lord Colin," the Silver-armored Guard greeted solemnly.


    "This is the School''s reward for you."


    The Guard respectfully handed over a wooden box engraved with the School''s triangular symbol with both hands.


    Colin realized instantly; this must be the reward for his help in uncovering that Cultist.


    ''I wonder what''s inside... Knowledge? Magic?''


    He took the wooden box with some anticipation,


    and once he accepted it, the Guard bid him farewell and left.


    Colin then boarded the carriage and opened the wooden box while heading towards the city center.


    It wasn''t any knowledge, nor was it the evasion-type auxiliary magic he had hoped for.


    Upon opening it, he saw only fifty neatly stacked Magic Stones.


    ''The School is really quite plain and simple.''


    A slight smile appeared on Colin''s face.


    Although these Magic Stones were ordinary and not any highly valuable secret techniques, they still constituted a gratifying reward.


    After all, who would complain about having too much money?


    Plus, with these 50 Magic Stones, he could just go and purchase the magic he had been eyeing last time! Combined with the Magic Stones earned from selling Bright Crystals this time, it should be enough to buy another Magic Crystal Making book.


    ''This way, quite a bit of time can be saved.'' Colin put the Magic Stones into his purse,


    and then it suddenly occurred to him:


    ''A month has passed, I wonder if Lap the Wizard has found any clues from the corpses of last time, or if the Cult behind it has been eradicated.''


    But then he thought again,


    ''Logically speaking, if some clue about the Cult was found on that corpse, and if there were plans to eradicate the Cult, the Patrol Department should be the main force... But as a member of the Patrol Department, I''ve never heard any news.


    This could either be because the Cult is too cunning for even Lap Wizard to find any clues, or perhaps it''s because Lap Wizard and others are still secretly investigating and waiting to gather complete information about the Cult before striking decisively.''


    But no matter which it was, it wasn''t something he could worry about.


    He shook his head and stopped pondering over it.


    After a while, he arrived at a shop that specialized in Magic Crystals. The red banner at the door indicated that it was associated with the Chiwen Gang.


    Colin stepped inside.


    "My Lord, welcome to our store. What may I assist you with?" The shopkeeper was a plump, round man with a friendly face.


    "I''m here to sell Magic Crystals, here are 60 Bright Crystals."


    Colin took out the Bright Crystals he had prepared earlier and placed them on the counter.


    He had deliberately sold only half of the Bright Crystals to avoid exposing his extraordinary crafting efficiency.


    For an ordinary Intermediate Apprentice, the number of Bright Crystals they could make in a day typically ranged from 10 to 30, depending mainly on the success rate.


    If they were in good condition and skilled enough, an ordinary Intermediate Apprentice could also achieve a 100 percent success rate in making Bright Crystals.


    However, around 30 Magic Crystals made per day was already the limit for an ordinary Intermediate Apprentice.


    But Colin had doubled that amount. If anyone investigated the number of crystals he purchased, they could easily deduce that he was not only able to make 60 Bright Crystals a day, but also with a 100 percent success rate!


    If it had been just one or two more, it might not have mattered, but a difference of double was something any discerning person would find unusual.


    As for switching between shops to sell the Bright Crystals,


    the Wizard Alley on the island was only so big, and the Gangs were well-informed. No matter how much he switched, it would be easy for them to notice his anomaly.


    Although he was a member of the Lap School, ordinary people did not dare target him.


    High efficiency in making Bright Crystals wasn''t a big deal.


    However, these were all risks that could potentially expose Golden Paper!


    ...and they could be avoided with just a bit of caution.


    Why wouldn''t he be happy to do so?


    Moreover, he suffered no losses.


    Before long, the caravan would arrive. By then, he could sell all the accumulated Bright Crystals to the caravan without any impact at all.


    After the shop owner finished appraising the Bright Crystals, he smoothly took out six Magic Stones and handed them to Colin.


    Colin accepted them and turned toward the door to leave.


    Yet as he reached the entrance, his steps faltered slightly, and he turned back to ask the owner a question.


    "If I sell Bright Crystals every day, could you purchase them on a long-term basis?"


    "How many would you be selling daily, sir?"


    "A fixed amount of 30 each day."


    The shopkeeper showed a troubled expression upon hearing this.


    They had their own supply channels for Bright Crystals, and an occasional purchase of individually sold Bright Crystals was fine, but a long-term commitment was beyond his authority.


    He instinctively wanted to refuse, but after seeing the silver triangular badge on Colin''s chest, he hesitated before changing his reply:


    "Sir, I am not in charge of this matter. Please wait a moment."


    With that, he went to the back of the shop.


    He must be using the Communication Witch Array to contact someone who had the authority.


    Colin''s expression darkened slightly, as he inexplicably recalled the experience of being refused by a shopkeeper in Wizard Territory when trying to sell Bright Crystals.


    After a short while, the shopkeeper returned.


    Now with a pleasant smile on his face, Colin also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the man''s expression.


    ''It seems that it worked out.''


    The next words from the shopkeeper confirmed his guess, and he no longer had to worry about the distribution of his Bright Crystals.


    With everything taken care of, Colin walked out of the shop with a relaxed face.


    His decision to fight to stay in the School had truly been worthwhile!


    Even now, he was still enjoying the privileges and status that the School had granted him.


    Feeling the wallets, which had filled back up from the sale of Magic Crystals and the School''s rewards, he became eager and turned toward the shop set up by the School that sold witchcraft items!


    Just moments later, he walked out holding a Magic Book,


    and upon closer observation, one could vaguely make out the words "Swift Skill" written in large letters on the yellow cover.


    After that, he went to buy a new book on Magic Crystal Making, and he had already decided on the type¡ªShadow Crystal!

 Chapter 69 - 69: Meeting

    These two, whether Swift Skill or Image Capturing Crystal Making, were meticulously compared and selected by him!


    He had spent a total of 55 Magic Stones!


    Of these, Swift Skill cost 40 Magic Stones, and the book on Image Capturing Crystal Making cost 15 Magic Stones.


    Since then, his financial status had returned overnight to what it was before liberation, leaving him only 5 Magic Stones.


    After purchasing the Image Capturing Crystal, Colin prepared to return to his residence.


    But as he was boarding the carriage, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing through his sight. He instinctively turned his head, but only saw half of the figure disappear into an alley.


    "Could it be... Wood?" Colin frowned slightly, uncertain.


    But in an instant, he pushed the thought out of his mind.


    Although Blackstone City was small, just a little town, it still had a population of over a hundred thousand. It was not easy to encounter acquaintances, and more likely, it was just a similar figure.


    ¡­


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    The stone slabs underfoot, smooth and even from constant wear, flanked by rough, uneven stone walls. Due to the dampness, green tenacity had emerged in those twisted crevices, clinging to the surface of the stone walls.


    Wood''s expression was wooden, his pace steady and regular as he walked forward step by step, the tapping of his feet echoing in the corridor.


    The long passageway leading underground had no illumination except for the soft light emitted from the Bright Crystal he held in his hand.


    Soon, he reached the end.


    Here was a wooden door, a common unpainted wood door, nothing special.


    Pausing at the door, Wood quietly waited.


    He knew that his footsteps couldn''t be hidden from Lord Harrington inside. Besides, even without the sound of footsteps, that lord could still sense his arrival.


    "Come in."


    Not making him wait long, just a moment later, Harrington''s steady voice came from inside.


    Wood pushed the door open.


    A small secret chamber came into view.


    He was slightly startled; this time, the secret chamber was not as usual, with only Harrington. Across from Harrington stood a man dressed like a noble.


    But he asked no questions, for this was not his place to speak.


    Wood quietly stood to one side, silently standing like a statue.


    "Continue," Harrington spoke.


    The nobly dressed Bo Wen glanced at Wood, then, unconcerned, continued with the topic at hand.


    "Harrington, the day of my master''s arrival is not far. Are you prepared?"


    His tone was somewhat forceful, somewhat impolite.


    "Oh... I''m more worried about you than about myself. I have heard that the Patrol Department just caught a little bug not long ago?


    Your ritual... there weren''t any problems, were there?"


    Harrington''s expression remained unchanged, his tone smooth but equally forceful.


    Dealing with these cult madmen, the last thing to do was show any sign of weakness.


    "Hmph!"


    Bo Wen snorted coldly, and spoke indifferently.


    "You needn''t worry about it; the return of my master cannot be stopped! You better start producing some results soon. Bishop Arman doesn''t have the same temper as I do... If there''s still no progress after some more time,


    then our agreement will have to be nullified..."


    After finishing, Bo Wen turned and left through another hidden door on the opposite side.


    Harrington quietly watched the hidden door close, his hand caressing a black scepter with dark gold patterns.


    ''Hopefully... these madmen aren''t just talking big. Lap, as a First Rank Peak Official Wizard, is not so easy to deal with...


    Although the Lord of Thorns and Flesh is strong, how much power can actually come into this world... That''s why they need my power.''


    Swoosh!


    He waved the scepter, releasing Purification Evil Power.


    The witchcraft waves, far stronger than those of an apprentice, swept through the secret chamber like a breeze.


    Each time after dealing with these cultists, he would do this¡ªit was a necessary precaution, dealing with the tiger''s skin, carelessness was clearly not an option.


    After completing these actions, he reached out and turned a mechanism on the wall behind him.


    With a click, a fist-sized cavity appeared on the wall that was originally seamless.


    He raised the scepter and inserted it into the slot, activating the Magic Power. The bluestone walls immediately began to glow faintly, rippling like the surface of water.


    Harrington removed the scepter and stepped in, his figure disappearing into the bluestone walls with Haywood following closely behind.


    *


    *


    *


    In the quiet underground chamber, the Bright Crystal emitted a soft light.


    Standing in the middle, Colin''s expression tightened as he cast Swift Skill!


    In an instant, he felt as if invisible winds enveloped him. Whether swinging his arms or taking a step, he could clearly feel that everything was considerably faster than before!


    After trying it out, Colin revealed a satisfied smile.


    Speed, the speed in combat.


    In his view, it mainly consisted of two parts.


    One was the speed of his own movement! The other was reaction speed!


    In combat, both complemented each other, achieving mutual success, and neither could be absent.


    Swift Skill, for now, seemed to enhance his own movement speed!


    It had made his speed as a Great Knight even faster.


    This increase was reflected in various aspects.


    Taking the test just now as an example, it only took him 3 seconds to run a lap around the underground chamber!


    The circumference of the underground chamber was approximately 50~60 meters.


    That meant, at this rate, it would take about 5 to 6 seconds for him to run 100 meters. This was just a rough estimate, as he wasn''t sprinting in a straight line in the underground chamber.


    Moreover, thanks to the abundant energy provided by the Sunlight Breathing Technique, he could maintain such speed for at least an hour!


    That was just the running speed; other speeds, such as leaping and retreating, were naturally enhanced as well.


    This was just the initial state of Swift Skill. After Limit Breaking, the enhancement was likely to be even greater!


    Of course, having physical speed alone was not enough.


    This was also a weakness of Swift Skill. Even if the body''s speed was fast, if one couldn''t react in time when facing attacks, it would still be ineffective.


    Luckily, the second Limit Breaking of the Sunlight Breathing Technique improved the reaction speed!


    Although he hadn''t yet advanced to an Ultimate Knight.


    But once he advanced to an Ultimate Knight and improved his reaction speed along with his physical speed. Based on these alone, those slow-moving fireball techniques from Wizards, or acid attacks, wouldn''t even dream of hitting him!


    Even if they did hit, he still had multiple defenses. Even if his defenses were breached, he still possessed Intermediate Strong Life!


    Colin dispelled the faint witchcraft Spiritual Light on his body, feeling enveloped by a strong sense of safety.


    Wiping off the sweat from his exercise, he walked out of the underground chamber and returned to his bedroom.


    ''By now, Renee should have prepared the bath water.'' S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he climbed the stairs, he thought to himself.


    But when he pushed open the bedroom door, he saw Renee kneeling on the ground, wiping the floor with a cloth.


    Her black and white maid outfit outlined her youthful yet curvaceous figure.


    "Sir."


    Hearing the sound of the door opening, Renee''s body shuddered violently. She quickly stood up, holding the cloth and bowing her head in greeting.


    Colin glanced and immediately knew what had happened.


    "Did you accidentally spill the bathwater again?"


    "Yes, sir. Please punish me," Renee replied quietly.


    Colin also sharply noticed that the girl''s right arm was completely reddened, most likely scalded by the hot water.


    He looked towards the bathroom, which was filled with hot water in the tub.


    No need for further speculation, he could imagine that Renee must have insisted on filling the tub with hot water after scalding herself.


    "Be more careful next time."


    "Yes, sir."


    Colin entered the bathroom and began to soak in the bath.


    Such incidents had occurred before; fortunately, the moved hot water wasn''t extremely hot, thus had never resulted in any serious consequences...


    However, it was time to deal with it.


    He wondered how Luke was handling the matter¡­

 Chapter 70 - 70: Urgency

    The next morning, not long after breakfast,


    a handsome wizard of indeterminate age came for a visit.


    It was Luke, whom Colin had been thinking about the night before.


    "Colin," Luke said with a smile as he walked into the yard, handing Colin a thick book, "I believe this Transformation Technique won''t disappoint you."


    His frame was lean, but his walk conveyed a weightiness like that of refined steel.


    Luke had been present during Colin''s duel with Barney, capturing the event with an Image Capturing Crystal. He was quite a familiar figure.


    Since they both had Friday night shifts, they had become somewhat acquainted.


    As it happened, Luke specialized in Life Transformation, so Colin had previously asked him to find a transformation technique suitable for ordinary people.


    "Then I look forward to seeing it." Colin responded with a smile, leading him to the second-floor reception room.


    They sat down on the milky yellow sofa by the window, with a carved small round table in between.


    After sitting down, Renee brought over two cups of tea.


    Luke looked around at Renee and said,


    "Colin, your maid looks too thin... she definitely needs strengthening. But are you really not going to consider my suggestion?" He curled his lip, "Maintaining a human appearance is good for nothing other than looks. The human body has its limits..."


    Renee''s complexion gradually turned pale.


    "... I have no plans to change my mind for now," Colin shook his head.


    What Luke was referring to was not something as simple as growing animal ears, adding some scales, or acquiring a tail. He meant transforming people into unrecognizable flesh machines.


    Luke sighed regretfully, and Renee breathed a sigh of relief beside him.


    He took a sip of his tea and continued,


    "Did you know Regina went back to the Wizard Territory to advance?"


    Colin nodded and also took a sip of his tea.


    "She''s really remarkable," Luke couldn''t help but comment, a touch of melancholy on his face, then he curiously asked, "Did you go to Regina''s party a few days ago?"


    "No," Colin shook his head, setting down his tea and watching as the cup lightly touched the table, the red liquid rippling.


    "Even you didn''t get an invitation?" Luke was surprised, and sighed, "We''re the closest people to Regina... and even you didn''t get one... It''s true, those on top still look down on those below."


    Colin didn''t explain that Regina had actually invited him; instead, he wondered aloud, "We, as in who?"


    "We, who are talentless apprentices from down the mountain," Luke explained with a sigh.


    "Colin, you spent ten years barely advancing to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice," he looked up at Colin with a smile, "And it took me nine years..."


    "We''re the same. Maybe in forty or fifty years, we might luckily advance to Advanced Apprentice... but it''s more likely that we''ll stop at intermediate due to fear of Tainted babbling and the dread of becoming alien degenerates. After all, even if we could advance further, without becoming Official Wizards, our lifespan won''t increase, plus there would be many more downsides."


    Colin silently picked up his tea again and drank, maintaining his silence.


    Luke continued, without considering Colin''s silence.


    "An Intermediate Apprentice lives at most 120 years, even if you were a Great Knight, it would not exceed 150 years... Life is so short, making friends and enjoying life is the only sensible thing!"


    "Tomorrow, I and a few friends, all of us apprentices from down the mountain, are also having a gathering. Are you interested in joining?"


    Colin picked up the thick book on the table and shook his head, politely declining, "I''m eager to study this book on Transformation Technique you said wouldn''t disappoint me... Maybe some other time for the gathering."


    Luke paused for a moment, but promptly smiled again and said, "Alright, but make sure you come when you''re free next time."


    Then, he added meaningfully, "Apprentices like us are just loose sand when alone. But by staying in touch and moving together, we can become formidable..."


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries politely, Luke took the initiative to leave.


    After seeing Luke off, Colin returned to the master bedroom and went onto the balcony.


    Leaning against the railing, he watched Luke''s carriage slowly recede, feeling an inexplicable sense of caution rising within him.


    Wizards are not nobles; gatherings are not common.


    Having been in Blackstone City so long, he had only now heard of these two close-in-time gatherings.


    ''The mountain above and below... two different groups of people, huh?''


    A breeze fluttered, perturbing the broken hair on Colin''s forehead, his expression inexplicable.


    Involved in such a vortex, in these trivialities, he wanted no part of it.


    Time sped by just like that.


    A month later, Palm Street.


    It was morning, and the brilliant summer sunlight made everyone feel joyful.


    Colin was sitting under the awning on the second-floor balcony, enjoying his morning tea.


    Tap tap tap~


    Renee came up carrying freshly made pastries.


    She approached Colin and placed the silver tray on the black, carved, round iron table.


    Colin sipped his milk tea and looked up, examining Renee.


    Renee was still dressed in her black and white maid''s outfit, her appearance unchanged, still clear-skinned and beautiful. Perhaps the only thing special were the faint red lines at the base of her collarbone.


    For aesthetics, Colin specifically had painted the lines in the shape of a rose, and now it seemed, he had chosen well.


    It was these faint red lines that bestowed upon Renee the physical fitness between an Intermediate Knight and Advanced Knight.


    While not exceptionally strong, for Renee it was enough, at least now when carrying hot water, she no longer spilled it on the ground like before. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A breeze blew, the distant seascape was beautiful.


    Colin sat quietly on the balcony, enjoying this brief moment of morning tea time.


    A while later, just as he was about to stand up and return to the basement to continue his training, a familiar carriage suddenly appeared in his vision.


    Dark red large horses, a beige carriage adorned with golden floral patterns.


    "...It''s Regina''s carriage," Colin recognized.


    "Could it be that Regina has successfully advanced, becoming an Advanced Apprentice?" he speculated silently, "If she really has advanced, according to the School''s rules, the next time I see her, perhaps I should address her as ''My Lady''..."


    A sense of urgency inexplicably welled up in Colin''s mind. He withdrew his gaze and hurriedly walked to the basement.


    After reaching the basement, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    The pale golden particles converged, and a sheet of Golden Paper hovering between illusion and reality gradually appeared in front of him.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (10/100); Great Knight (99/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice''s Circulation Meditation I (81/100); Sunlight Breathing Method II (20/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: None; Zero Level witchcraft: Steel Armor I (54/100); Arrow Shooting Skill I (58/100); Lesser High Temperature Tolerance I (19/100); Hope Defense Field I (21/100); Fireball Skill I (16/100); Detect Evil (96/100); Purification Evil Power (97/100); Swift Skill (31/100)]


    [Skills: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making (94/100); Blood Pattern Transformation Skill (67/100)]


    [Talent: Intermediate Strong Life¡ü (100/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 81]


    He read carefully from top to bottom.


    Now, Colin had a clear understanding of his current situation.


    First, the most noticeable was the progress of his Knight Rank. Perhaps today, or tomorrow, in any case, within these two days, he would definitely advance to an Ultimate Knight!


    Then, there were the only two witchcraft skills, Detect Evil and Purification Evil Power, and the Image Capturing Crystal Making, which had not yet reached their limit.


    These three, if he focused all his energies on them, should reach their limit within these two days too!


    As for the Magic Stones, he had already accumulated 65 Magic Stones, and still had 81 Limit Breaking Points.


    Everything was ready; he was close to another increase soon!


    But before that, he needed to go to one place¡ª


    That was the eastern part of the city by the seaside.


    Because, according to the School''s information,


    the trading caravan he had been longing for, was expected to arrive at Blackstone Island this afternoon!

 Chapter 71 - 71 Efficient Practice Methods

    After assessing his situation, Colin didn''t rush to East City since it was only morning.


    He went upstairs and called Demi and Renee to the basement.


    "Relax."


    Colin asked Demi to sit on a cushioned stool and took out a specially made long metal pen, preparing to perform the Blood Pattern Transformation on her.


    This wasn''t out of pure kindness or idleness.


    The technique he had acquired from Luke was called the Blood Pattern Transformation Technique. The principle was to forcibly enhance the blood energy of the recipient through blood patterns, ultimately condensing a subordinate Life Seed and allowing the recipient to attain physical qualities between those of an Intermediate and Advanced Knight.


    Such subordinate Life Seeds, unlike the normal Life Seeds naturally condensed through a Knight''s training to Advanced levels, couldn''t be improved further through self-practice.


    In other words, the recipient''s limit would be locked between the levels of Intermediate and Advanced Knight, which is why it wasn''t highly valued.


    After all, Intermediate and even Advanced Knights were commonplace in this world. Any guard in the city was at least a Basic Level Knight, and their captains were at least Advanced Knights.


    In places like West City, the captains of the City Guards were even Great Knights.


    The strength of a Knight always stemmed from their physique, and the human body had its limits¡­


    How could the flesh and blood of humans contend against extraordinary witchcraft?


    Take, for example, witchcraft like "Mind Shock" that specifically countered Knights; even if it hit a Great Knight several times, they could only die resentfully on the spot!


    ¡­Only Great Knights could earn a Wizard''s respect and only they could extend their lifespan to 150 years.


    But Colin had never heard of a transformation technique that could directly turn an ordinary person into a Great Knight¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, what he valued most was the Blood Pattern Transformation Technique''s ability to enhance blood energy.


    Blood energy was the source of a Knight''s strength, the condensed life force!


    And fortuitously, his Talent, Middle Strong Life, also originated from life force!


    If he could manage to break the limits of the Blood Pattern Transformation Technique using the Golden Paper¡­ it might bring him some unexpected surprises!


    But to break the limits, he first needed to practice it to its limits.


    After continuously practicing for a month, Colin had advanced it to 67/100. His subjects, besides Arthur and Renee, were mostly small animals like rabbits.


    With the enhancements from the Golden Paper, although practicing with animals like rabbits did bring some progress, it was minimal.


    The progress he accumulated over the past month, half of it was from transforming Arthur and Renee.


    Arthur was the first to be transformed; at that time, his progress had just reached 25/100. After the transformation, it jumped to 40/100. Later, he transformed Renee.


    Perhaps because Renee''s blood patterns were not as random as Arthur''s, being a meticulous rose shape, the progress of the Blood Pattern Transformation Skill shot up directly to 59/100.


    To speed up progress, he initially planned to transform Demi as well.


    However, since Demi was just a child, to be cautious, he continued practicing on rabbits for a while until now, when his progress reached 67/100. Feeling confident, he began the transformation.


    "Don''t be scared, your sister is right here," Renee said, holding Demi''s hand gently to comfort her.


    "Sister, I''m not scared," Demi sat on the stool, looked up seriously at Renee standing to her left, thought for a moment, and then asked, "After the transformation, will I become as powerful as you?"


    "Yes, you will become very powerful, able to lift such a big stone!" Renee spread her arms wide, describing exaggeratedly.


    Well, it wasn''t really an exaggeration, but given Demi''s age, such strength might take a few years to develop.


    "Okay!" Demi nodded vigorously, her soft blonde hair swaying, and she turned to Colin urging, "Master, please transform Demi now, Demi also wants to be strong like sister!"


    Renee''s eyes also held expectation.


    She knew the limitations of the Blood Pattern Transformation Technique. Yet, for them, such extraordinary power was¡­ immensely precious.


    Colin''s expression remained calm, as he picked up the long metal pen to start the transformation. But before beginning, he paused and asked:


    "Demi, what kind of pattern would you like?"


    Demi chewed on her finger, pondering for a while before finally deciding:


    "I want a little bear, can I, Master? Just like my favorite little bear."


    "Sure," Colin picked up the long brush and began the transformation.


    Over an hour later, the transformation was complete.


    Demi got her wish¡ªshe now sported a blood-colored little bear tattoo. Because the bear was rather large, its location differed from Renee''s collarbone; it was on her left shoulder blade.


    The Blood Pattern Transformation Skill didn''t have strict requirements for the engraving location, as long as it wasn''t on the limbs or the head.


    After transforming Demi, she had fallen into a deep sleep.


    In the following period, her appetite would increase significantly until she crystallized the Life Seed.


    Colin instructed Renee to take Demi to rest, then he opened the Golden Paper.


    At this point, the progress of the Blood Pattern Transformation Skill had reached 89/100, a boost of 22 points!


    "Transforming Arthur gained 15 points, transforming Renee 19 points, transforming Demi 22 points." He couldn''t help but ponder.


    The transformations were the same, but the increases in scores got progressively larger... Clearly, it was because the blood patterns engraved later were more complex.


    It seemed just a change of the blood pattern shape, but it wasn''t as simple as imagined; it involved more complex designs of energy circuits.


    In that case¡­


    Colin''s eyes flashed, and a conjecture emerged in his mind¡ª


    "Could it be that the complexity of practice affects the speed of progress?"


    As previously stated, the witchcraft tome provided a standard template. At the beginning of practice, since one was new to witchcraft, all followed this template for casting practices.


    Later, as the progress increased and mastery of witchcraft became more familiar, it was possible to step out of the template.


    However, for Colin, apart from simulated battle trials, he would experiment with various variations and applications of witchcraft.


    During practice, what he used most was still the standard template from the beginning.


    After all, the practice recognized by the Golden Paper required full effort.


    Of course, full effort could be applied while satisfying complex variations.


    But undoubtedly, it was more troublesome; it was like having to punch with full force while making your arm make several fancy twists¡ªnot impossible, but undeniably more laborious.


    This also led him to primarily practice casting using the standard template.


    "Could the complexity of practice really contribute to faster progress?"


    To verify this idea, Colin moved his thoughts and raised his right hand.


    Whoosh!


    A fireball suddenly appeared in his palm, hovering imperceptibly for a moment before shooting towards a nearby ironwood target!


    Whoosh!


    However, this time was different¡ªthe fireball did not explode upon contact with the ironwood target, but instead spread quickly like a gentle breeze, enveloping the entire target and transforming it into a giant torch!


    The emanating orange-yellow glow brightened the entire basement.


    He repeated this practice until noon, then Colin looked at the Golden Paper again.


    Before practicing, he had checked the progress of the Limit Breaking Fireball Skill, which was 16/100.


    And now, unless he was seeing incorrectly,


    The advancement on the Golden Paper showed that the Limit Breaking Fireball Skill had changed to 17/100!


    Increasing the complexity of practice was indeed effective!


    A look of joy appeared on Colin''s face, but he soon furrowed his brows slightly.


    "Under complex practice, the progress is faster indeed. Yet more complex practice itself takes more time and effort compared to mechanical practice¡­


    However, in terms of overall efficiency, complex practice is still more effective than mechanical practice!"


    He looked at the rows of characters on the Golden Paper, feeling invigorated!


    "It seems the rate at which I advance my skills can be significantly increased¡­"

 Chapter 72 - 72: The Caravan Arrives

    The sun hanging high in the sky emitted passionate rays.


    It was already the afternoon.


    After lunch, Colin took a carriage to the eastern seaside of the city.


    He was almost there now.


    The salty sea breeze passed through the round window of the carriage, stirring the curtains and bringing a hint of coolness inside.


    Colin lifted the curtain in response and looked into the distance.


    A captivating shimmer of blue was the first to catch his eye.


    This was the docking harbor for the entire island, crescent-shaped overall, with several wooden docks of various lengths extending from the golden sand.


    At the end of the docks, white seabirds circled regularly, occasionally emitting sharp calls.


    The sunlight sprinkled bright patches on the blue sea surface, and these patches became more noticeable especially during the sunset and brilliant sunrise, like dazzling gold foil on a blue gemstone.


    The carriage stopped on the beach, and Colin alighted.


    By this time, quite a few people had gathered here, the majority of whom were wizards, with the remaining being their followers.


    This group appeared to be congregating together but was distinctly divided into different circles.


    Colin easily found the circle belonging to the School and the Patrol Department.


    To avoid standing out too much, he joined the circle of the School.


    "Colin, you''re here too?"


    As soon as he approached, someone greeted him.


    Looking toward the voice, it was Luke, who was standing with several wizards from the Patrol Department.


    "Yes, after all, it''s the first time I''m truly welcoming the merchants, thought I''d come early," Colin replied.


    The merchant caravan would pass by Blackstone Island about once every six months.


    But before this, perhaps due to financial constraints or a sense of pride from unknown origins, the previous owner had never really interacted with the caravan, always just watching from afar.


    "The logistics folk from the School are also here, according to them, the caravan should arrive here around 4 PM," Luke then revealed to Colin.


    This time was known through a token left by the caravan.


    ''Four o''clock, eh.'' Colin nodded.


    It was already past three o''clock now, so it wouldn''t be a long wait.


    At that moment, a beige carriage suddenly arrived.


    Just by seeing the familiar chestnut-red horse and the beige carriage with gilded decorations, Colin knew who it was.


    Regina stepped down from the carriage.


    But her expression was not as gentle as usual and slightly cold, her complexion also inexplicably pale. The black cat named Maggie, always by her side, was also nowhere to be seen¡­


    "Lady Regina," the nearby Luke stepped forward and respectfully greeted.


    It was then that Colin noticed a triangular badge pinned on the front of Regina''s black wizard robe¡­ it was a brilliant gold.


    "Lady Regina," led by Luke, the crowd gathered by the School also bowed their heads and respectfully greeted.


    Colin naturally followed everyone and offered his greeting as well.


    Regina''s expression remained cold, without any response.


    ''Could it be that something went wrong with her advancement¡­ even Maggie is missing.'' Colin watched her somewhat pale face and couldn''t help but speculate.


    Advancing to an Advanced Apprentice symbolized the complete dispersion of the fog of the spirit. The tainted babbling floating in the world would come into direct contact with one''s spirit, distorting knowledge and bringing various consequences.


    Only by preserving one''s humanity and thoroughly understanding knowledge could one alleviate or even eliminate these consequences.


    Thus, advancing to an Advanced Apprentice was not simply a matter of accumulating enough Magic Power. It usually also required making sure one had a deep understanding of the Meditation Method!


    But for ordinary Wizards, the level of knowledge mastery was hard to quantify, and it was even harder to ensure a thorough understanding of all aspects of knowledge.


    It''s like knowing how to cook, but it''s difficult to precisely measure whether you have mastered cooking, and even more difficult to guarantee that you understand every aspect of cooking thoroughly.


    This was why, as training progressed, less importance was placed on a Wizard''s Magic Power Affinity and talent was deemed better for those from Schools than for Wild Wizards!


    A Wizard''s talent was never just about Magic Power Affinity, which was only half of it; the other half of a Wizard''s talent was always their ability to learn knowledge!


    "Speaking of which, I''ve reached 81/100 in the Circulation Meditation, perhaps I could break the limit again soon¡­ By then, I would not be far from being an Advanced Wizard," Colin''s eyes twinkled.


    "Unlike others, with the Golden Paper, I can directly perceive the current progress of mastering the knowledge, whether I have fully mastered it, whether I have reached the limit¡­"


    "Thus, perhaps I could use the Golden Paper''s prompt to choose to break through at the limit of the Meditation Method, when I fully comprehend it¡­ Maybe this could avoid the consequences!"


    Thinking this, Colin suddenly wondered, "¡­what should I be aware of when advancing to an Official Wizard?"


    He tried to search through his memories but had no impression of this matter.


    "The instructors from the School haven''t taught anything about this¡­ perhaps because they are only Advanced Wizard Apprentices?"


    Though becoming an Official Wizard was still far off for him, it was always good to be prepared.


    Logically, as a member of the School, he should seek such knowledge from someone like Berkeley, a peak Apprentice, or even directly from Wizard Lap.


    But his advancement was too rapid; it wasn''t appropriate to go to the School so early.


    The Wizards of this world were not solely seekers of truth. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Here, the first rule Wizards learned was¡ªdo not overly pursue knowledge!


    The only parallel rule was¡ªmaintain humanity!


    Most Wizards in this world pursued power, longevity¡­ or like him, a measure of peace, a measure of power to control their own destiny!


    "Based on my current pace, I might need this knowledge in a few years... but to break through from Basic Level to Official Wizard in just a few years¡­" Colin sighed inwardly,


    He lifted his head, gazed at the vast sea, and then squinted slightly,


    "Perhaps this knowledge could be found among the merchant fleets¡­"


    Time slowly passed, and with Regina''s arrival, numerous Advanced Wizard Apprentices from the School also started to arrive.


    A while later,


    On the right side of the Sea Domain, several dark spots gradually appeared, faintly distinguishable as a dozen gray-black ship silhouettes.


    Before long, almost in the blink of an eye, those gray-black ships approached.


    It was at this moment that Colin finally realized the enormity of these vessels.


    The ships formed an entire fleet, led by three main, largest ships followed by twelve slightly smaller ones.


    The largest main ship, by his estimation, was at least twenty to thirty meters wide and over a hundred meters long! The slightly smaller ships were also dozens of meters in width and sixty to seventy meters in length!


    And they seemed to be ironclad ships, a combination of witchcraft and steam, not wooden ships!


    Although they could not compare to the gigantic ocean freighters of his previous world, which easily measured hundreds of meters, the enormous presence of these ships when they neared was still somewhat intimidating.


    Woo¡ª!


    The steam whistle of the large ship boomed!


    The sound, long and loud, drowned out the Wizards'' ongoing chatter and captivated their attention.


    Watching the gradually halting fleet,


    Colin, for some reason, suddenly felt a surge of anticipation¡­

 Chapter 73 - 73: Three Rivers Remarks

    Adhering to tradition, having ranked on Sanjiang, I naturally have some feelings to express, though I know this tradition has dwindled over the years...


    But after all, this is my first book, and for a new author like me, it is indeed a rare experience, one I would have regretted missing.


    So I also ask everyone to bear with my long-windedness.


    ...


    First of all, thank you! Thank you all for your constant support! Without you, there wouldn''t be the achievements of today!


    Also, I want to thank my duty editor Transparent and chief editor Shui Mo for giving a newcomer like me a chance to sign a contract.


    If I hadn''t signed, this book wouldn''t have come this far, let alone meet you all.


    ... Those are my feelings on Sanjiang. Although brief, they are truly heartfelt!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Additionally...


    Actually, I do have a lot to share.


    Like, why I write novels and what feelings a new author had after writing for more than a month... and so on and so forth.


    But I am indeed a person who believes "silence is golden," so I won''t elaborate further.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Really, that''s it!


    But since you''ve turned to this page, why not cast a couple of votes?


    Monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, rewards¡ªI welcome them all (desperate face) S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *


    *


    *


    *


    *


    *


    I know there are still some readers who might be curious, so after much thought, I decided to mention it.


    What follows are purely my personal views on the current state of online literature, those who dislike may kindly criticize lightly, and those not interested may skip this part.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Alright, I''ll start speaking.


    Three months ago, I was just like all of you, a reader.


    The motivation to write came from those books updated so passionately but then abruptly abandoned.


    The direct trigger was a book last year called "My Sword Thirsts for Blood." Just mentioning the title might be a bit vague, let me throw in a few keywords: Urban background, sword-fighting, travel between two realms, Western fantasy monsters, unusual body temperatures, blood-thirst...


    This book went live and not long after, with an average order of 3248 and a high order of 4434, it unexpectedly entered the palace...


    Like this, there are many books. I could list examples at will, some with good performance, some with bad. Like earlier, I was following one about ''Paperman,'' where the protagonist is the son of a coffin shop owner who played with paper dolls every day, but later received a Cultivation Secret Manual from a Taoist, and now the novel is almost undead, practically abandoned.


    With this curiosity about why these books were abandoned, I started writing this unusual Wizard World in March.


    Then, my questions were answered.


    What does this mean?


    At this moment, my book has a total of 17,222 favorites, the backend shows a total of 1,132 comments, and roughly estimating, there are probably no more than 500 people commenting.


    What does this imply?


    The silent majority who read my book, I can''t see them.


    It''s the same situation for other authors and for other new authors like me.


    In such circumstances, even a single nonsensical critical comment in the reader circle can be a huge pressure... even though other tens of thousands of readers might not mind.


    It''s tough for new authors to ignore these.


    As for me, I have a good mindset about this, mainly because my main job also faces the market and the audience.


    I accept well-founded comments with an open mind, and I permanently delete mindless attacks.


    However, other novice authors might not have the same good mindset and may not endure this pressure.


    Thus they perish before they have a chance to grow...


    "Perhaps if the environment were a little more lenient, just a little, giving them time to grow, allowing them to persist, the next book might bring us more joy..." This thought often crosses my mind.


    Besides,


    In today''s environment, writing online literature is truly a dead-end for most.


    Apart from top-tier authors and a limited few at level 5, how many can support their families by writing online? It''s known that writing online isn''t as stable as other jobs. A book might generate some income for a year or two, but nobody can guarantee that the next book will make money.


    Are there cases where a book earns someone a decade or even dozens of years'' worth of money?


    Of course, there are, but how many?


    Are there those who write solely for the passion?


    There certainly are! But in the end, they are the minority.


    Moreover, I still say, writing is like cooking¡ªchefs who cook purely out of love are not really chefs, but just cooking enthusiasts. They satisfy only their own tastes, and most customers may not like it.


    To last long, to see more guests and readers enjoy the dishes in the market, working purely out of love doesn''t cut it¡ªwe need to turn these cooking enthusiasts into chefs!


    The plate of online literature isn''t small, how can so many readers not sustain these novels, not sustain these authors?


    Though I''m reluctant to admit and it sounds harsh, that is indeed the logic.


    ...There are simply too few paying readers.


    Most authors can''t touch the elusive rights; they live off these subscriptions.


    I used to read pirated versions too, and I understand.


    But later, I suddenly realized, I might buy a snack every day, spending at least a few bucks. But online literature? I spend a lot of time daily, receiving a lot of joy from it.


    Why, when I read novels for at least two hours every day, possibly more time than I spend eating...


    Why can''t I bear to spend even a few cents a day on this author, on this book?


    Rice feeds my body, and while online literature may not be my spiritual nourishment, it''s a hobby, a source of joy for me.


    In fact, I''ve done some calculations.


    Even if I''m reading twenty novels with daily updates of over a thousand words, the money spent in a day is only about 10 yuan.


    [It looks like a lot, but I don''t subscribe to everything, I only occasionally support my favorite authors with a few cents or a yuan a day, which I believe I can afford.]


    [But I didn''t, I still couldn''t bear to. Perhaps because pirated versions are available, perhaps because I read too many books every day, and it seemed too much to spend money on all, so I ended up not spending on any¡­]


    One could think and act this way, and I used to do the same.


    But,


    One thing I''ve come to understand very clearly is


    that since I''ve done this, then I have no right to complain¡ª


    Why there are fewer and fewer books I can keep reading, and why the books I like suddenly stop in the middle...


    ...


    In the cold night, the fire blazes.


    If you don''t add wood, and I don''t add wood, you expect him to add, and I expect you to add.


    As the fire dwindles,


    then don''t complain about the biting cold.


    ¡ª


    The above are some grumbles, some reflections that naturally arise from a reader turning into an author, just some insights on the current state.


    I mean not to blame anyone, nor to complain about anything.


    It''s not about moral obligation, just some understandings of the situation.


    I hesitated a long time before posting this¡­


    Yet, I think I should also have the right to express some of my views, right?


    Lastly,


    I hope everyone enjoys reading my book!


    As a newcomer, I indeed have many shortcomings.


    I am also deeply touched by your great support.


    I know I can only live up to this support and love by continuously striving to improve myself and humbly accepting all kinds of rational criticism, by creating better stories!


    Thank you, everyone!

 Chapter 74 - 73: Ship Market

    The giant ships slowly docked at the harbor to the east of the city.


    It was thanks to the docks that extended deep enough into the sea, or else, to board these behemoths we might have needed to take additional smaller boats.


    Whoosh!


    While Colin was silently observing the giant ships near the docks, a blaze of flame suddenly erupted from the mountain peak behind him!


    In the blink of an eye, it reached before the giant ship.


    The blaze dissipated, revealing the back of a wizard in a gray robe, floating in front of the figurehead at the bow of the central ship in the fleet.


    It was Wizard Lap!


    Two figures, who also seemed to be Official Wizards, flew out from the main ship, and together they welcomed Wizard Lap aboard the giant ship.


    Then, all of a sudden, a voice emanated from the figurehead of the main ship, styled like a young ball-carrying maiden:


    "Cough cough, dear wizard friends from Blackstone Island, we are the Black Pearl Trading Company!"


    "Our ships will remain in the island''s harbor for seven days, during which time, we welcome everyone to come and shop in the Ship Market!"


    "Knowledge, materials, slaves¡­ You can buy everything you want here!"


    With these words, figures began bustling about on the armored ships, and soon after, enormous chain ladders were placed between the ships to secure and connect them.


    "It''s all thanks to Teacher Lap¡­ Sixty years ago, these trading fleets didn''t look like this," Luke remarked nostalgically. Though he had not experienced it himself, what he had heard was enough to stir sentiment.


    Sixty years earlier, before Wizard Lap had come to the island, the island''s Blackstone Family only had deceased Official Wizards.


    Back then, these trading fleets were not so courteous.


    Trade only happened between parties of equal standing.


    In some places, these trading fleets were also known as pirates!


    Colin remained silent. After all, the serene life that they, the weak, were now enjoying was wholly dependent on the shelter and order that Wizard Lap had established on the island.


    Click, click, click.


    At that moment, from the giant ship nearest to the docks, the sound of mechanical gears clashing filled the air, and the next second, a gray-black steel staircase on its side lifted and accurately aligned with the dock.


    The steel staircase was roughly five or six meters wide with railings on both sides, akin to the boarding stairs of an airplane from his previous life.


    Without a doubt, this was the entrance to the Ship Market.


    Colin stepped forward, intending to go to the market, only to have his sleeve tugged by Luke.


    "Let the adults go first." Luke gave an imperceptible reminder, hinting with his eyes for Colin to notice Regina and the other Advanced Wizard Apprentices nearby.


    Colin''s footsteps paused briefly.


    Only after Regina and the other Advanced Wizard Apprentices had passed by did he and the others continue to move forward.


    Stepping onto the steel staircase, it appeared shaky and fragile, but felt surprisingly stable underfoot¡­ surely reinforced by witchcraft.


    The steps produced a dull and sturdy thud as they were trodden upon.


    The staircase was not short. The Advanced Wizard Apprentices had already flown up, leaving only those like himself, the Intermediate Wizard Apprentices, and a few Basic Level Wizard Apprentices who had been brought along to gain experience, as well as the recently Advanced Regina, who were still climbing.


    Before long, Colin finally finished the climb and stepped onto the deck.


    The sight that met his eyes was a grey-black expanse with neither masts nor sails, only three enormous chimneys jutting out like spines, with wisps of light grey smoke slowly rising from within.


    In the bridge superstructure in the middle of the ship, several crew members dressed as sailors were moving things onto the deck in succession, apparently preparing to set up stalls.


    "The stalls out here don''t have much of interest," Luke said, looking back over his shoulder at Colin as he expertly led the group toward the nearby bridge. He continued to explain:


    "The Black Pearl Trading Company consists of fifteen ships. When docked at Blackstone Island, the main ones open to us include this flagship and four auxiliary vessels beside it."


    "During this week, the decks of these five ships will be filled with stalls, usually without anything noteworthy, but it''s still possible to have a look and see what you can find."


    "The real ship market is actually hidden on the first deck below, which is just like Wizard Alley on the island, with all sorts of shops."


    Colin nodded, recognizing that these details were obviously intended for his ears, being his first time here.


    It had to be said that while Luke might be smooth and worldly, he knew just how to strike the right balance without becoming tiresome.


    Following Luke down the narrow stairs to the deck below, the din reached their ears even before they fully descended to the next layer.


    A few more steps and they were faced with a grey corridor that could be considered spacious aboard a ship.


    The corridor was wide enough for four people to walk side by side, with identical cabins on both sides. Each cabin''s door was very narrow and, despite being open, it was difficult to discern the specific type of shop from outside.


    Fortunately, each shop had a sign hung on the wall outside, which saved some trouble.


    "I''m going to buy a few Great Knight slaves. Anyone else want to go to the slave area? We can head there together," Luke asked, turning back.


    "I''m going."


    "Anyone going to buy bloodline materials?"


    "What about witch tools?"


    The members of the School talked among themselves, forming into groups and departing.


    "Colin, if you haven''t decided what to buy, want to go check out the slave section?" Luke said, noticing Colin still standing in place, calling out to him before leaving.


    Colin shook his head with a smile: "I plan to wander around on my own first."


    "Well..." Luke nodded, paused for a moment, and then lowered his voice, "On the ship, it''s generally best to avoid conflicts with the wizards from the Black Pearl Trading Company as much as possible."


    "Of course, if they''re only Basic Level Wizards, then there''s no need to be polite. But with Intermediate ones, you need to gauge your strength, and be mindful if they have companions..."


    "As for those above Intermediate..." he patted Colin on the shoulder, "You don''t need me to say more, right?"


    Colin nodded. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the island, the Lap School was the undisputed ruler, and their Apprentices, while not necessarily able to throw their weight around on a daily basis, effectively had little difference.


    But on the ship, it was no longer the School''s territory, and the power of the Black Pearl Trading Company was clearly not inferior to the School, necessitating caution in this new setting.


    Of course, having a Lap Wizard around meant they didn''t need to be overly cautious; they just needed to be aware. After all, if a conflict occurred, as long as it didn''t escalate too far, neither an Official Wizard from the Black Pearl Trading Company nor a Lap Wizard would likely care.


    In such instances, if trouble came knocking, it would all come down to personal strength. This was also why most, like Luke, chose to stick together.


    While the deck below seemed to only have this single, long corridor, it was actually riddled with many branches, extending in all directions. In the blink of an eye, Luke and the others disappeared from view, leaving only Colin at the entrance.


    But he wasn''t worried about losing his way.


    In a wooden box to the right of the entrance, a stack of printed black and white maps of the lower deck were neatly placed, with detailed annotations for the primary goods and locations of the different area shops.


    Suppressing his curiosity to explore around first, Colin took a map from the box, searching for shops that purchased Magic Crystals.


    He wanted to exchange his Bright Crystal for Magic Stones first!

 Chapter 75 - 74 Selling Bright Crystal

    Guided by the map, Colin walked down the hallway, turned at the second intersection, and arrived at a store in the far left area that specialized in the purchase of Magic Crystals.


    The store was quite crowded, resembling a warehouse more than a storefront, and it was very quiet... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the quietness was normal since Wizards came to the ship market to buy things they couldn''t usually find.


    And for Magic Crystals, there were places to sell them on the island.


    "This shop purchases Magic Crystals, it does not sell them," said the shopkeeper, who was half-lying behind the counter, as Colin walked in.


    Having been to Blackstone Island many times, the shopkeeper knew that no one would come aboard to sell Magic Crystals... This Wizard in the gray robe must have walked into the wrong place.


    Colin remained silent, took the large bag slung over his shoulder down, and placed it on the counter, then opened it with his hands.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Nearly a thousand Bright Crystals that had been accumulated over a month spilled out, scattering across the counter and reflecting light.


    Although their combined value was only about 90 Magic Stones, when they were all together, they were quite a spectacle.


    The shopkeeper, who had seen much in his time, wasn''t overly shocked, but he did raise his eyebrows slightly. Standing up, he approached Colin.


    "Are these all Bright Crystals?" he asked, picking up a white Bright Crystal.


    "Yes, there are nine hundred in total."


    The shopkeeper nodded slightly, pulled out a large flat tray, and poured all the Bright Crystals from the counter into it, spreading them out and bending over to inspect them.


    Just one minute later, he looked up, removed the monocle from his left eye, and said to Colin,


    "Hmm, yes, nine hundred exactly. The quality is quite good...they''re definitely First Class."


    "I can offer you a total of..." He glanced at the young Colin and suddenly had a thought, pausing for a moment before changing his question, "Did you make these Bright Crystals yourself?"


    Colin sized up the shopkeeper briefly and then replied without betraying any emotion,


    "I made them."


    The shopkeeper smiled and explained, "I was just curious... For these Bright Crystals, I can give you a total of ninety-nine Magic Stones."


    Ninety-nine Magic Stones¡ªthis was nine more than he would get if he sold them on the island.


    But Colin wasn''t in a hurry to be pleased, and he asked in a deep voice, "And the condition?"


    The shopkeeper maintained his amiable smile and continued, "There''s no actual condition, just a verbal agreement that benefits us both."


    "What I need, is for you to save up all the Magic Crystals you make each year, and then sell them to me when the trading company arrives. I''ll purchase them all at this price."


    He didn''t wait for Colin to respond before adding,


    "I understand Blackstone Island; if it hasn''t changed much in the last half-year, these 900 Bright Crystals could only sell for 90 Magic Stones there, which is 9 less than what I''m offering.


    Moreover, I think... if you didn''t choose to sell them on the island, there must be a reason..."


    A chill went through Colin''s heart, and he grew wary as he watched the shopkeeper''s smiling demeanor. In this world, it seemed none who became Wizards were to be taken lightly.


    However, he had anticipated this and wasn''t too surprised. After all, the shopkeeper could only guess so much.


    "Whether it''s being underpriced upon purchase or being refused purchase, there''s always a reason you came to sell on board," the shopkeeper added. "But I don''t care for those reasons. I''m willing to spend ninety-nine Magic Stones on your Bright Crystals because in some places, I can add a zero to that!"


    "So don''t think I have ulterior motives. Although you''re just one person, every little bit counts... and don''t doubt it, while Bright Crystals are common, there happen to be some places that lack Crystal Mines and especially need light, so a tenfold price increase isn''t an exaggeration!"


    The shopkeeper paused at this point, somewhat proudly adding,


    "The allure of long-haul trade lies right here!"


    After finishing, he looked at Colin with an open expression.


    He truly had no other intentions; it was just a casual remark. For a businessman like him, the fear wasn''t of having too many paths to take, but too few¡ªhe would never limit his own options...


    "Deal," Colin said solemnly.


    The shopkeeper''s face lit up with a practiced smile as he stowed the Bright Crystal away and counted out one hundred Magic Stones to give to Colin.


    "An extra Magic Stone to round off the sum, consider it a good start for our first transaction," he said cheerily.


    Colin took the Magic Stones, feeling a sense of lightness in his heart, and casually replied, "I wish you a hugely profitable voyage."


    "Thank you," the shopkeeper replied with a smile, then added, "You don''t need to be too envious..."


    Colin paused but didn''t say anything, simply walking quickly towards the exit.


    However, the shopkeeper called out to him again.


    Perhaps the loneliness from long sea voyages made one crave companionship, or maybe he felt the need to bond with a new business partner.


    In any case, the shopkeeper seemed to have opened Pandora''s box, and went on to chat about this and that.


    At first, Colin was impatient. But within the shopkeeper''s rambling, he indeed shared many experiences and observations from his sea voyages.


    These were all pieces of knowledge Colin lacked, so eventually, he even took the initiative to converse with the shopkeeper, steering the conversation towards subjects that interested him.


    "...If you want to become a merchant like me, it''s quite simple. I know the manager of the Black Pearl Trading Company, and for thirty thousand Magic Stones, you could have a title with the company. Then, with an additional five thousand Magic Stones for voyage fees, you can have a storage space aboard the ship like mine..."


    Colin patiently chatted with him for a long while before standing up to take his leave.


    Stepping out of the store, he went to a corner to unfold the deck''s map and pinpoint his location before setting off briskly.


    It was already getting late when he arrived, and he had spent quite some time talking with the owner of the Magic Crystal Store, so it was almost 6 o''clock, and nightfall was approaching.


    With the setting of the sun, the ship market would close, or rather, the entire fleet would shut down to protect against the weird and terrifying creatures and spirits lurking in the sea''s darkness.


    So, he needed to hurry!


    Before long, Colin arrived at the very center of the deck. Before him stood a special cabin that was clearly several sizes larger than the other cabins, and on the outer wall near the door was written "Black Pearl Bookstore" in bold letters.


    He had come to achieve his second objective¡ªto acquire the knowledge needed to advance to Official Wizard!


    It was never too early to be prepared... However, he wasn''t sure whether his current Magic Stones could actually buy the necessary knowledge.


    He entered the store and, without any need for secrecy, directly asked the clerk, "Excuse me, do you have any knowledge related to advancing to Official Wizard?"


    Hearing his question, the clerk visibly paused, but without overthinking, he became more respectful in his demeanor. After all, they had encountered Wild Wizards on many islands purchasing this type of knowledge.


    For Wild Wizards, lacking systematic knowledge and not knowing the way forward was normal.


    Apparently, the grey-robed Wizard before him was in the same situation.


    "Yes, we do," the clerk replied. "Do you need the complete set of advancement knowledge, or just an overview of becoming an Official Wizard?"


    "What is the difference between the two?" Colin pondered for a moment before asking calmly.


    Today he was dressed in the simplest of grey robes, the badge of his School already removed from his chest. Earlier, he had scoped out the area to ensure there were no apprentices from other islands in the store before he walked in.


    "The full set of advancement knowledge includes Meditation Method, etcetera, while the overview simply offers a general summary and description of becoming an Official Wizard.


    You can think of it this way: the former is a detailed and specific collection of all the knowledge an Official Wizard needs to know, while the latter is a summative description of the process most Official Wizards go through."


    Colin nodded, touching the bulging purse in his pocket, then asked, "How much do the two cost in Magic Stones?"


    "The full set of advancement knowledge is fifty thousand Magic Stones, while the overview is three hundred and fifty Magic Stones," the clerk answered amiably.

 Chapter 76 - 75: Consecutive Breakthroughs (4.7k)

    Tap, tap, tap~


    The hooves clacked crisply against the hard ground as the pitch-black horse pulled the equally black carriage towards the city.


    Behind it stretched the boundless sea; through the gaps between the enormous ships docked at the pier, at the distant junction between blues, a sliver of orange-red light was sinking. Beside it, light wisps of clouds still floated above the sea surface, engaging in their final silent burn.


    Night was about to fall.


    Clack, clack, clack~


    The sound of mechanical gears colliding came from the pier as the gray-black gangplank folded back like a bird retracting its wings.


    Inside the carriage, Colin sighed imperceptibly.


    He didn''t mind the embarrassment of having to slink out of the shop due to lack of money; after all, being broke wasn''t shameful, and the shop assistants had been polite from start to finish.


    But the knowledge to advance to an Official Wizard was right before his eyes, yet as remote as the horizon... It was indeed frustrating.


    "It''s not urgent; after all, I am not even an Advanced Wizard Apprentice yet," he tried to console himself.


    Soon after returning to his home on Palm Street and having dinner, Colin began his usual practice.


    He went down to the basement and started with the Sunlight Breathing Technique.


    His Knight Level had reached [Great Knight (99/100)], only a little bit away from breaking through to Ultimate Knight!


    Maintaining a steady breathing rhythm, he meticulously performed the movements of the Sunlight Breathing Technique, which now in its second iteration of Limit Breaking was drastically different from its original form.


    The muscles that usually didn''t show off were now rippling under the stimulation of the Breathing Skill, pulsating like knotted tree roots!


    Before long, beads of sweat emerged from his upper body¡ªfirst on his forehead, then the tip of his nose, the nape of his neck, his back... His black cotton shirt was soon soaked through.


    Time passed, he didn''t know how long, or how many repetitions he had done.


    At one moment, Colin suddenly felt a certain "blockage" burst open!


    It wasn''t as grandiose as when he broke through to Great Knight¡ªthis body transformation was completed in an instant, in a feeling akin to an electric shock!


    As if the scene paused, his movements abruptly stopped.


    Under the force of inertia, a glistening droplet of sweat from his nose was flung forward into the air.


    The world seemed to slow down, he felt his breathing decelerate.


    And that droplet of sweat moved sluggishly through the air like a snail, its trajectory visible.


    Colin instinctively reached to catch the sparkling droplet, and as soon as he thought it, his body responded without delay!


    Whoosh!


    He actually caught the droplet in his hand, leaving a moist trace on his palm!


    Colin''s face showed a mixture of shock. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under normal circumstances, even as a Great Knight, he shouldn''t have been able to catch that droplet. It was related not only to his speed but also to his reaction time!


    The droplet would fall in a parabola under gravity. For less than two meters, it would take only a fraction of a second¡ªa few hundred milliseconds¡ªto hit the ground.


    A normal untrained person''s reaction time usually ranged between two hundred to three hundred milliseconds; some exceptionally talented individuals, after training, could improve that to one hundred to two hundred milliseconds.


    But that was about it!


    Being a Great Knight, his reaction time was also within the range of hundred to two hundred milliseconds, a limitation of the human body.


    A complete motion process starts from sensory inputs like sight, sound, and touch transmitting stimuli to the brain, which then sends signals through the nervous system to muscles, causing them to react.


    This time is commonly acknowledged as reaction time!


    It involves stimuli being transmitted to the brain and then the brain sending signals to muscles, the two major parts.


    However, these signals depend on the nervous system, and the speed of the reactions is typically determined by how fast these signals are transmitted by the nervous system!


    And the nervous system... is hard to alter after birth.


    This means that by the time a normal person reacts, the droplet has already fallen a significant distance, making it difficult to catch.


    Although he knew that with the Sunlight Breathing Technique and its second limit-breaking under the influence of the Golden Paper, the Knight System had veered into an unheard realm,


    and that advancing into this realm would greatly enhance his reaction time,


    he hadn''t expected the effect to be so immediate!


    "Perhaps with the help of the Golden Paper, I could move a few more steps further at the end of the knight''s path..."


    Colin mused inwardly, moving forward, adjusting to his body that felt newly revitalized.


    ¡­


    After a while, the moon hung in the branches.


    Having adjusted to his new level after the breakthrough, Colin left the basement and returned to the master bedroom.


    He quickly took a shower, skipping the bath this time, and then hurried to the Meditation Room.


    It was already late, but he hadn''t yet done his daily meditation!


    Plus, that morning during Demi''s Transformation Technique, he had unexpectedly discovered that complex practices could improve the speed of progress.


    But so far, he had only tested witchcraft and Transformation Technique; he hadn''t tested whether the Meditation Method also worked this way, making him eager to start meditating!


    He entered the Meditation Room, lit the calming incense, sat cross-legged, and easily slipped into a state of meditation.


    This time, however, instead of following the standard path of meditation, he extravagantly took a more roundabout route.

 Chapter 77 - 75: Consecutive Breakthroughs (4.7k)_2

    After breaking through the limit with the Circulation Meditation, he only needed to meditate six hours a day, but this time he intentionally made it complex, substantially reducing the efficiency. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, it wasn''t until dawn broke and the morning glow faded that he slowly opened his eyes.


    Looking at the pocket watch in his hand. Twelve hours had already passed!


    The time spent wasn''t the point; the key was the progress made in just one Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation!


    He exhaled and the Golden Paper appeared.


    Light golden particles converged, and a sheet of Golden Paper that straddled the line between illusion and reality floated in front of him.


    Colin eagerly looked for the Apprentice Circulation Meditation I section!


    In the next second, an uncontrollable joy spread across his face.


    The progress behind that one Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation had reached 84/100!


    Previously, if he hadn''t misremembered, the progress should have been 81/100! A full 3 points increase!


    An elevation of 3 points in a single meditation session?!


    Colin exhaled gently and shook his head.


    The true progress was slightly over 2 points, after all, it wasn''t exactly 81 before but rather a bit over 81.


    But regardless, if he continued at this pace, he would only need another six to eight days to push the Circulation Meditation to its limit once more!


    Rising to his feet, Colin stretched and mulled over the situation.


    Previously, meditating six hours a day, the rate of advancement for the Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation was about two points every three days, or one point every two days.


    Now he had made the meditation more complex, extending the time to twelve hours, the rate of progress in meditation surged to three points a day, a 3 to 5 times improvement over the previous rate.


    Though it didn''t compare to the dozens of times difference between practicing the Blood Pattern Transformation Skill on rabbits versus humans.


    The rate of advancement was still remarkably impressive!


    He felt as if he was on the verge of grasping the deeper rules behind the Golden Paper.


    "Practice leads to improvement," he murmured while caressing the smooth surface of the metal pocket watch in his hand.


    Casting witchcraft, the complete process involved the spirit mobilizing Magic Power to cast spells.


    Meditation, at its core, was using the spirit to draw Magic Power into the body until reaching the daily limit.


    In common understanding¡ª


    Casting witchcraft: No matter how complex the process or how Magic Power is manipulated, as long as it''s done with full effort, the Magic Power consumed is the same and unchanging. The resulting effects are fundamentally the same as well.


    And meditation: Similarly, no matter how complex the process or how the spirit is used to draw Magic Power into the body, the daily limit doesn''t change; this limit is only related to the Meditation Method and personal aptitude.


    It''s like walking, no matter how complicated the process is, it''s still just walking from A to B.


    But now it seems, the Golden Paper isn''t judging practice simply by the A to B metric as commonly understood, but is instead measuring the entirety of the process more intricately...


    ''In that case...'' Colin pocketed the watch with a faint smile.


    This not only meant that he had found a more efficient way to practice... but also, the greatest constraint limiting his practice had been effortlessly removed!


    The constraint was mainly on meditation.


    Previously, the limit of his daily meditation was only six hours.


    But now, by making meditation more complex and reducing its efficiency, he could extend its duration to twelve hours, or even longer!


    Normally, no sane wizard would do this.


    After all, even though the duration of meditation increased, it came at the cost of efficiency, and the Magic Power gained ultimately remained the same, just with an unnecessary expenditure of energy.


    But for Colin, this method, while not changing the rate of Wizard Rank increase, greatly enhanced the speed of the Circulation Meditation''s advancement.


    And the progress of the Circulation Meditation, especially breaking through limits, would in turn further increase the rate at which his Wizard Rank advanced!


    Thus, unlike for other wizards, this practice that seemed to waste energy was, for him, a shortcut!


    Realizing this, Colin decided to go into seclusion.


    After all, he couldn''t afford the knowledge he sought to advance to an Official Wizard, and he had nothing else he wanted to buy.


    So, it was just as well that he skipped the city''s market!


    ...


    Time flew by, and another five days had passed.


    Today marked the sixth day since the arrival of the Black Pearl Trading Company; the day after tomorrow at dawn, they were set to set sail again.


    In fact, as early as four days ago, the Black Pearl Trading Company had already replenished their long-voyage supplies from the island and were ready to leave.


    On Palm Street, the highest terrain of the wealthy area.


    It was just dawn.


    In the master bedroom of a grey and white two-story villa, Colin opened his eyes in the Meditation Room, and without hesitation, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    Light golden particles gathered.


    On that translucent Golden Paper¡ª


    A dim arrow symbol ¡ü slowly appeared next to the Apprentice Circulation Meditation I!


    This meant he could break through the limit again!


    Colin stood up contentedly, limbering up, a smile he couldn''t suppress played on his lips.


    For four days, he had made the meditation process for the Circulation Meditation as complicated as possible to decrease the efficiency and extend the duration of meditation.


    Initially meditating for 12 hours, but later even 16 to 18 hours became doable; had he not had other matters to attend to, he could have even extended it further.


    And such extensions once again accelerated the progress of the Circulation Meditation; just five days, one day sooner than the minimum six days he had anticipated, he had successfully brought the Circulation Meditation to its limit.

 Chapter 78 - 75: Consecutive Breakthroughs (4.7k)_3

    The purse had already been placed on the small table beside him, Colin gently exhaled and began to convert the Limit Breaking Points.


    On the Golden Paper, characters began to fluctuate following the Limit Breaking Point.


    In an instant, they reached one hundred.


    At the same time, the previously dim ¡ü symbol after the Circulation Meditation now suddenly emanated a circle of purple light.


    Inhale¡ª


    Focusing his mind, Colin softly inhaled, no longer hesitating, and firmly tapped the ¡ü symbol.


    This was accompanied by the influx of countless pieces of knowledge.


    The purple ¡ü symbol after the Circulation Meditation suddenly quivered, then cracked, spreading like ink into water toward the neighboring characters.


    The originally light blue [Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation I (100/100)] was instantly dyed an enchanting purple, its content gradually blurring,


    and finally fixed as¡ª[Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation II (0/100)]!


    Seeing this dazzling and enchanting purple, Colin couldn''t help but feel reinvigorated, the tiredness from the long days of continuous meditation seeming to dissipate a bit.


    But this was just an illusion; after leaving the master bedroom and having breakfast, he went straight to sleep.


    However, he had not slept long when Renee woke him up.


    "You''re saying a guard came to notify me to head to the Patrol Department, saying it was summoned by Captain Flower?"


    Colin got out of bed, uncovering the blankets, with scarcely a trace of drowsiness, as his body was not tired, merely his spirit somewhat weary from the long, dull meditation.


    Having rested briefly, he had already recovered. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, master," Renee brought him his Wizard Robe, adding, "The guard said that all the wizards at the Patrol Department were summoned."


    Colin nodded, putting on his Wizard Robe and going downstairs.


    Under Renee''s instructions, the Coachman Arthur had already prepared the carriage, waiting for him in the yard.


    But at that moment, the courtyard door was knocked.


    Renee went to open it, and to her surprise, it was Luke.


    "Good morning, Colin," Luke greeted him, observing Colin''s readiness and said, "It seems you also received the guard''s notification."


    "Good morning, Luke," Colin replied, his expression somewhat puzzled, "You''re here to..."


    "I came to ask you to join us on the way to the Patrol Department," Luke volunteered an explanation.


    "Ms. Regina has advanced to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice and has been appointed as the deputy team leader of the Patrol Department by the School, becoming our immediate superior.


    Captain Flower might have summoned all members probably to announce Ms. Regina''s appointment as the deputy leader."


    Colin nodded, his expression still slightly puzzled.


    Luke then chuckled, confessing candidly, "I won''t lie to you, there is indeed something I need from you."


    "Previously, due to some issues, we had some discrepancies with Ms. Regina''s group, and since you had a good relationship with her, I wanted to ask for your help."


    Colin remained impassive, but inwardly he frowned.


    ''This matter... is not easy to handle.''


    "Don''t worry, you won''t be taking any risk," Luke added.


    "After advancing, Ms. Regina hardly pays us any mind, but her former peers, on one hand, bully us by leveraging her influence behind the scenes, and on the other hand, they also obstruct us from meeting Ms. Regina."


    Saying this, Luke sighed.


    He had thought that these apprentices from the mountain patrol team wouldn''t stay down in the valley long, as Blackstone City was still their turf.


    He had also thought that after Regina''s advancement, she wouldn''t hold her position at the Patrol Department anymore but would return to cultivate within the Wizard Territory.


    After all, that''s how the School works: talented apprentices only need to focus on their cultivation, while less gifted ones like them had to handle various miscellaneous tasks.


    But unexpectedly, after her advancement, Regina not only stayed at the Patrol Department but was also appointed as its deputy leader!


    "Of course, we won''t let you go unrewarded," he continued as he looked at Colin, "A hundred Magic Stones! Just to pass a message to Ms. Regina."


    After speaking, he stood silently watching Colin.


    For a moment, the only sounds in the yard were the whispering breeze and the snorting of the nearby black horse.


    After pondering for a long while,


    "Sorry, Luke..."


    Colin still refused Luke.


    The luring figure of a hundred Magic Stones was only an awkward amount to him.


    In the long run, this hundred Magic Stones wouldn''t compare to the profit he''d make from crafting Bright Crystals in a month.


    And in the short term, these hundred Magic Stones weren''t much use to him, neither allowing him to undergo the Middle Strong Life Limit Breaking nor affording him the knowledge to advance to an Official Wizard, which was worth at least three hundred fifty Magic Stones.


    Besides, he didn''t owe Luke any favors.


    He had fully compensated for the Blood Pattern Transformation Skill before.


    Although they were acquaintances, their relationship hadn''t reached a level that would justify taking this risk.


    Furthermore, the information he currently had was solely from Luke''s perspective; he didn''t know what Regina truly thought about the matter, nor the reasons for the conflict between Luke and her group...


    Seeing that Colin hadn''t agreed, Luke sighed but didn''t say much else; instead, he even mustered a smile, reassuring Colin that there was no need to apologize.


    Then, they boarded their respective carriages and headed for the Patrol Department.

 Chapter 79 - 76: Keeping Distance

    Sigh~


    The carriage came to a stop, and Colin and Luke disembarked, exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and walked together toward the entrance of the Patrol Department.


    Pushing open the gate, the large hall with its antique decorations saw many people already seated at the long brown table in the center.


    Upon seeing Luke and Colin enter together, a look of joy couldn''t help but appear on Carrie and the others'' faces.


    Carrie watched Luke approach slowly and asked with an inquiring look, "Did he agree?"


    Luke shook his head and took a seat beside Carrie and the others.


    Colin, however, chose a spot near the corner to sit down.


    "What do you mean?" The joy on Carrie''s face disappeared as she frowned and asked, "Colin didn''t agree?"


    "Luke, what exactly happened?" Joseph couldn''t help but ask with confusion.


    "Colin didn''t agree," Luke shook his head and didn''t elaborate further, simply stating calmly.


    "Didn''t agree?" Joseph was surprised, "But that''s a hundred Magic Stones! Isn''t he tempted at all?"


    Luke remained silent, shaking his head.


    "I really misjudged him!" Carrie''s brows furrowed even tighter as she cursed through clenched teeth, fixing her glare on Luke before continuing, "And you even helped him find the Transformation Technique before... I can''t believe he won''t even do this small favor now!"


    After speaking, she turned her head to stare fiercely at Colin, who was now looking through documents with his head down not far away.


    Feeling her gaze, Colin looked up and saw Luke and the others, understanding their thoughts.


    He didn''t care and continued reading the documents.


    Joseph, who hadn''t initially felt anything was amiss, began to look more and more solemn and somewhat indignant after hearing Carrie''s words.


    ''This Colin, really is no good!''


    But Luke''s brows furrowed slightly, he paused for a moment then said in a low voice,


    "I found the Transformation Technique for him, but only after receiving payment. Colin owes me nothing!"


    Carrie''s expression stalled, then she hastily added, "But you''re at least friends with him, friends help each other with these small matters... Luke, you got him wrong!"


    Luke''s brows furrowed deeply, then relaxed. He turned to calmly look at Carrie and said in a stern voice, "Is that really what you think, Carrie?"


    "I think Carrie has a point, Luke," added Joseph from the side.


    Luke glanced at Carrie, Joseph, and a few other familiar apprentices nearby.


    Some had calm expressions, some were just curious listeners, but most were like Joseph, looking at him with questioning and annoyed eyes.


    "First of all, though my relationship with him is not bad, it''s not particularly good either; we''re not close friends... At best, we''re just acquaintances," Luke explained in an even tone,


    "Secondly, this is not a ''small favor''!


    ¡­If it were a small favor, would you be willing to offer those hundred Magic Stones?"


    "While we might optimistically estimate that Regina the Great might have plenty and not mind us, the truth is we have no idea what Regina really thinks!"


    "Even if Regina doesn''t mind us, would her friends be as generous as she is?


    ¡­How many benefits did we snatch from them in the past?"


    "I don''t need to elaborate on the risks involved, do I?"


    Having said this, Luke added another line:


    "¡­To expect help as an entitlement, and to hold a grudge when it''s not offered..."


    He shook his head and said no more.


    He had said enough. Those who could understand would have understood by now; those who couldn''t, wouldn''t get it no matter how much more he explained...


    Moreover, this was the perfect opportunity to judge who was still worth interacting with!


    Carrie still looked somewhat dissatisfied as if she wanted to retort.


    On the other hand, Joseph''s anger had subsided. He frowned slightly, pondering to himself.


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    At that moment, Flower descended the spiral staircase, his large frame causing the stairs to creak.


    Following him was Regina, still with a pale, indifferent complexion, and the black cat that was always by her side was nowhere to be seen.


    "Captain Flower..."


    "Great Lady Regina."


    The crowd greeted respectfully.


    Flower sat down at the head of the long table, with Regina sitting beside him.


    "I''m sure some of you already know," Flower began, sweeping his gaze around the room. Your information is correct, "Wizard Regina has indeed successfully advanced to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice and has also been appointed deputy captain of the Patrol Department by Lord Red Flame!"


    "I''ve called you all here today to announce this matter."


    The wizards nodded in unison.


    Flower paused for a moment, then added, "Aside from that, there are two more things I need to remind everyone about."


    "Recently, the Black Pearl Trading Company has arrived, bringing many unfamiliar wizards to the island, and some friction is inevitable."


    "Two days ago, an Intermediate Apprentice from the Chiwen Gang clashed with an apprentice from the trading company at the Giant Axe Tavern, and I believe some of you are already aware of the outcome.


    Let me briefly summarize: the end result was that the Chiwen Gang unilaterally compensated the Black Pearl Trading Company a hefty sum, and that apprentice, not only severely injured, was also expelled and banished by the Chiwen Gang, and is now... missing."


    Colin''s ears twitched slightly as he heard someone whispering nearby.


    "...Where else could he have gone if not taken aboard their ship?"


    "Alas, an unwarranted disaster... I knew that apprentice, he was only targeted by the trading company''s apprentice because of the beautiful dancer with him..." someone else added.


    "I remind you all, the Black Pearl Trading Company will leave the day after tomorrow, in just two days. Try to avoid any conflicts with them as much as possible."


    At this point, Flower paused slightly, and the whispering next to Colin ceased.


    Flower looked around at all the wizards present and continued:


    "Of course, I''m simply saying not to actively cause trouble. But there''s no need to be afraid either! After all, we are the Lap School, not some Chiwen Gang!"


    "...If there really is a conflict, Teacher Lap will stand up for us!"


    Pride flashed across Flower''s face, and all the apprentices present basked in reflected glory.


    Colin too showed a proud expression, yet his heart remained undisturbed, like an ancient well.


    Perhaps it was because he had traversed from another world, not having grown up in the School since childhood, and the original host''s memories were more like a database.


    So, although he respected and revered Wizard Lap, and felt a sense of identity and gratitude to the School, he did not share the same level of respect and identification as the School members.


    The power of Wizard Lap was just that, Wizard Lap''s power; the prestige of the School was also just that belonging to Wizard Lap.


    It was not theirs, and even less so, his...


    Following this, Flower droned on for a bit more before announcing the meeting''s end. He then walked with heavy steps back to his office on the second floor.


    Regina, in contrast, was escorted by another group of wizards towards the exit.


    "Let''s go."


    Seeing this, Luke prepared to stand and follow.


    Carrie, on the other hand, coldly jeered, "Don''t bother wasting your effort. How many times have we tried? To hit a wall again?"


    Luke hesitated briefly but said nothing, continuing to walk towards Regina.


    "If you ask me, going to ask ''Colin'' to mediate for us is the best course!" Carrie looked at the other apprentices nearby and added softly, emphasizing the word "ask."


    She had never changed her mind; this matter was clearly trivial for Colin!


    His relationship with Regina used to be so good, what risks could there be?


    Furthermore... even if there were risks, they would be minor.


    But what about them? They were oppressed daily by Regina''s sycophants, all their rightful resources were snatched away!


    They were the real victims, and besides, they did offer compensation for Colin to intervene. Why wouldn''t he help?


    A flicker of realization crossed Carrie''s eyes, ultimately because¡ª


    ''Colin is just a cold-hearted bastard!'' S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Joseph heard Carrie''s words and for some reason felt a chill in his heart. He silently hastened away, catching up with Luke who was not far ahead.


    At least half of the apprentices made the same choice as him, yet there remained some who stayed back, their faces showing an indescribable expression.


    Elsewhere,


    Colin was already in the carriage, hurrying home.


    The words of Flower did not provide him with any additional sense of security but instead dulled the joy he felt upon breaking through to become an Ultimate Knight.


    The fate of the Chiwen Gang apprentice made him acutely aware¡ª


    ''The current stability of life, although seemingly solid... in fact, entirely relies on Wizard Lap alone.''


    ''If one day Wizard Lap...''


    The breeze lifted the curtain of the carriage window. He shook his head, not wanting to think further.

 Chapter 80 - 77 Purchase

    The next day.


    Colin once again took a carriage to the eastern harbor and arrived at the ship market.


    He was ready to sell the collection of Shadow Capture Crystals he had accumulated over the past month''s practice to Gibson.


    Gibson was the merchant from the Black Pearl Fleet who purchased witchcraft crystals,


    and today was the last day their caravan would stay. By dawn tomorrow, as soon as the sun rose, they would set sail for the next destination.


    Although it was the last day, the comings and goings of wizards were still incessant.


    Without lingering, Colin made his way familiarly to Gibson''s shop.


    "Shadow Capture Crystals... that''s it?" Gibson looked up with a hint of disdain.


    Colin nodded and said, "I haven''t been learning long, so the success rate isn''t high."


    "Alright then." Gibson packed up the twenty-five Shadow Capture Crystals on the table and handed Colin five magic stones.


    "Where''s your next stop after you leave Blackstone Island?" Colin asked as he took the magic stones.


    "Why, do you want to come with us... do you have enough money?" Gibson chuckled, paused, and then added,


    "Our next stop is Aman Island, which is bigger than Blackstone Island, but not by much."


    "Are sea maps for sale in the ship market?" Colin nodded as he put away the magic stones and tentatively asked.


    "As long as you have magic stones, there''s nothing you can''t get here," Gibson said. "If you want to buy a sea map, you can get an ordinary one at the central Black Pearl shop... of course, just a regular sea map, and the price is cheap."


    "Hmm." Colin''s expression remained calm, and after a moment, he continued, "How about you? Do you have sea maps, and how much are they?"


    Gibson was taken aback and laughed in slight surprise, "You do have some brains, I indeed have sea maps. If you want one, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement, and I can sell it to you... Of course, it won''t be cheap.


    After all, this isn''t the kind of ordinary sea map meant to deceive that you find on the market. It''s drawn from my many years of careful collection; the information on it is at least ten times more than what you''d find on ordinary market maps!"


    "So how much?"


    "Fifty magic stones, non-negotiable."


    "Deal," Colin calmly replied, pouring out fifty magic stones from his pouch.


    In fact, he had already inquired about sea maps at the Black Pearl bookstore yesterday, where the clerk listed three prices from low to high: five magic stones, two hundred magic stones, and five hundred magic stones.


    The clerk explained that with higher prices, the maps contained more information.


    This was clearly a common tactic, one that merchants on Earth had overused, setting two prices that defied common sense among similar products, one low and one high.


    In reality, the goal was to get customers to buy the mid-priced item.


    So he chose the cheapest version for five magic stones, which wasn''t much for him anyway.


    Moreover... he couldn''t afford the more expensive versions either...


    As for the content of the sea map, it was only worth its price.


    However, to navigate safely on the sea, such a map was obviously insufficient, which is why he suddenly had the idea to inquire with Gibson and see if he could buy a better one.


    Seeing Colin agree so readily, Gibson felt an inexplicable sense of loss during the transaction, albeit reluctantly.


    After obtaining the thick sea map, Colin opened it and silently compared it to the one worth five magic stones he had bought the day before.


    "It''s definitely much better than the ordinary sea maps you buy in the market, you''re not at a loss!" Gibson said sullenly upon seeing this.


    "Thank you."


    Colin packed up the sea map, smiled at Gibson, and said nothing more to provoke him.


    Just from a cursory glance at this sea map, it was worth the fifty magic stones he had spent,


    The information on it didn''t just exceed that of the five-magic-stone map by ten times - it was probably more than twenty times!


    The map not only marked countless islands both large and small, but it also included simple descriptions of local customs and additional records of various kinds of information for a large part of them.


    Additionally, the sea was divided into many areas, each recorded with related information, detailing where dangers lurked and what to watch out for...


    Although not very detailed or perfect, the price of fifty Magic Stones was already a bargain!


    After bidding farewell to Gibson, Colin visited the Black Pearl Bookstore again.


    The clerk''s eyes lit up when she saw him approaching and she greeted him warmly.


    "Sir, have you collected the Magic Stones?" she asked with a beaming smile, "The knowledge for advancing to an Official Wizard is still reserved for you."


    Colin shook his head; his purpose for coming here was clear.


    "Do you have any literature on advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice? The outline type," he asked slowly.


    Yesterday morning, he had successfully broken through the Circulation Meditation for the second time.


    That evening, as usual, he practiced his daily meditation, eagerly anticipating the effects of the second breakthrough.


    This morning upon checking the Golden Paper, he was not disappointed!


    His Rank as an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice had risen by two points, meaning that in just over two more months, he could advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice!


    Although he had studied this knowledge at the School, to be cautious, he wanted to acquire more information and cross-check it.


    He had not overlooked the pale and pitiful state of Regina after she had advanced to an Advanced Apprentice.


    "We do have it. It comes as a set along with the knowledge for advancing to an Official Wizard," the clerk paused, then promptly replied, "Actually, we have knowledge for advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, an Official Wizard, as well as for starting as a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice and advancing to an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice."


    "This knowledge is a complete set, including summaries and detailed versions with Meditation Methods."


    With that, she flashed a sweet smile and said, "If you buy all these together, we can offer you a ten percent discount. The same discount applies whether you buy all the summaries or all the detailed versions... With these, you could even establish a complete School¡­"


    "No need," Colin quickly interrupted the clerk, "How much for the Advanced Wizard Apprentice advancement knowledge?"


    "Fifty Magic Stones, no bargaining."


    "Alright, I''ll take one," Colin said, pulling out Magic Stones while preemptively stopping any further sales pitch, "This is all I need, no need to introduce anything else."


    "Very well, sir."


    ...


    After leaving the Black Pearl Bookstore, it was not yet noon, but he had lost the interest to continue browsing the ship market.


    So he directly disembarked the ship and took a carriage back to his home.


    "Go!"


    Arthur cracked the whip, and the glossy black horse neighed, swiftly pulling the black carriage forward.


    Colin sat in the carriage, eager to open the outline for advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice that he had just purchased from the Black Pearl Bookstore.


    The outline was a black-covered booklet with several large white characters on the front ¡ª "Summary of Advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice."


    Other than that, there were no other characters; it looked like a pirated book from a street stall on Earth.


    The booklet was not thick, and by the time he reached Palm Street about an hour later, Colin was almost done reading it thoroughly.


    Sigh¡ª


    The carriage gradually came to a stop in the yard, and Colin took his eyes off the booklet, exhaling softly, he carefully tucked it away, and stepped out of the carriage.


    "My lord," Renee stood outside the carriage, ready to meet him.


    Colin nodded slightly, quickly walking toward the house.


    Although the booklet was not long, it was concise and to the point, every word was enlightening... Fifty Magic Stones well spent!


    He was eager to return to the Meditation Room to read it in detail again! S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he pushed open the door,


    he heard Renee, who had just greeted him, seemed to be instructing her sister Demi at the side.


    "...Demi, don''t go far to play recently, it''s dangerous outside, be obedient..."


    Colin paused ever so slightly but didn''t stop, walking quickly to the Meditation Room.

 Chapter 81 - 78: Rumors

    Colin returned to the Meditation Room and activated the Bright Crystal with a spell.


    Previously, the original owner had spent ten years in the Wizard Territory in the mountains.


    Although not naturally gifted, he was very diligent.


    He had managed to firmly remember a lot of knowledge, even though he only understood it superficially due to his limited talents.


    The same went for the knowledge related to advancing to an Advanced Apprentice.


    Though it was merely rote memorization, he had a comprehensive understanding of it.


    Indeed, this strength is what makes a School-trained wizard powerful!


    The original owner did not learn any powerful witchcraft during his ten years in the Wizard Territory.


    However, he laid down a foundation that, although not perfect, was at least solid and reliable!


    This solid foundation of basic knowledge, and the advanced knowledge that followed, formed the mainstay of the wizard system.


    Arrow Shooting Skill, Blood Pattern Transformation Skill, Magic Crystal Making, and so forth were merely the blossoms and fruits that sprang from it.


    The Bright Crystal illuminated, casting a soft White Light.


    Colin sat on the soft cushion in the center of the Meditation Room, continuing to flip through the summary booklet.


    He had complete knowledge about advancing to an Advanced Apprentice, specifically tailored to the Circulation Meditation, imparted by his School.


    The summary booklet, on the other hand, was a summarizing generalization of various meditation methods for Advanced Apprentices.


    Comparing and cross-verifying these two helped him gradually clarify the fuzzy points within his mind.


    Three hours later, he read through the summary booklet again, this time with careful scrutiny, jotting down many notes on Golden Paper.


    After finishing this reading, he still felt it was not enough and started again from the first page.


    A solid foundation was extremely important.


    With the help of the Golden Paper, his advancement speed, though perhaps not as monstrous as some legends, could still be considered far beyond an ordinary person.


    The superficial reason was that the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation was of a higher quality than the original Circulation Meditation.


    Moreover, the post-limit-breaking Circulation Meditation was completely tailored for him.


    However, another factor must be considered¡ªthe powerful effect of the Golden Paper''s "guaranteed progress with every practice."


    Thus, at its root, the real reason he was able to improve so quickly¡ª


    Was likely due to the powerful synergy between the exceptional meditation method tailored specifically for him and the remarkable effects of the Golden Paper, creating a result where one plus one was greater than two!


    However, in the cultivation of a wizard, speed is not always paramount.


    Especially after reaching the Intermediate Apprentice level.


    It''s not that speed isn''t needed, but at this time, what''s more necessary is solidity!


    Only by maintaining a solid understanding of knowledge and a continuous adherence to one''s own humanity can one remain unshaken and unpolluted when facing the world''s pervasive tainted babblings after the Spirit Fog dissipates!


    Time flew by, and dusk enveloped everything.


    In the evening in the Meditation Room, Colin gently exhaled and closed the summary booklet.


    By his side were neatly arranged manuscripts filled with dense annotations.


    Colin summoned the Golden Paper.


    At that moment, his wizard Rank progress was 12/100, and the progress for his second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation was 0/100.


    After synthesizing the summary booklet and the School''s knowledge for advancing to an Advanced Apprentice, he had gained much.


    Overall, at the current moment, before advancing to an Advanced Wizard, the most important thing he needed to do was to thoroughly master the current meditation method!


    For him, that meant increasing the progress of the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation to 100/100 first.


    Colin sighed slightly in his mind.


    ''It seems, perhaps the time it takes to advance isn''t as short as I imagined, just over two more months¡­


    If I want to ensure a stable advancement, I should wait until the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation reaches its limit before advancing...''


    He glanced at the Golden Paper again.


    He pondered over the arrangement of his upcoming training.


    "His own witchcraft skills had already broken limits once. Only Purification Evil Power, Detect Evil, and Swift Skill had not."


    "Among them, Purification Evil Power and Detect Evil were not far from reaching their limits, and he estimated that they would break limits within the next couple of days.


    However, the progress of the remaining Swift Skill was only at 31/100, and he couldn''t even cast it instantly."


    "Additionally, from the results of last night''s meditation, although he had extended his meditation duration to ten hours, the progress of the Circulation Meditation Method for the second Limit Breaking was still at zero."


    Colin unconsciously caressed the summary booklet in his hands.


    To expedite the progress of the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation Method to its limit, he undoubtedly needed to make the meditation process more complicated and reduce its efficiency by extending the meditation time.


    By combining these two approaches, he could perhaps achieve the limit of the Circulation Meditation Method around the same time he reached the limit of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.


    Thus, he could break through in one fell swoop!


    But undoubtedly, this would require more time and reduce the energy he could devote to other projects. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He needed to make choices, to balance the enhancement of the Meditation Method against other projects.


    Colin pondered for a long time and finally decided to ensure a minimum of fifteen hours of meditation each day. As for other witchcraft skills, he would prioritize them and enhance them sequentially.


    After all... advancing to Advanced Wizard Apprentice was equivalent to breaking limits of all witchcraft skills at once without needing Limit Breaking Points!


    Moreover, as he mastered more and more witchcraft... there were many times he felt a lack of his own Magic Power.


    So, undoubtedly, advancement needed to be the top priority!


    After pondering all this, Colin felt a sense of relief.


    The arrangements for what followed were clear and straightforward, and the numbers on the Golden Paper were improving daily... The future was filled with anticipation!


    He stepped out of the Meditation Room, and Renee was quietly waiting in the hallway.


    "Master." Renee bowed slightly and greeted, "Do you need dinner now?"


    "Bring it to the study," Colin nodded and walked towards the study.


    But soon, he seemed to remember something, his steps paused slightly, and he looked back, calling to Renee, who was descending the stairs.


    "Wait a moment, Renee, come to the study first."


    "Yes, Master."


    The study was not large, but it was exquisitely decorated; a black iron crystal chandelier emitted a soft light.


    Colin walked to the spacious desk, sat down, leaned back in his chair, and stared at Renee standing in front of him, slowly asking:


    "I heard you instructing Demi... Has something happened recently?"


    Renee paused, then began to explain slowly.


    ¡­


    After a while, Colin nodded slightly.


    "I see, you can go bring the meals now."


    "Yes, Master."


    Renee turned and left,


    Colin leaned back in his chair and briefly closed his eyes to rest.


    The reason Renee had instructed Demi wasn''t something significant.


    It was just because of the rumors circulating in the slum area recently... rumors about some civilians disappearing mysteriously.


    Colin''s furrowed brow slightly relaxed,


    ''Rumors from the slum area, huh¡­''


    He wasn''t very concerned,


    After all, even Renee knew about this rumor; if there were any signs behind it, the Patrol Department would definitely have noticed.


    ''However,'' he pressed on his brow,


    ''Just to be cautious, tomorrow morning¡­ it''s better to visit Captain Flower at the Patrol Department.''

 Chapter 82 - 79: Rejection

    On the next day, at the first light of dawn.


    Just as dawn broke above the horizon.


    Whoo-


    At the eastern dock by the sea, the Black Pearl Fleet set sail, its steam whistle bellowing!


    Clip-clop, clip-clop~


    On a street paved with black stones located exactly opposite in West City.


    Black hooves shattered the cool, thin fog of the early morning, pulling a black carriage that sped by, eventually stopping at the grey-black entrance of the Patrol Department.


    Colin stepped out of the coach, casting a wistful glance towards the east.


    ''That sound of the steam whistle... must mean the merchant fleet has already set sail.


    It will be half a year before they return...''


    He withdrew his gaze and pushed open the door to enter the Patrol Department.


    "Good morning... Luke." After entering, he paused slightly, greeting Luke with some surprise.


    He hadn''t expected Luke to be on duty today.


    "Good morning." Luke greeted back with a smile, also a bit surprised.


    Colin nodded slightly in acknowledgment and continued inside, ascending the spiral staircase to the second floor where Flower''s office was located.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    "Come in." Flower''s steady voice came from within.


    Colin pushed the door and entered.


    "Colin, have you come with a matter to discuss?" Flower asked.


    Colin approached the desk and slowly began to speak,


    relaying the rumors he had heard from Renee the day before to Flower.


    "Hmm, I see." Flower nodded slightly, his expression unreadable.


    Colin waited for a moment, and seeing that he remained silent, took the initiative to take his leave:


    "Captain Flower, then I will take my leave."


    Flower nodded again, and as Colin turned to walk towards the door, Flower suddenly said:


    "Don''t worry, Colin. You just need to focus on your work.


    No need to overthink, and don''t spread the word... The higher-ups have already noticed these traces,"


    Colin paused in his steps and replied softly:


    "Yes, Captain Flower."


    Perhaps due to Flower''s heavy frame constantly traversing it, the once sturdy spiral staircase now always creaked under burden whenever walked upon.


    Colin descended the stairs one by one, his expression serene.


    ''I might just be too anxious for nothing...


    The Lap School has stood on this island for sixty years, weathering all storms without falling... It''s surely not just luck!''


    ''The Patrol Department... They must have been aware of these rumors.''


    Colin shook his head.


    "...It was good to ask."


    "After all, being cautious at most wastes some effort, but relying on luck, one never knows what they might lose..."


    "Colin."


    As he crossed the hall, preparing to leave, Luke suddenly called out to him.


    In his puzzled look, Luke took him aside, away from the other attending apprentices, to a corner with a sofa facing each other.


    "What is it, Luke?" Colin asked first after sitting down.


    "There''s something I wanted to tell you," Luke said with a smile, then continued, "It''s just a small matter."


    He completely recounted Carrie''s issue to Colin.


    Although he hadn''t contacted Carrie since the meeting, he knew she still harbored some thoughts.


    Previously, he and Carrie''s group had stood together.


    But now, he had already conceded most of his interests, capitulating to those people, and extricated himself from the vortex.


    So, to avoid any misunderstanding by Colin and to keep himself out of yet another whirlpool, it was natural for him to give Colin a heads-up and distance himself from the matter.


    "I understand."


    Colin nodded slightly after listening, his face calm.


    Since he had dueled Barney and displayed his strength, he hadn''t encountered these troublesome issues for a long time.


    But with the world being so vast and full of people, there would always be some fools... He understood that.


    Colin stood up to say goodbye and headed towards the exit.


    He got back into the coach, and within minutes, he was home.


    But before he could get off, he noticed several carriages parked at his doorstep.


    Considering Luke''s words, his eyebrows furrowed.


    Without a doubt, there must be unwelcome visitors!


    ...


    Half an hour later, in the second-floor reception room.


    "I understand your purpose for coming here..." Colin surveyed Carrie and the others before him, then shook his head, saying in a deep voice:


    "But I am sorry, I cannot grant your request. Please leave."


    He rose to escort the guests out.


    Time was the most precious commodity for him.


    If it weren''t for not wanting to be too disagreeable, he wouldn''t bother spending time dealing with Carrie and others.


    "Are you really not considering it, Colin?" Carrie didn''t get up but frowned and asked.


    Since returning from the Patrol Department the day before yesterday, her temper had gradually subsided.


    Although she still resented Colin for not willing to help and looked down on his petty attitude,


    she also understood that, as fellow School members, they wouldn''t go so far as to come to blows over such matters... She was no fool.


    ...At most, she''d create some hurdles for him behind the scenes.


    Right now, the urgent task at hand was to figure out a way to persuade Colin.


    Within the Schools, the hierarchy was strict.


    They were on a completely different level compared to an Advanced Apprentice in terms of status.


    If the Advanced Apprentice didn''t mind the difference, they could exchange a few words or even socialize normally.


    But if the Advanced Apprentice did care, like how Regina for some reason didn''t want to deal with them this time,


    they were utterly powerless.


    It was like a junior employee trying to casually discuss business with a manager.


    Without personal connections or someone to introduce them, how could they possibly have that conversation if the manager was unwilling?


    If they didn''t want to give up their own interests, the best method was to find someone like Colin, who had connections with the "manager", to act as an intermediary!


    So she stayed behind with the other Apprentices to discuss how to persuade Colin, yet by the evening, they still hadn''t come up with a suitable plan.


    Some suggested using direct threats of violence...


    Clearly, that was out of the question, even the person who brought it up felt it was inappropriate upon saying it.


    Not to mention the formidable strength Colin displayed when he killed Barney,


    just the mere fact of his friendly relation with Regina already prevented them from resorting to violence.


    Otherwise, were they there to ask Colin to speak well of them to Regina, or to further offend her?


    Others suggested kidnapping Colin''s maid...


    No one even acknowledged that suggestion as it was spoken!


    Forget about a maid, not even a lover would be able to threaten a Wizard!


    "My acquaintance with Regina is indeed not as close as you imagine. Please, leave," Colin stated calmly, emphasizing once again.


    The Patrol Department, as the largest forceful institution in Blackstone City, naturally involved numerous interests.


    Not to mention anything else, the mere tributes from the Gangs could grant the Patrol Department''s Wizards an income far exceeding their monthly salaries.


    It was exactly these interests that Luke and the others were competing for with Regina''s group.


    Logically, he should have been able to share in these benefits.


    But, there''s no such thing as a free lunch!


    If it had been the Guard Station before, it would have been fine since everyone was from the Schools at the foot of the mountain, and there wasn''t much conflict over the distribution of benefits. He would have been happy to take a share.


    But now, with the sudden establishment of the Patrol Department to replace the Guard Station, and the influx of Patrol Team Wizards from up the mountain,


    there was already a disdainful relationship between the two groups from the mountain and its base. Now with interests at stake, the conflicts were undoubtedly greater.


    In such a setting, how could he expect a share without taking sides?


    Moreover, unlike other situations, within the Patrol Department, as long as he didn''t aim for that portion of the benefits, he could maintain complete neutrality, avoiding enmity from both groups.


    After all, without interest in the benefits, he had no conflicts of interest with either group.


    Being members of the same School, there would be no fools who would bother him.


    Additionally, how much benefit would actually end up in his hands?


    As a newcomer, he was only allocated about twenty Magic Stones per month.


    That wasn''t a small sum, but it wasn''t worth getting involved in such turmoil.


    After all, compared to Magic Stones, time and energy were what he was currently lacking the most!


    Simultaneously dealing with his duties at the Patrol Department already pained him by taking up much of his time and energy, not to mention devoting his valuable resources to these affairs!


    Carrie looked intensely at Colin for a moment, didn''t spout any harsh words, and left with the others.


    Colin watched Carrie''s retreating figure, shook his head, and didn''t mind.


    After handling Carrie''s matter, the following time became exceptionally peaceful.


    Colin could finally lead the regular and fulfilling life he wished for.


    With up to fifteen hours of meditation every day, the progress of his second Limit Breaking with the Circulation Meditation Method also rapidly advanced.


    And just like that, three months passed quickly...


    ***


    ***


    ***


    ***


    Dropping in a word several months later here, there have been changes made to some of the paid chapters after they were published. Some readers might have read the unaltered version on pirated websites, so there might be some discrepancies, logical flaws, etc.


    Well, what I mean is, please, I ask that some friends do not read the incorrect pirated version and then come to the comments section under a trainee badge to complain about problems that don''t exist...


    That''s all.


    To the readers who made it this far, you must be true fans¡ªgive a first subscription, muah! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every subscription you make is a step toward promoting a future market with more novels that suit your taste!

 Chapter 83 - 80 Urgent Mission (Please Subscribe First!!)

    Blackstone Island was already at the tail end of autumn. The days grew shorter, and the nights lengthened.


    Often, one wouldn''t notice the passage of time until the sun set and twilight enveloped all.


    For the impoverished commoners, the shortened daylight didn''t reduce their workload, forcing them to manage their time even more tightly.


    However, at this moment, it was still just the afternoon. There was still some time before night fell, so there was no need for panic.


    On Palm Street, in the courtyard of a two-story villa, a black carriage slowly came to a halt.


    Arthur put away his whip, got out of the coach, and went to the back to help Renee with the groceries they had just bought.


    Although Renee could handle it by herself, Arthur felt somewhat guilty not helping.


    Moreover, although their master treated him and Renee the same on the surface, in reality, Renee held a clearly higher position than him. He had to go through her for any expenses...


    Although she was just a maid, Renee was more like a stewardess.


    "Sister," Demi, hearing the carriage, ran out from the house, thumping along, and got ahead of Arthur to pick up a big bag of vegetables.


    "Demi, have you finished learning your letters today?" Renee asked, handing some of the vegetables to Arthur and carrying her own share as they walked.


    "I''ve learned them all; Demi is very smart!" Demi proudly lifted the bag.


    Renee smiled and freed one hand to pat her head.


    Arthur walked silently behind them.


    His expression was blank.


    Yet, if one looked closely, they might notice his once sculpture-like numb complexion from hardships had softened, not as gloomy as before.


    Approaching the door, for some reason, Arthur felt a sudden impulse, paused momentarily, and glanced around the courtyard behind him.


    His eyes saw the neatly kept lawn and several fruit trees heavy with fruit, though few flowers were blooming, enough to bring back memories of spring.


    Daily sights, constantly seen, no longer felt fresh and made it hard to notice the changes.


    But there would always be a moment when one would suddenly realize...


    Everything had changed...


    Clang.


    The door was pushed open by Renee.


    Startled, Arthur snapped back to reality, turned his head, and continued silently following them inside.


    He didn''t know how to describe his mood,


    but he did what he often did¡ªsilently praised the great master Colin in his heart!


    ... At the same time, he selfishly made a small wish,


    hoping life could continue this way and that he could always be the master''s coachman...


    After entering the house, it wasn''t long before...


    "Master," Renee slightly paused, greeting the handsome young man ahead with Demi.


    "Master," Arthur also hurriedly greeted.


    "Ah, just back from buying groceries?" Colin smiled at them, then turned to Renee, "Make dinner a bit more lavish tonight."


    Then he bent over and pinched Demi''s cheek before continuing towards the master bedroom.


    His mood was extremely good!


    For over three months... he had persevered for over three months!


    During this time, he had meditated for at least fifteen hours each day and spent the rest practicing witchcraft.


    Under such a fulfilling schedule, the passing of time seemed blurred; the three months felt as if only a day had passed!


    If not for the increasing progress marked on the Golden Paper each day and the changing scenery in the yard... he might have thought time had remained unchanged.


    But now, he could finally return to a somewhat normal routine.


    Because, S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    just moments ago, his progress in the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation had finally reached 100/100!


    And earlier, half a month ago, his Wizard Rank progress on the Golden Paper had already reached its limit!


    The rest of the witchcraft, including Image Capturing Crystal Making, had all broken limits!


    Everything was ready, just lacking advancement!


    Colin climbed the stairs.


    To be cautious, he planned to first go back to his bedroom and take a nap, waiting until he was fully energized and his spirits refreshed before making his attempt at advancement.


    Pushing open the bedroom door, he let out a breath and cleared his mind, sitting quietly by the bed for a moment.


    It didn''t take long for excitement to wane and fatigue to surge up, prompting Colin to take off his coat, getting ready to lie down.


    Knock knock knock.


    At that moment, however, there was a sudden knock on the bedroom door.


    He got up to open it, asking puzzledly,


    "What is it, Renee."


    "Master, there''s a Guard from the Patrol Department looking for you," Renee replied.


    "For what?"


    "Don''t know, master, he said he must speak to you in person," Renee shook her head.


    Colin frowned slightly, put on his coat, and followed Renee downstairs.


    In the hall, the Steel-armored Guard was already waiting quietly.


    "Lord Colin."


    Seeing him come downstairs, the Guard hurriedly approached and greeted him solemnly.


    "Ah," Colin nodded, then asked, "What happened?"


    "My lord..." The Guard looked up, glanced at Renee standing by, and hesitated.


    "Master, I''ll go prepare dinner," Renee tactfully left.


    "Ah," Colin nodded slightly, waiting for Renee to move away before turning to the Guard and speaking sternly,


    "Speak."


    The Guard bowed, then straightened up and said swiftly and clearly,


    "Lord, Lord Flower has ordered an urgent task!" He handed an envelope to Colin.


    Colin took it, flipping it over in his hands for examination.


    The envelope was a common leather paper one, brown overall with a seal stamped with a moon pattern in wax.


    The seal was intact, unbroken... and a faint magical pulsation emanated from it.

 Chapter 84 - 80 Urgent Mission (Please Subscribe!!)_2

    Colin understood clearly.


    "Master Colin, Master Flower has ordered that you check this as soon as you receive it," the guard added by his side.


    "I understand," he looked up at the guard and asked, "Is there anything else?"


    The guard shook his head, bid him farewell, and left.


    Colin returned to the study, held the envelope in his hand, and summoned a strand of the initial version of the Circulation Meditation spirit wave, touching the wax seal on the envelope.


    Hiss.


    The seal melted like butter in a hot pan, turning into a red-black liquid that was gradually absorbed by the leather envelope.


    After a while, when the leather envelope had completely absorbed the seal liquid, Colin slowly opened the envelope.


    He pulled out the letter inside and tossed it aside.


    He unfolded the envelope and smoothed it out on the desk.


    On the brown leather paper, a passage of red-black text had now appeared.


    The red-black text was brief, containing only a few keywords¡ª


    "Thorn District, second intersection, arrive covertly at six in the evening, be mindful of disguise."


    After carefully noting down the time and place, Colin burned the leather paper along with the letter he had tossed aside to ashes.


    He tapped his fingers lightly on the dark-red wooden desk, pondering silently.


    The Patrol Department used the same notification method as the former Guard Team.


    Between Master Flower and Master Red Flame, these advanced apprentices usually communicated through fixed Communication Witch Arrays.


    But for them.


    Usually, any notifications were primarily conveyed verbally by the guards or through official documents.


    Such secret messages appeared only in particularly important operations.


    Back when he was in the Guard Team, he had some understanding but had never seen one before.


    Click.


    He took out a metal pocket watch and opened it.


    It was already past four in the afternoon; there was only a little more than an hour left until the time mentioned in the secret message.


    Colin furrowed his brow slightly.


    The Thorn District was in a farther slum area, and it would take at least nearly half an hour to reach there from here. If he were to walk in disguise, it would take even longer, possibly at least an hour.


    And the tasks notified in secret messages were all extremely important¡ªif he failed to arrive on time, severe punishment would follow!


    He sighed softly, walked out of the study, and instructed Renee, who was cleaning downstairs. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No need to prepare dinner tonight, Renee. Just get me some bread now."


    "...Okay, Master," Renee blinked, looked up in response, and turned towards the kitchen.


    Colin pressed his brow.


    Time was tight. He might only be able to advance after finishing the task.


    The time required to advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice varied from person to person and according to the Meditation Method used.


    Generally speaking, it required at least half an hour.


    If he chose to advance now, it would be too rushed, and he might not perform well in either task.


    After quickly eating the bread and getting his equipment in order, he prepared to leave early.


    Walking downstairs and pushing open the door, he glanced around the yard.


    Unlike the disorder when he had just moved in, under Renee''s care, although it was not exquisite, it was at least well-organized.


    He looked at the Golden Paper in front of him, which had reached its limit with the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation, and calmed himself once again.


    ''Advancing is a serious matter, not to be rushed.


    Moreover, it''s getting late, and it will take me about an hour to get there...''


    While stepping forward, he looked up at the distant setting sun.


    The next second, as if thinking of something, he hesitated for a moment and hurriedly returned to the Meditation Room.


    Currently, with the days getting shorter and nights longer, by around five o''clock, the sun would have completely set.


    Previously, to meet the covert requirement stated in the secret message, he had planned to walk there.


    But this would make the timing very tight.


    However, if he waited until it got dark, he could use Swift Skill combined with an Ultimate Knight''s speed for a rapid sprint.


    At most twenty minutes would be needed to reach the Thorn District!


    In that case, he definitely had time to advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice first!


    *


    *


    *


    Night fell.


    It was already nearing six in the evening.


    The seabirds had returned to their nests, and the moon had not yet risen from the sea.


    The deep sky was starless and moonless, with only clouds drifting.


    "Cough~cough~cough!"


    In a low, damp hut, a sick fisherman was coughing.


    Then there was a rustling sound, seemingly too uncomfortable, he sat up in the dark, intending to find some water to drink.


    But suddenly, a shadow flashed past the window outside the hut!


    The fisherman startled, rubbing his eyes subconsciously¡­


    Swoosh!


    On the empty dark street, Colin, dressed in black, was running freely.


    The Swift Skill combined with the physical prowess of an Ultimate Knight made his speed extraordinary.


    After a while, he gradually slowed down. He was almost at the Thorn District.


    After a moment, he arrived at the location specified in the secret message, paused, and walked toward a dark corner nearby.


    There, a large group of apprentices had already gathered¡ªmany of whom had unfamiliar faces, all wearing School Badges.


    ''Could they have come down from the mountains?'' Colin speculated silently.


    However, the leader was someone familiar¡ªRegina.


    Colin greeted her silently and took his place among the apprentices in front of her.


    Compared to three months ago, Regina''s complexion had improved a lot, with a black cat quietly lying on her left shoulder.


    ''Seems to be a new black cat... not Maggie.'' Colin examined and speculated somewhat uncertainly.


    Seeing that everyone had arrived, Regina surveyed the circle of apprentices before her, slowly opened her mouth, and spoke in a low voice:

 Chapter 85 - 80: Urgent Mission (Please Subscribe First!!)_3

    "I''ll keep this brief," she said. "Within Blackstone City, devotees of the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect are lurking. They plan to summon the Evil God and destroy the island.


    Moreover, the Chiwen Gang and the Poke Gang within the city have also been beguiled by the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect, having thrown themselves into the arms of the Evil God."


    "After a thorough investigation, Wizard Lap has pinpointed the location of the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect''s ritual altar...


    Tonight, Wizard Lap will lead Lord Red Flame and these peak Apprentices to completely eradicate the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect as well as the corrupt Chiwen Gang and Poke Gang!"


    With that, she paused for a moment, allowing the Apprentices time to react.


    Colin''s face betrayed nothing, but his heart was somewhat shocked. Although Regina spoke lightly, he knew the process behind her words had been anything but simple.


    He suddenly remembered Flower''s reassuring words from three months ago.


    ...Unexpectedly, in his absence, the School had moved quietly to this extent... just waiting to eradicate them tonight.


    "Of course, the front lines are naturally not our concern," Regina continued. "Our mission this time is to guard the junctions we''re responsible for and prevent anyone from escaping!"


    She paused again, then emphasized, "Unless they''re a member of the School, if they try to flee, show no mercy, not one person must be let go!"


    Colin''s expression hardened; this undoubtedly meant that in the area they surrounded, there would likely be no survivors.


    "Next, let me assign the junctions each of you will be responsible for..." Regina went on.


    If one were to look down from the sky at this moment, they would see that under the cover of night, surrounding the Thorn Street District at its heart, there were several groups like Regina''s, formed by gathering many Wizards.


    In the next moment, these groups dispersed, breaking up into many dots that connected to form lines, encircling the entire area.


    ...


    At a certain junction,


    Colin let out a slight breath.


    Autumn nights were not as warm as those in summer, but carried a hint of chill.


    "Cough~ Cough~ Cough!"


    The nearby fisherman was still coughing, seemingly tormented by illness and unable to sleep.


    Colin, expressionless, was hidden in the shadows.


    The junction he had been assigned to was right by the shack he had passed earlier.


    A breeze whispered past, stirring his black cloak.


    If one were to ignore that bothersome coughing, the night would have been peaceful and still.


    It was not biting cold like in winter, nor sweltering like in summer... and even a bit different from spring, it carried a more dense and lingering meaning.


    Colin quietly summoned the Golden Paper, calming the faint restlessness in his heart.


    Before coming here, he had successfully Advanced.


    It took less time than he had thought, just half an hour.


    But after the breakthrough, it took him another half-hour to adapt before he could return to normal.


    "Spirit Fog... it is both an obstacle and a shelter."


    This was a line from the primer.


    Only after Advancing did he truly grasp the meaning of these words.


    Colin tucked away the Golden Paper and once again surveyed his surroundings.


    Distorted...


    Distorted¡ª


    Looking around, regardless of where, or which corner,


    ...Everywhere he looked was filled with disordered, grey-black eerie floaters.


    Upon closer inspection, one would notice these grey-black floaters writhing like living creatures... and if one looked even closer, they could glimpse countless tiny black dots, like swarms of bugs, through their semi-transparent dim glow!


    Under the influence of these grey-black impurities, the otherwise serene night took on a sinister edge.


    Colin raised his arm.


    Countless black dots were streaming towards him, but they were firmly blocked by a layer of Spiritual Light barely perceptible on his skin.


    This was the barrier formed by humanity and knowledge after Advancing to Advanced Apprentice.


    Colin looked toward the nearby shack where, at the window facing him, he could see countless impure black dots enveloping a silhouette.


    "Cough¡ªcough!" The silhouette coughed violently again.


    It seemed already gravely ill.


    But those black dots were still repelled by a faint white mist outside the person''s skin.


    That was Spirit Fog! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To some extent, facing these impure black dots, the Spirit Fog might be even more resilient than the Spiritual Light on his body.


    After all, what''s unseen remains unharmed.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and quietly continued to wait for Wizard Lap''s action to commence.


    He wasn''t concerned about these abnormalities; their duration wouldn''t last long. Depending on the individual, but generally speaking, they would fade away gradually after at most half a month.


    Afterwards, when advancing to Official Wizard, they would resurface... only by then, he would be able to freely activate or block this state at will.


    The moon gradually rose, time stealthily passed, and the fisherman ceased coughing, quietly falling asleep.


    Like a statue, Colin stood still, waiting


    Until at one moment¡ª


    Above him in the sky, there was a sight like a meteor falling!


    A blinding light burst forth!


    An indescribable orange-yellow orb suddenly descended towards a specific area!

 Chapter 86 - 81: White Crystal Necklace (Please Subscribe!!)

    Whoosh¡ª


    The entire Blackstone City lit up in an instant, not as if it were daytime, but even brighter!


    Boom!!


    Immediately following, a deafening explosion accompanied by a blast of air, fluttering Colin''s hair in front of his forehead.


    His heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly only to be released again, and he gently exhaled.


    ''The attack has begun!''


    "Ah!"


    It was at that moment, much like a droplet of water hitting a pan of hot oil, the surrounding civilians were jolted awake by the loud blast!


    From the direction of the distant flames, screams, curses, and the cries of babies rushed forth like a sudden wave!


    Hiss!


    Colin retracted his gaze and, following the plan, timely lit up the Bright Crystal provided by Regina that came with a hanging cord, jumping gracefully to hang it on a branch of the large tree behind him.


    The bright light instantly illuminated the entire intersection.


    Like a chain reaction, gentle white lights began to radiate from the intersections to his left and right.


    In an instant, a circle of light surrounded the area with the Thistle District at the center.


    Some apprentices, like him, hung their Bright Crystals up on trees; others tied them to the tops of sticks and planted them in the ground; and yet others simply hung them on their own bodies.


    Initially, Colin had thought to hang it upon himself, recalling how he had employed this tactic when he was in the Wizard Territory.


    But upon further reflection, he felt it inappropriate, as such a trick is only effective in close combat.


    In the current situation, doing so would doubtlessly signal his position to the enemy, rendering him a target.


    After hanging the Bright Crystal, his gaze flickered as he drew out a Cone Bullet and silently stepped back a few paces, blending into the shadows behind him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After he had done all this,


    The nearby civilians slowly began to come to their senses from the drastic change.


    Unlike the people near the site of the fire and explosion, they were more silent, with only the babies, naive to the ways of the world, boldly letting out loud cries, which were usually quickly soothed by their parents...


    Apart from the babies'' wailing, the rest were mostly just whispering quietly with their families.


    These voices, quiet and weak individually, collectively created a considerable din.


    Relying on his powerful vision, Colin could see many silhouettes appearing in the windows of the stacked shacks before him.


    It was the same in the nearest fisherman''s shack.


    At the dilapidated barred window, cobbled together with sticks, a middle-aged man with a weather-beaten face was peering out.


    He looked towards the bright light coming from Colin''s direction, his heart filled with alarm, even forgetting to cough.


    But after much hesitation, he still did not rashly step outside his home.


    Past experience had taught him that during times like these, leaving the house was the worst possible choice... although staying at home wasn''t much better.


    But... this was the only choice he had,


    ...He could only choose to believe that the omnipotent wizards would resolve the danger as they had done before.


    After all, Blackstone Island was just a small island; if any great danger really were to occur, there was nowhere he could flee to... the seas were even more dangerous.


    If it was a minor danger, as long as it didn''t spread to his area, then he certainly should not go running around.


    Blackstone City had a night curfew.


    As an ordinary person, when night fell,


    If he still wandered around the city, encountering patrolling guards or wizards... even if he didn''t die, it wouldn''t end well.


    Risking running to the city outskirts was even more dangerous... Meeting demons meant a certain death; encountering the supernatural, certain death; confronting wandering spirits, certain death; coming upon fierce beasts, still, certain death!


    As an ordinary person, they were simply too weak, and without the protection of wizards, they were but candles in the wind, soon to be extinguished.


    Colin retracted his gaze, paying no further mind to those shadows by the windows, and turned his head to quietly observe the streets.


    His main concern was the cultists and gang members who would soon be dispersing from the main battleground.


    According to Regina, the Peak Apprentices like Red Flame would try to intercept the Intermediate and Advanced Apprentices on the main battleground.


    This meant that they needed to deal primarily with enemies at the Intermediate level and below.


    Of course, since it was hard to determine a wizard''s Rank before the Spirit Fog dissipated, under normal circumstances, it was difficult to discern between Intermediate and Basic Level Apprentices.


    And to accurately judge the realm of Intermediate Level Apprentices and above, one would only be able to do so in the "Super Sensory" state he was now in.


    Meaning, only Lap the Wizard had the capability to accurately assess the specific realms of Intermediate Level wizards and above.


    The other apprentices, like Red Flame, primarily estimated an enemy''s realm through the intensity of the witchcraft they employed.


    Therefore, it was likely that with Wizard Lap''s assistance, the Advanced Apprentices would hardly slip through.


    But it was highly probable that several Intermediate Apprentices would still slip by.


    Should he encounter such situations or find himself facing an enemy he couldn''t handle, it would be time for him to use the signal flares hanging at his waist.


    The Advanced Wizard Apprentices, with relatively weaker abilities like Regina, had been waiting behind them, ready to come to their aid as soon as they saw the signal.


    Hum¡ª


    The Bright Crystal continued to emit a soft and steady light, illuminating the deserted intersection before him.


    At a glance, as far as the eye could see, not a single person was in sight.


    Colin did not let his guard down, standing behind the giant mango tree, camouflaged by the dense green leaves, and holding several Cone Bullets in his hand.


    The height of nearly four meters afforded him a broad view, allowing him to have a clear view of the situation at the intersection before him.


    His location wasn''t close to the Thistle District, and considering that the cultists on the frontline might need time to react, it would likely take a while for the dispersing crowd to arrive.


    As for the possibility of failure on the main battleground, he hadn''t thought of it at all.

 Chapter 87 - 81: White Crystal Necklace (Please Subscribe!!)_2

    The burst of orange-yellow light undoubtedly came from Wizard Lap, and it still made him shudder. He hadn''t approached to examine it, but the mere might of it and the residual waves it sent were telling.


    He doubted that any ritual altar could remain intact after such an attack.


    Whoosh!


    A bright light burst in his peripheral vision.


    Colin instinctively looked up; in the same spot in the Thorny District, another blinding light had suddenly erupted.


    The dazzling white light spread all around, like the rising sun illuminating everything. He squinted, barely making out a figure in a grey robe hovering midair.


    Boom!


    The shockwave followed, just as formidable as before.


    But Colin was uneasy.


    A surprise attack should be lethal with one strike; if the first light had settled the dust, then there was no reason for Wizard Lap to launch another attack so potent.


    The situation on the front lines might differ slightly from what he had anticipated, but either way, it seemed they still held the advantage.


    He leapt slightly, switching to another branch, and looked toward Wizard Lap.


    Crackle, crackle¡ª


    The Thorny District.


    The grass huts below, under the licking flames, gave off anguished cries.


    "Ah!!"


    A cultist next to him, tormented by the clinging, troublesome flames, was screaming.


    Soon, he was reduced to ashes.


    Lap was quietly standing in the air, seeming to search for something.


    Around him, under the siege of Red Flame and others, the cultists were emitting desperate screams.


    Not far away in an alley, Bishop Arman, his face calm and black wizard robe tattered with traces of scorched flesh, held a blood-colored crystal and was fleeing.


    Thump!


    A tangible wall of fire suddenly emerged before him!


    Bishop Arman, without dodging, bore straight ahead; a blood-colored shield surfaced on his skin, warding off the fire''s force.


    After passing through the wall of fire, the blood-colored shield was noticeably dimmer.


    Seemingly aware that his trail had been locked onto, he simply took to the air, floating midair and swiftly flying forward!


    Wizard Lap''s expression was cold as he waved his magic wand.


    A pale-blue fireball, the size of a human head, shot straight toward Arman!


    Bishop Arman timed it perfectly, preparing to pause slightly to dodge the fireball.


    But before he could move, the pale-blue fireball exploded one meter away from him, expanding and diffusing into an oval sphere that enveloped him!


    Hiss!


    The blood shield made contact and emitted a tangible sizzling sound.


    Arman''s forward motion paused slightly, a flash of fear crossing his face.


    "Bishop, sir!"


    Just then, a dark figure suddenly burst from below, plunging into the blue flame sphere, and with all his might, pushed Arman out!


    "Ah!!" After doing this, the figure instantly turned into a ball of flames, emitting a piercing scream!


    "Bo Wen cultist¡­" Arman muttered.


    He should have taken this chance to flee.


    But he sighed lightly, turned around, and stayed put, confronting Lap not far away.


    But Lap gave him no chance to catch his breath! Endless flames surged toward him!


    Seeing this, Arman also dismissed any thought of wasting time with words.


    He and Lap were like fire and water, with nothing good to talk about.


    Besides, in battle, opportunities were fleeting, and attention was scarce; there was no time for talk.


    He dodged Lap''s attacks while observing him.


    Lap stood quietly in the air, wearing a plain grey robe, his expression calm.


    But his attacks fell like torrential rain, fiercely efficient, leaving no room for survival!


    Arman had to admit... he had underestimated this aged wizard.


    "La¡ªp!" His lips quivered; initially a murmur, but the tail of his word seemed to tear through his throat!


    Immediately after, he stopped in his tracks and roared fiercely, "Foolish lamb!"


    At the same time, he fiercely crushed the blood-colored crystal in his hand.


    Crack!


    Lap raised an eyebrow, and a massive orange-yellow light shot forth!


    The blinding light burst forth!


    Boom!!


    ¡­


    "Ah!"


    At a certain intersection, a mango tree silently shot out a cone bullet the size of a knuckle.


    Splurt!!


    The rushing Chiwen Gang Basic Level Wizard burst apart like a ripped bag, his blood and entrails scattering on the ground, steaming in the slightly cool night.


    Colin carefully observed behind him for a moment, seeing no one; then, he turned his head back toward the distance.


    ''This is the third time he''s used such a powerful attack...'' he watched the distant flames, feeling the impact waves, and muttered to himself.


    Whoosh! S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then, a black light orb shot toward his position in the mango tree.


    Colin''s expression unchanged, he slightly bent his legs and leaped to the side, easily dodging it.


    At the same time, he also raised his hand and fired a hollow cone bullet.


    Splurt!


    "Ah!"


    Before he even landed, a scream came from the shadows in the distance.


    And it was at this moment that the black light orb hit the mango tree, emitting a corroding sizzling sound.


    Amid this sizzling sound, the scream from the shadows gradually weakened and disappeared.


    After advancing to Advanced Apprentice, thanks to the boost from his level and the fact that his Swift Skill had broken limits once, coupled with the extraordinary responses brought by being an Ultimate Knight... attacks of such slow speed could never hit him!


    Colin waited until the black orb on the mango tree dissipated, then leaped back onto the treetops. He carefully surveyed the street intersection in front of him.

 Chapter 88 - 81: White Crystal Necklace (Please Subscribe!!)_3

    After breaking through into a state of supersensitive vision, for an Advanced Wizard Apprentice like him, although there were many disadvantages and a risk of corruption leading to a cost,


    it was highly effective for observation.


    While it couldn''t penetrate obstacles, those shadowy figures hiding in the darkness had nowhere to hide under the gaze of supersensitive vision.


    Since the second burst of light had occurred, numerous cultists and corrupt followers had continuously fled here. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Among them were wizards, knights, and ordinary people.


    But now, without exception, they had all become the shattered corpses strewn across the ground.


    Standing atop a mango tree and carefully observing to confirm there were no more figures in sight, Colin adjusted his position, preparing to observe the area where the firelight was further off.


    Although he was killing vigorously here, in terms of the overall battle... his impact was actually quite small.


    The real outcome of the conflict would still depend on Wizard Lap.


    Hum¡ª¡ª!!


    Just as he pushed aside the leaves to look towards the source of the firelight,


    a high-frequency humming noise¡ªreminiscent of nails scraping a blackboard¡ªreached his ears!!


    Colin frowned slightly, suppressing the discomfort.


    He continued to push aside the obscuring foliage, looking into the distance.


    What met his eyes was nothing but the intense flames of the fire and the small yet significant figure of Wizard Lap standing in mid-air.


    Streams of scorching fireballs flew from Wizard Lap''s hands, but no enemy figures could be seen opposite him.


    As if thinking of something, Colin concentrated his spirit and carefully looked towards the spot in front of Wizard Lap.


    As his attention focused more and more, the feeling of washing away filth from bluestone to reveal a bumpy surface reemerged.


    And with it, that same heart-piercing sensation of fear¡­


    No, this time it was much stronger than before!


    Colin''s lips were tightly pressed together, and his heart pounded fiercely under the unexplained fear.


    In his field of vision, on the spot that had been empty, a towering blood-red figure slowly emerged!!


    Hum¡ª¡ª!


    As if struck by a heavy blow to the head, Colin felt dizzy, with bizarre whisperings in his ears!


    "...He is redemption!! He is vengeance!! He is the endless, formless crimson mist...!!"


    Ssst!


    At that moment, an almost imperceptible friction sound came from the air.


    Felling a prickling sensation on his back, Colin''s heart surged, and he snapped out of his dizziness, controlling his body to leap down from the tree!


    A semi-transparent arrow shot through where he was just standing! After snapping a few thick branches, it continued its trajectory undiminished into the air, the air current it swept up flinging mango tree leaves to the ground!


    ''This power... has already exceeded the range of an Intermediate Apprentice¡­''


    Before he even landed, another semi-transparent arrow shot towards him.


    Colin''s expression was calm, and at a thought, a fireball shot out, colliding with the semi-transparent arrow, mutually annihilating each other.


    He safely landed on the ground.


    "Eh." A surprised voice came from the shadows not far away, "You''re not an Intermediate¡­"


    Ssst!


    Before finishing the sentence, he felt a foreboding danger and his expression changed as he pushed his defense magic to the limit.


    Ding!!


    The cone bullet collided with the semi-transparent protective shield, producing a crisp sound, its tip distorting instantly upon impact, while the remaining kinetic energy continued to drive it against the shield!


    The semi-transparent protective shield visibly dimmed slightly, but the cone bullet also lost its momentum and dropped to the ground.


    He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    Ding¡ª¡ªDing¡ª¡ªDing!


    But in the next second, countless cone bullets began to fire towards him one after the other from the air in front of him!


    His expression changed dramatically, fear written all over his face, as he dodged to the right while continuously channeling magic power into his shield.


    Unfortunately, the robust shield on his body did not hold out for long and shattered suddenly after just a short while.


    Phut!


    Without the interference of the protective shield, the cone bullet shot straight in, its tremendous kinetic energy tearing his body apart. The breath of life vanished in an instant, and his mangled body collapsed heavily.


    Colin''s expression was indifferent as he tucked most of the cone bullets he was holding back into the cloth pouch at his waist.


    Having done this, he gazed at the apprentice''s mutilated corpse, his brow slightly furrowed.


    Within the supersensitive vision, the apprentice''s body still radiated a human-like spirit fog glow.


    ''It stands to reason that after death, the spirit fog should also dissipate quickly... Moreover, the previous attack, and the strength of the defensive witchcraft... this should have been an advanced apprentice... why is there still a glow of spirit fog...''


    Pfft!


    Colin raised his hand and fired several more cone bullets at the apprentice''s body, stopping only when he had shattered the already broken body into chunks the size of a football.


    He observed again.


    Under the supersensitive state, the glow of the spirit fog was evenly distributed across each piece of the body''s fragments.


    After watching for a while,


    he noticed that the glow of the spirit fog that shrouded most of the chunks was gradually fading.


    After a while, only the chest fragment was still enveloped in the glow of the spirit fog.


    Colin lifted his head and carefully surveyed the surroundings.


    Wherever he looked, the place was deserted, not a soul in sight. Those civilians in the shacks had not shown their faces at the window again since he had killed the first person.


    Colin hesitated for a moment, turned all his defensive witchcraft to the maximum, and quickly moved towards the pile of body parts.


    No need to search extensively, as he approached, he noticed the white crystal necklace twinkling atop the chunks.


    Swoosh¡ª


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a red firework burst open in the sky behind him.


    Colin turned around, his expression changing as he quickly pulled off the necklace and started to retreat.


    ''A retreat signal firework?... Has Wizard Lap been defeated? Or is it a misfire?!''


    A flurry of thoughts crossed his mind as he clutched the white crystal necklace tightly in his hand, quickly reached the mango tree, leaped up it, and looked out towards the Thorn District!


    Colin''s brows were tightly knit as his gaze searched carefully.


    Moments later, he saw a familiar figure in a gray robe. After careful observation, he noticed that Wizard Lap did not appear injured.


    He breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was at this point that the shouts came one after another, seemingly transmitting messages in the most primitive way.


    "Wizard Lap commands..."


    "Wizard Lap commands!"


    "The Bishop of Flesh and Thorns has sacrificed all his followers and himself, temporarily summoning the embodiment of an Evil God projection!


    To avoid unnecessary power expenditure, Wizard Lap orders all apprentices to return to the Wizard Territory, activate the Witch Array to wait at leisure, and avoid the sharp edge for the time being!


    After a while, when the Bishop''s power weakens, Wizard Lap will decapitate the Evil God''s Bishop himself!"


    "Wizard Lap..." the voice repeated.


    Colin''s eyes flickered as he leaped down from the mango tree, joining the wizard apprentices beside him in retreating.


    Before leaving, he glanced back at the street behind him.


    In the shacks, some ordinary people had already reacted, taking their wives and daughters and starting to flee.


    Wizard Lap''s decision might have been the right one... such a summoned Evil God projection wouldn''t last long, using the Witch Array to temporarily avoid the fray, waiting for the foe to weaken before striking back¡ª this was undeniably the most energy-efficient strategy.


    As long as one doesn''t consider the havoc the Evil God projection would wreak in Blackstone City, doesn''t care about civilian casualties...


    Colin''s expression was calm as he ran, glancing at the grey figure of Wizard Lap who had unknowingly flown ahead of them and let out a slight sigh.


    "Cough."


    The fierce wind brushed his face as Lap coughed imperceptibly, slightly controlling his flight speed in the air.


    He felt the weariness in his body and his expression grew even colder.


    He looked back at the projection of the Lord of Flesh and Thorns that he had temporarily trapped in place and scoffed.


    ''If it had been fifty years earlier, how could a mere projection force me to retreat...''


    His expression grew colder by the second, but inside he sighed almost imperceptibly.


    ''I''ve indeed grown old...''

 Chapter 89 - 82: Flames of Vengeance

    Crack¡ª


    Crack!


    In the Thorn District, an invisible crimson figure struggled free from his gradually tightening shackles. Under his tremendous strength, it seemed as if invisible fragments were peeling off from around him.


    "This is the power of the great Master of the Blood Meat Thorns!"


    After breaking free from the shackles, Arman surveyed his now completely unrecognizable body and silently praised in his heart.


    He looked up at the huge Protective Shield that was slowly rising above the Wizard Territory, but he did not hurry to pursue.


    Instead, he withdrew his gaze and turned his head to look around.


    After a moment, his mind moved.


    Invisible crimson mist spilled from his body, sweeping toward all directions like tentacles.


    "My faithful followers..." he said in a deep voice,


    "Come to me. I will lead you to revive the glory of the Master."


    As his voice echoed, those Blood Flesh Thorns Sect members and corrupted Gang members who still survived, their eyes gradually enveloped in crimson.


    They all changed direction, feverishly approaching Arman, to receive the baptism of the tentacle-like invisible crimson mist!


    The flesh on the cultists'' bodies writhed and twisted as if alive, while the Gang wizards'' bodies surged with Magic Power, then vanished!


    And in its place, a deep black and red mist emerged.


    "Madman!" Far down the alley, the leader of Chiwen Gang, Ted, cursed upon seeing such a scene.


    He had not anticipated Arman would be so insane!


    Regardless of the outcome, not one of these people would be able to step into the Divine Country.


    They would only become kindling for the Master of Blood Flesh Thorns'' power! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He shifted his gaze away, figuring out the direction, preparing to take the chance to flee quickly.


    Along the side of the street, turning around the corner, he melted into the escaping crowd of commoners as silently as a droplet into the sea.


    He glanced briefly at the ordinary people around him.


    To the left was a gaunt old man, his emaciated body no longer as strong as in his youth, now gasping under the strain.


    Yet he still ran doggedly, his face pale with fear, not daring to lag behind.


    And on the left were a couple, the man''s temples grizzled, one hand carrying a small boy, the other pulling along his frail wife.


    The wife held the hand of an eight or nine-year-old girl.


    All of their faces were panicked, desperately running, even the little girl gritting her teeth to keep up.


    Looking at them, looking at these common mortals he had never cared about, Ted felt a complex emotion rising within.


    He looked back once more at the distant figure with faint outlines, his heart shaking with a mix of awe and fear.


    For some reason, he regretted cooperating with the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect for the first time.


    He sighed softly.


    "...No matter, I just need to bide my time in the shadows, wait until they and Wizard Lap have battled it out, and then make a move."


    The Evil God''s projection would not last forever; if the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect won and Wizard Lap perished,


    Then when the projection dispersed, those cultists would likely be mostly dead... The island would undoubtedly become a world for these Peak Apprentices!


    If it came to him taking power, he would surely drive out and exterminate all those cultists!


    However,


    If Wizard Lap won...


    His expression darkened.


    "If Wizard Lap wins, staying on the island would be a dead end!" he hesitated slightly, changing direction and heading toward the east side of the city.


    By then, I must take a boat off the island to fight for a chance at life... first to the eastern harbor..."


    Hiss!


    A set of crimson tentacles suddenly attacked from behind him!


    Ted''s expression changed drastically, and several witchcraft glows were instantly bestowed upon him.


    But to no avail, the tentacles pierced directly through his chest as if nothing were there, pulling him backward.


    Magic Power...


    Magic Power boiled fiercely!


    Pfft.


    Ted couldn''t help spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    In his backward flying perspective, he could clearly see.


    The ordinary people who were just by his side had been contaminated with the crimson mist brought by the tentacles and showed a terrifying picture of mutation and corruption!


    They couldn''t even let out a scream before they burst violently, turning into a mass of blood-red flesh.


    As if sensing something, he suddenly raised his arm.


    It was then that he was shocked to discover!


    As Magic Power boiled and vanished, his arm began to show signs of transformation.


    Flesh began to crawl and shift.


    His originally fair and ordinary arm, in the blink of an eye, turned into a long, hideous arm with dark red spikes!


    No, it was not just the arm changing!


    Ted''s pupils contracted slightly, full of fear.


    Swoosh!


    The crimson tentacles brought a monster covered with fierce blood thorns to Arman''s side.


    When the tentacles released, the dark red creature stood still as if it were a sculpture.


    "¡­Praise the great Master of Blood Flesh Thorns."


    A low, fanatical voice came from its mouth.


    Arman raised his head, a smile emerging on his godlike, almost human face.


    After a little while,


    Next to his massive, invisible body, a large circle of various dark red monsters had gathered.


    Among them, the most conspicuous were the two figures, one large and one small, closest to him.


    The large creature was covered with fierce blood thorns, its blood-red carapace reflecting cold light like steel.


    The smaller creature hovered in midair, its slender body crowned with a scepter-like right hand emanating blood-red crystalline light.


    "About time," Arman surveyed the surrounding circle and contemplated.


    He slightly raised his arm, savoring the feeling.


    The power within him remained abundant...


    But he knew,


    He did not have much time left.


    In at most another hour, this abundant power would rapidly decline within a short period!


    He needed to seize the time as quickly as possible.


    But now was not the time.


    He glanced again at the distant Wizard Territory.


    Before officially launching an attack, there was another task he had to do.


    Arman withdrew his gaze and spread his arms, made of the invisible crimson mist, with a thought!


    Whoosh¡ª


    The crimson tendrils kept retracting into his body, restoring him to his complete, majestic figure.


    The next second, a red mist gradually began to spread from his body.


    Unlike the crimson mist tendrils.


    The red mist, lighter in color and thinner.


    It seemed slow but spread quickly in all directions, and in no time, enveloped the entire Blackstone City!


    Then, a low, mournful groan emanated from Arman''s body, spreading with the mist.


    "Vengeance..."


    "Vengeance!"


    "The Lord of the Blood Flesh Thorns is watching you!


    He will grant you the flames of vengeance!"


    "Go..."


    "Go and take vengeance!"


    "...Go and please Him with your scalding Heart of Revenge!"


    The pale red mist kept spreading...


    The world turned crimson.


    "Save me!"


    "Save me, Al!"


    Somewhere in the streets.


    Al''s eyes betrayed confusion as he clutched his head.


    The dull throbbing ache in his brain left him rooted to the spot, echoes of Al''s shrieks for help bouncing in his mind!


    "What''s wrong, Al?" asked his elderly mother with concern, her wrinkled face filled with worry.


    "Nothing... Mom." Al shook his head, paused to glance around, and then asked, "Didn''t you see the red mist?"


    "Red mist?" His mother was startled, looking around.


    All she saw was the orange glow of fires, collapsed buildings, and crowds of people fleeing in panic.


    "I didn''t see any red mist." She looked back at Al with even more concern and urged, "Hurry up, Al."


    "The wizards have left... we can only survive if we escape far enough and last until they return."


    She adjusted the baggage on her back, freeing her hand, grabbing Al to continue fleeing.


    The elderly woman moved forward, but the resistance in her hand made her pause.


    Al remained where he was, expressionless.


    "...What''s gotten into you, Al?" She turned back with urgency, "We''ll be too late if we don''t run now!"


    "Al?"


    "Al!"


    She called out loudly.


    But Al stayed put, his gaze growing increasingly vacant as a hint of crimson began to emerge from the depths of his pupils.


    "My child, what has happened to you?!" The elderly woman was frantic with concern.


    She watched as fewer and fewer people were around her, unable to suppress the panic in her heart, tears involuntary falling.


    "What has gotten into you..."


    "Mom... do you remember Al?"


    Al slightly bowed his head, interrupting his mother, and asked lightly, looking at her.


    The elderly woman was taken aback, frowning slightly, the lines on her face deepening.


    "At a time like this, you''re still thinking about that girl..." she averted her gaze as she spoke.


    Tap tap.


    Footsteps sounded.


    "Where are you going?! Al!"


    She was stunned for a moment, turning back to see Al''s retreating back in shock, shouting after him.


    "Where are you going... Al?"


    But as she got a clear look at Al''s form, her tone grew weaker.


    Flesh flowed like magma; eyes crimson in his wax-molten form commanded awe.


    "I''m going to take vengeance, Mom." The crimson creature replied softly, its voice dripping like fresh blood.


    Immediately after, it lifted its head, gazing fervently into the distance, murmuring:


    "Mom... I''ve seen the truth!


    ...The Lord of the Blood Flesh Thorns is watching me!"


    Boom!


    As the words fell, a bright yellow flame of vengeance rose from him.


    "Ah!"


    The elderly woman, terrified by this abnormality, fell to the ground, her complexion ashen.


    The bright yellow light illuminated her face, the reflection of the fiery human figure in her pupils slowly shrinking.


    Al, with the flame, moved further away.


    The light vanished, and darkness once again enveloped the woman.


    "Fools!"


    Down the street, Harrington watched towards the direction of Thorns Street, cursing softly under his breath.


    Surveying the dismal scene around him, his face was ice-cold, but inside was a brewing anger.


    The once orderly Blackstone City was now under the influence of the invisible red mist, plunged into utter chaos!


    Fiery figures could be seen everywhere, engaging wantonly in slaughter, then turning to ash.


    He had never expected the Blood Flesh Thorns Sect to be so foolish as to let Lap find the location of their ritual altar.


    ''Maybe the plan needs to be considered more carefully.''


    He sighed and turned away, heading back into the house.


    But quickly, his steps hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly.


    With a hollow grasp of his right hand, a magical staff with dark gold patterns coalesced in his hand.


    After this, he looked up to carefully examine the slender, dark red creature with a staff-like right hand that had appeared out of nowhere, floating mid-air.

 Chapter 90 - 83 Humanity

    In the Wizard Territory, overlaid by a translucent protective shield.


    Colin stood with a group of wizard apprentices on a sloping hill near the base of a mountain, overlooking Blackstone City.


    It was still night, with overcast clouds filling the sky, devoid of stars or moon, reminiscent of pure black satin.


    In contrast, in Blackstone City, gray buildings were scattered, twinkling with lights that, against the pitch-black earth, resembled fallen stars.


    A river of stars fallen to the ground¡­


    Reflected in Colin''s pale blue, deep eyes.


    "I wonder how many people will die again¡­" someone muttered beside him.


    Colin startled and turned his head to look.


    The speaker was a brown-haired male wizard with a gentle, ordinary appearance, currently lost in contemplation of Blackstone City.


    Colin averted his gaze.


    The spot where he stood was not far from where he used to reside in the Basic Level apprentice dormitory in the Wizard Territory¡­


    Or rather, right next door.


    There was a time when he first came to this world.


    On a night when the full moon hung high.


    Watching the sudden flare of green flames below the mountain, he had said the same words to the blonde girl beside him¡­


    "I wonder how many people will die again¡­"


    Colin''s expression was stern, his heart filled with mixed emotions.


    He wasn''t exactly a kind person, nor did he have grand ambitions or the courage to change the current state of the world¡­


    But he wasn''t thoroughly evil either; he couldn''t erase his humanity or remain stoic like a stone towards the loss of these lives.


    He might not attempt to save them, nor would he be heartbroken.


    Yet, he still felt somewhat downcast.


    After all, he had lived in Blackstone City for so long.


    That gray two-story villa was the first home he had ever owned.


    Although Renee and Arthur were only slaves, in this world, they were also the people he saw most frequently.


    ''I wonder how they are doing¡­''


    Colin looked up at Wizard Lap in midair and moved to a corner.


    He truly couldn''t change anything.


    He didn''t harbor delusions of saving everything or altering the rules of this world.


    But, if possible¡­


    He hoped¡­


    Hoped that one day, he could ultimately control his own destiny.


    Not just watch and evade like now.


    Finding a smooth stone in a secluded corner far from the crowd, he controlled the effect of the Cleaning Technique to cleanse it, and then Colin sat down cross-legged.


    Nearby, on several stones, a group of apprentices was resting, some chatting with each other, some browsing through books, and others meditating to restore their magic power.


    Colin''s expression was calm, and aside from his seating being slightly secluded, he appeared no different from the other apprentices.


    He scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was watching him before he lowered his head to carefully examine himself.


    His heightened sense was still active.


    In his line of sight, those murky dark spots still existed and continued to surge toward him.


    However, the translucent, invisible barrier that had formed after his breakthrough had changed its appearance¡­


    It resembled a spirit fog!


    If he couldn''t distinctly feel the essence of this barrier, still made of the glory of human nature and knowledge from after advancing to an advanced apprentice,


    He could have been deceived.


    Caressing the white crystal pendant that he had already hung in front of his chest, Colin had an epiphany.


    This was obviously a witch tool with a disguise effect.


    He glanced subtly in the direction of Wizard Lap.


    ''Perhaps I don''t have to worry about Wizard Lap discovering my true realm?''


    Before advancing,


    he actually wasn''t too worried that his true realm would be discovered after his advancement.


    To determine a wizard''s specific realm, an observer needed to enter a hyper-sensory state.


    Only Wizard Lap on the island had the ability to enter this state at will.


    And it was very rare to see Wizard Lap; since arriving in this world, Colin had only looked at him from a distance twice.


    In addition, although freshly advanced advanced apprentices could also briefly enter the hyper-sensory state,


    this wasn''t the most dangerous moment during advancement, but it still required caution.


    Of course, for him, because of his profound understanding of the Meditation Method and maintaining his humanity, the barriers of humanity and knowledge created during advancement were sufficiently robust.


    Thus, this stage wasn''t too risky for him.


    Even glimpsing the figure of the Evil God was merely dizzying.


    Moreover, perhaps because of this, he did not have to pay the strange prices other apprentices did and was just unaccustomed to the hyper-sensory state.


    But other advancers weren''t as relaxed as he was. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Usually during the hyper-sensory phase, freshly advanced apprentices would choose to seclude themselves, and the school members would typically spend their entire hyper-sensory phase in the Wizard Territory on the mountain.


    So, as long as he was careful in his daily life, he really didn''t need to worry about exposing his true realm.


    Of course, every action has its risks, but one shouldn''t avoid advancing because of them.


    These low-profile days only needed to be maintained for another two or three years, or even just one.


    Then he could choose a day to rightfully claim that he had made a breakthrough.


    Although it was soon, by that time, it wouldn''t be considered shocking.


    It could only be said that he had exceptional Talent and deserved to be called a genius.


    Although being a genius was a double-edged sword,


    from the current perspective, the Lap School tended to be righteous and orderly.


    Here, the title of genius was likely to bring more benefits than harm.


    The original owner had been a basic level apprentice for ten years, with a solid foundation of basic knowledge; suddenly having an epiphany and achieving rapid progress was not uncommon.


    After all, a wizard''s Talent was not something that could be summarized simply by affinity for Magic Power.


    The ability to learn and understand knowledge, and the heart to maintain one''s humanity, would become more important later on.


    Furthermore,


    he had not actually mastered this white crystal pendant yet.


    Its disguising effect was not actively initiated by him.


    On the road to Wizard Territory, as he clutched the crystal and retreated with other apprentices from the school, this disguise quietly took effect on him.


    It required no Magic Power supply, no spirit activation.


    Simply having the white crystal close to the body was enough to automatically produce the effect of a Spirit Fog.


    Generally speaking, the use of witch tools required the combined action of spirit and Magic Power.


    The spirit would inscribe a mark to obtain control permissions, in order to activate and deactivate.


    While Magic Power was responsible for supplying or replenishing energy, whether it was supplying or replenishing depended on whether the witch tool itself had an energy storage component.


    Colin felt the cold touch from the white crystal and pondered inwardly.


    No matter how he considered it, the utility of this white crystal pendant should not only be about simulating Spirit Fog.


    Unfortunately, now was not the right time.


    Surrounding him were members of the school, with Wizard Lap still standing quietly above.


    Colin restrained his impulse to probe the white crystal with Magic Power.


    He slowly closed his eyes and, like the other apprentices, began to recover his Magic Power and adjust his own state.

 Chapter 91 - 84: Dust Settles (Extra for 4.4k subscribers, asking for all kinds of support!!)

    Autumn night, the bleak wind brought with it a chill.


    Wizard Lap stood in midair, looking down with an almost imperceptible sweep over the apprentices gathered below.


    Most of them had fully recovered their Magic Power and woken up from meditation.


    They were now crowded at the edge of a cliff, looking out toward Blackstone City.


    Lap slowly retracted his gaze and once again looked toward Blackstone City in the distance.


    The flames in the city were still burning, but they had diminished considerably compared to before.


    At the Thorns District.


    Arman''s massive, intangible silhouette stood like a statue, still fixed in its original place.


    Under the influence of the various performances brought by the fiery figures in the city district, the unseen crimson fog that permeated the air became denser and denser.


    Lap saw this and his forehead slightly furrowed.


    As a First Rank Peak Wizard who had lived nearly three hundred years,


    he naturally knew what Arman was up to...


    It was nothing more than a bid to strengthen his own power.


    He looked at Arman, who seemed completely unguarded, and sneered coldly.


    As he had chosen at the beginning, he remained where he was, motionless.


    He had not intervened, nor did he intend to do so.


    The Blood Meat Thorns Sect''s carefully constructed ritual altar had already been destroyed.


    No matter how much Arman augmented the power of his projection, the Blood Meat Thorns master only had his own body to walk the world of mortals.


    This also meant that the power ultimately borne by Arman was always finite...


    And Lap was very clear, that limit was unlikely to exceed the power he held, bolstered by the Witch Array.


    More so, regardless of how much Arman augmented his strength,


    the Blood Meat Thorns master''s projection time of possession wouldn''t increase.


    That depended solely on Arman himself, who served as the vessel.


    When Arman burned out from soul to flesh...


    All would be settled in dust!


    ''As for Blackstone City...'' Lap''s expression was indifferent.


    ''It can simply be rebuilt.''


    It didn''t take long for him to wait.


    Soon there was a change in Blackstone City in the distance.


    The crimson fog that enveloped the city suddenly solidified as if time had stopped!


    The crowd continued to wail, the flames still danced, licking and snapping at the buildings.


    But the red mist had solidified like amber in another dimension. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next instant, it began to whirl backward!


    The fiery figures still cloaked in flames of revenge, their fires mysteriously began to burn more ferociously and quickly.


    "Why... have I not yet exacted my revenge..."


    As the red fog swept over, those figures all turned to handfuls of ashes.


    A multitude of survivors cried out in extreme relief.


    Some had truly harmed the people now turned to ash before them, some had only minor frictions with them, and yet others did not even recognize the fiery figures that sought vengeance...


    Back in the Thorns District.


    Arman took a greedy breath, exhaling a satisfied sigh.


    The crimson fog swirled around him like weary birds returning to nest, forming a large blood-colored vortex and then entering through his mouth, nose, and skin, absorbed entirely by him.


    After the crimson fog was absorbed, his long-still body finally moved.


    Whoosh!


    Arman took a step and immediately, wrapped in the dark-red creatures, he arrived outside the Wizard Territory.


    Boom.


    Shops and markets in this area tumbled and shattered under their unrestrained advance!


    "Lap."


    Arman spoke, his voice low and resonant, seemingly mixed with strange undertones that inexplicably sent chills down one''s spine.


    He took another step and arrived in midair outside the Witch Array, looking down at Wizard Lap.


    Crack.


    Below Wizard Lap,


    a faint sound rang out.


    Colin instinctively looked toward the direction of the sound.


    An Apprentice was frowning as he lifted his right foot, seemingly having crushed something.


    Though trying to appear calm, anyone could see his nervousness from his slightly trembling thighs.


    But nobody ridiculed him.


    Because... they weren''t faring any better.


    Colin turned his head to continue watching the imposing line of monsters led by Arman.


    To disregard Arman, standing a good dozen meters tall,


    and at the foot of his enormous figure, a large group of dark-red creatures had gathered.


    Among them, the most conspicuous was the nearly three-meter-tall figure covered in ferocious blood thorns, standing right beside his right foot.


    Under heightened senses, the scarlet radiance it emitted was markedly more dazzling than the other dark-red creatures, and its range was much greater.


    Clearly not an easy adversary to deal with!


    "Deluded followers of the Evil God."


    Suddenly, Wizard Lap up above spoke out.


    Colin cast his gaze up.


    This was the first time he had heard Wizard Lap speak.


    His voice was steady and slightly hoarse, like the rustling of iron against iron.


    Upon hearing this, Arman was not annoyed but simply scoffed lightly,


    "Foolish mortals who know not the true terror."


    Wizards and those Cultists were inherently irreconcilable; such exchanges of barbs had happened countless times.


    "I thought you wouldn''t dare to come over," Wizard Lap spoke again.


    But Arman only smiled faintly, not taking the bait, instead swinging his large hand down heavily onto the half-transparent Protective Shield in front of him.


    Boom!!


    Lap slightly furrowed his brow, clenched his Magic Wand, and maintained the stability of the Witch Array.


    He had intended to use words to delay for a while longer; after all, the more time passed, the more advantageous it was for him.


    But Arman was evidently not a fool either.


    Boom!


    Blood-colored Energy kept bombarding the half-transparent Witch Array Protective Shield, causing ripples to spread.


    It seemed on the verge of collapse, yet Wizard Lap somewhat relaxed.


    If it was only this level of attack intensity... the outcome of the battle wouldn''t differ!


    However, he didn''t let his guard down and raised his hand to testingly wave his Magic Wand.


    A transparent light beam as thick as a bucket shot toward Arman''s chest.


    Whoosh!


    A blood-colored mist spontaneously formed a round shield in front of Arman''s chest, successfully intercepting the light beam.

 Chapter 93 - 84: Dust Settles (Extra for 4400 subscribers, asking for all kinds of support!!)_3

    "...my efforts for so long were not in vain."


    "Old man Lap..." He sneered, murmuring softly,


    "Blackstone Island, will always belong to our Blackstone Family!"


    "The Wizard Territory of Blackstone, will also always be the Blackstone Family''s, including the Witch Array above it!"


    Dark red flames obscured his vision; he withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the black man, Haywood, beside him.


    Haywood felt a jolt in his heart as Harrington''s eyes met his, bowing even more respectfully.


    Pfft!


    But in the next second, accompanied by barely discernible wind, he felt a severe pain in his heart!


    A staff with dark golden patterns pierced through his heart.


    Haywood instinctively gripped the dark gold staff with his dark, large hand.


    Blood spurted from the contact gap between the wound and the staff, instantly staining his hands red.


    He looked up at Harrington with disbelief, his mouth involuntarily opening and closing, full of blood foam.


    Then he heavily fell to the ground.


    Pfff.


    Harrington pulled the staff out of Haywood''s body, waving it gently a few times to flick the fresh blood from the sharp end.


    Now that the plan had been deployed, Arman had successfully deceived the Witch Array with his assistance.


    Then these materials used to figure out how to deceive the Witch Array were no longer necessary.


    Boom!!


    Suddenly, a glaring light burst behind him!


    Harrington''s heart jolted, and he quickly turned around.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    As he turned around, glaring lights burst one after another from behind.


    He squinted his eyes, gazing into the distance at the peak of the Wizard Territory, his expression gradually darkening.


    The constant flickering light, casting on his gloomy face, added even more terror to his already unattractive appearance.


    "This signature light, undoubtedly is Old Man Lap''s signature First-Level Upper witchcraft¡ªSun Fireball..."


    Harrington''s heart gradually sank.


    The Witch Array was not a rigid or dead thing.


    The credential he gave to Arman only allowed him one chance for a sudden attack.


    Arman... must settle the dust in one strike!


    Otherwise, once Old Man Lap reacted, he could quickly adjust the Witch Array, identify him, and defend again.


    Even if the Protective Shield of the Witch Array was temporarily shattered, as long as the core of the Witch Array was not damaged,


    Lap could still gain the benefits of the Witch Array, and the translucent protective shield could be quickly regenerated.


    Under these circumstances, if Arman''s first strike failed to deal critical damage,


    the longer it took, the greater Lap''s advantage would become.


    And from the current situation, this constantly flickering light undoubtedly meant¡ª S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Arman had not settled the dust in one strike.


    "Those who have faith in Divine, are indeed a bunch of fools."


    Harrington pocketed the dark gold patterned staff without further attachment and coldly turned to leave.


    *


    *


    *


    Crackling¡ª


    Not far away, the wooden structure of a building cried out in the roaring fire.


    "Cough¡ªcough¡ª"


    Colin coughed, waving away the black smoke in front of him and widening his eyes to look around.


    In front of him, the Wizard Territory no longer resembled a mountain range, everything visible to the naked eye was on fire.


    Wooden houses, grasslands, trees, and even the bodies of some dead apprentices...


    What used to be the residential area for Basic Level apprentices, was now just ruins.


    Crackle!


    Boom.


    Another building collapsed in the flames.


    The sound of collapse made him involuntarily remember the explosion that seemed to destroy heaven and earth just moments ago...


    That''s right!


    Where is Wizard Lap?!


    Colin scanned the sky, but saw no one.


    No Wizard Lap, nor that massive bloody figure.


    Hiss!


    Nearby, the sound of putting out fires mixed with noisy voices came.


    "Quick, put out the fire!"


    "There''s an injured one here!"


    Colin ran towards the direction of the voices.


    Thanks to a one-time Limit Breaking for Basic High Temperature Tolerance and other Defensive Witchcraft, he was not injured.


    He just couldn''t see clearly what was happening because of the glaring light.


    But after running a few steps, he gradually slowed down.


    In his field of vision,


    a familiar grey-robed figure reappeared in midair.


    Small in stature, yet undeniable.

 Chapter 94 - 85: After the War

    Swish¡ª¡ª


    The rain drizzled down.


    The weather on the island was ever-changing; the dark clouds from last night turned into a brief shower as sunrise approached.


    Inside the great hall of the Central Castle.


    Colin stood by the window, watching as the ruins outside were shrouded in a misty veil of rain.


    Thanks to this shower,


    the flames sparked in the Wizard Territory and Blackstone City gradually extinguished, preventing further damage.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    Beside him, an apprentice was applying medicine to his wound... burns caused by flames were not as easily treated as other conventional injuries.


    A huge blister had formed on the apprentice''s arm from the burn, and after he pricked it, a pale yellow tissue fluid flowed out...


    Around him, there were many other wounded like him,


    some with more severe injuries, some with lighter ones...


    Colin withdrew his gaze.


    After the protective shield of the Witch Array had shattered,


    Colin thought they would be in a "king versus king, general against general" situation against Arman''s group of monsters.


    They might even have a standoff for a while.


    But unexpectedly, the battle escalated into intensity in an instant...


    That moment was both a climax and a finale.


    That mountain area was merely a stage for Arman and Lap.


    Those apprentices, perhaps, could not even be considered spectators.


    Colin sighed softly in his heart.


    After an endless light.


    He came back to his senses amidst the ruins, seeing nothing but broken walls and fallen, wounded apprentices.


    In the aftermath of such a battle,


    The apprentices, just like those dark red monsters, were utterly fragile.


    He somewhat couldn''t understand...


    What was the purpose of gathering these apprentices there?


    Were they merely waiting to be injured by the remnants of the battle?!


    But soon, he shook his head.


    If things had proceeded normally,


    These apprentices would have stayed within the Witch Array until the projection of the leader of the Blood Meat Thorns Sect disappeared, then they would have gone out to handle the remaining dark red monsters and clean up the battlefield...


    Who could have anticipated that Arman could deceive the defenses of the Witch Array, thus drastically altering the battle situation.


    Colin rubbed the white crystal pendant at his chest through his Wizard Robe, feeling inexplicably emotional.


    ''Blackstone Island is ultimately just a cage...''


    If the sacrifice ritual of the Blood Meat Thorns Sect hadn''t been discovered prematurely and had succeeded instead,


    the projection of the Evil God summoned would undoubtedly have been even stronger!


    If it was strong enough to surpass the capabilities Lap the Wizard could handle...


    Then these Wizard Apprentices, no matter where they hid on the island, would ultimately have only one path¡ªdeath.


    Their only chance of survival might be to escape to the sea... although that seemed more like a dead end.


    ''Perhaps I should buy a ship and learn some essential witchcraft for the sea,'' Colin mused silently.


    With his current strength, going to sea alone, although perilous, was no longer a certain death like when he was an Intermediate Apprentice.


    If faced with an insurmountable danger, heading to sea would be the last hope,


    "Colin." Berkeley suddenly approached. "Wizard Lap wants to see you."


    He appeared somewhat tired, yet his Wizard Robe was still clean and neat.


    "Alright," Colin responded with a nod, his expression calm, not too surprised.


    After cleaning up the battlefield and aiding the wounded, he had found Berkeley to report what he had seen before Arman breached the shield¡ª the monster that transformed into red mist merging into Arman''s body, and the streak of gold mingled within the red mist.


    ... As long as he could not leave the island, the fate of the Lap School was tied to his.


    Such crucial intelligence should not be concealed.


    Berkeley nodded slightly and led him through the crowd of apprentices, across the hall to the gray-black corridor, and finally to the study at the end.


    He pushed open the door.


    At the grand floor-to-ceiling window, Wizard Lap stood with his back to them.


    Outside was a delicate lawn and several lush trees.


    It was nearing sunrise, the sky faintly brightening, the rain had stopped, and a barely discernible rich golden light appeared on the horizon.


    "Master Lap," Berkeley greeted respectfully.


    "Lap teacher." Colin also greeted him.


    Wizard Lap, being the head of the School, was also the common teacher of them all.


    "Mm," Lap hummed slightly and slowly turned around.


    Under the gray hood was the face of an ordinary middle-aged man, his temples revealing that his hair had already turned white.


    At this moment, his complexion was unnaturally pale, but his wizard robe was intact, and there was no sign of injury.


    "Describe in detail the scene you witnessed," he said as he paced to the bench behind the desk and sat down, staring at Colin.


    "Okay, Lap teacher," Colin slowly began to narrate.


    As time passed, the originally dim room gradually brightened, with golden light slowly breaking in through the windows,


    If one looked up, through the stained glass windows, one could see a golden sun rising from the deep blue sea level in the distance.


    Night had retreated, and dawn had arrived.


    "Mm, I understand."


    After hearing his narration, Wizard Lap didn''t reveal much emotion, merely furrowing his brows.


    Then he instructed them to leave.


    Exiting the study, down the long corridor.


    "Lord Berkeley, I shall head back to Blackstone City first," Colin said, turning to bid farewell to Berkeley. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mm."


    Berkeley nodded slightly, watching as Colin gradually walked down the corridor.


    Inside the study.


    Wizard Lap leaned back on the bench.


    The light of dawn streamed through the stained glass window behind him, enveloping him in shadows.


    He sighed softly, adjusted his sitting position, and slightly relaxed.


    It was then that one could see the signs of nearly three hundred years on his slightly stooped figure.


    He gasped for breath.


    The pain radiating from the wound in his abdomen drained what little energy he had left.


    Vine-like wrinkles crept over his pale face, his eye bags drooped, his forehead no longer smooth...


    In just a moment, he had transformed from a middle-aged man into an old geezer.


    He took a breath and exhaled shortly, clutching his abdomen, sitting up straight.


    The wrinkles that had just appeared receded like an illusion.


    He resumed his middle-aged appearance, only his complexion was even paler.


    Lap raised his hand from his abdomen, slightly knitting his brows.


    The fingers were not smeared with blood¡ª


    But with some gory, maggot-like wriggling slender red flesh strips!


    "Hmph."


    Lap snorted coldly.


    A ball of flame appeared out of nowhere, instantly burning the flesh strips to char.


    Orange flames also appeared on his abdomen, where the slender flesh strips at the wound turned to char.


    After doing this, he breathed a sigh of relief, rose from the shadows, and stepped in front of the bright stained-glass windows.


    His expression was calm, his thoughts unknown.


    *


    *


    *


    Walking through the hall, he exited the Central Castle.


    Colin''s expression was calm as he stepped on the rain-soaked gravel path, moving forward unhurriedly.


    Drip-drop.


    Raindrops fell from the green leaves of the trees alongside, shattering on the ground, and birds began to chirp.


    The air was filled with the fresh scent peculiar to after the rain¡­ just like always.


    If it weren''t for the black architectural remnants and ashes scattered around as reminders,


    No one could tell that a battle, which might have affected the fate of tens of thousands on the island, had taken place here last night.


    Approaching the cliff, Blackstone City at the foot of the mountain came into view.


    The gray-black buildings were closely spaced, and a careful look revealed many of them had burned down and collapsed, leaving only ruins.


    However, beside those ruins, crowds bustling like ants reduced the sense of desolation.


    Just as he withdrew his gaze and prepared to walk down the mountain.


    "Colin."


    A voice called out to him.

 Chapter 95 - 86: The Ban

    "Lord Berkeley, what''s wrong?"


    On the edge of a cliff, Colin turned back and asked, puzzled.


    "Wizard Lap has ordered that all apprentices are temporarily banned from leaving the Wizard Territory."


    "Temporarily banned from leaving?"


    "It might be temporary, or it might be long-term."


    "Wizard Lap has ordered that all apprentices must return to the Wizard Territory," Berkeley explained. "I am on my way down the mountain to call back the apprentices who returned to the city earlier."


    "If there''s no urgent matter, don''t go down the mountain. Return to the Central Castle."


    Having said this, he began to levitate, preparing to fly to Blackstone City.


    Colin frowned slightly, watching Berkeley with hesitation.


    After such a significant event in Blackstone City last night, to say he had no concern at all about how Renee and the others were faring... was undoubtedly impossible.


    He did indeed want to take a look in the city.


    Moreover, he had some things to retrieve.


    Wizard Lap''s ban made him feel somewhat uneasy...


    ''Perhaps temporary, or perhaps long-term...''


    Just in case, it was better to return home and take all the important things with him.


    "Lord Berkeley," he spoke, bowing slightly in request:


    "May I go to Blackstone City and then immediately return?"


    Berkeley looked back at him, pondered for a moment, and then said:


    "Yes, I will take you down. In return, you must assist me in notifying all School members to return to the Wizard Territory."


    Colin nodded slightly.


    Berkeley added, "You only have ten minutes to deal with your own matters." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "After notifying all the apprentices, I will wait for you for ten minutes. After ten minutes, whether you have finished or not, you must return with me to the Wizard Territory."


    "Understood, Lord Berkeley," Colin nodded.


    Ten minutes was enough; he simply wanted to see how things were in the city.


    "Hmm."


    Berkeley, with Colin, soared from the ground and flew towards Blackstone City.


    ...


    The cool wind whistled past his ears.


    Soon, they arrived in front of Blackstone City.


    The modest city gate swept by beneath them.


    In the blink of an eye as they passed, Colin noticed two Steel-armored Guards were on duty in front of the gate.


    ''Price must be gradually restoring order to Blackstone City,'' he surmised silently.


    Last night''s raid involved only School members; Price was not among them.


    They flew over Blackstone City.


    As he had surmised, Blackstone City was beginning to restore order.


    Patrolling guards could be seen everywhere on the streets.


    Next to some burned-down buildings, officials were recording something.


    Although cries of disturbance still could be heard, most of the common folk had already accepted reality.


    Some sat or lay resting by the roadside, some ate food, and others had already begun to dismantle and repair their damaged homes.


    ...


    "...Yes, it''s Wizard Lap''s order."


    Outside the gate, Colin faced an apprentice and answered.


    "Okay, I got it," the apprentice nodded reluctantly, spoke two words to the woman next to him, and then hurried towards the Wizard Territory.


    After giving a slight nod to Colin, the woman closed the door.


    Colin stood at the door and let out a soft breath.


    City Lord Price had called the Patrol Department''s guards to maintain order within the city.


    Wizard Lap''s summoning order was quite urgent; calling back the guards and then letting them inform the School''s apprentices would undoubtedly delay things.


    Plus, there weren''t many School members who had returned to Blackstone City, so Berkeley decided to notify the School members personally.


    He was responsible for part of them.


    The one just now was the second to last one on his list.


    He continued walking towards the next apprentice''s residence.


    Swoosh.


    A figure flew towards him.


    "Colin," Berkeley landed beside him, "I''ve already notified the last apprentice you''re responsible for."


    "Now, I''ll take you to do your own thing."


    He paused and asked, "Where are you headed?"


    "Palm Street," Colin said softly, "Thank you, Lord Berkeley."


    "No need to thank me, just saving time," Berkeley replied indifferently, taking him flying towards Palm Street.


    ''It seems I really need to learn some Flying Witchcraft as soon as possible.''


    Colin felt the breeze against his face and silently vowed to prioritize learning Flying Witchcraft.


    Soon, Palm Street appeared before them.


    Colin immediately spotted his own two-story gray villa located at the highest point of the terrain.


    It was intact, and the courtyard wall was undamaged.


    He breathed a sigh of relief.


    Berkeley brought him straight down into the yard.


    Huff¡ª


    The black horse in the stable neighed in fright.


    "I''ll wait for you outside," Berkeley said after setting him down, then flew out again.


    "Master!" Arthur, startled by the noise from the detached house, pushed open the door, calling out in surprise.


    At the same moment, the main house''s front door also opened.


    "Master!" Renee called out joyfully, rushing over to Colin.


    "Master," the following Demi caught up and cheerily greeted.


    "Mm," Colin nodded, surveying the three of them and noting nothing unusual except for some signs of fatigue, and smiled.


    Then he walked into the house, making casual conversation with Renee.


    "Not long after the master left last night, there were bright lights and huge explosions in the distance.


    And then there were several more explosions before some creatures engulfed in flames appeared," Renee recounted as she followed by his side.


    "Some people tried to loot in the chaos, but no one dared to come here..."


    Colin listened to Renee''s story while mentioning a couple of sentences about the real reasons behind the events.


    With that, he entered the bedroom.


    "I have to leave again soon," Colin paused briefly, turning to Renee.


    "The School has summoned all members back to Wizard Territory and issued a prohibition; I likely won''t be able to return for a while."


    Renee was taken aback.


    "Okay, Master," she said, bowing her head.


    The blood-red rose pattern on her collarbone was vivid and alluring.


    This was the result of a post-Limit Breaking Blood Pattern Transformation.


    It also granted her the strength between a Peak Knight and a Great Knight.


    "Purchase a large ship capable of ocean voyages in the east of the city for me. The simpler the control, the better."


    "...Yes, Master!"


    Renee looked up excitedly, taking the Magic Stone that Colin handed her.


    Colin gave a slight nod, but sighed inwardly as he pushed the door and entered the bedroom.


    Life was like a torrent; he could only be carried away in its rapid flow.


    He arrived at the Meditation Room.


    He packed up the sea charts, a summary booklet for advancing to an Advanced Apprentice, some important books, the remaining image crystals he had been accumulating over three months, and a portion of the Magic Stones he kept here into a gray backpack.


    This was the main reason for his return.


    After the events of last night, he decided to carry these significant items with him.


    Especially the sea charts; without them in dire situations, he would be helpless.


    After packing, he pushed the door and left.


    "I''m done with my tasks, Lord Berkeley," he said as he walked out the front door to Berkeley, who was waiting nearby.


    Berkeley nodded slightly.


    Swoosh!


    He took off swiftly, carrying Colin back to Wizard Territory.

 Chapter 96 - 87: Legacy

    In the spacious gray-black room, a brown carpet with triangle patterns sprawled across the floor.


    Sunlight filtered through the square stained glass windows high on the left and right walls, casting mottled traces on the group of Wizard Apprentices gathered below.


    Murmurs and whispers reverberated through the room.


    Colin stood in a corner of the crowd, his expression impassive.


    After Berkeley had brought him back to the Wizard Territory, he had promptly turned and left in a hurry.


    A gray-haired female Wizard Apprentice¡ªFina¡ªhad summoned them here.


    She, like Berkeley, was one of the three Peak Apprentices.


    At the moment, she stood silently beside the platform at the front of the crowd, her face expressionless, indifferent to the whispered conversations of the Apprentices.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    The sound of numerous footsteps gradually approached from outside the room.


    The noisy chatter of the Apprentices inside abruptly weakened, until it vanished entirely.


    The thick wooden door creaked open.


    Wizard Lap walked in slowly, followed by several other Wizards.


    ''Berkeley, Nidham, Price, and¡­ the leaders of the Luo Wen Gang and the Snake Head Crow Gang.''


    Colin glanced up briefly, a hint of confusion on his face.


    The number of Wizards on Blackstone Island was not great to begin with, and the number of Peak Apprentices was even fewer.


    To his knowledge, the publicly known Peak Apprentices were the three from the School including Berkeley, the leaders of the Four Great Gangs, and the City Lord Price.


    That was eight people in total.


    And last night, the Chiwen Gang and poke gang had almost been wiped out; their leaders had naturally died as well.


    Of the eight Peak Wizard Apprentices, two were gone, leaving only six...


    And now, all were gathered here.


    Berkeley and Nidham moved to stand beside Fina on the right side of the platform.


    As for the bewildered Price and the others, they stood on the opposite side of the platform.


    Wizard Lap stepped onto the platform at the front of the crowd without a word, his gaze sweeping around the room.


    Below, everyone bowed their heads in silence, as still as if in the depths of winter.


    Even the normally defiant Nidham dared not make a single other move, as silent and respectful as anyone else.


    After a long while.


    Boom!!


    "Ah!!"


    Several piercing screams suddenly erupted from the left side of the platform!


    The Apprentices instinctively looked up.


    When they saw what had happened, they cried out in unison!


    Colin''s pupils shrank slightly in disbelief at the scene before him¡ª


    The three Peak Wizard Apprentices who had been standing on the left side of the platform were now enveloped in roaring flames, quickly turning into three charred corpses that fell to the ground, motionless.


    A slight commotion among the Apprentices swelled into a surge of clamor within the room.


    "Cough¡ªcough¡ª"


    Atop the platform, Wizard Lap coughed twice, covering his mouth with a weary expression.


    The chatter of the Apprentices ceased abruptly.


    "Do not be afraid, my students,"


    he said, lifting his head to gaze calmly at the Apprentices in front of him, their faces showing various emotions.


    "I am eradicating a potential crisis that could arise in your future."


    He paused for a moment, his voice tired and carrying an almost imperceptible note of dread,


    "I am dying, my students."


    A stir arose again in the room, more intense than before.


    "What?!"


    "How could it be?"


    "Wizard Lap..."


    Even Berkeley''s usually composed face now showed disbelief.


    When the Apprentices in attendance realized that Wizard Lap was not joking,


    most of them wore expressions of sorrow.


    All of those present, whether for a brief five years or as long as sixty, had lived under the protection of Wizard Lap.


    One could say they had all grown up listening to stories about Wizard Lap.


    Though they were more familiar with their instructors before becoming Advanced Apprentices,


    Wizard Lap, the founder of the Lap School!


    There wasn''t a single Apprentice who did not understand from where the honors and benefits they enjoyed daily had come¡ª


    They basked in the glory and responsibilities that came with being part of the School,


    and they revered the creator of this glory¡ªWizard Lap.


    Furthermore, Wizard Lap had a gentle nature; the School''s system was strict, but it could not be called brutal.


    Just as the subjects of a benevolent king in the mundane world would naturally feel sorrow at his impending demise, they too felt a certain sadness.


    And¡ª


    The sense of being lost, when the house that sheltered them was about to collapse.


    "After I die, only the emergence of an Official Wizard among you will allow the School to continue being passed down."


    Wizard Lap added gravely, his demeanor calm.


    "I have planned a way out for you."


    "I will choose one Apprentice from all of you present, assist them in becoming an Official Wizard, and let them inherit my legacy."


    Inherit a legacy? Advance to Official Wizard?


    The Apprentices silently exchanged glances.


    On the edge of the platform, Nidham''s gaze flickered, subtly glancing at Fina and Berkeley beside him.


    If there were anyone among the Apprentices present who had the chance to advance to Official Wizard, it was undoubtedly the three of them, the Peak Wizard Apprentices.


    Berkeley looked worried; more than advancing to Official Wizard, he was saddened by the impending death of Wizard Lap.


    He had come here sixty years ago as one of the first batch of Apprentices of the Lap School.


    Wizard Lap had watched him grow from a six- or seven-year-old child to what he was now...


    To him, Wizard Lap was both a teacher and a father figure.


    Beside Berkeley,


    the gray-haired Fina still wore an expressionless face.


    In the crowd, Colin, like the other Apprentices, bowed his head silently, yet inside he felt puzzled.


    ''Inherit a legacy, advance to Official Wizard?''


    ''Could such benefits really fall to Apprentices below the Advanced level?''


    ''If a successor truly needed to be chosen, wouldn''t it make sense to select directly from Peak Apprentices like Berkeley or Advanced Apprentices like Holt?''


    ''Now, the room wasn''t only filled with Peak Apprentices like Berkeley.


    Practically all members of the School had gathered here, even the Basic Level Wizard Apprentices who had survived the previous night...''


    Wizard Lap continued to announce:


    "All of you present have the opportunity to advance to Official Wizard and obtain my legacy."


    "The selection will not be based on realm or Talent,


    he paused before continuing in a deep voice, "but on a trial."


    "Follow me."


    Lap Wizard slowly descended from the platform, leading the apprentices towards the exit.


    Colin had no time to think before he was swept along with the other apprentices, following behind Wizard Lap.


    Like a stream pouring forth, the wizards formed a long procession, gradually leaving the room.


    Soon, the room, which had been filled with wizards, was left with only about a dozen lagging behind.


    Then the sunlight streamed through the square stained glass windows, unobstructed, falling on the brown carpet with its triangular patterns, slicing it into light and dark halves.


    In that darker part,


    Squeak.


    A rat-like creature, fused with the shadows, flashed by.


    A fair-faced witch at the end of the procession of wizards calmly turned her head back and quickly caught up with the group.


    If Colin had been there, he would have been surprised to find¡ª


    That among the last of their batch of Basic Level apprentices,


    There was still one female apprentice who, like him, had successfully advanced to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice at the end of the ten-year term, staying in the Wizard Territory.


    And if Colin had not forgotten the female apprentice''s name, he might have even called out a greeting:


    "Mia."


    *


    *


    *


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Footsteps gradually came to a stop.


    Wizard Lap stopped in front of a thick stone door at the very depths of Central Castle.


    "Children," he said, his voice even more weary than before.


    "This is the trial I have prepared for you."


    Colin lifted his head to study the unattractive gray stone door behind him.


    The stone door was smooth, with a ring of patterns around its edge like rough, stone-drawn sketches...


    This style of decorative pattern could be seen all over Blackstone Castle. There was nothing special about it.


    Other than that, there were no other distinctive marks on the stone door.


    "Cough¡ª, the trial is very simple... you will know the specifics once you go inside," Wizard Lap said with a cough, adding no further explanation.


    He waved his magic wand, and an imperceptible wave of magic power flashed by.


    Clack.


    The stone door behind him immediately rose upward, revealing a dark and deep passageway.


    Perhaps it was because the stone door opened.


    The Bright Crystals embedded in the ceiling of the passageway lit up from near to far, their light extending all the way back as far as the eye could see.


    In the soft White Light, Colin could see the entire layout of the passageway.


    To the left and right were the rough, uneven gray stone walls, detailed with patterns and ornaments in the same style as the stone door outside.


    Perhaps due to the dampness, in some twisting crevices, tenacious greenery crawled out, clinging to the stone walls.


    "Go in," Wizard Lap stepped aside to make way, gesturing to the apprentices.


    Nidham was the first to walk towards the passageway, his steps unwavering.


    He was not worried about any schemes from Wizard Lap.


    If Wizard Lap really meant them harm, why bother with such complexity?


    Even if, by a thousand-to-one chance, Wizard Lap truly intended them harm, they had no chance of resistance.


    Even though Wizard Lap had been seriously injured, it would still be easy for him to deal with these apprentices.


    The three Peak Wizard Apprentices who had died so suddenly, weren''t they the best example?


    Of course, having lived on the island for over thirty years, he was more inclined to believe what Wizard Lap said was true.


    If Wizard Lap truly had sustained an injury that would lead to his demise... then these apprentices, even if they were drained to their last drop of blood, would be of no use to Wizard Lap.


    There was no need for him to go to such lengths for them.


    Following his lead, the other apprentices also hesitantly made their way inside.


    Clearly, none of them were fools; what Nidham could deduce, most were also aware of.


    Ting.


    Colin, calm and unhurried, walked in the middle of the crowd, quietly slipping the suspended Cone Bullet back into his palm.


    This was a small technique derived from the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    It could determine the direction of north, south, east, and west based on the magnetic field.


    Apprentices entered the passageway one after another through the stone door.


    Clack¡ª


    The moment all the apprentices stepped into the passageway, the stone door slowly closed.


    Colin instinctively looked back, and many apprentices did likewise.


    After seeing the scene behind them, the apprentices breathed a sigh of relief...


    At the rear of the procession, Wizard Lap was there, slowly following them.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    The apprentices walked in silence, no one speaking.


    Only their shadows flickered under the White Light...


    Each of them wore a different expression.


    Some were looking forward to the upcoming trials, fantasizing that maybe they would be the one chosen by Wizard Lap to stand out.


    Some bore expressions of worry.


    They had not expected that in just a single night, Blackstone Island would be turned upside down.


    But then again... perhaps this world has always been like this.


    Peace, stability.


    For anyone, these words are but luxuries.


    ...The passageway was longer than Colin had anticipated.


    Click.


    He pulled out his Pocket Watch and looked at it.


    Nearly an hour had already passed.


    He looked ahead.


    Wizard Lap had, unbeknownst to them, moved to their front.


    Perhaps to accommodate the Basic Level apprentices, his pace was not quick.


    For this reason, the apprentices did not scatter and remained gathered in a long line.


    Nidham and the other Peak Apprentices could do little but suppress their own speed and honestly follow behind Wizard Lap.


    After a while,


    Colin felt the pace of the group slow and then come to a gradual stop.


    He looked up ahead.


    Past the obstructing heads in the crowd, at the very front of the procession,


    Wizard Lap stopped in front of a gray-white stone wall.


    The wall was about three meters high and five meters wide. Its edges were covered in vine-like relief patterns. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin frowned slightly.


    This wall clearly differed from the gray-black style of the passageway they were in.

 Chapter 97 - 88 The Ceremony of Advancing to Official Wizard

    Not only were the colors different, but even the decorative patterns on them were entirely dissimilar.


    For some reason, Colin felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with those vine-like decorative patterns.


    "This is the portal to the trial I have prepared for you," Wizard Lap said, looking back with a solemn voice, "and the Circulation Meditation you''ve learned is the key to entering it."


    On hearing this, Colin''s doubts were slightly dispelled.


    ''The different styles... perhaps there''s nothing to worry about.


    Since it requires the School''s specific Circulation Meditation to enter, this place is undoubtedly still under the School''s domain.''


    Despite this conclusion, he still harbored some doubt.


    "Come, come to the stone wall... then use the Circulation Meditation to walk through..." Wizard Lap continued.


    "Cough¡ªcough¡ª!"


    The next second, he suddenly bent over, coughing violently.


    It took quite a while before he straightened up.


    Looking at the fresh red flesh strings he coughed into his palm, a shadow of gloom passed through his eyes, and he urged the Apprentices before him:


    "My time is running out, hurry, make haste..."


    Nidham, who was originally at the front of the group, now hesitated.


    Swish.


    However, Fina by his side suddenly stepped past him, heading straight for the grey-white stone wall.


    Reaching the wall, she paused briefly, seemingly adjusting the Circulation Meditation.


    A moment later, she continued forward.


    Her figure immediately merged into the stone wall as if a droplet into the sea, causing ripples to spread on the serene grey-white surface.


    Seeing this, Nidham hesitated no longer and followed suit, using the Circulation Meditation to enter the stone wall.


    Next to them, Berkeley slowly walked up to Lap, with barely-restrained tears in his eyes.


    "Master Lap, your injury..."


    Lap gazed at him, taken aback for a moment, then sighed.


    "Go on, Berkeley..."


    "I am expecting you to be the one who is chosen in the end."


    "...Yes, Master Lap," Berkeley paused, then responded slowly.


    He exhaled slightly, regained his composure, and without further hesitation, stepped toward the grey-white stone wall.


    The Circulation Meditation activated, and the stone wall engulfed his form.


    Just as they had entered the passageway before.


    The Apprentices entered the stone wall one after another.


    Colin, who was in the latter half of the group, glanced at Wizard Lap standing beside the grey-white stone wall, watching as the number of Apprentices around him dwindled.


    No longer hesitating, he sighed inwardly and began the initial Circulation Meditation as he stepped toward the stone wall.


    Despite his doubts and worries...


    At the moment, he had no other choice.


    Like the other Apprentices, he had to merge with the grey-white stone wall.


    As the last Apprentice entered, the ripples on the grey-white stone wall gradually ceased.


    Wizard Lap stood quietly to the side, staring at the vine-patterned grey-white stone wall, lost in thought.


    He frowned slightly.


    The unbearable pain, as if ants were gnawing inside him, surged again from his chest and abdomen, causing his throat to itch, and he couldn''t help but break into another violent cough.


    "Cough¡ªcough¡ªcough!"


    The loud cough echoed in front of the grey-white stone wall, then dispersed along the lengthy passageway behind him, stirring up echoes.


    Lap seemed as if he were coughing out his internal organs...


    Indeed, he did cough up something.


    This time, without anyone else around.


    He no longer covered his mouth and nose, as the slender, worm-like fresh red flesh strings, along with mucous, spewed from his mouth and nose.


    Looking at them writhing on the ground like maggots, his expression grew even more troubled.


    A flicker of fear flashed through his eyes.


    Thump!


    Orange-yellow flames appeared out of nowhere at the site of the red flesh strings, consuming them.


    Sizzle¡ª


    In the flames, the flesh strings twisted even more violently!


    If one looked closely, they might even hear a spine-chilling scream.


    Fortunately, after a short while, the flesh strings finally turned into a puddle of black ash.


    Wizard Lap withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes slightly, as if adjusting something.


    Moments later, he opened his eyes and strode towards the stone wall.


    Like the other apprentices, he entered the gray-white stone wall.


    *


    *


    *


    Falling.


    Falling¡ª


    No light, no sound, only the continual sensation of weightlessness.


    Moments later, light appeared.


    Colin regained his vision and looked around.


    The ground was a flat gray-white, the walls smooth, this place was a spacious hall... seemingly transformed from a giant natural cavern.


    Stalactites like ivory tusks hung down from the ceiling.


    Whoosh.


    Another apprentice suddenly appeared from the stone wall behind, their expression slightly confused, but it quickly cleared.


    ''So this is what it looks like to come in...'' Colin thought to himself.


    The sensation of weightlessness had made him think he was falling from the sky, now it seemed just an illusion.


    At this moment, in the hall, just as before at the stone wall, apprentices filled the space.


    "What are we supposed to do..."


    The noisy chatter echoed as the apprentices looked around the empty hall, puzzled.


    Hum¡ª


    Then, in the middle of the hall, a circle of densely packed black iron pillars suddenly rose, approximately one hundred of them.


    After that, wisps of blue-green lights quietly emerged above them.


    Followed by that, before the apprentices could react, those lights abruptly vanished, replaced by red flowers.


    The flowers were nothing special, just ordinary five-petaled blooms.


    But the red leaves were peculiar, eerily shaped like human palms.


    There were two, precisely cradling the flower at the center.


    "A Yel flower?" an apprentice exclaimed.


    This was a rare Magic Potion.


    Suddenly, an inexplicable feeling of hunger surged.


    "Gurgle¡ª"


    The noise of the apprentices swallowing saliva resounded wave after wave.


    For peak apprentices like Berkeley or other Advanced Apprentices, it was easier to control this hunger.


    But for those below Advanced Apprentice, especially the Basic Level ones, they couldn''t help but make swallowing noises, and their stomachs grumbled incessantly.


    Yet they all strove to restrain themselves, hesitating to move forward.


    Just then, Wizard Lap''s voice suddenly came from behind.


    "What are you dawdling for? This is the trial I have prepared for you, and the ritual to assist in advancing to an Official Wizard.


    This is the first phase of the ritual." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go on, consume the Yel flower; it can elevate your physical form to the strength of a Great Knight... Even if you are already a Great Knight, it can enhance your Life Force."


    Wizard Lap hovered in midair, his expression calm.


    A Basic Level apprentice finally couldn''t resist the temptation and rushed forward, grabbing a Yel flower and swallowing it.


    The red flower, upon touching his lips, transformed into a thick blood-colored mucus, the similarly red palm-shaped leaves cradling it before pouring into the apprentice''s mouth.


    He was just the beginning.


    Soon, many Basic Level apprentices, unable to resist the temptation any longer, consumed the Yel flowers.


    More apprentices remained hesitant.


    "The soul is sensitive, it knows what is beneficial for itself, this hunger is natural," Wizard Lap explained,


    "If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn''t bother with such complexities."


    "This is merely a ritual to assist your advancement to an Official Wizard... Only those who perfectly absorb the potency of these medicines will be able to advance to Official Wizards with my assistance."


    "Hurry now, in a while, the next Auxiliary Medicine will be presented."


    "Hmph." Nidham surveyed the hesitant apprentices around him and snorted in derision before striding forward, becoming the first Intermediate or higher level apprentice to swallow a Yel flower.


    At that point, the earliest apprentices to ingest the Yel flowers also slowly opened their eyes, their faces filled with joy.


    The distinctive Blood Energy Armor of a Great Knight emerged upon them.


    The next moment, more apprentices hesitated no longer and stepped forward one after another.

 Chapter 98 - 89 The Ceremony is in Progress

    Swish! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The blue-green orb reappeared, and another peculiar auxiliary medicine emerged¡ª


    Moon Leaf.


    It was a crescent-shaped white leaf that could enhance life force and slightly boost spirit.


    This plant was now the third of its kind.


    But the apprentices did not hurry forward; rather, they stood silent in a tacit agreement.


    At a glance, some of the black iron pillars surprisingly did not manifest orbs.


    Crack.


    Those that were empty at the top silently sank into the ground, about a third of the total number.


    Originally, there were over a hundred Black Pillars in the hall, but now that a third had disappeared suddenly, only about seventy or eighty remained.


    There were roughly just over a hundred apprentices gathered from the School here.


    Back when the hall had over a hundred Black Pillars, there were over a hundred magic potions appearing, and everyone could have one, even with some to spare.


    But now, with only eighty-something Black Pillars left, it meant that the offered magic potions, the Moon Leaves, had also decreased to just over eighty pieces.


    Clearly, that wasn''t enough for the hundred-plus apprentices in the hall.


    Colin mingled in the crowd, slightly lifting his head to scan around.


    In mid-air, Wizard Lap''s figure quietly vanished, nowhere to be seen.


    He withdrew his gaze and turned his head to silently observe the surrounding apprentices.


    Most were puzzled, and whispers of confusion were faintly heard.


    "The number of magic potions has decreased..."


    "Where did Teacher Lap go?"


    "How should we distribute them now..."


    The vast majority struggled to restrain their desires, hoping that Wizard Lap would come forward to explain.


    But the figure of Wizard Lap did not reappear.


    Gurgle.


    Finally, a Basic Level apprentice unable to restrain his craving, hungry for the exotic scent, broke the standstill.


    Swish!


    He stepped forward swiftly, gulping down the magic potion.


    After ingesting, the magic potion slowly took effect.


    His face showed joy as his blood became more abundant and his spirit fuller.


    Seeing this, no one was willing to wait any longer, especially those who had tasted the sweetness of magic potions before,


    they could not sit by and watch these Moon Leaves being divided by others!


    Colin quickly stepped forward, seizing a Moon Leaf with a speed beyond ordinary.


    After he obtained the Moon Leaf, he did not swallow it; instead, he covered it with his hand, feigning ingestion while quietly pocketing it.


    Previously, when the first plant, the nightflower, was presented, Wizard Lap was watching from mid-air.


    Almost everyone swallowed the nightflower in front of Wizard Lap.


    But after the second auxiliary medicine was presented, and Wizard Lap''s figure had left,


    a long-haired Wizard Apprentice,


    perhaps seeing Wizard Lap''s figure disappear,


    did not hide the fact that he hadn''t swallowed the nightflower like Colin, secretly spitting it out.


    Instead, he unabashedly regurgitated the blood-like liquid that the nightflower had become.


    This caught Colin''s attention.


    It also made him realize that clearly, some apprentices just swallowed the nightflower without actually ingesting it.


    Soon,


    the scramble for the Moon Leaves ended.


    Those who had not obtained a magic potion showed signs of regret.


    But, lacking the strength and luck of others, they said nothing more.


    Colin turned his head slightly to look around.


    At that moment, the long-haired male wizard, who had spit out the nightflower just as he had, was not far to his right, brazenly holding the magic potions presented in the second and now third instance.


    Colin''s gaze flickered.


    Not many apprentices, like the long-haired male wizard, existed, but there were quite a few, mostly Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    They all held the magic potions from the last two offerings... As for whether they had ingested the first nightflower, Colin could not tell.


    He only distinctly saw that the long-haired male wizard had spit out the nightflower.


    And other Intermediate or Basic Level apprentices, mostly unable to resist the temptation of the exotic scent, had already swallowed the auxiliary medicines.


    Just as Colin withdrew his gaze, preparing to turn back,


    Crack!!


    Several bolts of lightning struck out of nowhere!


    In the corner of his eye, the long-haired male wizard was instantly reduced to char, the Advanced Wizard Apprentice did not even have time to scream.


    Such might was beyond the capability of an apprentice!


    Two or three other apprentices suffered the same fate.


    Colin''s pupils dilated, and before he could react,


    another anomaly occurred.


    An invisible force swept through the ceremony.


    Pfft!!


    "Ha¡ªgh¡ªha¡ªgh¡ª!"


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Among the crowd, some wizard apprentices suddenly burst into clouds of blood, collapsing with cries of agony, they soon fell silent.


    Thus, in an instant, the grey-white floor of the hall lay scattered with over forty bodies.


    The remaining sixty or so apprentices stopped their movements in shock and terror, looking at each other bewildered.


    The entire hall fell silent.


    "...What''s going on?"


    After a long while, an apprentice finally muttered.


    As his words fell, a swell of noise rose like a wave.


    "Where is Teacher Lap?!"


    "Teacher Lap must know what this is all about!"


    "..."


    On the right side of the hall, Nidham''s face was ashen, he turned his head and asked Berkeley not far away,


    "What does this mean, Teacher?"


    The lightning had been unexpected and powerful.


    Even though he was a Peak Apprentice, he was not confident that he could survive such a lightning strike.


    And that blood mist was even more strangely eerie.


    "I don''t know," Berkeley shook his head, then after a pause continued, "Maybe something unforeseen occurred."


    "Heh!"


    Fina, standing to one side, let out a cold laugh. She couldn''t stand Berkeley''s trust in Lap.


    So in a low sneer, she said, "Berkeley, don''t be naive. Do you really think Lap is your father?"

 Chapter 99 - 99: 89 Ceremony in Progress_2

    "He is nothing but a robber who took you away from your real parents!"


    Berkeley heard this and did not get angry but simply shook his head,


    "I''m not like you, Fina. I remember very clearly that my parents sold me to Teacher Lap for a Gold Coin."


    He paused, then continued,


    "Without Teacher Lap, I might have become an abandoned child dead by the roadside."


    Fina retorted coldly, "That''s just what you think."


    She glanced around after speaking,


    "Those killed by lightning are the apprentices who never took the Magic Potion.


    And those who died suddenly had only taken the Magic Potion once or twice and never took the Moon Leaf for the third time."


    "It''s obvious that this is a ritual with an elimination mechanism."


    "Your dear ''father'' Lap never cared about our lives, nor did he care about yours!"


    She did not hide her reasoning; her voice was not loud but was clear enough for the remaining apprentices to hear.


    Many apprentices changed their expressions upon hearing this.


    Colin kept a poker face, secretly hiding the collected Magic Potion even more stealthily.


    His eyes swept briefly around to ensure no one noticed him before he slightly relaxed.


    But doubts overwhelmed his mind.


    ''¡­Regardless of the accuracy of Fina''s deduction, the current situation she observed is indeed correct.


    The deceased apprentices, just as she said, failed to follow the sequence in taking the Magic Potion.''


    ''¡­Yet, I have also not taken the Magic Potion, so why haven''t I been erased by lightning?''


    Colin furrowed his brows.


    But before he could think further,


    Boom! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A blue-green orb flashed past, and a new batch of Magic Potion was presented.


    This time... the quantity was even less, roughly estimated to be only about thirty portions.


    The blank black pillar slowly sank, mirroring the sinking hearts of the remaining apprentices.


    Whoosh!


    This time, they no longer demonstrated any semblance of restraint.


    Without a commander, the apprentices moved at the same instant the blue-green light dispersed!


    Swoosh!


    About twenty Advanced Wizard Apprentices tacitly did not compete with each other but dispersed and occupied two-thirds of the Magic Potion.


    The remaining Intermediate Apprentices, some fortunate to be close to the Black Pillar and without Advanced Apprentices competing, were lucky enough to grab a Magic Potion and quickly swallowed it whole.


    As for the Basic Level Wizard Apprentices¡­


    "Ah!" a twelve or thirteen-year-old fortuitously grabbed a Magic Potion and cried out in agony as he was harshly knocked aside.


    He was brutally knocked away by a frail, pale Intermediate Wizard standing nearby.


    The Magic Potion fell from his hands, tossed into the air, and was fiercely fought over by several Intermediate Wizards who had been waiting nearby for a long time!


    For a moment, the sound of activated witchcraft, curses, and anguished cries filled the air!


    On the other side,


    Colin, who had just grabbed a new Magic Potion, suddenly changed his expression and slightly dodged to the left.


    A vicious Acid Liquid attack aimed at his head was avoided.


    He clenched a Cone Bullet and turned sharply.


    In his field of vision appeared Carrie, the female apprentice who had initially forced him to help mend relations with Regina.


    At that moment, Carrie looked at him with a surprised face as he dodged the attack.


    Hiss!


    Colin''s gaze turned cold, and without hesitation, the Cone Bullet flew out, shooting towards Carrie!


    Bang!


    "Ah!"


    Caught off guard, Carrie''s abdomen was pierced, and the agonizing pain caused her to scream horrifically,


    Her painful screams also caused a few onlooking apprentices to hesitate in their steps and quickly turn to attack others!


    Colin raised his head, no longer concerned about the dying Carrie, and coldly swept his gaze around before pretending to take the Magic Potion while shielding it with his palm.


    Secretly, he stored it like the previous Magic Potions in his chest.


    Soon, the situation gradually calmed.


    Looking around, including himself, only forty-three wizards were still standing.


    Among them, three Peak Wizard Apprentices, eighteen Advanced Wizard Apprentices, and twenty-two Intermediate Wizard Apprentices.


    Among the Intermediate Apprentices, seven looked pale as they had not managed to grab any Magic Potion.


    And all the other Basic Level Wizard Apprentices were either dead or severely injured, lying on the ground quietly waiting for death to come.


    The apprentices were no longer standing close to each other but were spread out around the Black Pillar at intervals.


    In this pause between fights, while the new Magic Potion had not yet been presented.


    The hall was shrouded in an eerie silence.


    The scent of blood was overwhelming, and aside from the Apprentices'' panting, only the groans and low curses of the severely wounded could be heard.


    There were still thirty-six Black Pillars left in front of them.


    But everyone knew that soon there wouldn''t be thirty-six blue-green orbs, nor thirty-six Magic Potions.


    The Black Pillars would continue to descend.


    And only a few among them would survive...


    Or perhaps, just one would survive.


    Like the other Apprentices, Colin remained calm, yet his mind raced.


    He didn''t understand why he had escaped the ritual so far...


    But he knew that as the number decreased, he, an Apprentice disguised as an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, would become increasingly conspicuous.


    He couldn''t continue like this.


    Bang!


    Suddenly, the sound of flesh colliding with stone walls echoed.


    Colin looked toward the source.


    In front of the gray-white stone wall they had entered, an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice clutched his head with a somewhat grim expression.


    Colin quickly realized.


    The hall, generally circular and open, allowed a full view with just a lift of the eyes.


    Surrounding the hall were seamless gray-white stone walls, with no possible exits.


    And that Apprentice, clutching his head, had clearly tried to return the way he had come.


    But he had failed.


    That meant they might have no other way out.


    Although Colin had vaguely sensed this, having it confirmed now still cast a dark shadow over his heart.


    The Apprentice, unwilling to give up, frantically tried the walls around the hall.


    Just then!


    Whoosh!


    A blue-green orb flashed on the Black Pillar.


    The next batch of Magic Potions was presented without any sign, this time only twelve.


    "No!" The Apprentice who had been searching for an exit screamed and desperately dashed toward the central Black Pillar.


    But soon, he stopped in despair.


    The Magic Potions had already been swallowed.


    At the same time.


    Puff!


    A mist of blood sprayed from the body of another Intermediate Wizard Apprentice who had failed to grab a Magic Potion in the previous round.


    They fell screaming and eventually, like the previous Apprentices, fell silent.


    Some Advanced Apprentices also changed their expressions; they hadn''t managed to grab this round''s Magic Potion.


    Grabbing a Magic Potion, swallowing it, was essentially instantaneous.


    If luck wasn''t on their side, even a moment''s delay meant nothing, even if they were stronger than the Intermediate Apprentices.


    Nidham was among them.


    His expression grim, he scanned the surroundings and decisively attacked the nearest fortunate Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.


    Swoosh!!


    The joy on the face of the lucky Potion-swallowing Apprentice faded, his eyes dimming as he lost his vitality.


    Nidham, holding the body of the Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, controlled his Magic Power, expertly extending his right index finger, and started slicing down the midline of the body.


    His index finger, sharp as the finest scalpel, began splitting the fair skin from the lower lip like a hot knife through butter.


    Revealing the hidden internal structure of the throat, esophagus, and the stomach.


    Then, Nidham slowly bent down, extended his bright red tongue, and meticulously licked clean the undigested Magic Potion inside!


    Now, only a little over twenty Wizard Apprentices were left scattered sparsely throughout the hall.


    Some Intermediate Apprentices had just been upset about not getting a Magic Potion.


    But now, watching Nidham''s actions, they couldn''t help but feel somewhat relieved.


    But soon, realizing the ritual would continue, the blue-green light would flash again, and the Black Pillars would continue to descend.


    Their moment of relief flickered out like a candle in the wind.


    To the left of the hall,


    Colin, watching Nidham, remained outwardly calm but felt a bit sick inside.


    Suddenly, light footsteps approached him.


    "Colin."


    Then, a familiar voice called out.


    He looked in the direction of the voice.

 Chapter 100 - 90: The Last Encounter

    After seeing clearly, he greeted:


    "Holt, captain."


    With his green hair and a demeanor as harmless as a plant, Holt smiled and said,


    "I never thought our next meeting would be under these circumstances... I''m afraid it''s going to be the last one."


    Although his tone was as gentle as ever, for some reason, it carried a heavy implication.


    Colin pursed his lips and said,


    "Captain Holt, you didn''t manage to get the Magic Potion either..."


    "Yes," Holt nodded with a gentle expression.


    It was because he had not managed to get the Magic Potion, nor had he wanted to act as Nidham did.


    And just as he saw Colin, he walked over, wanting to have a chat with someone who also hadn''t got the Magic Potion.


    He stood beside Colin, looking at Nidham, bent over in the distance, frowning and saying, "That''s truly disgusting..."


    "Yes," Colin nodded in agreement.


    But his heart was a mix of emotions.


    He had deliberately not fought over the Magic Potion.


    Otherwise, with his speed and strength, he would certainly have been able to get a dose.


    Even if he had continued, he might have been able to defeat everyone, becoming the ultimate survivor.


    But this meant nothing to him.


    At this point in the ritual, it was clear there was something fishy.


    No one knew whether survival to the end meant facing death in despair or, as Wizard Lap had said, successfully advancing to an Official Wizard with his assistance. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If he were to continue following the established procedure of the ritual, he didn''t believe he, an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, had any ability to escape the trap set by an Official Wizard who had lived nearly three hundred years.


    "You must hold onto your humanity."


    Out of nowhere, Holt suddenly said to him.


    ... Or perhaps he was speaking to himself.


    At this moment, the Apprentices in the hall had clearly divided into two areas.


    Those by the Black Pillar who had managed to get the Magic Potion and those scattered around, who had not.


    There were altogether twelve figures by the pillar, all Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    Now they all were.


    Just moments before, there had been a few lucky Intermediate Wizard Apprentices.


    Now, like the one killed by Nidham''s underling, they had become dismembered corpses.


    Without a doubt.


    Following Nidham''s example.


    A few Advanced Wizard Apprentices couldn''t withstand the craving for life, the fear of death, and did the same as he did.


    Colin watched them quietly, and suddenly, his expression subtly shifted.


    "You must hold onto your humanity." He paused, then sighed, repeating Holt''s words from just before.


    Within his Supersensitive Vision.


    The auras of humanity and enlightenment that covered those Advanced Wizard Apprentices who had done the same as Nidham had suddenly thinned.


    For one, it even shattered completely.


    Those filthy black spots, as if the dirtiest things in the world had taken form, surged toward the Advanced Apprentice whose aura of humanity and enlightenment had broken.


    Mutation began in an instant.


    "No!" The Advanced Wizard Apprentice cried out in disbelief, tears streaming down his face.


    Boom!


    The next second, numerous attacks simultaneously hit him, submerging him.


    The Apprentice, not yet fully mutated, turned to ash in an instant.


    Colin withdrew his hand, having just cast the Fireball Technique.


    This was the tradition of this world.


    A Wizard fallen into mutation was a common enemy of all Wizards.


    They had either forsaken the humanity they had always upheld or abandoned knowledge, bowing their heads to the Divine.


    In any case,


    They were to be universally condemned.


    The Wizards who had not mutated looked on with uncertain expressions.


    And the surrounding Wizards quietly distanced themselves from them.


    No one cares if they are good themselves, but everyone wants their friends to be good.


    Or at least, they do not wish to be friends with those who have no bottom line.


    Whether one will mutate, whether one will betray their held humanity, there is no set standard, all is up to one''s judgment.


    Everyone''s bottom line is different.


    For example, Nidham, before and after he killed that Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, his aura of humanity and enlightenment showed no change.


    However, it''s worth noting that even without change, his light was thinner than that of other Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    "Alas..." Holt shook his head suddenly, sighing,


    "What on earth does Master Lap intend to do?"


    Colin remained silent.


    "It''s a shame, Colin, you''ve just descended from the Wizard Territory and haven''t had the chance to experience the wonders of the world."


    Holt suddenly turned his head again, speaking wistfully, patting his shoulder.


    "I''m nearly seventy years old this year; living to this age is already considered a long life for ordinary mortals..."


    Colin nodded silently, listening attentively.


    He knew Holt was trying to console him.


    Death is not scary.


    What''s scary is knowing that death is imminent and being powerless to stop it.


    Holt kept rambling, talking about a lot of different things, as if he was just speaking whatever came to mind.


    "Captain Holt," Colin suddenly spoke up.


    "What''s the matter?" Holt paused, puzzled.


    "..."


    "Nothing..."


    Holt didn''t care and continued to ramble on,


    "There''s a type of plant called the bellflower which has a peculiar umbrella shape. When the spring breeze arrives, they will fall off on their own, transforming into humanoid elves with umbrella-shaped flowers above their heads, drifting far away with the air currents. They find suitable soil, dig a small hole, and bury themselves.


    Some especially naughty ones will miss the opportunity and, as a result, never take root.


    But for the rest of the year, they are free to frolic in the world... until the next year when the spring breeze blows, their companions will grow into new bellflowers, and they will wither away in the gentle spring wind..."


    At that moment,


    "Interesting."


    A calm voice suddenly interjected.


    Colin turned his head slightly.


    A handsome man, whose age was indiscernible, approached.


    "Luke." Colin''s lips moved as he greeted him.


    He paused, then asked, "You didn''t manage to grab a Magic Potion either?"


    Luke nodded slightly, then shook his head, his faint smile conveying,


    "Getting a Magic Potion doesn''t necessarily mean surviving, does it?"


    Holt, standing next to him, was taken aback for a moment and looked at Luke, shaking his head with a light chuckle,


    "That''s true."


    The atmosphere turned suddenly silent.


    Colin looked up slightly, over the black iron pillar in the center.


    The Intermediate Apprentice who was previously constantly searching for an exit was still going around the hall''s stone walls, persistently looking.


    Several other Apprentices, just like him, had joined the search for an exit.


    Holt and Luke''s expressions were calm.


    If this indeed was a trap set by Wizard Lap, how could there be such a loophole?


    Facing an Official Wizard who had lived nearly three hundred years, they stood no chance at all.


    Just as Wizard Lap had said at the beginning that this was a ceremony to help an Advanced Official Wizard, they could only choose to believe...


    They had no choice in the matter.


    Anyway.


    Perhaps, this really was a ceremony to assist one to become an Official Wizard...


    But they could no longer see that moment.


    At that time, on the nearby stone wall to the right,


    "How can there be no exit!"


    An Intermediate Apprentice searching for an exit gritted his teeth and howled, Magic Power brewing in his hands.


    Whoosh!


    A Fireball streaked towards the gray-white stone wall.


    Bang.


    But it was futile.


    As the flames dissipated, the stone wall remained the same gray-white color, unchanged.


    He slumped down, covering his face, his angry roar turning into powerless tears.


    Holt averted his gaze, sighing softly,


    "It seems... that our journey of life is coming to an end today."


    Although not much time had passed,


    Judging by the intervals before, the next blue-green orb of light was about to appear.


    In the brief moment, they didn''t even have enough time to lament, let alone search for a lifeline.


    Luke, at his side, moved his lips slightly, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.


    He just glanced at the figure of Carrie who had died not far away and sighed.


    In the distance, some Apprentices were still stubbornly seeking a glimmer of hope, and others were silently weeping in despair.


    Colin watched them, his expression growing increasingly solemn.


    Their fear was no different from his.


    Although it seemed he was the one who slipped through the ceremony''s net, if this truly was a trap set by Wizard Lap.


    Then in the end, Wizard Lap would surely appear.


    And he, for unknown reasons spared by the ceremony,


    Even though he was planning to wait for the next punishment to arrive, pretend to be a corpse, and deceive the remaining Wizard Apprentices.


    Yet he couldn''t fool Wizard Lap, who was certain to come in the end.


    As Colin was lost in a myriad of thoughts.


    Whoosh!


    The blue-green orb of light appeared once again at the top of the Black Pillar.


    "Goodbye."


    Holt turned to him and said, his face showing a complex mix of emotions ¨C fear, calm, and longing.


    Luke, on the other hand, just smiled at him.


    Pfft!


    In the next instant, an invisible force swept through.


    Blood mist sprayed forth from both Holt and Luke, forming a dense mist,


    Their eyes instantly dimmed, and they collapsed heavily to the ground.


    Colin lowered his eyes, said nothing, and just forced himself to bleed out, controlling his body to produce a blood mist.


    Then,


    Bang.


    Just like Holt and Luke, he fell heavily into the scarlet mist.


    Silent.

 Chapter 101 - 91: A New Phase

    Bang.


    Bang.


    Amidst the Gray-White Cave Hall littered with corpses, only muffled and peculiar collision sounds echoed.


    Apart from that, there were no other sounds within the Gray-White Cave Hall, eerily silent.


    The stench of blood nauseatingly filled the nostrils, underfoot was the hard, icy gray-white ground.


    Colin lay motionless on the ground, maintaining his silence.


    He knew that these strange collision sounds were made as the Apprentice''s bodies hit the Cave Hall''s unyielding floor.


    Time passed.


    Buzz¡ª


    Suddenly, bluish-green light shone; the sphere of light appeared once more.


    Gurgle¡ª!


    At the same time, from not too far away, several loud stomach growls could be heard due to digestive movement.


    Colin tensed his body, trying hard to suppress his feeling of hunger.


    At this point, some time had passed since he had feigned death. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bluish-green spheres of light had already reappeared twice.


    However, the number of Apprentices still alive in the ritual, including him, was still as many as ten.


    This was not because the ritual''s punitive mechanism within the Cave Hall had stopped working.


    Rather, the bluish-green light spheres had abruptly ceased to decrease after they had dwindled to nine!


    It was as though the ritual had entered a new phase.


    But the fact that the spheres didn''t decrease didn''t mean that this phase was any less vicious.


    On the contrary, the horror of this stage was undiminished.


    With his eyes scarcely opened a crack, Colin cautiously spied on the distant Apprentices,


    Watching them being dominated by hunger, behaving like wild beasts, he couldn''t help feeling a chill inside.


    Perhaps the ritual had indeed reached a new phase, and the scent of the Magic Potion had become stronger.


    Or perhaps it was because the previous sequential consumption of the Magic Potion by the Apprentices had enhanced the allure of its scent.


    At any rate, those who had consumed the Magic Potion were now hardly able to contain their craving for it.


    Whenever a new Magic Potion was presented by the light sphere, they would be dominated by hunger, transformed into irrational wild beasts.


    Only knowing to drool and scramble forward with hands and feet to gulp down!


    But this wasn''t what he felt was the most thrilling.


    The most horrifying was what happened to the Apprentices after they swallowed the Magic Potion!


    For instance, right now¡ª


    The Apprentices had just ingested the Magic Potion.


    Like being struck by lightning, their bodies stiffening, those Apprentices fell to the ground unconscious, like deadwood.


    Bang.


    With the collision sound that signaled their fall, the true aberration quietly began.


    Due to the angle, Colin couldn''t see very clearly.


    But the inexplicably bulging bodies of the Apprentices, like a surging wave, and the strange rustling sounds near his ears,


    Gave him the sensation as if leeches were sucking on his skin, an unexplained chill of fear crawling in his heart.


    He knew, such aberrations in the Apprentices would last a while, until the next Magic Potion was presented.


    They would wake up abruptly, once again turning into thirsty wild beasts!


    "I can''t keep waiting like this," Colin thought to himself.


    After entering the passage to the Gray-White Cave Wall, he had been quietly using Floating Cone Bombs to identify and record the direction.


    Regrettably, although he could determine the general direction, due to the winding passage and varying elevations,


    He couldn''t confirm the specific distance he had traveled at the surface.


    But the location of the Gray-White Cave Wall was roughly on the western side of the Central Castle¡­


    Which was also roughly on the western side of Blackstone City.


    Before he could think further, suddenly!


    Cough¡ªcough¡ªcough!


    Lap''s violent coughing sound faintly came from behind him, getting closer and closer.


    Colin''s scalp exploded with alarm.


    At the same time,


    "Colin," a familiar voice appeared out of nowhere in his mind.


    Before he could inquire further,


    He heard the familiar voice in his mind continue,


    "There''s no time to explain. Wizard Lap is on his way back, follow my guidance and escape from here quickly!"


    Colin''s expression shifted slightly, a flash of resolve in his eyes.


    ''There''s no time to think!''


    ''No matter where this voice is guiding me, it can''t be worse than facing Wizard Lap!''


    After all, with his over-sensitivity,


    The Spiritual Light on him was like a torch, incredibly conspicuous, making such a basic disguise utterly pointless.


    He also hadn''t had time to master the White Crystal Pendant on his chest; he could only passively form Spirit Fog¡­ and in the state of over-sensitivity, that too was extremely conspicuous.


    As for placing hope on Wizard Lap not activating over-sensitivity¡­


    He was not that naive!


    Despite the multitude of thoughts in his heart, his decision came in an instant.


    In a life-threatening crisis, even if it wasn''t a lifeline but a red-hot iron stick offered, he would have to seize it without any hesitation!


    The superior body control that came with being the Ultimate Knight allowed him to rise as silently as a nimble cat.


    None of the Apprentices on the ground noticed anything.


    Colin didn''t pause for a moment, taking strides and dashing towards the corner of the Grand Hall''s stone wall.


    Then, like ripples spreading from a raindrop falling into a lake, his figure quietly vanished.


    Afterwards, within the Gray-White Cave Hall.


    The bluish-green light shone again, the loud stomach growls rose and fell in succession.


    In mid-air,


    Wizard Lap''s figure also quietly appeared, hovering silently.


    His face was pale as Golden Paper, calmly watching everything below in the Grand Hall.


    Under the state of over-sensitivity, the entire world was dotted with black spots, and the Apprentices aglow with light halos were consuming a golden plant.


    This was the ritual''s final Magic Potion.


    Had Colin been there, he would have recognized this plant at a glance, the plant he had once consumed¡ª


    The special Golden Four-leaf Clover!


    After ingesting the last Magic Potion, the Apprentices fell once more.


    Seeing this, Wizard Lap''s wooden face flickered with a hint of anticipation.


    He slowly descended from the air, stepped forward to the black iron column, and silently awaited.


    But just then.


    Whoosh!!


    A dark, translucent spike shot towards him.


    Wizard Lap slightly shifted his position, his expression unchanging.


    An abrupt burst of orange-yellow flame appeared in front of the semi-transparent spike, exploding on contact.


    Both annihilated each other, dissipating.


    He turned his head slightly, calmly looking at the black-robed figure walking out from the nearby dark shadows, and spoke softly,


    "I knew you would appear...


    Remnants of the Blackstone Family."

 Chapter 102 - 92 McIntosh

    Harrington stepped out from the dark secret passage with unhurried steps.


    He was clad in a black robe, holding a black staff with dark gold patterns, and his complexion was pale, resembling that of an ordinary middle-aged man.


    He was about to speak, but his expression suddenly turned rigid.


    In front of him, a dark mouse had unexpectedly appeared in the hand of the Lap Wizard.


    This was a Hidden Mouse.


    The Hidden Mouse looked no different from a common grey mouse,


    but upon closer inspection, one could see that its body, in the dark area, melded perfectly with the shadows, making it extremely difficult for the naked eye to spot.


    Squeak!


    The next second,


    a burst of flames suddenly enveloped the Hidden Mouse, burning it to cinders.


    Harrington''s expression remained unchanged.


    He naturally recognized the Hidden Mouse, which originally belonged to him.


    At the same time, he also realized why Lap was not surprised by his sudden attack and had even been prepared.


    Glancing slightly, his gaze rested on the body of an ordinary female apprentice nearby.


    That was Mia, his plant in the Lap School.


    He didn''t expect her to be exposed.


    Before he could think further,


    Whoosh!


    A blast of scorching flame swiftly shot towards him!


    Harrington''s gaze hardened as he waved his dark gold staff.


    A black stone wall rose from the ground!


    Boom!


    The flame collided with the stone wall and exploded, the immense force shattering the wall into fragments, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    Lap looked somewhat surprised, scrutinizing Harrington carefully before his gaze finally settled on the staff with the dark gold patterns.


    "An exotic artifact of the Blackstone Family?" he asked in a confirming tone, "Is this what you''re relying on?"


    Harrington remained cold and silent, swinging his staff and attacking Lap again.


    He had been observing from the shadows for a long time, and Lap in front of him was already at the end of his tether!


    Words were useless!


    The blood feud of the Blackstone Family from sixty years ago must be settled today!


    While Harrington and Lap Wizard were fiercely battling,


    Suddenly, sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha¡ªhahaha¡ªhahahaha¡ª!"


    A crazed, joyful laughter erupted, reverberating through the pale-grey hall.


    In the midst of dark red pools of blood and twisted corpses, Nidham, having lost his usual elegant demeanor, was turning his head, looking at his raised palm and laughing wildly without any restraint!


    "Is this the power of an Official Wizard?"


    After consuming the last specially prepared magic potion¡ªthe Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    It was as though the last piece finally completed a broken circle, with the various magic potions in his body merging under the ritual, concocting an unimaginable power!


    On the other side,


    Not far away, Harrington and Lap Wizard, because of this sudden change, momentarily stopped fighting and kept their distance from each other.


    "I never imagined McIntosh''s experiment could actually succeed," Harrington muttered, caressing his staff, greed flickering in his eyes.


    He looked towards the central part of the black iron pillar, memories flooding his mind.


    Their Blackstone Family were native islanders, originally just a family of Wizard Apprentices.


    But about two hundred years ago,


    one of his ancestors stumbled upon a relic left by a Second Rank Wizard named McIntosh on the island.


    The relic was in the Dark Forest, McIntosh''s Wizard Tower, and also his laboratory.


    Thereafter,


    with the resources and knowledge left behind by McIntosh, the Blackstone ancestor successfully advanced to an Official Wizard.


    This also marked the beginning of the Blackstone Family''s rule over the island!


    Until¡­ sixty years ago, his ancestor was ambushed and killed by Lap in front of him.


    On that moonless deep dark night, a young Harrington fled from Blackstone Castle in panic, led by a loyal servant.


    Initially,


    he thought Lap had left with the spoils of war,


    considering this was just a barren island.


    Moreover, Lap had never appeared on the island,


    and the island''s residents knew nothing, suddenly noticing only that the ruling Blackstone Family had inexplicably vanished.


    But after some time, when the island''s residents were suffering without the protection of an Official Wizard,


    the very culprit responsible for all this¡ªthe Lap Wizard!


    no longer concealed himself, descending like a savior to rebuild the order on Blackstone Island.


    At the same time, he replaced the Blackstone Family, becoming the new ruler of the island¡­


    At that time, young as he was, he did not know why the Lap Wizard had remained on that barren island¡ª


    until driven by vengeance, he had exhaustively read through the backup repository of books and documents stored by his family,


    from which he quietly realized the secrets hidden in the Dark Forest and the insane experiments of McIntosh...


    "Nidham, come and help me now."


    At that moment, the Lap Wizard''s thoughts stirred slightly as he suddenly turned, instructing Nidham in a deep voice.


    Beside the black iron pillar, Nidham''s eyes flickered, assessing the situation before him with some hesitation.


    "...What are you waiting for, do you really think you have become an Official Wizard already?"


    The Lap Wizard scoffed, urging him again.


    Hearing this, Nidham''s expression changed, as he carefully felt within himself.


    He did not doubt the words of the Lap Wizard,


    and he knew nothing of McIntosh''s experiments.


    In his understanding, there was no doubt that the ritual here was designed by the Lap Wizard.


    And now, it seemed that the effect of the ritual was indeed as the Lap Wizard had said, aiding them in becoming Official Wizards.


    Although the process was somewhat cruel, as the ultimate victor,


    he held no resentment towards the Lap Wizard, and was even somewhat grateful.


    Those cruel processes were just minor thorns on his path to success.


    He no longer cared.


    Soon,


    Nidham gradually sank deeper.


    Just as the Lap Wizard had said, his current condition, though much stronger than before,


    but upon closer inspection, also felt slightly discordant.


    It seemed his soul was still slightly weaker than his flesh, not yet achieving the level of an Official Wizard...


    Despite the many thoughts in his heart, in reality, it all happened in an instant.


    Nidham turned his head respectfully toward the Lap Wizard:


    "Alright, teacher, I''m coming now!"


    As he walked towards Harrington, speaking, his voice gradually grew hoarse.


    With each step he took¡ª


    Crack!!


    The sound of popping joints continuously emanated from his body,


    Transforming from a refined and lean Wizard to a massive monster draped in black armor!


    This was his signature witchcraft, Blood and Flesh Armor!


    Under the surging power within, his might far exceeded his previous state and now reached the level of an Official Wizard!


    At this sight, Harrington''s expression changed.


    Yet, his focus remained on the Black Pillar at a distance.


    At that moment,


    "Ah!"


    Nidham, now a colossal armored monster, suddenly let out a bone-chilling howl!


    His horn-like carapace sections, hard as steel, began melting like wax, transforming into a flowing black and red liquid that cascaded down his body!


    "No!"


    The Lap Wizard uttered a low cry, hastily turning his head.


    But his gaze was not on the melting Nidham.


    It was instead fixed on the center of the Black Pillar at a distance.


    Harrington was similarly focused intently on the center of the Black Pillar.


    There, unexpectedly, had appeared a distinct gray-white stone pillar with vine-like patterns, unlike the other Black Pillars.


    At the top of this gray-white stone pillar,


    after Nidham awoke, a golden light point gradually appeared, expanding continually.


    That light had now grown to the size of a human head.


    Yet now, due to Nidham''s abnormal condition, its expansion had abruptly slowed, nearly coming to a halt, and even flickered dimly.


    Swoosh!


    A beam of healing light suddenly bathed Nidham.


    The Lap Wizard coughed, suppressing the sensation of weakness within him, and waved his hand again.


    Swoosh!


    The same healing light once again fell upon the partially melted body of Nidham.


    ''McIntosh''s true Magic Potion has not yet fully appeared, Nidham cannot die yet!''


    The Lap Wizard''s eyes blazed as he silently roared in his mind.


    If the information about McIntosh''s experiments kept and curated by the Blackstone Family was accurate,


    If that manuscript of McIntosh''s had not been exaggerated,


    That same manuscript he had sought for sixty years, even going so far as to establish the Lap School, which was intended to advance to a Second Rank Wizard,


    would be "McIntosh Magic Potion."


    Now, it was his only hope for survival!!

 Chapter 103 - 93 Three People

    Whoosh!


    Another beam of healing light fell upon Nidham.


    Looking back, it was the healing magic released by the black-robed Harrington!


    At that moment, Harrington was watching Nidham, whose body was still dissolving and melting away, with a very grave expression.


    Just like Lap, he did not wish to see Nidham die there and then, which would lead to McIntosh''s experiment being discontinued.


    He couldn''t bear the thought of missing out on McIntosh''s magic potion at the end of the experiment!


    There was only this one chance for McIntosh''s experiment,


    and Lap had prepared for it for sixty whole years!


    Should this attempt fail, he might never obtain McIntosh''s magic potion again!


    And now, he was merely a peak Wizard Apprentice, able only to exert the power of a Basic Level Wizard, thanks to the dark gold scepter in his hand.


    But, if McIntosh''s manuscript held no lies...


    If he could acquire McIntosh''s magic potion!


    Perhaps he could become the second Official Wizard in the history of the Blackstone Family!


    Thus, as a true and legitimate Official Wizard, he could rule over Blackstone Island anew and restore the glory of the Blackstone Family!


    Of course.


    He was not foolish.


    This decision was made after careful consideration.


    Surveying the entire Gray-White Cave Hall,


    Wizard Lap was already critically injured and nearing death, now even overextending his body to cast healing magic, only to become worse thereafter.


    As for Nidham, whose body was melting, there was even less to say.


    Once McIntosh''s magic potion would appear and no one was left to cast healing magic for him... He would likely collapse and die.


    Regarding the other apprentices lying on the ground, chests slightly moving, there was even less need to worry.


    So, in the end.


    It would always come down to a duel between him and Lap, no different from now!


    Even more so as Wizard Lap''s exertion from casting healing magic would provide him with an advantage.


    Harrington''s gaze swept around, and he made up his mind in secrecy, continuing to wave the dark gold scepter in his hand.


    Though he could stand aside and watch without expending Magic Power as Wizard Lap healed the dissolving Nidham,


    the magic potion was of paramount importance, and relying solely on Lap''s healing might not suffice.


    Whoosh!


    A thicker beam of Healing Light than before flew from the tip of his dark gold magic wand, aiming at Nidham.


    Hum.


    It seemed that the quantitative change had led to a qualitative transformation.


    Under the continuous application of healing magic by both him and Lap,


    Nidham nearby actually began to change.


    His condition gradually stabilized, his body no longer dissolving, and even the parts that had melted were slowly reforming.


    As his body recovered, a touch of relief flickered across Nidham''s face.


    But the next second, his expression subtly changed.


    A voice, coming from nowhere in particular, rang directly in his mind.


    "Do not be alarmed, McIntosh... a participant in the...experiment, I am the... the spirit of McIntosh''s... Wizard Tower."


    This voice, mechanical and indifferent, genderless,


    seemed to be suffering some interference, somewhat unstable, stuttering and unclear.


    Nidham glanced at Harrington and Lap, who were both unaware, and kept his expression unchanged.


    "The ritual you are...experiencing is... the last... experiment designed in the life of Wizard McIntosh, and it is also... his proudest work. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He has also... named it... after himself¡ªMcIntosh''s... experiment!"


    Nidham was taken aback, wasn''t this a ritual established by Wizard Lap to aid in their advancement to Official Wizard?


    He was puzzled inside but did not waste time questioning.


    As thoughts flashed through his mind, he zeroed in on the key point and asked in his heart:


    "What is the purpose of McIntosh''s experiment?"


    If this wasn''t a ritual established by Wizard Lap,


    then its purpose might not be to help them advance to Official Wizard as Wizard Lap had said.


    "It will be... difficult to... explain to... you the grand purpose of McIntosh''s experiment in... such a short time, participant."


    "All you... need to know is that I am...summoning you to remind...you that the experiment...is not...over."


    "You still...need to take the magic potion from McIntosh...that will soon appear on the gray-white...pillar to truly...complete this...experiment."


    Nidham, feeling his body gradually return to normal under the healing magic, had his eyes flickering.


    But the subsequent words from the spirit put to rest any other thoughts he had.


    "Be... advised, participant, the current... state of your body is merely... temporarily... stabilized, and without the... healing magic, it won''t take long for the collapse to...resume."


    "You must... take McIntosh''s...magic potion, in order to...&*%*"


    At this point, the voice of the spirit abruptly became even more choppy, hard to discern.


    It seemed there was some trouble.


    Indistinctly, Nidham thought he heard a voice different from the mechanical indifference of the tower spirit,


    but he couldn''t make out what it said.


    And after a moment, all the voices quietly disappeared.


    No matter how he called out in his mind, he received no response.


    Nidham furrowed his brows slightly and turned his head.


    At that moment, Wizard Lap and Harrington stood on either side of the gray-white pillar, tacitly casting healing magic on him.


    The golden glow on the gray-white pillar, as his condition gradually improved, began to expand slowly again.


    At this moment, the area it encompassed was already close to the edge of the flat surface at the top of the pillar.


    The pale golden glow reflected in the depths of Nidham''s eyes.


    The scene before him, the abnormal behaviors of Wizard Lap and the shadowy figure in the black robe healing him, as well as the glow on the distant gray-white pillar,


    indisputably affirmed the words of the voice claiming to be the tower spirit were not false.


    Thus, he understood.


    Once McIntosh''s magic potion emerged from the golden glow,


    the healing magic that was currently maintaining the balance of his body would undoubtedly vanish in an instant.


    Wizard Lap would then fight over McIntosh''s magic potion with the figure in black.


    And he,


    would die as his body continued to melt away without the support of healing magic!


    Nidham clenched his fists, lowered his head, and at an angle unseen by the other two, silently bared his teeth in a smile.


    Then, he composed all his emotions, lifted his head, and stood quietly upright.

 Chapter 104 - 94 Ghost

    On the other side.


    Descent.


    Descent¡ª


    After a familiar sensation of weightlessness passed, the chaotic vision finally restored itself.


    Hum¡ª


    The Light Brightness Skill was cast from his hand, and a gentle white light immediately spread out, illuminating the surroundings.


    Colin looked around, and after a moment, he let out a slight breath.


    What came into view was no longer the despair-inducing Gray-White Cave Hall, and the persistent stench of blood around his nostrils had at last dissipated.


    But he didn''t relax too much, his face still bore an indelible seriousness.


    ''McIntosh''s Magic Potion, huh...''


    He murmured to himself, while following the instructions of the voice that appeared in his mind, walking down the gray-white passage in front of him.


    The light of the Light Brightness Skill could only illuminate a short distance in front of him on the gray-white passage; beyond his line of sight, the passage was still pitch black.


    The protruding vine patterns on the gray-white walls on both sides, with the movement of the source of the white light from the Light Brightness Skill in his hand, cast long dark shadows.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    The silent passage was utterly quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing.


    Before long.


    He arrived at the end of the passage.


    A smooth stone door carved with blooming flowers appeared before him.


    Click.


    As he approached, the stone door automatically swung open.


    From the crack of the opening door, a bluish light seeped out, landing on his face, making his blue eyes appear even more profound.


    "It''s been a long time."


    In the small room, at the very top of the pyramid-shaped stone altar, a light sphere emitting a bluish glow was greeting him.


    "It''s been a long time," Colin''s lips moved slightly, his voice a bit delayed,


    "...Erica."


    But he still hesitantly called out that name.


    That familiar voice that had suddenly appeared in the cave hall, it was Erica''s.


    After instructing him on how to escape, she had briefly explained to him on the path of the passage he just came through about the experiment known as McIntosh''s Mad Experiment, and his Magic Potion.


    McIntosh''s experiment... his heart was still uneasy.


    He inexplicably thought of those Apprentices who had died in the rituals¡ªeyewitnesses to the ceremonies.


    Until they died... they didn''t even know the truth.


    After the greetings were over, the room fell into silence.


    Colin stared at the bluish light sphere in front of him, silent for a moment, then spoke:


    "I''m glad I can see you again, Erica." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feeling that he hadn''t been quite straightforward, he added:


    "I mean¡ªI''m glad you''re still alive..."


    "I am already dead," Erica interrupted him, her voice calm, without any fluctuation.


    "I''m just an incomplete ghost... or perhaps, even less than that."


    Colin was taken aback, his eyes cast downward.


    In this world, it wasn''t unusual for a soul to lose its physical body and continue to exist by attaching to something else.


    Even many Wizards who were experts in life modifications would specifically change their bodies for a more powerful steel mechanical form.


    He had thought that perhaps Erica was in such a situation, possibly having gained some sort of miracle...


    But a ghost...


    A ghost was another matter.


    It was an accidental product born after the demise of the soul.


    In the strictest sense, although a ghost retains complete or partial memories of its former self,


    In actuality, it is no longer the original soul.


    The original soul is already dead.


    Ghosts no longer possess human emotions; their way of thinking is completely different.


    They know neither warmth nor affection, neither love nor hatred.


    Their only driving force to exist is the deepest obsession of the original soul.


    "After entering the Dark Forest, I couldn''t find a miracle," Erica began narrating, as the crystal ball flickered.


    "Eventually, I got lost in a cave, and then I died..."


    "I don''t know how long had passed, but ''I'' came back to life."


    "Unlike other weak spirits born from chaos, my memory isn''t foggy, it''s even surprisingly intact..."


    At this point, Erica paused, vaguely mentioning something.


    "At first, I was puzzled, but then I thought of the ancestral legend passed down in my family¡­ Perhaps, it has to do with my bloodline."


    "In any case, I was stronger than I''d imagined, my power had already far surpassed that of a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, and I was even nearing the strength of an Advanced Apprentice."


    "Unfortunately, before I could fully adjust to the body of a ghost¡ª"


    "Not far from the cave, the tower spirit inside the McIntosh Wizard Tower noticed me and captured me, planning to consume me to replenish its own essence."


    "Then, as you see, I in turn consumed the tower spirit, but I also became damaged."


    Colin silently absorbed the information in Erica''s words.


    "So Colin, as you can see, I pose no threat to you, instead, I can help you escape the McIntosh Wizard Tower that is about to be destroyed."


    The crystal ball flickered as Erica continued.


    "What do I need to pay?" Colin asked directly.


    He stared at the pale blue crystal ball in front of him, already having a vague answer in mind.


    "Do you still have the letter I gave you before?"


    Colin nodded without surprise.


    The crystal ball, seeing this, flickered rapidly for a moment, seemingly expressing joy.


    "Good, Colin, what I need you to do is bring that letter and my body back to the capital of the Holy Flame Kingdom, Ryan, and give it to my parents."


    "In return, I will help you successfully escape from this Wizard Tower that is about to be destroyed..."


    "Not enough," Colin interrupted her.


    He took off the silver triangular School Badge from his chest and gently caressed it.


    Then he looked up, his deep blue eyes solemnly gazing at the crystal ball in front of him, lips moving slightly.


    "I need more compensation from you."


    "¡­ Sure, as long as it''s within my capability," Erica replied without hesitation.


    "Tell me, what compensation do you need."


    "I need knowledge."


    Colin spoke softly, his gaze deep.


    His voice was calm, yet somehow, it evoked the thought of a vast sea...


    Beneath which, who knows how many undercurrents surged.


    The silver triangular badge in his hand twisted and deformed under the force of his fingers, making a faint noise.


    Then, he casually tossed it aside and paused.


    He slightly opened his mouth, took a breath, and with a voice as if suppressing something, he emphatically said:


    "... I need power!"


    "Erica, since you absorbed McIntosh''s tower spirit, you must have inherited its stored knowledge..."


    "Even if not entirely, even if it''s incomplete, I need whatever knowledge there is."


    "And any other things that bring power, Witch Tools, Magic Potions, Magic Crystals, wonders...


    All of it, anything that can bring power, I want it all!"


    The pale blue crystal ball fell silent for a moment, then without hesitation said:


    "No problem."


    "However, due to the ravages of time, the tower spirit''s essence had already been depleted, leaving not much knowledge remaining, and additionally, due to our previous fight and collision, what''s left is now even less..."


    "It doesn''t matter. However much there is, give it to me."


    "Alright." The crystal ball said no more.


    Buzz¡ª


    Moments later, several blue-green balls of light appeared abruptly in the room, then just as suddenly vanished, leaving a scatter of items on the ground.


    "First, pick up the ring on the far left; it is a Storage Witch Tool," instructed the crystal ball,


    "Then put the white crystal ball next to the ring here with me, and I will engrave all the stored knowledge inside it."


    "Okay." Colin nodded, turned around to pick up the Storage Ring.


    But as if thinking of something, he suddenly paused and turned back to ask:


    "Erica¡­ what did you mean by ''the Wizard Tower that''s about to be destroyed''?"

 Chapter 105 - 95: Utterly Convinced

    Inside the Tower Spirit Room at the very center of McIntosh Wizard Tower.


    Colin''s face was solemn as he swiftly gathered various materials scattered across the smooth floor of the Tower Spirit Room


    and packed them one by one into his Storage Ring.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a loud bang followed by a shake.


    Colin''s heart tightened as he instinctively turned to ask Erica,


    "How much longer for the knowledge recording?"


    "We''re about seventy percent done."


    Colin nodded slightly and continued to quickly store the materials.


    His heart was still in shock.


    That McIntosh Magic Potion was a complete and utter deception!


    No, McIntosh didn''t feel he was deceiving anyone... he had simply gone mad!


    His so-called experiment, designed at the end of life, his last and most proud work, intended to resurrect himself...


    Was actually designed with divine inspiration?!


    McIntosh, Wizard!


    Foolish enough to believe in the revelations of the divine!!


    At this moment.


    Inside the grey and white stone hall.


    The golden light clusters on the grey and white pillars had already expanded to the same size as the pillars themselves.


    Brilliant golden light illuminated the entire grey and white stone hall, casting a golden sheen over the originally grimacing corpses and dark red pools of blood, adding an inexplicable sense of grandeur to the once gloomy and terrifying scene.


    White healing light continued to pour onto Nidham. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nidham stood in place, his expression wooden, but a careful look revealed the fierceness hidden in his eyes!


    Wizard Lap''s complexion grew increasingly pale, coughing without covering his mouth and nose.


    He was in a standoff with Harrington.


    After a while.


    Suddenly!


    The golden light rapidly faded, and the hall turned gloomy and terrifying once again.


    In the dim light, a heart-shaped golden fruit suddenly appeared at the top of the grey and white pillar¡ª


    That was the McIntosh Magic Potion!


    At the same time!


    Swish!


    Inside the hall, Lap and the two others sprang into action.


    Figures flickered, and several flashes of witchcraft light passed by!


    The next moment!


    In front of Harrington,


    an incandescent, scorching ray continually pierced through his layered, shimmering metallic light shield!


    Before Wizard Lap.


    An orange-yellow firewall erupted from the ground, firmly blocking the pale black spikes!


    On the other side.


    Nidham was incredulous.


    "Ah!!"


    The intense pain coursing through his body made him let out a scream of agony!


    He had never imagined that, in the moment the McIntosh Magic Potion appeared,


    Lap and Harrington, besides attacking each other, had also simultaneously cast a spell at him.


    Under the combined attack of the white-hot ray and the translucent pale black spikes,


    the delicate balance temporarily maintained within his body was instantly disrupted.


    Nidham''s body began to melt like wax once again!


    He screamed as he turned into a pile of black and crimson bloody muck!


    The plan he had long harbored in his heart was over before it could be put into action.


    Moments later.


    The battle on the other side also came to an end.


    "Cough¡ªcough¡ª!"


    Wizard Lap coughed violently twice, ejecting thin, red flesh filaments from his mouth and nose, splattering everywhere.


    Hiss.


    These thin, red flesh filaments were even more lively than before.


    Falling to the ground, they twisted and wriggled like snakes, rapidly coalescing into clusters as if breeding some grotesque entity.


    But Wizard Lap did not care, catching a glimpse of Harrington, who he had grievously wounded and temporarily immobilized nearby.


    Without hesitation, he crawled and ran frantically toward the nearby grey and white pillar.


    In his life, he was most proud of his two Wizard Spells¡ªthe dazzling Sun Fireball like the great sun.


    And,


    what he had previously used to trap the Lord of Thorns and Flesh''s projection, what he now used to imprison Harrington¡ªthe Space Confinement Chains!


    From the start, there was no other outcome for this battle.


    Since he knew in advance that Harrington would come, he naturally made thorough preparations!


    Getting close.


    Closer¡ª!


    That heart-shaped golden fruit was right before his eyes.


    That was the McIntosh Magic Potion prepared by McIntosh for his resurrection, capable of enhancing Life Force, prolonging life, fortifying the soul, and increasing Magic Power¡ª


    McIntosh Magic Potion!


    Wizard Lap gasped heavily, shedding countless thin, red flesh filaments with each step he took.


    Just like the remaining droplets after a bath, cascading down as the body moved, scattering everywhere.


    If one were to lift the gray Wizard Robe that covered his body at this moment, they would be horrified to find no intact area of his once smooth and healthy skin¡ª


    All that met the eye were dense, twisting, protruding red flesh buds!


    Lap''s eyes were filled with longing.


    McIntosh''s manuscript had given him enormous confidence.


    Although he was not a Wizard specialized in Magic Potions.


    Still, for sixty years, he had studied back and forth, repeatedly researching all the information about McIntosh left by the Blackstone Family, as well as the preserved McIntosh''s manuscripts.


    The vast majority of the knowledge and conclusions within had been confirmed by him to be true.


    That final McIntosh experiment, he had also verified many times.


    Every time he saw it, he couldn''t help but marvel,


    "Ah, what beauty, what simplicity of ritual...


    Such an unbelievable stroke of genius!"


    The same validation had been done by the ruling Wizard of the island of the Blackstone Family, producing the same conclusion.


    And the exclamation was the same as his, as if praising the divine:


    "Ah, what beauty, what simplicity of ritual...


    Such an unbelievable stroke of genius!"


    The McIntosh Magic Potion must surely save him!


    Wizard Lap believed this without a doubt!

 Chapter 106 - 96 Divine

    Suddenly!


    Crack!!


    A slender, white-hot lightning bolt appeared abruptly in the cave hall, striking the empty space.


    Wizard Lap''s heart trembled at the sight.


    In his current state, he could no longer handle any possible mishaps.


    This white-hot lightning was clearly the power of the McIntosh Wizard Tower Spirit...


    But, having stayed on Blackstone Island for sixty years, he had visited the McIntosh Wizard Tower countless times to check.


    He had long since unraveled the mysteries of that Tower Spirit¡ªit was nothing more than a rigid mechanical program.


    Why now...


    He shook his head, no longer pondering, and, gritting his teeth, recklessly rushed toward the heart-shaped McIntosh Magic Potion, now within arm''s reach!


    He had no way out!


    Crack!


    The white-hot lightning struck again.


    Wizard Lap''s heart trembled.


    But this lightning was not aimed at him.


    "Ah!"


    Not far away, Harrington, who he had immobilized, was struck by the sudden appearance of lightning, emitting a scream before instantly losing his breath of life.


    The scepter with its dark golden patterns fell from his hands and, after a flash of blue-green light, quietly disappeared.


    On the other side, Lap finally touched the McIntosh Magic Potion he had longed for so desperately!


    "I finally... finally... hahaha!"


    He held the heart-shaped potion in his hands, no longer maintaining his usual composure, but rather bursting into a maniacal laughter.


    But within the next second, before he even had a chance to consume it!


    Bang!!


    A pale golden glow emanated from the McIntosh Magic Potion in Wizard Lap''s hands, spreading out like ripples!


    Swoosh,


    The wave carried an irresistible repelling force, instantly causing Wizard Lap''s tightly grasped hand to involuntarily open, followed by his arm being pushed outward.


    Then, the pale golden wave continued to spread with a powerful force, thrusting Wizard Lap back forcefully and flinging him through the air!


    Puff! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No!"


    Midair, Wizard Lap spat out a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with slender strands of flesh, reaching out his hand in an unbelievable and desperate scream.


    But he had already lost his ability to resist...


    He could only allow himself to be pushed further away by the golden ripples, before crashing heavily to the ground like a torn sack.


    The pale golden wave fluttered.


    The divine golden light shone once again in the cave hall!


    In a daze, Wizard Lap seemed to hear a chant like a song beside his ears.


    The pale golden ripples gathered above the corpse of Nidham.


    Then they transformed into dense points of light, floating, settling down.


    The black-red, fleshly sludge that had formed from the dissolution of Nidham, under the baptism of the pale golden dots, unexpectedly turned into a golden hue.


    Then, like magma, it began to boil and flow.


    Spreading, diffusing.


    The liquid gold, seemingly slow but actually swift, spread to its surroundings, engulfing them.


    As if it were nurturing something.


    Wizard Lap watched the spreading pool of golden liquid not far away.


    His eyes finally regained clarity.


    A complex expression surfaced on his face, as if filled with regret, realization, and despair.


    For a long time.


    As the golden liquid spread to just in front of him.


    Finally,


    His lips quivered and he slowly sighed,


    "...Divine."


    Then, he was enveloped by the spreading pale golden liquid.


    The slender, fresh-red tendrils on his body emitted a piercing screech, as if they knew calamity was imminent.


    Before losing consciousness, he faintly heard¡ª


    Within the hall, a grand and indifferent light sound arose.


    "Lord of the Bloody Thorns..."


    ...


    "I have one more question."


    In the center of the McIntosh Wizard Tower''s Spirit Room, Colin, holding an authority staff with dark golden patterns, turned back to the glowing orb and said,


    "Why didn''t you stop the ritual from taking place?"


    The light orb flickered for a moment before Erica''s somewhat bewildered voice came through.


    "The divine power is unimaginable... How could Their ritual be so easily thwarted?


    Moreover, it was only after the ritual began that the tower spirit allocated part of its power, and I was able to seize the opportunity to defeat the tower spirit."


    "Before that, I had no authority over the Wizard Tower."


    "The reason you weren''t attacked by the ritual''s elimination mechanism was not because I was controlling it from behind."


    "You were lucky; the McIntosh concocted Golden Four-leaf Clover you once consumed caused the ritual to misjudge that you had reached the final step of the ritual,


    so no punishment came upon you."


    Colin''s expression grew slightly grave, tinged with worry.


    "You don''t need to worry about other effects."


    As if knowing what he was thinking, Erica quickly added.


    "That Golden Four-leaf Clover is just an ordinary precious magic potion, an outstanding result of McIntosh''s early research."


    "As long as it''s not within the ritual, as long as you haven''t consumed the series of prerequisite magic potions in order, it''s just an ordinary precious magic potion...


    It''s Their divine power that combines these ordinary things to produce strange effects..."


    "So, under such power, even if I could devour the tower spirit in advance, I likely would not be able to stop the ritual..."


    "Just not strong enough," Colin interrupted sternly.


    He caressed the Storage Ring on his index finger, which now had turned into a black pattern.


    He asked his final question.


    "Will you come with me?"


    "Go back, Ryan."


    The pale blue Crystal Ball flickered violently.


    It was a while before a voice came.


    "I can''t leave, Colin."


    "The moment I devoured the tower spirit, I survived.


    But I also put on the shackles that originally belonged to the tower spirit."


    "To ensure the successful progression of the ritual while he was alive, McIntosh set up numerous constraints for the tower spirit."


    "The moment I leave here, I will be destroyed. There would be no other outcome."


    "These are constraints set by a Second Rank Wizard; you are too weak to change anything."


    Colin fell silent, his fists clenched slightly.


    Erica also paused.


    She wasn''t afraid of death.


    Ghosts have no yearning for life and likewise, no fear of death.


    But she wanted to go home...


    "Hurry and leave, Colin."


    "I''ve released the other apprentices who survived the ritual, to delay Their arrival!"


    "While They have not fully descended, I still have full control of the Wizard Tower. Hurry and leave..."


    As her urging words rang out.


    Click.


    The stone door behind Colin made the sound of opening, revealing a long, dark passage behind it.


    Colin took a deep look at the pale blue Crystal Ball at the center of the Spirit Room, then lowered his gaze.


    "Goodbye, Erica," he said softly.


    Then, without hesitation, he let out a breath and turned to run towards the door.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    He left the Spirit Room, and following Erica''s hints in his mind, he sprinted forwards.


    He traveled through the passageway, rounded the corner,


    Next was to cross the stone wall in front of him.


    Colin rushed at the wall as he had done before.


    Bang!


    But this time,


    The sensation of falling through as he passed through the stone wall didn''t come as usual.


    Instead, what he felt was the sour and painful sensation of his nose colliding with the wall.


    He hadn''t managed to pass through the stone wall!


    "Erica, what''s going on?"


    Colin''s heart sank, disregarding the pain as he asked urgently in his mind.

 Chapter 107 - 97: Foolishness

    He didn''t get a response from Erica in his heart¡­


    But he heard a grand symphony that seemed to come from nowhere!


    Like the orchestration of flutes or the roar of whales. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, everything within his field of vision began to change.


    As if the cold breath of deep winter swept across a calm lake, the flowing clear water instantly froze, turning into white frost.


    Everything before him also gradually changed its form.


    But not into ice.


    Instead¡­


    Golden¡ª


    Dazzlingly bright gold!


    Everything he could see was slowly turning gold.


    The rough floor beneath his feet, the gray-white stone wall in front of him, even the faint white glow of the crystals overhead, all were covered in dazzling gold.


    The vine-shaped reliefs on the walls on either side turned into flowing molten gold under some force.


    "¡­Colin."


    At this moment, Erica''s faint voice finally reached him.


    She explained haltingly:


    "He is using the energy pool of McIntosh Wizard Tower to hasten His arrival."


    "Without energy, I can no longer open the Transmission Stone Wall of the Wizard Tower for you¡­"


    Her voice ended there, for some reason, suddenly breaking off.


    Colin''s heart sank sharply.


    But he no longer had the luxury of contemplation,


    because another anomaly had appeared before him.


    The liquid that resembled golden molten rock appearing on both stone walls quietly, though seemingly slowly, rapidly intertwined and gathered before him.


    Whoosh!


    The next moment, a monster, seemingly made of gold, appeared before him.


    The monster was humanoid, but massive, standing at three meters tall, with corners as hard as rocks.


    Simultaneously, Erica''s intermittent, faint voice came again, hurriedly saying:


    "He has entered the second phase of His arrival, this is one of His minions."


    "Take out the Crystal Ball I gave you with inscribed knowledge. It contains information about the Divine arrival and the structural map of McIntosh Wizard Tower. McIntosh Wizard Tower is long dilapidated and now has many breaks and leaks, many of which lead to the outside, located at..."


    Whoosh!!


    The golden monster swung its huge fist at him.


    Colin imperceptibly exhaled, carefully listening to Erica''s words as he tightly gripped the scepter in his hand, adorned with dark gold patterns, and shot out a specially made giant Cone Bullet.


    Bang!!


    The Cone Bullet, with a force far greater than what he wielded as an apprentice, struck the chest of the golden monster with ferocity.


    The monster, seemingly sturdy, was instantly shattered by the Cone Bullet, breaking off a significant part.


    Then, under further attacks of Cone Bullets, it burst into fragments, turning into a pool of golden rubble.


    But before he could rejoice for long,


    the remains of the golden monster, which had shattered and scattered everywhere, turned back into flowing molten rock.


    It seemed that it might not take long before it would congeal and revive.


    Colin''s heart tightened involuntarily.


    Although the golden monster could be readily defeated with the aid of the strange artifact Erica had given him,


    it wasn''t without a cost.


    This scepter was called Foolishness.


    It was the last of the strange artifacts that Erica had seized from Harrington.


    Strange artifacts are miraculous, often possessing inexplicable and incredible powers.


    Of course, they typically come with various costs, whether light or heavy.


    The Foolishness Scepter originally belonged to McIntosh and, although later obtained by the Blackstone Family, McIntosh, as its first owner, naturally recorded its detailed usage.


    Thus, under Erica''s guidance, Colin quickly mastered the scepter and gained a preliminary understanding of it.


    The effect and cost of the Foolishness Scepter are simple.


    Its effect is amplification, magnifying the effects of witchcraft¡ªan amplifier of witchcraft power.


    The amplified power, theoretically, has no upper limit.


    But in practice,


    its cost limits its amplification ceiling.


    The cost of the Foolishness Scepter is simple, as its name suggests¡ªfoolishness.


    It causes the user to forget the knowledge they have already mastered.


    The scope of knowledge includes everything.


    However, usually starting with the knowledge of the witchcraft deployed through it.


    Though his mind was crowded with thoughts, reality had only passed in an instant.


    Colin glanced at the golden monster, nearly revived and taking form, unhesitatingly bolstered himself with Swift Skill, and quickly stepped away.


    Engaging with this undying monster clearly wasn''t a wise choice.


    But he hadn''t run far,


    when a familiar voice suddenly came from down the path.


    "Martha, be careful!" Berkeley''s voice rang out.


    Boom!


    The next moment, a Burst Fireball erupted, mixed with the golden monster''s roaring.


    "Thank you, Lord Berkeley," the female apprentice''s voice of gratitude followed.


    "This golden monster possesses the strength of a peak Wizard Apprentice, do not engage with it, hurry and leave."


    That was the voice of peak apprentice Fina.


    Colin''s expression remained unchanged as he continued to run forward.


    Soon, the figures of five apprentices came into view.


    "Who!"


    Colin''s appearance made all the apprentices turn their heads in astonishment.


    "Colin..." Flower on the far right was the first to recognize him and exclaimed in surprise, "You survived too?"


    His mind was full of doubts.


    After all, whether it was among the remaining nine people after the latter part of the ritual, or when they woke up from their nightmarish thirst and escaped following the guidance in their hearts, Colin''s figure was never seen!


    Colin nodded imperceptibly without seeming too surprised at their presence.


    According to what Erica said last¡ª


    To delay His arrival, she created as much time for escape as possible.


    She had let out all the Wizard Apprentices who should have served as kindling for His arrival during the last remnants of the ritual.


    Then, at that moment, a golden beast attacked them again.


    "Roar!!"


    Boom!!


    Berkeley, without hesitation, fired another fireball, blocking the attack from the golden beast!


    He then said in a deep voice,


    "Quick, let''s go!"


    Without any hesitation, he chose the passage on the left and sprinted.


    The other four apprentices did not hesitate either, following closely behind.


    Just a second later, Berkeley glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Colin still standing still, he paused and urgently turned back, "Colin! Hurry up and follow!"


    Upon hearing this, Colin''s indifferent expression slightly softened, and his pace towards the correct path hesitated.


    After pausing, he was about to turn back and call Berkeley and the others.


    Roar!!


    But suddenly, another golden beast appeared in front of Berkeley and the others.


    "No good!" Berkeley''s face turned pale, stopping in his tracks.


    But before he could think of a strategy,


    Roar!


    Another golden beast appeared behind them.


    No!


    There were three!


    Including the original one, there were now five golden beasts surrounding them altogether.


    Each of them was at least as strong as a peak-rank apprentice.


    The hearts of Berkeley and the others sank.


    After hesitating for a moment, taking advantage of the golden beasts not yet attacking, he said in a deep voice:


    "Fina! I''ll hold them off, you take the other apprentices and get out of here!"


    After saying this, he paused slightly, saying softly:


    "Find a new place to settle down, rebuild the Lap School if possible.


    If not... just survive well."


    After speaking, a hint of confusion flashed in Berkeley''s eyes.


    When they woke up, all that was left in the Gray-White Cave Hall was the continuously surging, soon-to-be-near golden liquid.


    Nothing else was present.


    And under the threat of the approaching golden liquid, they didn''t think too much and had to flee in panic.


    But before they could catch their breath, they faced such a desperate situation...


    "Berkeley¡­" Fina looked at him, her expression complex.


    She took a deep breath, her lips trembled:


    "I promise..."


    Suddenly.


    Bang!!


    Before she could finish her sentence, the golden beast in front of them suddenly exploded.


    Boom!!


    The next second, the remaining four golden beasts also shattered into pieces.


    Berkeley turned back, looking at Colin who had launched the attack, his expression incredibly shocked!


    "Colin, you..." Nidham next to him mumbled unconsciously.


    Fina, who had been caught up in emotion and preparing to lead everyone to escape desperately, looked baffled.


    The unbearable life and death crisis seemed to burst like a bubble?!


    "The golden beasts will revive."


    Colin stated calmly without intending to explain, he simply continued succinctly:


    "I know the way out, follow me."


    Since they had met on the way,


    As members of the same School, it was only right to lend a hand.


    Moreover, if Berkeley and the others, who had taken the Magic Potion, were devoured by the Divine again,


    Then Erica''s efforts would be wasted.


    It was wise to take them along and escape.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Colin and the others dashed along, constantly encountering the invasive golden flow.


    A subdued oppressive force accumulated and condensed in the air.


    Colin continued silently, leading the others as they rushed through the now radiant golden corridor.


    Perhaps because the golden beasts had been shattered and hadn''t revived yet,


    They didn''t encounter any golden beasts in the latter half.


    In a short while.


    He arrived at a gray-white wall, still untainted by the golden hue.


    Inside the wall was a room for cultivating McIntosh''s specially bred Golden Four-leaf Clovers, the place where he had accidentally acquired that Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    Without hesitation, Colin stopped two meters from the wall, lightly waving his dark gold-patterned black scepter.


    Teng!!


    A huge fireball shot from the top of the scepter, hitting the wall, which had lost its energy and caused the defense Witch Array to fail, blasting a huge hole.


    Then everyone followed him in, leaping into the pool.

 Chapter 108 - 98 Believers

    If one were to look down from the sky upon Blackstone Island at this moment,


    they would notice, in the western direction of the elliptical Blackstone City, near the midst of that dark forest,


    a point of dazzling gold was quietly spreading across the ground surface.


    This gold was brimming with aggression!


    Even some originally dark trees were gradually being dyed a brilliant gold color. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside an empty natural cave,


    Splash!


    Several figures leaped out from the deepest part of the pool.


    "An unknown deity is about to descend, Blackstone Island is no place to linger, we must flee at once."


    Before the other apprentices could react and recognize where they were,


    Colin didn''t stop his stride, delivering a warning before quickly heading towards the exit.


    "Aren''t you coming with us?" Berkeley asked subconsciously from behind.


    "I have other matters..." the voice drifted with the wind.


    Behind him, Berkeley''s lips moved slightly, his expression complex as he watched Colin''s figure disappear.


    He had so many questions he wanted to ask...


    "Let''s go as well," Fina retracted her gaze and said.


    At present, although it was unclear what exactly had happened,


    the urgent priority was to flee Blackstone Island!


    Berkeley nodded almost imperceptibly.


    A group of people gradually moved away.


    On the other side,


    after Colin made out his direction, he continued to run without any delay.


    The coming of the deity loomed over him like the sword of Damocles!


    He had to hurry!


    Having exited the cave and judged the direction with the help of the Floating Cone Bomb,


    some time passed.


    He arrived at the entrance of another small cave located on the southeast side of this cavern, hidden behind an ancient giant tree.


    This was the cave Erica had stumbled into.


    Taking caution, Colin bolstered himself with Defensive Witchcraft and made sure the Floating Cone Bomb could correctly judge his direction before he entered.


    After winding through the cave for quite a long time, he finally discovered Erica''s corpse at a fork.


    The familiar Wizard Robe, the familiar blond hair.


    But the robe was now torn, and the blonde hair had become withered and yellow... it was no longer as it was before.


    He sighed faintly and quickly gathered Erica''s body, stowing it in the Storage Ring.


    With considerable time already passed, there was no space for delay.


    Now that he thought about it, it was fortunate he had rescued Berkeley and the others en route.


    Otherwise, with the accelerated descent of the deity, he would have had no time to escape.


    Turning around, he hastened towards Blackstone City.


    His final destination was the dock on the east side of Blackstone City.


    He planned to find a large ship there to leave the island.


    Undoubtedly, one could not stay on Blackstone Island any longer.


    Perhaps the civilians could survive by becoming disciples of the deity.


    After all, the deity descending upon the Wizard Tower this time seemed not to be an Evil God... possibly a divine god.


    And a divine god is more merciful.


    One just needed to offer up absolute faith and frenzied loyalty, castrate their own thoughts, and live blindly and ignorantly like domesticated livestock in order to preserve life.


    But deities usually do not forgive wizards.


    Even if they do, he was not willing to be bound by so-called faith, to become an ignorant disciple.


    The unique dark trees of Blackstone Forest flew by swiftly at the side.


    Soon, his view brightened up.


    A field of golden wheat appeared before him.


    Colin''s spirit lifted, signaling that Blackstone City was not far away.


    He rushed through the wheat fields, over the city wall, and ran straight for his home on Palm Street.


    Erica''s body had already been gathered.


    But her letter, which she had left behind, he had not carried with him, it was stored in his home on Palm Street.


    Along the way,


    there were some destroyed and collapsed houses on the streets, but calm had returned as in bygone days.


    It seemed no one knew the City Lord Price had died, and the Lap School was essentially extinct...


    A great change was soon to come again.


    Colin raced all the way and soon arrived at his home on Palm Street.


    Approaching, he saw the gray-black door locked with an iron padlock.


    ''Had Renee and the others gone out?''


    His expression slightly sunk, he sighed inwardly.


    If possible, he wanted to take Renee and the others away with him.


    The deity despised wizards, and for those like Renee who had undergone wizard transformations, perhaps there wasn''t as much tolerance.


    Ordinary residents on the island might be able to survive by offering their faith.


    But it was not certain for Renee and the others.


    And,


    seafaring voyages, clearly, were not something an ordinary little ship could undertake.


    But for a large ship, unless made by a wizard,


    otherwise, it was clearly not something one person could manage alone, he needed sailors.


    Renee and the others, even without sailing experience, could help him manage sailors, freeing up time.


    However, time was of the essence right now.


    It was just a pity.


    But with this thought, Colin suddenly had an idea.


    Inexplicably, he remembered that he had instructed Renee to go to the dock in East City before he left and buy him a ship capable of long voyages.


    Could it be...


    He shook his head, no longer dwelling on the thought, and leapt into the courtyard over the wall.


    After all, he would know once he went to East City.


    He entered the familiar second-floor bedroom.


    Colin quickly retrieved a brown envelope sealed with a red and blue intertwined wax seal from a dark red storage cabinet beside the bed.


    He placed it into his Storage Ring, swiftly surveyed the room for any knowledge that might be useful,


    then without further delay, he turned and left.


    After a while,


    Splash~ Splash~


    The sound of waves hitting the rocks reached his ears.


    His nose seemed to catch the unique scent of the sea breeze.


    With unwavering steps, Colin exhaled slightly.


    East City was not far now.


    As the distance closed, the sound of the waves gradually grew louder.


    Finally, after crossing the gray-black city walls,


    a swath of azure appeared before Colin''s eyes.


    The long golden beaches stretched out into many lengthy docks.


    At the ends of these old but sturdy docks, a variety of ships, large and small, were moored.


    Unlike when the caravan had arrived, resulting in a cleared and quiet scene,


    now there were many fish stalls set up, and far out on the sea''s horizon, many ships were adrift.


    These were the vessels fishing near the coast.


    However, as far as the eye could see, there was no sign of his familiar black carriage.


    Nor could he spot Berkeley and the others¡­ Perhaps they had already left by boat?


    At that moment.


    Whoosh!!


    A visible golden ripple suddenly spread quickly.


    It caused a ripple across Colin''s human nature and the spiritual light of his knowledge.


    But unlike him, the people swept over by the golden ripple stopped in their tracks, frozen in place.


    If not for an unlucky white seabird tumbling into the sea with a splash,


    Colin would have thought time had been solidified by the golden light.


    The next moment, the frozen crowd began to move again.


    Among them, some of the people who had previously appeared normal now had inexplicable zealotry written across their faces,


    muttering incomprehensible babble non-stop.


    Most of these people were physically weak and of feeble will.


    As they continued to mutter, the soul mist surrounding them became ever fainter.


    The healthier-bodied among the people were not much better off,


    their eyes now showing bewilderment as their actions slowed.


    Colin tensed, quickly scanning the surroundings for a suitable ship.


    Clearly, It was forcibly creating followers for itself.


    The spirit of humankind was incredibly fragile.


    The gods of this world never craved worship from humans...


    It¡­ It would just take it.


    Once the soul mist that shrouded these people dissipated, they would all become Its devout and loyal followers.


    But before he found a proper ship,


    chaos erupted first.


    "You godless sinner!"


    "Worship my Lord!"


    Those who had become followers first began forcibly pressing those around them to abandon their inner defenses, through words or actions.


    At this time.


    "Wizard!"


    "There is a sinful wizard!"


    An old fisherman beside Colin, who had been carrying a bucket brimming with fish, suddenly pointed at him and shouted loudly.


    Endless fanaticism replaced the previous joy of a bountiful catch of fish.


    The wooden bucket that held his hard-earned daily catch was now overturned on the ground due to his abrupt action, scattering the fish everywhere.


    But he didn''t care at all.


    Following his shout,


    more and more people around Colin began to turn their heads to look at him!


    "You sinful wizard!"


    "Unbeliever!"


    "Go to hell, demon!"


    Colin''s expression remained calm, unresponsive to their shouts.


    Under the expanded effect of the Hope Defense Field, these people couldn''t even get within two meters of him.


    He swept his gaze around, taking in the zealous crowd being repelled by the Hope Defense Field.


    They were as if they had been thrown into predetermined molds to be squished and modified,


    Despite their different faces, body shapes, and clothing,


    the fanaticism deep in their eyes was precisely the same...


    Ptui!


    Someone spat at him,


    Bang!


    Someone threw something at him.


    "Sinful wizard!"


    Others cursed him!


    All these things were kept out by the Hope Defense Field...


    But for some reason, a feeling hot and unbearable like molten lava surged in Colin''s heart!


    He took a slight breath.


    Starting from the corner of his lips, his small muscles began to pull and tense, then his cheeks, his ears.


    An angry smile surfaced on his face!


    This was a strong emotion he had never experienced since coming to this world.


    "Heh¡ªDivine!"


    He shook his head and spoke the same words as the Wizard from the Lap School right before his death.


    As if triggered by the sarcastic tone in his voice,


    the frenzied crowd paused for a moment.


    Then, like boiling water, they suddenly erupted.


    And in this clamorous moment.


    Suddenly!


    "Master!"


    A familiar voice reached his ears.


    Colin looked up.


    On the deck of a three-masted ship not far away at the dock, Renee was waving at him, pulling Demi along.


    "Master!" Renee called out again when she saw him turn her way.


    Colin saw this, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.


    He smiled faintly, then suppressed his emotions and regained his composure.


    Boom!!


    The Hope Force Field, under his control, turned into an actively repulsing field, carving a path through the crowd towards the ship where Renee was.


    He took a step, then paused briefly.


    He turned to look back towards West City,


    until that visible, golden hue was firmly imprinted in his mind.


    Then he turned and ran towards the ship where Renee was.

 Chapter 109 - 99 Setting Sail

    "Set sail!"


    Ding, ding, ding¡ª


    On the three-masted sailing ship, four muscular men pushed the wooden capstan, and the thick iron chain was pulled up and wound, clinking as it collided.


    After a while, the heavy anchor rose from the seabed.


    Then, the three-masted sailing ship slowly started moving.


    Colin stood at the raised stern, watching the bustling wooden pier not far away, watching it gradually recede.


    The frenzied crowd filled the nearest dock, extending to the surrounding docks and the beach.


    At the moment, they were excitedly reaching out towards him, shouting something incessantly.


    Some even jumped into the sea, desperately swimming towards him. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If one ignored the fierce expressions, it looked as though they were seeing him off, or bidding a reluctant farewell.


    As the sailing ship moved on, the distance grew.


    The various objects and stones thrown by the crowd could no longer reach the departing ship.


    He waved the Foolishness Scepter and withdrew the expanded Hope Defense Field.


    With a deeper understanding of witchcraft, a wizard could utilize an increasing number of variations.


    Now, with the assistance of the Foolishness Scepter, an Official Wizard''s power-limit-breaking Hope Defense Field had even more uses.


    Before this, he could not have expanded the Hope Defense Field to such a vast extent.


    He retracted his gaze, turned around, and walked toward the middle of the ship, no longer looking at the frenzied crowd on the distant pier.


    Not far away, Renee was throwing the bodies of several sailors off the ship.


    Colin''s expression was calm.


    In his mind were the previous scenes of sailors fervently trying to stop the ship from departing.


    They had already turned their backs on him and sided with the divine...


    They were his enemies.


    Fortunately, the remaining crew members, after drifting away from the island, were gradually recovering from their befuddled expressions, and the dissipation of their spirit fog ceased, stabilizing once more.


    As he walked towards Renee, he summoned Golden Paper.


    On it, just as he expected, there was no significant change in the progress of the Hope Defense Field.


    The price for casting witchcraft with the Foolishness Scepter was the forgetting of knowledge.


    However, with the effect of Golden Paper, casting witchcraft would actually increase his knowledge.


    Clearly, the two could offset each other.


    Whether more knowledge was gained or forgotten depended largely on the strength of the amplification desired.


    At least when lifting an Apprentice''s peak-power Hope Defense Field and other spells to the strength of an Official Wizard''s regular spells,


    the knowledge forgotten was not substantial and still within acceptable limits.


    ''But it still requires cautious use,'' Colin reminded himself.


    Within a certain amplification strength range, the Foolishness Scepter would first forget the knowledge related to the cast spell.


    If this range was exceeded,


    It would not only mean completely forgetting the spell just cast, but also forgetting random pieces of knowledge.


    This range of random knowledge could include not only witchcraft but also any other knowledge, even concepts and cognition...


    For a wizard, forgetting certain important concepts or cognitions in this world


    Not only could it lead to confusion of underlying logic and the collapse of one''s worldview,


    It could also cause the dissipation of one''s human nature and knowledge''s spiritual light, leading to contamination and mutation by one''s own impurities.


    "Master," Renee greeted him respectfully as she saw him approaching.


    Colin nodded slightly.


    With a thought, the dark golden runes on the scepter vanished, turning into golden lines attached to his right forearm.


    He examined Renee.


    The blonde girl was still as exquisite and beautiful as before.


    Under his gaze, she seemed somewhat uneasy, gently straightening the golden locks by her ear.


    Colin''s expression remained calm, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked,


    "Where''s Arthur? Why haven''t I seen him?"


    Renee shook her head and replied,


    "Master, Arthur took Demi and me to the eastern city dock earlier and agreed to come back for us in the evening, then he left again on his own."


    "I don''t know where he went."


    Colin paused, then nodded slightly.


    No wonder he had not seen his familiar carriage on the beach earlier...


    As for where Arthur had gone,


    He had an idea¡ª


    It was either a tavern... or, indeed, a brothel.


    While he didn''t impose too many restrictions on his servants, he was still aware of their whereabouts.


    Renee usually stayed at home, either trying to develop new dishes, practicing her culinary skills, or playing with Demi.


    Arthur, perhaps because he received a monthly salary, would occasionally visit a tavern.


    Colin understood all this and didn''t mind.


    After all, as long as they did their jobs well and didn''t cause him any trouble, that was enough.


    Only now...


    "Colin!"


    At that moment, a shout suddenly came from afar.


    Colin looked up and saw a three-masted sailing ship not far off on the sea.


    At this moment, Berkeley and others were standing on the deck, looking towards him.


    ...


    The originally spacious captain''s quarters of the three-masted sailing ship.


    Now, because it was filled with apprentices, it seemed a bit cramped.


    "So... it was all just a plot by the divine?"


    Berkeley muttered bitterly at the forefront.


    His voice was inexplicably hoarse.


    The other apprentices also fell silent, their faces undisguised with shock and bewilderment.


    "Hmm."


    Colin nodded slightly, waiting for them to process the information.


    Silence fell in the captain''s cabin.


    For a long time.


    Berkeley was the first to break the quiet.


    "How do you all plan to proceed?"


    The complexity had vanished from his face.


    He now appeared as calm as ever.


    Even more resolute than before.


    Colin watched Berkeley, somewhat surprised.


    He had thought Berkeley would be the last to recover.


    After all...


    Among all the Wizard Apprentices present, he was undoubtedly the one with the deepest feelings for the Lap Wizard and the Lap School.


    But unexpectedly...


    Fina and the others, hearing Berkeley''s question, furrowed their brows reflexively, looking somewhat lost.


    Berkeley looked around, his gaze falling on Colin, and he paused before asking:


    "Colin... Sir, what are your plans after this?"


    Hearing him being addressed, Colin blinked, feeling somewhat bewildered.


    For no apparent reason, he recalled the time when he traded Arrow Shooting Skill at the Guard Station in the center of Blackstone City.


    The memory was still vivid, as if it hadn''t been long ago...


    Yet it also felt like a long and hazy period of time.


    Sea birds cried outside the window, waves rippling.


    But in his field of vision, not a trace of Blackstone Island remained.


    After a moment of silence, he replied:


    "Bakanan Island... I plan to go to Bakanan Island."


    Berkeley was taken aback and said:


    "Bakanan Island... That''s not close from here."


    Colin nodded slightly and paused before asking:


    "What about you? Berkeley... Sir."


    "I plan to go to Moli Island," Berkeley said slowly, looking around at everyone before asking again:


    "What about you all?"


    "I wish to continue following Lord Berkeley," Martha spoke up first.


    "I''ll go with you, too," Fina followed.


    "I suppose I''ll go to Moli Island as well," Flower hesitated before chiming in.


    Compared to Bananka Island, Moli Island was closer, requiring less time at sea.


    Which also meant it was safer.


    Even though Colin had shown great power before,


    Placing one''s own safety in the hands of another was clearly foolish.


    Moreover, compared to Colin, he preferred to trust the more familiar Berkeley.


    Colin remained silent.


    He had anticipated this outcome,


    But he couldn''t help feeling a touch of sorrow for the departure.


    But then.


    "Lord Colin, I''d like to accompany you to Bakanan Island!"


    The last, a gaunt Male Wizard¡ªMurray, suddenly spoke.


    Berkeley frowned beside him, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.


    "Okay," Colin glanced at Murray and responded lightly.


    After some further conversation,


    Berkeley and the four others got up to leave.


    Colin saw them to the deck.


    The sea breeze blew straight at them, fluttering their hair.


    Flower looked at him with a complex expression and finally sighed:


    "Safe travels, Sir Colin."


    Colin thanked him.


    Unconsciously, he had gotten used to the new way Flower and the others addressed him, as well as their respectful attitudes.


    Fina and Martha also stepped forward to say goodbye.


    He reciprocated their well-wishes.


    At last, Berkeley approached.


    "Safe travels, Sir Colin," he offered his blessings as well.


    Then he glanced at Murray, who was standing not too far away, and sighed.


    Hopefully, it wasn''t as he feared...


    Before the ceremony, Colin had only been an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.


    But the witchcraft he had shown since then had already reached the level of an Official Wizard.


    Everyone knew Colin must have undergone some fortune...


    But not everyone could resist greed.


    Berkeley took another look at Colin, then turned and joined Fina and the others, flying towards the three-masted ship not far away.


    Colin watched their figures grow distant, shrink to specks, and finally land on the three-masted ship''s deck.


    After withdrawing his gaze, he turned to glance at Murray standing aside, then turned and walked toward the captain''s cabin on his own.

 Chapter 110 - 100 Night

    Cry~ Cry~


    Atop the vast, azure ocean.


    White seabirds circled above the sapphire-like sea surface, not far from them was a three-masted sailing ship.


    Perhaps tired from flying, one bird with white feathers and a black bill landed on the central mast of the sailing ship to rest for a while.


    From its perspective looking down, a group of short-sleeved crew members gathered on the deck below.


    Among them was a dark-skinned, strong-built middle-aged man who was addressing the gathered sailors.


    "As you can see, Blackstone Island has been occupied by the Evil God!"


    The second mate surveyed the crew, slowly speaking with a deep voice.


    "The captain, the first mate, and a few sailors were lured and corrupted by the Evil God and have been slain by the honourable wizard!"


    "Because of this, we were fortunate to escape Blackstone Island."


    "Otherwise... we might now have fallen, just like the captain and the others."


    "Thank the respected wizard!"


    At this, he raised his voice, giving the crew a cue with his eyes.


    "Thank the respected wizard!"


    The crew caught on and shouted in unison.


    The second mate cast a subtle glance backward, then turned his head and continued:


    "Our next destination is Bananka Island..."


    In the captain''s quarters,


    Colin listened to the shouts coming from outside, paused slightly, and did not pay any mind.


    It had been about an hour since Berkeley and the others had left.


    The original second mate, now the captain, had just come to ask for the destination of their voyage.


    As for Murray, he had stayed in the cabin since Berkeley and others left and had not appeared.


    Colin gathered his thoughts, continuing to examine the costly sea chart spread out on the table.


    According to the information provided by Erica,


    The Holy Flame Kingdom was situated on the edge of the Siya Continent.


    According to the scale on the sea chart, Blackstone Island was about 10,000 nautical miles away from the Siya Continent.


    With the current speed of this sailing ship, it would take about half a year to arrive.


    Colin stroked the sea chart and sighed.


    To cross such a vast distance with just the small three-masted sailing ship beneath him...


    The risk was extraordinarily high.


    It wasn''t just a question of the sailing ship''s quality, but also because all the crew members aboard, including himself, had no experience with ocean voyages.


    The ship wasn''t good enough, and the people lacked experience.


    He wasn''t so arrogant as to think that with the amplification of the Foolishness Scepter, he could traverse the sea horizontally.


    Therefore, after careful consideration,


    He had decided to make for the nearest bustling large island¡ªBananka Island.


    After reaching there, he would make new plans.


    ''Maybe I should buy a better ship.''


    For some reason, this thought inexplicably emerged in his mind.


    After all, at sea, having a ship undoubtedly meant having an additional way out.


    He continued to ponder.


    If he were to buy a ship, the best would be to get a steam-driven steel ship like the ones from the Black Pearl Trading Company.


    It did not need to be very big, since the internal space of the storage ring Erica had given him was approximately a rectangle, with the longest side around fifty meters and the shortest around ten meters.


    Moreover, the things left behind by McIntosh Wizard Tower were not many, only occupying a small corner of it.


    He still had plenty of space to store materials for long ocean voyages.


    This could greatly save space on the ship, meaning he did not need to buy too big a vessel.


    Generally speaking, the larger the ship, the safer it is for ocean voyages.


    The reason is that larger ships are less likely to capsize in storms, conversely smaller ones more so.


    But in this world with witchcraft, the drawback of small ships capsizing easily was clearly not an issue.


    It was merely a matter of how many Magic Stones would be used.


    Although Erica didn''t leave him much, she did leave quite a few Magic Stones, about more than a thousand.


    They made up more than half of all the items.


    ... Upon reflection, it felt like Erica left even less.


    Colin sighed slightly and put the Magic Stone he had just taken out back into the Storage Ring.


    He then took out the White Crystal Pendant hanging in front of his chest, ready to study it carefully.


    He had obtained the White Crystal Pendant some time ago but hadn''t yet found the time to examine it closely.


    The White Crystal Pendant looked very ordinary, just a metal chain linked to a hollowed metal-wrapped white crystal.


    Inside was the most common white crystal¡­ At most, it was only purer than the white crystals he usually saw.


    Colin didn''t rush to probe the white crystal with Magic Power or spirit.


    Instead, he carefully turned it over and inspected it.


    Objects with such power are usually categorized as Witch Tools, except for rarities.


    And if it were Witch Tools.


    Such tools that touched upon the Spirit Fog, humanity, and Knowledge Spiritual Light were clearly not ordinary ones.


    So¡­ perhaps the maker''s name was left on it.


    Colin brought the White Crystal Pendant close to himself and inspected it carefully.


    Before long, he indeed found a diamond-shaped eyeball symbol at one corner of the white crystal.


    The symbol was not etched on the surface of the crystal but formed inside it, completely integrated.


    ''Diamond-shaped eyeball.'', Colin thought strenuously back on the related knowledge he had learned.


    But it all came to no avail.


    He opened his Storage Ring and took out the Knowledge Crystal Ball inscribed with knowledge by Erica, and began to search within it for related information.


    The Crystal Ball was akin to an electronic book from his past life, systematically storing all kinds of knowledge and with a simple search function Erica thoughtfully solidified within it.


    However, even after searching, he couldn''t find any related information on Witch Tools or rare items with diamond-shaped eyeballs.


    Colin had no choice but to give up and put away the Knowledge Crystal Ball.


    Holding the White Crystal Pendant, he started to cautiously release Magic Power.


    Hum¡ª


    The White Crystal Pendant emitted a faint glow upon the infusion of Magic Power.


    Colin closed his eyes slightly, sensing the White Crystal Pendant.


    Not long after, he opened his eyes.


    Controlling the White Crystal Pendant was easier than he had imagined.


    He effortlessly removed the soul imprint of the former owner at its core and then stamped on his own mark.


    At this moment, he finally understood the true effect of the White Crystal Pendant.


    Whoosh!


    With a single thought, he activated the White Crystal Pendant.


    He then raised his hand and looked around.


    Under Supersensitive Vision, the Spirit Fog on his body became more realistic, and what had been previously a bit stiff was now much more lively and flexible.


    Next, he slightly adjusted the White Crystal Pendant. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A layer of humanity and Knowledge Spiritual Light, much more profound than that of an Advanced Apprentice, emerged around him.


    Colin looked pleased.


    The White Crystal Pendant had no special function, just as it had appeared when he received it.


    Its primary ability was to disguise the precise realm of a wizard!


    Previously, when he hadn''t truly controlled it, he could only passively disguise himself as an Advanced Apprentice level Spirit Fog or lower.


    But now, after gaining control, he could imitate many different levels of Spiritual Light according to his thoughts.


    It''s just that, the further the imitated level of Spiritual Light deviated from the original, the less effective it was.


    Having done all this.


    The captain''s quarters had already darkened.


    Colin pushed the door open and walked to the raised bow to look into the distance.


    At the end of his gaze, a golden-red sun was slowly sinking into the heavy, dim sea.


    "Take in the sails!"


    "It''s going to be night soon! Be quick about it!"


    The new captain''s shouts and commands kept coming from not far away.


    The sailors efficiently dropped the anchor and lowered the sails, their expressions somewhat anxious.


    The night sea was known to be eerie and dangerous, common knowledge they all had since childhood.


    Though they had been part of the ship''s crew for a long time.


    Of them, only the former first mate, now captain, had actually spent a night at sea.


    Colin remained silent, but his heartbeat slightly quickened.


    Night was about to fall.

 Chapter 111 - 101 Strong Life

    With the last wisp of the rich golden light gone,


    the field of view suddenly became pitch-dark.


    The deep sea had merged with the dark sky.


    Now the sun had set, and the moon had not yet risen, leaving nothing but darkness to the eye.


    Fortunately, one could still feel the solid touch of the ship''s deck underfoot, and the sound of the surging waves could still be heard by the ear,


    which prevented panic and disorientation.


    After lowering the sails, the crew and sailors had already returned to their cabins.


    Between the wooden cabin walls and the doors, a faint orange-yellow light from a lamp could be seen.


    As for the Wizard who stayed behind¡ªMurray, he still had not come out and remained inside the cabin.


    At this moment, the boundless ocean had shed its azure beauty of the day and turned inky black and terrifying.


    Black waves surged like ink, layer upon layer, making it impossible for the eye to penetrate.


    This scene couldn''t help but make one feel¡ª


    as if beneath the three-masted ship, in the endless depths beyond sight, monstrous beings were lurking, quietly watching you.


    Colin controlled his gaze, not lingering too long over the sea.


    He was still in a hypersensitive state, and it would be undoubtedly dangerous if he saw things he shouldn''t have.


    After silently staying on deck for a while, he turned and went back to his bedroom.


    The night in this world was already dangerous, with ghosts, demons, and strange fierce beasts roaming.


    And the sea was even more dangerous than most of the land.


    At night, it was possible to run into some unknowable entities or fall into bizarre regions.


    Thus, at night, ships would usually lower their sails and stop, reducing the risks of sailing blind.


    Back in his master bedroom.


    Renee had already cleaned it spotlessly and changed the beddings.


    Seeing the soft and comfortable bed,


    all the accumulated fatigue of these days suddenly surged up, and he took off his clothes and lay down on the bed.


    Seeming to fall into a deep sleep.


    The sound of the waves continued, and time quietly passed by.


    Suddenly,


    a layer of white fog had quietly enveloped the bedroom, unbeknownst to when it began.


    Not long afterward,


    creak¡ª


    the door of the bedroom abruptly opened.


    A weak figure sauntered in.


    He didn''t care about the figure on the bed.


    In his eyes, Colin was just an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice who could cast powerful witchcraft, all thanks to that scepter.


    Now, engulfed in sleep and without the golden scepter in hand, he could suppress him with a backlash.


    Berkeley and others were still too cautious and merciful.


    In this world, power is the only thing that matters.


    Once I get the scepter...


    Thinking this, his heart filled with anticipation, his actions hastened, searching meticulously.


    Beside the bed, in the wardrobe, at the desk.


    He checked each carefully.


    After a while,


    "How can it be missing?"


    "Where''s the scepter?!"


    He muttered to himself in disappointment.


    At that moment, a dark golden scepter suddenly appeared before him.


    "Are you looking for this?"


    Murray''s eyes lit up at the sight of the dark golden-patterned scepter in front of him.


    But in the next second, his scalp exploded.


    He realized what was happening!


    But Colin didn''t give him any chance to explain.


    A hard cone bullet instantly turned his insides into a mushy mess.


    "Ha¡ªha¡ª"


    Murray opened his mouth wide, blood spilling from the corner.


    Soon, he was breathless.


    Colin, expressionless, examined the body and then used the Fireball Technique to burn his corpse to ashes and scattered them into the sea.


    He silently sighed.


    It wasn''t that Murray was too stupid, but that greed had blinded him...


    He had never concealed the power of the scepter in front of Berkeley and the others.


    How could he not be prepared for Murray''s unexpected decision to stay behind?


    However, since Murray had not shown any major abnormalities, he was only on guard and had not planned to act.


    Only, he hadn''t expected Murray to lose patience on just the first night¡­


    Moreover, Murray probably hadn''t expected that he hadn''t been sleeping at all, but had been on guard against him the whole time.


    After finishing these tasks, Colin no longer felt like sleeping.


    He simply began to sort through the items Erica had left for him.


    He opened the Storage Ring.


    Inside, apart from the Knowledge Crystal Ball, there were Magic Stones and Magic Potions.


    The McIntosh Wizard Tower, after being pillaged twice by the Blackstone Family and Wizard Lap, had hardly anything left.


    These Magic Stones and Potions were probably collected by Erica from the ceremonies.


    The Magic Stones were likely from the deceased apprentices, while the potions were remnants from the rituals.


    Only two remained.


    One was Manatee''s Tears, presented at the penultimate ceremony, and the other was the Golden Four-leaf Clover, presented at the last.


    Both potions were McIntosh''s special brews, with similar effects, enhancing both spirit and body.


    However, Manatee''s Tears paled in comparison to the potent effects of the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    And Golden Four-leaf Clover was generally effective only on the first dose.


    The special Golden Four-leaf Clover from McIntosh was no exception, only the first dose was effective.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then made his arrangements.


    Naturally, he would keep Manatee''s Tears for himself to use, and the Golden Four-leaf Clover could be sold if it was safe to do so.


    But Colin didn''t immediately take Manatee''s Tears.


    Instead, he opened the Golden Paper.


    Light golden particles converged.


    Sweeping a glance over it,


    there were two items that could be enhanced.


    One was the Apprentice-level Circulation Meditation for the second Limit Breaking, the other was the Intermediate Strong Life talent that had been ready to enhance for three months but hadn''t been due to insufficient Limit Breaking Points.


    Before this, Colin had precisely counted out the exact number of Magic Stones in the Storage Ring.


    Including the ones he originally had and those he had just scavenged from Murray¡ª


    A total of 1654.


    With such an amount, if all were converted into Limit Breaking Points, he could at least let one of them break through the limit.


    Thinking of this, Colin didn''t hesitate and reached for the Magic Stone to start converting Limit Breaking Points.


    On the Golden Paper, the numbers for the Limit Breaking Points danced incessantly.


    Soon, it reached a thousand.


    At the same time, on the Golden Paper, two purple items lit up with light.


    One was golden, while the other was red.


    The golden one was the Apprentice level Circulation Meditation for the second Limit Breaking, and the red one was the Intermediate Talent Strong Life.


    Colin had an epiphany.


    After some contemplation, he decided to first enhance the Intermediate Strong Life.


    As a Talent, once enhanced, it could immediately be transformed into combat power, unlike the Circulation Meditation.


    Moreover, he had just recently advanced to an Advanced Wizard, not only had he not yet endured the over-sensory phase, but he also knew nothing about the knowledge to advance to an Official Wizard.


    Therefore, for now, he could put off enhancing the Circulation Meditation.


    After making the decision, Colin didn''t rush to upgrade.


    It was nighttime, a time of high crisis, so it was better to wait for the dawn of the next day before upgrading, no need to be hasty.


    As for the Manatee''s Tears, he planned to take them after the breakthrough of the Intermediate Strong Life Talent.


    Maybe then he could further strengthen the Intermediate Strong Life with the medicinal power of the Manatee''s Tears.


    Having organized himself, he stood up to start practicing.


    Time slipped by unknowingly.


    Dawn rose, and the sunlight covered the earth, the sea regaining its azure hue.


    Nothing happened overnight except for some wind and waves.


    Encountering danger was always a matter of probability.


    And probability... who could clearly define it?


    In the captain''s master cabin.


    Colin stopped practicing, adjusting his state, ready to begin enhancing the Intermediate Talent Strong Life.


    At that moment.


    "Set sail!"


    The captain''s voice suddenly came from the nearby deck.


    Followed by the sound of the sails billowing and opening, and the chatter of the sailors.


    "...didn''t sleep a wink last night, it''s always unsettling to spend the night at sea."


    "With the Wizard Lord here, what''s there to fear!"


    "Right, what''s there to fear, this swaying of the sea waves is more comfortable than a massage, I say, this is the bed a sailor should sleep on!"


    "...come off it, Buck. You''re the one who gets sickest whenever we hit rough waves!"


    "You..."


    "Ha ha ha."


    Laughter echoed.


    Colin also withdrew his thoughts and no longer paid attention.


    Unlike the sailors'' blind faith, he had a clear understanding of his own strength.


    The sense of powerlessness in the face of the ceremony and the divine, as well as the familiar people dying beside him...


    All of this.


    He hadn''t forgotten!


    Clearing his mind of miscellaneous thoughts, he concentrated on tapping the ¡ü symbol behind Intermediate Strong Life.


    Bang!


    A surge of magma-like heat burst from his heart.


    Colin couldn''t help but let out a muffled groan, his body trembling slightly.


    After what felt like an eternity, the transformation finally ended.


    On the Golden Paper, amidst the blue and purple, a touch of red quietly appeared.


    Behind the now-red Intermediate Strong Life, a symbol for "¢ñ" slowly surfaced.


    Feeling an increased life force, Colin felt a surge of joy.


    However, looking at the words Intermediate Strong Life ¢ñ on the Golden Paper, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    Just as after Limit Breaking the Basic Level High Temperature Tolerance, it didn''t become Intermediate High Temperature Tolerance.


    Now that the Intermediate Strong Life had undergone one Limit Breaking, it hadn''t become Advanced Strong Life.


    Instead, like other items, only the color changed, and a symbol representing one Limit Breaking was added afterward.


    But that "Intermediate" was somewhat of an eyesore...


    As Colin harbored such a thought.


    The characters for Intermediate Strong Life ¢ñ on the Golden Paper quietly changed.


    The word "Intermediate" gradually faded, finally settling at¡ª


    [Talent: Strong Life I (0/100)].


    Colin raised an eyebrow, then looked at Basic High Temperature Tolerance I.


    There, the characters also began to change with his will, finally settling at¡ª


    [High Temperature Tolerance I (43/100)].


    Realizing this, Colin had another epiphany.


    The name was merely a code for distinction.


    The Golden Paper was his property; the names on it depended on his thoughts.


    Limit Breaking Points of witchcraft or Talent, such as the Ignition Technique, had recognizable names.


    Therefore, the Golden Paper used these names.


    But after Limit Breaking, the witchcraft and Talent stricto sensu, were no longer the same as the original witchcraft and Talent.


    Thus, what they were called was entirely up to him, as long as they could be distinguished from the pre-Limit Breaking points.


    Erasing the troublesome "Intermediate" word in front of Intermediate Strong Life I, although it had no substantive effect,


    Looking at the neatly uniform Golden Paper, Colin still felt a sense of satisfaction.


    As for how much the Intermediate Strong Life improved after one Limit Breaking...


    Colin''s gaze flashed.


    Clang!


    He still reached out and drew the bee sting from his waistband, ready to roughly test the Limit Breaking Strong Life.


    After all, knowing one''s limits was important for actual combat.


    Especially in situations where one might need to trade injury for life.


    He raised his left arm, swinging the sharp bee sting.


    Under the forceful swing, in a flash, a bone-deep wound appeared on his left arm.


    Colin grunted, his complexion paling slightly, and upon closer inspection, tiny beads of sweat could be seen emerging from his forehead.


    But despite the severe pain, his azure eyes remained clear and determined.


    He was a reserved person by nature.


    Even when faced with such grave danger and change before, he had only let out an angry roar in the end.


    But Blackstone Island, the people of the School,


    And that golden divine being and Its fervent followers.


    He would not forget any of it. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 112 - 102 Insomnia

    After some verification,


    Colin had a clear understanding of Strong Life I.


    Although the tests were limited and he didn''t know if he could regenerate severed limbs,


    common injuries such as punctures and cuts now seemed insignificant to him.


    Often, the blood hadn''t even had time to flow before the wound had already closed, and moments later, it would heal without a trace.


    Ping, sheathing his stinger sword, Colin ended his testing.


    Just then, Renee came in with breakfast,


    "Master."


    She placed the wooden tray on the table.


    On it was a dish of fried fish, a plate of bean sprouts, and a piece of white bread.


    Though simple, it was exquisite and fragrant.


    "Well done."


    After trying a bite, Colin praised her.


    He was lucky to have Renee, freeing him from tasks such as cooking, tidying the room, managing sailors, giving orders... and other everyday trifles.


    The briny sea breeze blew incessantly.


    Standing on deck, all that met the eyes was an expanse of blue.


    In the first two days at sea, he found it quite novel and would always stop at the prow to gaze out.


    But after that, it turned to tedium.


    The ocean, the seabirds.


    The blue ocean, the white seabirds.


    His view was filled with this unchanging scenery; even the passage of time seemed blurred.


    Thus, three days had safely passed unnoticed.


    On the fourth day, in the early morning,


    Captain Riel hurried to Colin''s cabin to see him.


    "You''re saying several sailors haven''t slept for so many days?"


    Straightening up in the armchair in the captain''s cabin, Colin looked at Riel with a puzzled inquiry:


    The rhythm of the waves outside the window splashed steadily, and the circling seabirds near and far cried out intermittently.


    This should have been a relaxing scene, but hearing Riel''s description, Colin couldn''t help feeling on edge.


    When sailing the seas, what one feared most wasn''t ghosts or sea monsters but such inexplicable and eerie events.


    "Bring them to me for inspection."


    He mused for a moment before instructing Riel.


    "Yes, my lord," Riel left in a hurry.


    Colin stroked his chin, which was beginning to show stubble.


    He then suddenly turned to Renee, who stood quietly aside, and asked,


    "Have you noticed anything unusual lately?"


    Renee frowned slightly in thought, but ultimately shook her head,


    "I haven''t noticed anything out of the ordinary, Master."


    Colin nodded slightly, waiting for Captain Riel to bring the insomniac sailors.


    His fair arm rested on the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping.


    In recent days, besides training, he had been studying the sailing knowledge contained within the Knowledge Crystal and comparing it to his actual observations.


    At the same time, he would ask the original second mate, now Captain Riel, for additional sailing knowledge for comparison.


    But after only three days, his understanding of sailing could hardly even be considered a start.


    The ship''s operations still largely depended on its original crew. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although only a few ordinary sailors were experiencing issues for the moment, it was important to nip the problem in the bud.


    If the problem were to escalate, even if he and the Renee sisters, as Transcendents, could survive, just a few of them trying to successfully reach Bananka Island...


    At that thought, Colin became restless, getting up from the recliner and deciding to visit the sailors'' quarters personally.


    "Master?" Renee saw him rise and asked in confusion.


    "I''m going over to the sailors, and while I''m at it, I''ll inspect the cabins," he explained.


    For such an abnormal event, naturally, every related aspect should be checked as thoroughly as possible.


    At this moment, they were passing through the deep-sea region, the dark blue water beneath their feet extending thousands of meters in depth.


    On this boundless expanse of blue sea, their only support was the fragile three-masted sailing ship beneath them.


    He couldn''t afford to be anything but cautious and careful.


    Colin, accompanied by Renee, left the captain''s cabin and walked down the deck.


    The moment they stepped onto the wooden floor of the first level, they encountered Riel, who was with the sailors.


    "Sir?" Riel was initially startled, then a look of panic crossed his face, "The sailors were just working, and it will take quite some time to gather them all together¡­"


    Colin waved his hand, cutting off his explanation.


    "It''s me who wanted to come and see."


    "Take me to the cabin where they reside."


    "Yes," Riel said, visibly relieved.


    He turned around, ready to lead Colin to the sailors'' quarters not far away.


    However, the sailors following behind him stopped, only after a long moment did they realize, and slowly turned to follow him.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Colin scrutinized the sailors suffering from insomnia.


    There were four insomniac sailors in total, all bearing the same exhausted look.


    Deep, black bags under their eyes, bloodshot and bulging, their faces yellowed and haggard.


    And¡ª


    Beneath the Supersensitive Vision, their Spirit Fog was much thinner than that of ordinary people.


    Without showing any reaction, Colin briskly followed Riel to the sailors'' quarters.


    The door to the cabin was already open, and he walked in slowly, carefully surveying the surroundings.


    Naturally, the sailors'' quarters couldn''t compare to his own private captain''s cabin.


    Somewhat reminiscent of dormitory rooms from a previous life, there were two single bunk beds fixed to the cabin wall.


    Smaller than the dormitories, they were extremely cramped.


    However, the sanitary conditions were better than he imagined, at least not overtly filthy, just a slight odor.


    Colin carefully scanned the area, his brow furrowed slightly.


    Even in a state of heightened sensitivity, he did not detect anything unusual about this place.


    Whoosh!


    The faint light from the Detect Evil witchcraft was released from his hands, sweeping over the entire cabin.


    The feedback indicated nothing was amiss.


    Colin felt a slight sinking in his heart and raised his right hand slightly.


    Dark golden patterns flickered along his forearm.


    In the next second, a scepter adorned with dark golden patterns appeared in his hand.


    Clutching the Foolishness Scepter, Colin once again used Detect Evil.


    A much stronger witchcraft glow swept over the cabin again.


    And the result...


    Still turned up nothing.


    "Sir, would you like to check the other cabins?" Riel asked, "These four sleepless sailors are housed in three separate cabins."


    "Lead the way," Colin said, holding the Foolishness Scepter, his expression became somewhat grave.


    "Very well, Sir."


    Next, Colin thoroughly examined the remaining two cabins, even inspecting the other two where no issues had arisen with the sailors.


    Yet, he still found nothing out of the ordinary.


    Inside the last cabin.


    Colin put away the Foolishness Scepter and with a stern face, asked the sleep-deprived sailors in front of him:


    "Tell me about the specifics of your situation."


    The sailors were in a state of stupor.


    After a while, a young man slowly began to speak:


    "Sir, we just can''t sleep; ever since boarding the ship, we can''t sleep. Our eyes are tired when open, but once closed, we can''t fall asleep no matter what."


    "Have you noticed anything unusual or any signs?"


    "Unusual..." The young sailor with a sallow complexion furrowed his brow.


    Suddenly!


    "Black pupils!"


    "A black pupil larger than our three-masted sailing ship!"


    "Right beneath us!"


    Before he could speak, another sailor next to him, with disheveled hair and so many blood vessels in his eyes that they turned red, began to shout frantically!


    It seemed that a keyword had been triggered, and the three sailors beside him also suddenly began to shout, their faces full of terror.


    Colin''s expression changed.


    Under the Supersensitive Vision, the first sailor who had screamed showed his Spirit Fog shaking violently, as if boiling and continuously evaporating.


    And the three sailors beside him, influenced by him, also saw their Spirit Fog begin to surge tumultuously!

 Chapter 113 - 103: Stormy Weather

    Seeing such abnormalities.


    Colin made a swift decision, manipulating the Hope Defense Field to quickly transfer the middle-aged sailor to another cabin.


    As the middle-aged sailor was moved away, the condition of the other three sailors gradually stabilized.


    Their faces still showed traces of fright, but they finally stopped shouting.


    However, if one were to observe with enhanced senses, they could clearly see a noticeable dimming of the Spiritual Light of Spirit Fog on their bodies.


    In the other cabin, the abnormalities gradually ceased.


    After the middle-aged sailor in front of Colin had frantically shouted for a while, he fell into a strange silence.


    His face expressionless, he appeared extremely tired, his eyelids drooping, but he would suddenly wake up wide-eyed the moment he tried to close his eyes.


    He seemed to have lost any reaction to his surroundings, no matter how Colin called out to him, there was no response.


    Under enhanced senses, there was only a barely detectable thin layer of the Spirit Fog''s Spiritual Light remaining on the sailor.


    "Riel," Colin pondered for a moment before calling out solemnly, "Put all these insomniac sailors in one cabin. Except for delivering food, forbid any approach!"


    "Yes, sir!" Riel hurried over, his expression slightly uneasy.


    He carefully covered his mouth and nose, found a chainlock from a nearby bed, and linked all the insomniac sailors together.


    Then he led them towards the confinement room at the bottom of the ship.


    It was fortunate that the sailors had become unresponsive to external stimuli; otherwise, managing them alone might have proved difficult.


    As Riel made his way to the lower cabin, he tried his best to cover his mouth and nose, holding his breath.


    Although he had no experience with long ocean voyages, the previous captain had been on two such trips and often told endless fascinating stories about the sea.


    He sometimes mentioned dangers.


    Situations like a collective issue among sailors typically involved either mysterious factors or contagious diseases.


    The captain had emphasized that he once heard a wizard say that infectious diseases were caused by invisible tiny bugs that floated around sick people in the air.


    Covering one''s mouth and nose could help prevent contracting the disease.


    Like other stories from captains, they had always been somewhat skeptical.


    After all, the air being full of invisible bugs was truly terrifying.


    But now, encountering a similar situation on the ship, it made him believe.


    One only has one life, and in life-threatening situations, it''s always better to err on the side of caution.


    On the other side.


    Colin rushed back to the captain''s cabin with Renee.


    He had no clue regarding the current situation, or rather, there were too many possibilities¡ª


    Disease, environment, curse, ghosts...


    Without any acquired information, he could not be sure which factor had caused the current situation.


    But from the last words of the middle-aged sailor in his frenzy¡ª


    Perhaps, this had to do with the unknowable "It."


    However, it could also not be certain, as diseases, curses, ghosts could all induce hallucinations.


    After returning to the captain''s cabin, Colin took out the Knowledge Crystal and browsed through the relevant information.


    Half a day later, he went alone to the confinement room at the bottom of the ship.


    Opening the small observation window on the door, he looked inside.


    The four sailors inside were sitting facing each other with drooped heads, motionless and without any verbal communication.


    There was only an eerie silence.


    Summoning the Foolishness Scepter, Colin made a mental gesture.


    A glow from the witchcraft Detecting Plague emitted from his hand.


    Moments later, his expression slightly darkened, he closed the observation window and turned to leave.


    The recently learned Detecting Plague had not detected any abnormalities.


    It seemed likely that the cause was a supernatural factor.


    If it were ghosts or something similar, it would be manageable.


    If it was caused by the unknowable "It"...


    Then, as an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, even with the Foolish Wand, he might not be able to handle it.


    In the following two days.


    Three more sailors displayed the same symptoms of insomnia and were similarly confined.


    A pervasive sense of unease began to envelop the ship, faces showing either tension or worry.


    Anxiety shrouded them.


    "Stop!"


    "I said¡ªstop! Do you two idiots want to end up in the confinement room together?!"


    On deck.


    Captain Riel shouted at the two bare-chested sailors tangled up in front of him.


    This was already the third altercation among the sailors in the past two days.


    Unlike the previous two, the sides involved had some restraint, limiting their fight to verbal exchanges and light shoving.


    This time, the two sailors were as ruthless as ignited barrels of gunpowder.


    Their faces were bruised and blood seeped out from broken skin.


    Fortunately, they had not completely lost their sanity.


    After hearing Riel''s words, a hint of fear flashed across their eyes, and they gritted their teeth but eventually stopped.


    Seeing this, Riel sighed with relief.


    He glanced subconsciously toward the nearby captain''s quarters.


    However, the expected figure did not appear by the window.


    Riel turned his head somewhat disappointed and emphasized to the sailors in front of him,


    "Believe in the Wizard Master, he must be able to solve these problems! It''s just sleeplessness after all, Bike''s men haven''t died, what are you afraid of?"


    "Moreover, we will be able to safely arrive at Bananka Island by tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after at the latest and once we reach land..."


    Inside the captain''s quarters.


    Colin listened to the sounds outside, his expression calm as he caressed the Knowledge Crystal Ball in his hand.


    Yet, he sighed softly in his heart.


    Over the past two days, he had tried various methods.


    Detecting Plague, Sleeping Witchcraft, or even Purification Evil Power...


    None had worked.


    He had been repeatedly consulting the data recorded in the Knowledge Crystal, indeed finding snippets about similar symptoms.


    But time had erased most of the data and Erica''s consumption had further battered its already fragmented database.


    So, all he got was indeed just snippets.


    In some of the stories, similar symptoms were mentioned but were too vague to be of use.


    Time continued to pass.


    Misfortune never comes alone.


    In the evening, what was initially a clear sky suddenly changed.


    Dark clouds gathered unknowingly, the sea breeze turned harsh like knives. The sea, which had been calm, now surged like it hid unknown creatures.


    Whoosh!


    Deep blue waves kept coming, smashing against the solid wooden hull breaking into white foaming splashes.


    Nearby, Captain Riel was urgently directing the sailors to lower the sails.


    Crack!


    Lightning flashed nearby, temporarily dispersing the evening''s gloom, followed closely by the thunderous roar.


    Unbeknownst, the world had turned pitch black.


    "Ah!"


    On the mast, a sailor seemed to have not gripped firmly and fell heavily downwards.


    "Had!" His companions exclaimed in shock.


    ''It''s over!'' Had''s face went pale.


    Whoosh!


    But moments later, Had suddenly realized that he had not smashed onto the deck as he had thought.


    Instead, a gentle force caught him and slowly lowered him to the deck.


    "Thank you, Sir!"


    Had, still shaken, got up and hurriedly thanked Colin who stood before him.


    Colin nodded slightly.


    The ship''s sailors were already short due to the insomnia issue; these days even Renee and Demi were helping out.


    ...They couldn''t afford to lose more sailors due to such accidents.


    Shortly after, as the first raindrop fell, the sailors finally managed to secure the sails.


    "Sir, we''re heading back to the cabin now," Riel bade farewell, wiping the raindrops from his face.


    The sea rain, influenced by the strong winds, did not fall vertically but surged from all directions.


    Like countless flying transparent insects.


    "Yes," Colin withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But just then.


    Crack!!


    Amid the loud howl of the sea wind and the noise of the raindrops, he keenly detected an unusual sound coming from below deck.


    As if¡ª


    Wood was being shattered by immense force!!


    Colin''s expression changed, his thoughts racing.


    He shouted urgently,


    "Get the tools and planks for repairing the cabin, and follow me!"


    "Yes!" Riel seemed to have realized something too, his pupils slightly constricted, he promptly yelled at the sailors behind him:


    "What are you waiting for? Move! Planks, hammers, quickly!"

 Chapter 114 - 104: Arrival

    Boom! sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thunder roared with lightning flashing across the sky.


    Deep and dark as ink, a three-masted sailship was rocking in the midst of the stormy sea.


    Thud, thud, thud¡ª


    Sailors rushed up the wooden stairs, carrying planks and various tools in their hands.


    Colin led the way at the forefront.


    The solid cabin muffled the roar of the violent storm outside, making the sound of water flowing within some part of the cabin much clearer.


    Such a sound meant the damage must be significant.


    The sailors'' complexions were panicked and unsightly.


    At sea, there''s nothing worse than a damaged cabin, let alone during a violent storm.


    Had it not been for the steady figure of the wizard ahead, they would have likely descended into sheer panic and despair.


    "Quick, quick, quick!"


    Riel pushed himself to follow close behind Colin, urging the sailors behind him to keep up.


    Down the stairs they went, passing the first and second decks.


    Without faltering, Colin led them to the very bottom of the ship.


    Slosh.


    As soon as he stepped down the stairs onto the deck, Colin''s heart sank.


    The water here had already reached ankle depth!


    Hum¡ª


    He activated the Light Brightness Skill to illuminate the surroundings, making it easier for the sailors to see.


    He continued to rush forward, reaching the Confinement Room at the end of the corridor!


    As soon as he heard the click, his first thought was of this place where the insomniac sailors were confined.


    He flung the cabin door open!


    Slosh!


    Ice-cold seawater, mixed with the stench of the sea, rushed toward him.


    "My lord, this?!"


    Riel also ran up and looked into the Confinement Room with a look of astonished shock!


    The insomniac sailors who had been confined inside were now nowhere to be seen!


    Only several large holes, violently torn open, spewing wood chips, remained!


    And through them poured a continuous torrent of raging seawater!


    "What are you standing around for!"


    Swoosh!


    A pale blue glow spread out as Colin, clutching the Foolishness Scepter, used a force field to block the large holes while shouting.


    "Yes!" Riel and the other sailors hurriedly stepped forward.


    Corks, planks, wooden posts, bed sheets...


    Plugging leaks on a ship was a mandatory skill for these sailors.


    Now, with Colin''s assistance, the holes no longer let in seawater, and without the interference of the rushing water, sealing the leaks became much easier.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    Heave-ho!


    The sailors worked fervently.


    In short order,


    All the large holes were roughly patched.


    Though some small amounts of seawater still trickled in, they posed no real threat.


    And so, the sailors cheered one after another!


    What could have been a deadly crisis for both ship and crew had been effortlessly resolved by the wizard''s power!


    "Don''t celebrate too early, start bailing!"


    A moment later, Riel, putting away his joyful expression, continued urging everyone on.


    The accumulated water in the cabin wouldn''t simply dissipate on its own; it had to be bailed out bucket by bucket, by hand.


    While they bailed the water, Colin approached the several patched holes in the cabin, examining them carefully.


    Now that the holes were blocked with planks and other objects, many details were concealed.


    But by the shape and size, it very likely could have been the work of seven sailors.


    Colin stroked the scepter in his hand, his expression grave.


    The hull of a three-masted sailship was tough and thick, such that at least an intermediate knight armed with a suitable heavy weapon would be needed to inflict any significant damage.


    And to create these large holes, it would take at least a Great Knight armed with heavy weaponry to accomplish such a feat.


    But those sailors were all just ordinary people¡­


    The rain outside continued to fall, and the ship kept rocking, with sailors carrying buckets back and forth, tirelessly scooping water.


    The accumulated water, which had been ankle-deep in the hold, was gradually receding thanks to the sailors'' unremitting efforts.


    Aside from a thin mat on the floor and several large buckets for convenience, the Confinement Room had no other items.


    By now, those large buckets had been washed away to who knows where, but the thin mat remained in place.


    Colin bent down, his gaze sweeping over the thin mat floating on the water''s surface.


    Soon, his movements paused ever so slightly.


    In the upper right part of the mat, there was a crescent-shaped black scale reflecting the light.


    Colin reached out to pick it up¡ªthe scale was about the size of two thumbs, and it appeared very fresh as if it had just been shed.


    ''Crescent-shaped scales, a hull breach torn by brute force, missing insomniac sailors¡­''


    ''It''s either some unknown vicious monster with scales that broke into the cabin and turned the insomniac sailors into easy prey,''


    ''Or¡­the insomniac sailors mutated into monsters covered in black scales.''


    With the black scale in hand, Colin conjectured in his thoughts.


    Immediately after that, he frowned slightly, bringing the crescent-shaped scale up close for a thorough examination.


    ''What exactly is this black scale¡­?''


    Before long, it seemed that he remembered something and hastily made his way towards the captain''s quarters.


    "Sir."


    As he emerged onto the deck, the storm raged on outside.


    Riel, holding a bucket, approached him and offered a respectful greeting.


    He nodded slightly and continued towards the captain''s quarters.


    The rain and wind were blocked by the Defensive Field, unable to dampen his Wizard Robe in the slightest.


    Riel looked on with envy sparkling in his eyes.


    In this world, no one wouldn''t want to be a Wizard.


    Crack!


    A blue-white lightning bolt streaked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the entire world.


    ''What was that?!''


    Suddenly, Riel''s pupils shrank, and he rubbed his eyes before looking again toward the sea beside the ship.


    But the light from the lightning was but a fleeting moment.


    Now the world had returned to pitch black.


    Shaking his head, Riel, with his bucket in hand, made his way to the hold.


    ''Perhaps it was just some large fish.''


    He speculated to himself about the scaly black silhouettes he had glimpsed among the tumultuous waves just moments before.


    ¡­


    The storm gradually subsided during the latter half of the night.


    The water in the hold seemed scarce, but it wasn''t until the dawn''s light that the sailors finally managed to scoop out all the accumulated water and reinforced the gaping hole once more.


    Having finished this task, they all collapsed on the deck, exhausted.


    But with dawn''s arrival, they needed to set sail again, lest they fall behind on their journey.


    Thus, at Captain Riel''s urging, they mustered their energy and returned to their duties.


    Today was the seventh day of their voyage¡ªif all went well, they would reach Bananka Island by the afternoon.


    Regardless of the reason, all they wanted now was to quickly return to land.


    While their insomniac shipmates had disappeared, no one was foolish enough to think that the eerie insomnia symptoms would simply vanish.


    They were still in peril on the high seas; only solid land could restore their sense of safety.


    Meanwhile, inside the captain''s quarters.


    Colin put away the Knowledge Crystal Ball, still somewhat puzzled.


    There were still too many unknowns at sea.


    However, after careful deliberation and combining it with the crescent-shaped black scale found the night before, he could deduce¡­


    Those sailors were mostly gifted with a higher Spirit and had likely been affected by some unknown pollution.


    Now, they had probably transformed into mutated monsters¡­


    Colin sighed quietly to himself.


    Time silently passed by.


    Perhaps it was the fine weather following the storm that had lifted spirits.


    The three-masted sailing ship had clear winds following, speeding along rapidly.


    And so, after sailing briskly with the tailwind all morning,


    A dark shape slowly emerged in front of them¡ª


    Bananka Island!

 Chapter 115 - 105: The Seal

    The seagulls cried, and the waves crashed.


    The salty sea breeze gathered these noisy sounds and delivered them to the ear, forming a loud symphony.


    Yet it couldn''t drown out the sailors'' unanimous cheers.


    On the deck at the bow, it was now crowded with figures dressed in grey-white linen short sleeves.


    They jostled each other, stood on tiptoes, and eagerly shouted towards the land not far away!


    "Bananka¡ª!"


    Creak.


    On the other side, Colin also pushed open the captain''s cabin door and stepped out.


    The sea breeze gently brushed against him, stirring his golden fringe.


    ''Bananka¡­''


    He gazed at the clearly visible island not far away, exhaled softly, and his heart also relaxed slightly.


    Bananka Island was almost within reach.


    At last, they could escape the perilous environment at sea and take a breather for a moment.


    After a brief thought, he walked towards the deck at the bow.


    "My lord."


    The sailors saw him coming, and without agreement, they all greeted him and moved aside, making way for him.


    Behind the ram of the three-masted ship and below the foremast, there was a small deck.


    The view there was excellent, an ideal viewing platform.


    Colin quickly reached the railing there and looked out.


    A crescent-shaped prosperous port came into view.


    As the distance shortened, the long coastline now filled his entire view.


    On the azure sea surface, countless ships of various forms drifted.


    Wooden sailing ships like theirs formed only a small part, yet their number and variety were not small¡ª


    Single-masted, double-masted, multi-masted, flat-bottomed, pointed-bottomed, broad-headed, slender-headed, even catamarans.


    Of course, the more numerous were iron steamships without sails, puffing black smoke.


    Whoo¡ª


    The sound of steam horns blared intermittently.


    Those grey-blue iron ships split the waves with the powerful force of steam engines, speeding forward and stirring up white foam.


    These steamships, similar in appearance to those of Colin''s previous life, had several large smokestacks on their grey-blue decks.


    But upon closer observation, there were many differences still.


    This world''s steamships were overall more rugged, and in many details, they showed clear traces of witchcraft.


    Closer to the port.


    More ships appeared to the left and right, and Captain Riel maneuvered the three-masted ship, maintaining a safe distance from them.


    At this point, the sailors no longer gathered at the bow, and under Riel''s command, they gradually lowered the sails and steered towards an empty spot at the dock, preparing to berth.


    "Stop!"


    Suddenly, a sharp call abruptly rang out on the empty deck.


    "Turn to the right, three-masted ship, you cannot berth at this spot."


    The voice continued.


    Following the faint Magic Power fluctuations, Colin looked towards its source.


    On an iron lookout tower not far ahead of the bow, a figure holding something like a megaphone from his previous life was watching them.


    The figure noticed his gaze, and his lips moved.


    A clear voice resounded once again on the deck.


    "Don''t look at me, quickly turn, there are more ships waiting to enter the harbor!" The voice was cold and impatiently urged.


    ''My lord?'' Riel came forward, his face showing hesitation.


    "Turn," Colin said indifferently, not minding the megaphone holder''s attitude.


    When in Rome, do as the Romans do; it was normal for a large port like Bananka to have some rules for berthing¡­ Perhaps that spot at the port was specifically reserved for their use.


    Riel nodded, turned back, and directed the sailors to slowly turn the ship towards a corner spot.


    "All sails down!"


    "Sailor Chief, watch the sea in front, the water here isn''t as deep as before."


    He kept instructing.


    Large ships anchoring and berthing couldn''t just choose any location.


    They needed to consider the depth of the water and the geological environment of the seabed.


    If it was too deep, the anchor couldn''t reach the seabed, having no effect in securing the ship, making it a wasted effort.


    If the seabed was too soft, it also could not secure the ship, likewise a wasted effort.


    If the seabed was all rocky, it was very likely that once the anchor was thrown, it might not be retrievable.


    Metal anchors could easily get hooked on rocks, unable to be pulled back.


    However, most areas near the harbor were suitable for anchoring, so there wasn''t too much need to worry.


    Atop the lookout tower.


    The megaphone holder watched them gradually turn and nodded in satisfaction.


    ''This ordinary three-masted sailing ship could dock anywhere...


    The good spots should be reserved for the wizards'' steamships, it''s a waste on them.''


    ''That leading captain has never even seen long-distance voice transmission used by wizards... probably a rustic from some remote area.''


    As he thought this to himself, he picked up the brown notebook from the table and carefully noted Colin''s clothing and physical features. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Blond hair, blue eyes.]


    [Handsome.]


    He pondered for a moment and added "very" in the middle.


    [Age between ten and thirty years.]


    [Wearing a gray wizard robe with a triangular emblem.]


    [The ship is an old, ordinary three-masted sailing ship.]


    [...]


    [Note: Hasn''t seen long-distance voice transmission, likely a rustic from a small place.]


    After recording these details, he closed the notebook and put it aside.


    He continued to direct the docking of the ships.


    Information like this was something the dock''s sea dogs would come to him for every day.


    For him, it was also a sizable, extra income.


    Splash!


    The huge black anchor dropped into the water from the bow.


    Ding~ Ding~ Ding.


    The thick iron chain attached to the anchor clanked metal-on-metal.


    The muffled sound of the anchor hitting the seabed came through.


    With a creak, the slowly moving sailing ship suddenly jolted to a halt.


    After a while,


    Two small boats launched from near the harbor side and headed toward the dock.


    Before the boats even reached the dock, a cacophony of sounds slowly reached Colin''s ears.


    Vendors hawking goods, porters touting for business, and the noisy chatter of the passing crowd.


    Although he couldn''t yet see the actual scene, the sounds alone painted a vivid, bustling picture.


    The harbor was a hive of activity, an ideal spot for a marketplace.


    Previously, Blackstone Island had been a small island, mostly closed off from the outside world, devoid of foreign visitors, and naturally couldn''t form a harbor market like this.


    Listening to the noisy sounds, Colin couldn''t help but feel a bit excited.


    It didn''t take long.


    Under the robust rowing of the sailors, they quickly reached the dock.


    Stepping onto the dock, Colin was met with a scene just as lively and bustling as he had imagined!


    On the vast open space, people moved back and forth.


    There were those in knight armor, those in wizard robes, and others with horns or an extra tail.


    Between the flow of people, carts big and small laden with goods and passengers made their way through.


    Now and then, a large steam locomotive would pass by, puffing black smoke.


    Further on, there was an area filled with various vendor stalls.


    At a glance, the scene looked chaotic, but on closer inspection, it revealed a unique order.


    The sailors behind him, who had never witnessed such a scene, were so shocked they were left speechless.


    Renee''s sisters also couldn''t help but show a nervous expression, instinctively moving closer to him.


    "Let''s go, let''s find a place to stay first," he said, leading Renee forward.


    As for the crew behind him.


    He had already explained everything to them before disembarking.


    He would inevitably set sail again soon.


    And the crew members were just ordinary people, and the ship was just an old three-masted sailing ship.


    Whether for the people or for the ship, ocean voyages were far too dangerous.


    So, upon reaching Bananka Island, it was time for him to part ways with the crew.


    "Big¡­"


    Riel, who was gaping in shock behind him, saw him leaving and subconsciously started to call out.


    But quickly, he came to his senses and swallowed the words he hadn''t finished.


    Colin had already made it very clear.


    Staying on Bananka Island was the best choice for them...


    Nevertheless,


    Looking around at all the unfamiliar surroundings, he couldn''t help but feel a bit worried and overwhelmed.


    But glancing back at the large group of crew gathered behind him, thinking of the three-masted sailing ship docked at the harbor,


    his heart suddenly felt reassured.


    Before long.


    After a brief discussion, the crew also stepped forward, gradually blending into the surrounding crowd.

 Chapter 116 - 106: Deliberate on a Long-term Plan

    "The busiest street on Bananka Island has to be Blue Shell Street here."


    Magic Crystals, Witch Tools, knowledge of witchcraft, slaves, and even rare curiosities¡ªif you desire it, sir, this place surely has it all!"


    On Blue Shell Street, Colin walked behind the guide with Renee, quietly listening.


    This was a guide who had initiated contact at the port.


    A middle-aged man in appearance, he was a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice.


    At that moment, he was leading Colin and his company toward a lodging he had already picked out.


    The lodging was his recommendation.


    Of course, there was a profit motive involved.


    However, the middle-aged apprentice was a clever man and frankly told him that after checking in, he would receive a commission from the lodging.


    He also informed him of the pros and cons of that lodging, as well as several other establishments.


    Of course, he would receive a commission from those other places as well.


    According to him, these lodgings were all carefully selected after proactive negotiations for a commission deal.


    Some offered good value with affordable prices, others had better quality and higher standards, some were suitable for long-term stays, and others had optimal locations...


    Each aspect was taken into consideration.


    With this, he would then honestly share the strengths and weaknesses of these lodgings with travelers like Colin seeking a guide, for them to choose.


    This way, not only could the travelers select an appropriate lodging based on their needs, but both he and the lodgings could benefit, forming a win-win-win situation.


    Of course, that''s what the middle-aged apprentice said.


    But as for how carefully the lodging was chosen and whether the pros and cons were fully disclosed.


    All of that depended on the conscience of the middle-aged apprentice.


    However, in this world where power is supreme,


    Colin was also aware.


    As a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, at the bottom rung among Wizards,


    What he said was probably true¡ªit was just a way for him to earn a bit of hard-earned money.


    Otherwise, if it were false, he''d probably have been sunk to the bottom of the sea by now.


    Bananka Island is not Blackstone Island.


    Here, with many Wizards coming and going and identities mixed,


    Conflicts happen on the island every day, and the death of a few Wizards is nothing unusual.


    Even if there were a day when a few dead Wizards weren''t discovered, the Law Enforcement Team on the island might actually find it strange.


    Along the way, as Colin listened to the middle-aged apprentice and surveyed his surroundings,


    He noted that the infrastructure on Bananka Island was also much better than on Blackstone Island.


    Most of the streets were not mere dirt roads but solid paved stone paths.


    Numerous shops lined both sides, and pedestrians were ceaselessly coming and going.


    "Newspapers for sale, the latest issue of the month!"


    A paperboy, carrying a brown satchel full of newspapers and peddling along the street, caught his attention.


    The paperboy was young, and there was a faint ripple of Magic Power coming from him, which must have been from the newspapers in his satchel.


    Colin was somewhat surprised.


    Newspapers¡ªthis was his first encounter with them in this world, quite a novel thing.


    Apparently, Blackstone Island was indeed too isolated.


    "Newspapers for sale, Divine Projection on Blackstone Island, the latest issue of the month!"


    The paperboy continued his call.


    Hearing the familiar name, Colin paused, his steps momentarily hesitating.


    "Divine Projection?"


    Passersby whispered amongst themselves nearby.


    "This must be the fifth Divine Projection in the last few months, right?"


    "Hmm... No, the previous times were just rumored appearances of Divine Projections..."


    "Give me a copy of the newspaper," a passerby spoke up.


    "I''ll take one too," Colin stepped forward and said to the paperboy.


    "Here." After taking a Gold Coin, the paperboy handed over a newspaper.


    Colin took the newspaper and unfolded it.


    The newspaper was quite rudimentary overall, with no border design and unclear layout¡ªit seemed more like a sheet of paper packed with news.


    There were no significant markings, just a row of small text in the bottom right corner¡ªBananka Monthly.


    Yet the illustrations within could move! It indeed lived up to its price.


    Colin didn''t rush to read but followed the middle-aged Wizard Apprentice guide to settle into the inn.


    Once everything was arranged properly,


    he carefully spread the newspaper out on the wooden table in the inn room to read.


    "Divine Descent on Blackstone Island."


    "According to Second Rank Wizard Louis¡ª"


    "Lord Louis chanced upon a divine aura emanating from the direction of Blackstone Island on October 26, 3583 of the Yanan Calendar, a Thursday." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He set off to investigate and found, half a day later, that Blackstone Island had become a land of the Divine Country¡­."


    "..."


    "In the end, the Bananka Wizards also confirmed the truth of what Lord Louis had said."


    A few minutes later, after Colin read the information about Blackstone Island, he fell into silent contemplation.


    The content in the newspaper simply described the fact of the divine descent upon Blackstone Island.


    The ins and outs were not clear, but at least he learned about the island''s subsequent situation.


    He then shifted his gaze to other contents of the newspaper.


    "The Wizard Alliance of the Siya Continent has issued a warning, recent frequent occurrences of Divine Projections, be vigilant against various divine sects¡­"


    "Bananka Wizards announce the establishment of the Sea Trade Hall, overseeing all foreign trade on Bananka Island¡­"


    "The Seagull has been successfully launched¡­"


    "The divine projection on Shata Island has been collectively eradicated, but the island is now barren of humans, potentially becoming a deserted island¡­"


    "..."


    After reading the Bananka Monthly twice, Colin sat back in the lounge chair with his eyes half-closed, sighing softly to himself.


    Many pieces of information on the paper were things he had never known... whether it was the Wizard Alliance or anything else.


    None of these relevant details had ever circulated on Blackstone Island.


    Although the Lap School on the island did teach knowledge, their mentions of the larger Wizard World environment were only cursory.


    And who knows how many years out of date those were.


    Normally, aside from the merchant caravans that came twice a year, they had no other channel to receive news from the outside world.


    A product like the newspaper, offering little profit and requiring timeliness, would never be traded by the caravans.


    ¡­the island''s such isolation was clearly orchestrated by Wizard Lap.


    According to the secrets recorded within the Knowledge Crystal,


    Wizard Lap''s purpose in establishing the Lap School had always been for that ceremony, for that so-called McIntosh''s Magic Potion.


    So naturally, he wouldn''t care whether or not his apprentices were cut off from news.


    At this thought, Colin felt a sinking in his heart, and a wave of worry surfaced once again.


    During these days at sea, through the Knowledge Crystal left by Erica, he had gained a clearer understanding of the ceremony on Blackstone Island.


    Wizard Lap had established the Lap School precisely to pass down the key necessary for the ceremony¡ªthe Circulation Meditation.


    Perhaps the Circulation Meditation was gifted by the Divine to McIntosh as a ritual element, or perhaps it was McIntosh''s own backup plan.


    In any case, only those who practiced the Circulation Meditation could successfully absorb the potion''s power, could participate in the ceremony.


    As for why Wizard Lap and others could enter the ceremony, Colin surmised it was mostly because they had simulated the fluctuations of the Circulation Meditation.


    Just as he had mimicked the original Circulation Meditation fluctuations when passing through the Transmission Stone Wall.


    Colin summoned the Golden Paper, staring at the words of the Apprentice stage of the Circulation Meditation, and couldn''t help but sigh again.


    Whether it was a gift from the Divine or McIntosh''s precaution,


    Either way¡ª


    The Circulation Meditation in his hands only contained the Apprentice stage.


    And not that of an Official Wizard¡­


    ''Maybe it''s time to switch meditation methods soon,'' Colin resolved in his mind.


    ''But before that, first I need to sell the Golden Four-leaf Clover and buy knowledge for advancement to Official Wizard...''


    He pondered further.


    After all, the knowledge about advancing to Official Wizard in the Knowledge Crystal left by Erica was scarce.


    He only knew he needed a higher rank of meditation method; he had no idea whether any Magic Potion or any other ritual aid was required.


    In such circumstances, he had to proceed step by step¡­ making long-term plans.

 Chapter 117 - 107: The Petrel

    Entering the Blue Shipyard.


    In the wide building constructed of a steel frame, a sales representative with a Fu Manchu mustache, dressed in a black waistcoat, was slowly leading Colin around on a tour.


    "¡­our Blue Shipyard is the biggest shipyard on Bananka Island!


    The recent successful launch of the Seagull, a huge vessel, was a birthday gift we made for the 500th birthday of Lord Wizard of Bananka!"


    Colin listened and nodded slightly in response.


    It was his second day on Bananka Island.


    Following the recommendation of the middle-aged guide he had hired upon arriving on the island yesterday, he had come to the island''s biggest, the Blue Shipyard, to get an understanding of the steamship market.


    "The Seagull is 128 meters long and 32 meters wide, a true giant of ten thousand tons."


    The Fu Manchu sales representative continued to explain enthusiastically.


    "This kind of giant vessel can only be built by us here on Bananka Island with our technology."


    Colin''s lips parted as he was about to ask about the price, but he suppressed the impulse in the next second and swallowed his words.


    Instead, he asked, "Do you have reliable and durable ships that are easy to operate? It''s okay if they are a bit smaller."


    "It would be best if it could be operated by two or three people," he emphasized.


    In his previous life, in a world without any extraordinary powers, usually, the bigger the ship used for ocean voyages, the better.


    Large vessels'' capability to withstand storms and their capacity for carrying supplies couldn''t be compared to that of small boats.


    The bigger they were, the safer they were against potential dangers at sea and increased the safety of ocean voyages.


    But in this world, the existence of witchcraft made the size of the ship less important for ocean voyages.


    The capability to withstand storms and cargo capacity did not necessarily require a large ship; there were other solutions.


    "Of course, sir," the salesman responded without hesitation to his request.


    "This type of vessel is the best-selling type in our shipyard, apart from the giant ships!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Here, the Fu Manchu salesman paused, then added, "After all, as you know, having more people onboard isn''t always better for sea voyages."


    "Crew members with poor skills only become a burden during long ocean voyages.


    And maintaining crew members with great skills isn''t a small expense."


    Colin nodded in agreement.


    "May I know what is your general budget?" the Fu Manchu salesman asked, then added, "We have ships of that type ranging from 500 Magic Stones to 150,000 Magic Stones."


    "Please introduce them all to me," Colin replied calmly.


    "Alright," the Fu Manchu salesman nodded promptly and added:


    "Let me first take you to view our introduction brochures. Once you see something suitable and we have the actual ship in the dock, I''ll take you to have a real look and experience it. Does that work for you?"


    "Hmm," Colin nodded in response.


    The two walked side by side to the nearby reception room.


    ¡­


    Half a day later.


    Colin walked out of the Blue Shipyard.


    Thinking back over everything he had seen that half-day, he felt it had been quite an eye-opener.


    The inclusion of witchcraft had completely deviated ordinary ships from the firm notion he had in his mind.


    Take, for instance, the small to medium-sized vessels he saw that ranged from ten to twenty-five meters in length.


    Some high-end models among them could not only sail on the sea but also under the water and even in the sky!


    Of course, the prices were beyond what he could afford, easily reaching up to a hundred thousand Magic Stones.


    It was these vessels that opened his horizons, making him think that traveling to the Siya Continent might not necessarily need to be by sea...


    Air travel might be a better choice.


    After all, his decision to buy his own ship rather than board someone else''s was more about having a retreat at any time on the vast sea.


    But soon, he dismissed such ideas under the guidance of the salesman at the Blue Shipyard.


    There were many reasons.


    But they can be briefly summarized in two words¡ª


    No money.


    Thinking of this, a wry smile couldn''t help but appear on Colin''s face.


    "I need to sell the Golden Four-leaf Clover as soon as possible."


    In the past half-day, he had selected three ships that he liked.


    Hmm... or rather, one ship he really liked, and two cheaper alternatives.


    The ship he liked was called the Sea Swallow by the Delan Shipyard.


    The shipyard currently had no available ships, but according to the catalog¡ª


    The Sea Swallow was about eighteen meters in total length, with two decks, and an open-air lookout tower at the very top. The ship''s body was made entirely of a lightweight alloy steel specially crafted by the Delan Shipyard.


    This alloy gave the Sea Swallow a lighter mass, and along with its streamlined shape, it had the lowest energy consumption among ships of its type.


    At the same time, its sailing speed was also quite impressive¡ªunder favorable winds, it could reach a maximum speed of 35 knots, with a typical cruising speed of about 32 knots.


    Such speed.


    It meant that the Siya Continent, which previously took nearly half a year to reach by a three-masted sailing ship, could now be reached in just under a month aboard the Sea Swallow!


    Moreover, the Sea Swallow also integrated a large witchcraft device known as the Sea Demon''s Heart, which gave it the ability to self-steer, resist waves and prevent capsizing, scout, and even hide itself to a certain extent.


    Thus, with the assistance of the Sea Demon''s Heart, the Sea Swallow could be fluently controlled by just one person.


    As for the downside.


    Perhaps it was the price.


    Colin sighed and walked aimlessly.


    In the ship catalog, the printed price of the Sea Swallow was 16,000 Magic Stones.


    The mustached salesman offered a discount price of 14,999.


    Both of those, whichever, were sky-high prices for him.


    The other two cheaper steamships either had bodies made of regular steel or lacked the Sea Demon''s Heart and required more crew members to operate.


    Although they weren''t too bad, if he had a choice, he still wanted to buy the Sea Swallow.


    After all, the longer the journey of thousands of sea miles, the better the ship, meaning he would be safer.


    Moreover, once he arrived at the Siya Continent, he could sell the Sea Swallow and transform it back into his own resources.


    Thinking this, he had unwittingly reached near Blue Shell Street.


    Just as the middle-aged apprentice guide had said.


    Blue Shell Street was the most bustling commercial street on Bananka Island.


    Bookstores, Witch Tool Stores, Magic Crystal Stores, all kinds of shops were available.


    Of course, there was also no shortage of auction houses.


    Walking through the alley according to plan, Colin headed towards the auction house he had chosen early on.


    Now that he knew the market prices of the ships, naturally, the next step was to sell the McIntosh Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    If the McIntosh Golden Four-leaf Clover had a considerable value...


    Just then.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    A tall, bald figure slowly emerged from the narrow black brick lane ahead.


    Colin, hurriedly traversing the alley, slightly furrowed his brows and gradually stopped walking.


    He glanced back.


    As expected, another figure had appeared behind him. Dressed in a gray vest, his bare chest displayed a large expanse of Magic Tattoo.


    It seemed to be a ray fish.


    But with fierce fangs and a terrifying form, different from the usual ray fish.


    These two wizards were probably what the middle-aged guide had mentioned yesterday¡ªthe "Sea Dogs."


    A colloquial term for wizards from Gang Schools on Bananka Island.


    "Don''t be nervous, friend," the bald strongman in front spread his hands and smiled.


    "We mean no harm, just that business at the School hasn''t been booming lately, so we wanted to ask for your patronage..."


    Swish!


    Before he could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly changed, and he took a slight step back.


    Clang!


    A metal Cone Bullet embedded itself in the cobblestone at his feet, producing a deep pit with extensive cracks.

 Chapter 118 - 108: The Hague

    It seemed that all bustling streets had a quiet alley in stark contrast.


    Lanbei Street was no exception.


    At this moment, in a narrow alley no more than two meters wide behind it,


    Colin stared expressionlessly at the two wizards in front of him, clutching the Cone Bullet in his hand as he coldly said,


    "Scram!"


    Although he hadn''t heard all the bald wizard''s words, without guessing he knew that this so-called "taking care" of business mostly meant paying off a disaster.


    Such things were useless to escape or avoid with pretense.


    If things went according to their rhythm, sooner or later a conflict would arise.


    Only by showing his power decidedly could he rid himself of such entanglements in time.


    Of course, all this was under the assumption that the seal-faced man in front of him wasn''t a blind fool.


    But unfortunately¡ª


    The bald wizard in front of him clearly couldn''t understand his own standing.


    At this moment, his face gradually darkened, and he barked angrily,


    "What a big tone! Kid!"


    "This is not any small place you''ve stayed before!"


    "I''ve been here at Bananka Island for so many years, and I''ve never encountered anyone as presumptuous as you upon their arrival!"


    Colin heard these words and shook his head inwardly,


    Not following their instructions means being presumptuous, means not giving face...


    His eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    It wasn''t that he doubted the logic of the thieves behind the bald wizard... Those were all too common.


    What perplexed him was that the bald wizard knew he had just come to Bananka Island and could even determine he came from a small place.


    ...His information had somehow been leaked.


    Could it be the middle-aged guide he hired yesterday...


    Before he could reflect further, he noticed the bald wizard waving his arm.


    An invisible gas converged and solidified into a translucent cone spear, tearing through the air as it screamed towards him.


    It moved very fast, surrounded by a circle of white airflow.


    At the same time,


    A powerful gust of wind also came from behind toward Colin.


    The wizard with a fierce ray fish tattoo on his chest slightly inflated, raising about a dozen centimeters off the ground.


    His right fist swung towards Colin''s back.


    His right arm, which had a rough, sand-like texture, had now quietly expanded to the thickness of his waist, looking extremely disproportionate.


    It made him look like a crab with a huge right pincer. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin''s expression remained unchanged, as if he was petrified where he stood.


    A hint of disdain flashed in the eyes of the bald wizard.


    Wizards like him from small places often had incomplete knowledge of witchcraft, and their combat abilities could hardly be mentioned in the same breath as theirs.


    But the next second, just before the translucent air cone spear was only a punch away from Colin, and the rough giant fist was also moments from landing on his body,


    Colin suddenly moved!


    ''Not good!''


    In the incredulous expressions of the bald wizard and the ray fish tattooed wizard,


    Colin, relying on the great agility brought by a one-time Limit Breaking Swift Skill and the ultra-fast reflexes of the Ultimate Knight,


    to the last moment, lightly fluttered a small step to the right like a feather, then slightly shifted his body to lean against the alley wall.


    Swoosh!


    Bang!!


    The translucent air cone spear brushed past him, coincidentally hitting the giant rough right fist that also missed his clothes by a hair!


    "Ah!"


    The ray fish tattooed wizard cried out in pain as his huge sandy right fist was punctured by the air cone spear, leaving a fist-sized hole.


    "Sorry."


    The bald wizard said apologetically to the tattooed wizard with an ugly expression.


    The tattooed wizard shook his head, his face showing a fierce expression.


    Without a word, both of them continued to attack Colin.


    Seeing this, Colin''s brows slightly furrowed.


    He didn''t bother to dodge anymore, letting their futile attacks fall on his strong defensive shield, stirring up a meaningless ripple.


    These hounds from Bananka Island, perhaps they had been too comfortable with smooth sailing days... to be so arrogant and overbearing.


    They dared to attack without even being sure of the opponent''s strength.


    He quickly scanned his surroundings.


    Although this place was located in the busiest Blue Shell district of Bananka Island,


    it was a secluded and dark alley that had nothing to do with the bustling noise.


    The thick black stone brick walls on both sides isolated the sound, and there was not a single person in sight... there should be no one coming anytime soon.


    ... It was indeed a perfect place.


    Colin played with the Cone Bullet in his hand, watching the two wizards attacking him.


    A killing intent gradually rose in his heart.


    These two wizards were only Intermediate Wizard Apprentices in strength, although their mastery of witchcraft was commendable, and their power was first-class among Intermediate Wizard Apprentices, almost reaching an Advanced level.


    But to the current him, unless there were special circumstances, resolving them was just a matter of two Cone Bullets.


    It was just that the follow-up handling might be a troublesome matter.


    He didn''t want to deal with these two wizards and then have to face other wizards from their School coming one after another.


    Just as Colin was hesitating,


    the bald wizard and the ray fish tattooed wizard also finally realized something was amiss.


    Both of them simultaneously stopped.


    "...I didn''t expect your excellency to be an Advanced Wizard Apprentice," said the bald wizard after a pause.


    The ray fish tattooed wizard beside him also nodded in agreement.


    Colin''s expression slightly eased, he was a person who disliked trouble.


    If the two wizards in front of him recognized his strength and chose to back off,


    it was not unacceptable.


    "We have offended you." The bald wizard said again, pulling his companion and turning to leave.


    Colin felt a slight relief and turned to continue walking forward.


    However, just as he hadn''t taken more than a few steps, he heard a soft sound from behind.


    "Idiot." Colin''s gaze flashed, and he quickly stepped back and turned around.


    Swoosh!


    A pale bone spike had already flown towards his face, appearing to have reached the standard of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice in terms of power.


    The speed was so fast that it was impossible to dodge, but Colin did not dodge.


    Bang!


    The bone spike struggled to penetrate the defensive field and did nothing more, causing no further damage.


    A dark golden scepter slowly emerged in his right hand-Colin summoned the Foolishness Scepter.


    Seeing their usually successful sneak attack bone spike return without success this time, the two wizards from the Haiya School immediately changed their expressions.


    "Your Excellency, please show mercy!" The bald wizard quickly begged for mercy.


    "The Haiya School is one of the twelve Schools of Bananka, Your Excellency should not..."


    Splat.


    The Cone Bullet easily tore through the defensive witchcraft, penetrating the body, and removing the color from the bald wizard''s pupils.


    The top defensive witchcraft of an Intermediate Apprentice did not serve any purpose.


    His body fell heavily.


    Seeing this, the ray fish tattooed wizard''s face changed drastically, and without saying a word, he turned and ran towards the distance.


    But his action was in vain.


    Splat.


    The same sound came, and the ray fish tattooed wizard fell in the same manner as the bald wizard.


    Colin quickly looked around once more, and after confirming there was no one else, he collected the bodies of the two wizards from the Haiya School into his Storage Ring.


    After slightly dealing with the traces, he composed his expression and continued walking towards the auction house.

 Chapter 119 - 109: Inquiring

    Hague School''s Station.


    In the opulent hall.


    "Have Sande and Rice, who were responsible for target number twelve, returned yet?"


    Deacon Blumer asked Mark in front of him.


    "Not yet, sir," Mark shook his head.


    "This is already the second time this month that they have been so slow. Tell them that if there is a next time, their wages for this month will be cut in half."


    Blumer spoke indifferently.


    Their Hague School, in fact, resembled more of a gang formed and developed by wandering wizards rather than a traditional school and still had a significant gap from the orthodox schools.


    On Bananka Island, the only real orthodox school was the Bananka School.


    Yet, this did not affect their self-proclamation as a school.


    The main pillar of industry for the Hague School was the sale of inexpensive luxury items.


    For example, sea pearls, which cost tens of gold coins, were priced here at tens of magic stones.


    Though poor in quality and expensive, the customers who bought them were never lacking.


    This was mainly due to the huge flow of people on Bananka Island and their hardworking gang members who attracted customers.


    "Yes, Deacon Blumer," Mark replied.


    He felt somewhat disgruntled too.


    The efficiency of Sande and Rice had been getting slower recently.


    Although the magic stones they brought back increased, this wasn''t necessarily a good thing.


    The law enforcement team on Bananka Island turned a blind eye to such behavior.


    But this was under the premise that they were only selling things and not robbing and that they pay a costly tax to the law enforcement team every month.


    But recently, Sande and Rice''s methods had become more and more brutal, crossing the line¡­ It was time to give them a warning.


    Otherwise, if this got out to the law enforcement team, those people would not consider old ties.


    Mark was very clear on this¡ª


    To Bananka Island.


    The travelers coming and going were much more important than these sea dogs!


    As he thought this, he excused himself from Deacon Blumer, his tall figure gradually receding, vanishing at the door.


    ...


    Golden Anchor Auction House.


    Colin walked out of the tall golden archway, a look of joy on his face.


    The Golden Anchor Auction House was the largest auction house on Bananka Island, directly owned by the Bananka wizards.


    Despite the high commission fee of 15%, its reputation was excellent, and its professionalism was strong.


    Since it was his first time at the auction, they even waived the appraisal fee.


    McIntosh''s Golden Four-leaf Clover was a rare magic potion that could strengthen the soul.


    Although it only worked during the apprentice phase, its value was not low.


    At the end of the auction, an old wizard with black circular glasses appraised it for him.


    It appeared to be an Official Wizard¡­ His supersensitive phase had already ended the day before he arrived at Bananka Island.


    Now that he had lost his supersensitive vision, he could only guess the appraiser''s power level through his appearance.


    ''Special magic potion, a variant of the Golden Four-leaf Clover, retains the original soul-strengthening effects while also enhancing life force, and perhaps gains some self-healing capabilities.''


    Colin recalled the old appraiser''s final assessment in his mind.


    This result matched almost exactly with his actual experience.


    He had initially absorbed the power of the Golden Four-leaf Clover perfectly with the help of Golden Paper.


    And now, having undergone Limit Breaking once, that certain self-healing capability had been elevated to another, higher level.


    However,


    After one Limit Breaking, even with the assistance of the second Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Technique, the progress of Talent Strong Life was still very slow.


    It was only yesterday, after taking Manatee''s Tears and training anew, that he could see significant improvement.


    The sun was setting.


    After viewing the ship and entrusting the auction of the Golden Four-leaf Clover,


    It was now four in the afternoon.


    But Colin did not return to the inn but headed toward the distant Bananka Port instead.


    Golden Anchor Auction House held a micro auction daily and a medium-sized auction weekly.


    His McIntosh Golden Four-leaf Clover was not of low value, and it was scheduled for the monthly large auction seven days later.


    The old appraiser estimated the price of the Golden Four-leaf Clover to be between six thousand and fifteen thousand Magic Stones.


    If the auction house were to buy it directly, it would pay eight thousand Magic Stones.


    Such a large price fluctuation was mainly due to the uniqueness of the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    The Golden Four-leaf Clover was only effective for Wizard Apprentices, of no use for Official Wizards.


    But ordinary apprentices usually didn''t have so many Magic Stones, while Official Wizards had no use for it.


    So it usually didn''t sell for a very high price...


    Only when encountering proper clients, like Official Wizards buying Magic Potions for their juniors, could it fetch a good price.


    Thinking all the way, before he knew it, he had arrived at Bananka Port.


    The place was still bustling with noise, and travelers were constantly coming and going.


    On the open ground by the dock, inquisitive-eyed travelers disembarked from ships, pausing briefly to look around before stepping forward and blending into the crowd.


    Colin headed to the left following his memory.


    An middle-aged guide was standing by the roadside, closely observing the passing travelers.


    "Mod." He called out softly.


    Mod, reflexively turning around and seeing it was Colin, bowed slightly in greeting.


    "Sir."


    Then he quickly walked over to Colin''s side.


    The two conversed as they walked.


    "How''s the information gathering going?" Colin asked.


    "It''s all clear now," Mod answered.


    He organized his words and said:


    "Currently, there are fourteen ships heading to the Siya Continent.


    Out of these, there are nine fleets led by Official Wizards, all First Rank Wizards."


    "The earliest departure is the day after tomorrow, a ship of a Peak Apprentice. The latest is on the twenty-sixth of next month, also a ship of a Peak Apprentice."


    "The journey durations range from a month to half a year."


    "The prices range from three hundred to two thousand Magic Stones per person."


    "I have all the specific information recorded in detail, sir. Take a look."


    Mod stopped briefly, fumbling in his coat to pull out a sheet of paper and handed it to him.


    Colin nodded and accepted the paper.


    On it, a table clearly listed various information about the fourteen ships heading to the Siya Continent.


    His regard for Mod rose further.


    Whether it was yesterday''s sincere disclosure about the inn''s kickbacks or today''s logically clear table of ship information, both demonstrated Mod was a clever man.


    Unfortunately... he was just a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice.


    ''With such a mind, and no longer young, yet still only a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice...'' S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin eyed Mod, feeling somewhat emotional and speculating to himself.


    ''It must be poor aptitude.''


    He rubbed the paper, then shifted his thoughts.


    ''That means, Mod likely has no connections with the Hayha School Wizards I met this morning...''


    Those two Hayha School Wizards could easily divulge his information.


    He hadn''t forgotten that.


    Folding the paper neatly and tucking it away, he casually took out the previously agreed upon Magic Stone as payment for Mod, while casually asking.


    "Are there any famous Schools on Bananka Island?"


    Although he said so, necessary probing was still needed.


    After all, one must be cautious with others.


    "Schools?"


    Mod took the Magic Stone, placing it into a black pouch inside his coat, his expression somewhat puzzled.


    He watched Colin, his thoughts spinning, then his expression revealed sudden realization.


    Then he counter-asked:


    "Sir, have you been targeted by those sea dogs?"

 Chapter 120 - 110 Trouble

    "I''m new here, just getting to know the environment to avoid any unnecessary trouble."


    Colin responded calmly.


    Mod nodded, not asking further.


    He paused then began to introduce.


    "Actually, the only real School on Bananka Island is the Bananka School, and the rest we usually refer to as the three major Trading Companies, seven major Gangs, and twelve minor Gangs."


    "The three Trading Companies are Blue Rose, Moonflower, Siwo, and Sea Pearl, the seven major..."


    "There are four in the three Trading Companies?" Colin interrupted.


    "Yes, my lord," Mod replied, his expression serene, pausing before adding, "The seven major Gangs actually have nine, the twelve minor Gangs have fifteen...these names are just formalities."


    Colin nodded, his expression somewhat baffled.


    Mod continued with the introductions.


    Before long, he had clearly explained the power dynamics on the island.


    Just as Colin was silently processing this information,


    Mod suddenly added,


    "Lord, most Wizards who arrive on the island are approached by the seals of either the seven major Gangs or the twelve minor Gangs,


    then, whether through threats or temptations, but regardless of the means used, they end up having to spend their money at their businesses."


    He paused then added, "¡­Most are coerced into spending, and the few who lack the power or backing are¡­"


    He didn''t finish, but his implication was clear.


    Mod pondered then reminded,


    "Lord, if you encounter the Siwo Gang, Lester Gang¡­, Oak Gang, you need to be especially cautious.


    Their products or services, once involved with them, can drain even the wealthiest dry, bones and all."


    Colin inwardly shivered, taking careful note of this information.


    Bananka Island appeared orderly, but this was a world where power ruled supreme.


    Even if the surface appeared cultured and genteel, it couldn''t hide the grim, bloodthirsty nature lurking beneath.


    Furthermore, with Mod''s introduction, he also knew what rank the School belonged to where the two gang Wizards he had killed that morning were from.


    The Haiya School was one of the twelve minor Gangs, not a major School, but not insignificant either.


    Moreover,


    He had thought the attack by the two gang Wizards that morning was spontaneous, but it turned out to be a systematic task set by the seals.


    As for his own information, he finally knew it.


    It had been tagged and leaked when he entered the port.


    Honestly, such a system, used only for extortion,


    In his view, was a waste.


    However, he then thought.


    This almost extortionate buying and selling could sell something worth a few dozen Gold Coins for a price of ten or even several dozen Magic Stones.


    Offering ordinary trades at least a hundred, if not a thousand times the profit.


    At the same time, it wouldn''t violate any of Bananka Island Law Enforcement Team''s rules.


    Such a safe and highly profitable business was worth any effort.


    Upon understanding the underlying logic,


    He frowned deeply.


    It seemed that the two gang Wizards he had killed in the morning were quite problematic.


    If this wasn''t just a spontaneous action but a mission from their gang,


    No matter how cleanly he handled his tracks, he would inevitably be targeted by the Haiya Gang.


    ''Trouble¡­''


    He sighed inwardly, bidding farewell to Mod, and headed back to the inn.


    Once the Golden Four-leaf Clover was sold, he would hurry off this island, heading for the Siya Continent.


    The vast ocean distance could dissolve everything.


    Thinking this, his heart was somewhat torn.


    There were two routes to Siya, one by air and one by sea.


    Each had two options¡ªeither purchase the corresponding transport or hitch a ride.


    Air travel went without saying, whether by hitching a ride or going on his own was too expensive.


    It was not within his current considerations.


    But sea travel left him feeling indecisive and hesitant.


    Although the cost of a boat ticket varied from three hundred to two thousand Magic Stones,


    considering factors like travel duration, safety, and a private space conducive to cultivation,


    the price of a boat ticket would be at least a thousand Magic Stones.


    Of course, the stronger the travelers, the lower the price of the tickets.


    If he revealed his strength as an Official Wizard, many ships would let him ride for free.


    However, he would then be expected to take on protective duties.


    This wasn''t really an issue, as being on the same boat was akin to being tied to the same string.


    Even without this responsibility, should manageable dangers arise, he would naturally intervene.


    But he feared unexpected incidents.


    Sailing the seas, the more people, especially the lower skilled ones, may not be ideal, potentially reducing safety and inviting more unnecessary risks.


    Moreover, after the incident at Blackstone Island.


    In such a unique environment at sea, he desperately wanted to have a retreat option at all times.


    This retreat, undoubtedly, was a ship of his own.


    That way, whether faced with an overwhelming crisis on the island or the ship, he would have an additional option.


    With this in mind, Colin''s thought of buying a ship solidified.


    After all, even if he bought the ship, having a Storage Ring would not hinder his option to rode on another.


    And, should he not need it upon reaching the Siya Continent, he could sell it. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Magic Stones lost in depreciation, compared to the added security throughout the voyage, were clearly negligible.


    He walked briskly.


    Before the sun dipped below the horizon, in the early evening.


    Colin returned to the inn where he was staying.


    Upon reaching the rented suite, Renee, who had been out on business, had also returned.


    "Master, all the Magic Crystals have been sold for a total of one hundred and sixty Magic Stones."


    Renee stepped forward, handing Colin the Magic Stones she had obtained from selling the Magic Crystals.


    These Magic Crystals had been accumulated while Colin was secluded in cultivation for three months.


    Now, this was a good opportunity to sell them on Bananka Island, although not a lot, but every little bit helps.


    Colin took the Magic Stones and stored them in his Storage Ring,


    then suddenly looked up at Renee and instructed,


    "Pack up your things, we''re changing inns."

 Chapter 121 - 111 Temporary Evacuation

    Blue Shell Street, Siwo Inn.


    The setting sun was slowly sinking into the distant sea.


    Rich orange hues slanted across the threshold of the Siwo Inn''s grey and gold European-style door.


    At that moment, a middle-aged man in a white shirt and brown vest slowly stepped out.


    He glanced indifferently towards the shadows not far to the left.


    There, an ordinary-looking young man was observing the wizards coming and going from the Siwo Inn.


    Upon seeing the middle-aged man emerge, the young man''s face displayed an evident look of confusion.


    He looked down and carefully flipped through a small, brown-covered notebook he pulled from his person.


    Disguised as the middle-aged man, Colin subtly withdrew his gaze.


    "It seems that this must be the Haiya Gang''s lookout."


    Realizing that the Haiya Gang might come knocking because of those two gang wizards he had dealt with,


    he obviously wouldn''t continue to foolishly stay at the current Siwo Inn.


    Quietly moving his place of residence and delaying the time until the Haiya Gang found him was the wisest course of action.


    The sun continued to sink.


    Colin walked briskly.


    He didn''t move to an inn too far away.


    The newly chosen Blue Rose Inn was just over two hundred meters away from the original Siwo Inn, separated only by a single street.


    He donned a wizard robe in an alley along the way, removed his goatee and, controlling the muscles of his face, changed his appearance again.


    As an ordinary-looking, fair-haired wizard, Colin finally stepped towards the entrance of the Blue Rose Inn.


    As was customary, he opened a two-bedroom suite.


    Only after entering his new room did he let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Although he didn''t hold much hope of keeping the Haiya Gang''s wizards fooled for long.


    But he could drag it out as long as possible. Maybe after ten days or half a month, he would have left Bananka Island.


    After all, the Golden Four-leaf Clover would be auctioned in a week.


    Night fell.


    The disguised Renee and Demi arrived one after another.


    Colin patted the head of Demi, who with his help, had disguised herself to come alone as a young girl, and he sincerely praised her.


    As a child of six or seven, Demi''s independence was much stronger than he had imagined.


    But then again¡­ maybe that''s how all the children in this world are.


    Either way, he was somewhat surprised when Renee actively suggested Demi come on her own.


    Now, it seemed, he had worried too much.


    ...


    Time stealthily passed.


    Soon, another three days had gone by.


    That day,


    in a suite on the second floor of Blue Rose Inn,


    Colin summoned the Golden Paper and took out the Magic Stone.


    No matter how many trivial matters there were, on ordinary days, he still tried to maintain his time practicing witchcraft.


    Now, the Limit Breaking of the Steel Armor, the Hope Defense, and Arrow Shooting Skill had once again reached their limits.


    He was now preparing to break the limit for these witchcrafts which had reached their limit again.


    As the Magic Stone continually transformed into Limit Breaking Points, ¡ü symbols lit up one after another behind the witchcraft on the Golden Paper.


    First was the Steel Armor, which lit up when the Limit Breaking Points reached 10.


    After that were the Hope Defense Field and Arrow Shooting Skill.


    These two lit up when the Limit Breaking Points reached 20.


    Colin sighed softly to himself.


    He wasn''t concerned about the consumption of the Magic Stone.


    After all, breaking the limit of three witchcrafts only required a total of 50 Limit Breaking Points,


    which equated to 50 Magic Stones.


    For him now, that was nothing.


    His sigh was because the ¡ü symbols lighting up behind these three witchcrafts were all a shining gold color.


    Gold represented that the witchcraft had reached their current ultimate limit and could no longer be improved.


    The numbers behind the Limit Breaking Points continued to jump.


    Soon, they reached 50 points.


    Colin halted his action of switching the Limit Breaking Points, tucked away the Magic Stone, and focused his Spirit with practiced ease toward the ¡ü symbol behind the witchcraft, pressing it emphatically.


    First was the Arrow Shooting Skill.


    As the 20 Limit Breaking Points disappeared, the Arrow Shooting Skill slowly turned gold.


    The symbol ¢ñ behind it also vanished, replaced with the word "gold" in gold color, indicating it had reached its limit.


    He didn''t rush to test the might of Arrow Shooting Skill (Gold).


    Colin continued to upgrade the other two forms of witchcraft.


    Steel Armor ¢ñ¡ª¡ªSteel Armor (Gold)


    Hope Defense Field ¢ñ¡ª¡ªHope Defense Field (Gold)


    Having done all this, Colin stood up, ready to test out the effects of the upgraded witchcraft.


    But just then, an unexpected transformation occurred!


    On the Golden Paper.


    Steel Armor (Gold) and Hope Defense Field (Gold) began to blur and then merged together, shedding their gold color to reform into a row of black characters¡ª¡ª


    [Zeroth Rank Top Unnamed Defensive Witchcraft]


    A shock that he couldn''t conceal spread across Colin''s face; he hadn''t expected witchcraft of the same type to fuse together when both broke their limits to gold!


    He instinctively used the newly fused Defensive Witchcraft.


    Hum¡ª¡ª


    An invisible Spiritual Light enveloped his entire body.


    Colin carefully felt the effects of the newly fused defensive witchcraft.


    Steel Armor was primarily for physical defense, its effect almost like wearing a weightless layer of armor.


    While the Hope Defense Field was a more balanced Defensive Witchcraft.


    It offered a certain level of defense not just against physical, but also elemental and spirit-based attacks.


    Now the new defensive witchcraft, in terms of effect, was almost like a simple and crude addition of the two.


    But the consumption of Magic Power and Spirit when casting, had not increased by much.


    There was none of the tearing sensation that came with casting two Defensive Witchcrafts at the same time.


    It felt more like a perfectly fused whole, a complete and new witchcraft!


    And more importantly¡ª¡ª


    After Steel Armor and Hope Defense Field fused, they went from the limit-reaching gold back to the original black.


    The gold words behind them changed back to the familiar progress indicator!


    Clearly, this meant that the newly obtained defensive witchcraft could continue to be upgraded!


    Colin put away the Golden Paper, his heart leaping with joy.


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    At the entrance of Siwo Inn, where he had been staying.


    The tall figure of Mark emerged from the doorway with a sullen expression.


    He addressed the young gang member responsible for recording the entries to Siwo Inn, speaking coldly:


    "So you don''t even know when he left?"


    "¡­I''m sorry, sir."


    Mark said nothing, his expression growing darker.


    At first, he thought Sande and Rice had just gone off to enjoy themselves without a care.


    But after a day without seeing them, he became suspicious.


    Two days later, he had all but confirmed that Sande and Rice were dead.


    Now it was the third day.


    From yesterday to now, he had checked every target Sande and Rice were responsible for, one by one.


    And now Siwo Inn was the last one.


    There had been no abnormalities discovered in the previous four, but the target at Siwo Inn had quietly slipped out of their sight, and it was unknown where they had moved to.


    This was clearly suspicious.


    But Bananka Island was so vast, finding a Wizard intentionally hiding their tracks at this moment was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.


    However¡ª¡ª


    No matter what, the disappearance of Sande and Rice must be investigated further! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He needed to explain to the other gang members; he needed to show them!


    Only now, with no clues, he truly didn''t know where to begin.


    Just as he furrowed his brows.


    The young gang member beside him suddenly said:


    "Sir, I''ve just remembered something!"

 Chapter 122 - 112: Portrait

    The young gang member''s face was somewhat tense,


    as he hurriedly pulled out a small book with a brown cover from his bosom and explained:


    "Three days ago, in the evening, I saw a suspicious stranger leave the Siwo Inn."


    He flipped open the notebook, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he recalled:


    "That stranger was a middle-aged man dressed in a vest, with an ordinary face."


    "Actually, I was a bit puzzled at the time because I had never seen the middle-aged man check in; it was as if he just appeared out of thin air from the Siwo Inn."


    "Now that I think about it, it''s likely that our target was in disguise!"


    The young gang member spoke with some indignation, and at the same time, handed over the notebook that contained the description of the middle-aged man''s appearance to Mark.


    Mark took the brown notebook without much comment.


    Their method of recording was inherently simple and rough, the real intention was not to exhaustively control the comings and goings of travelers.


    Naturally, they also did not specifically target disguised individuals.


    So if the target was intentionally disguised, it was quite normal for the young gang member not to have identified them.


    Mark opened the brown notebook and firmly memorized the information about the target''s original appearance as well as the appearance of the disguised middle-aged man.


    The next second, as if something occurred to him, he asked:


    "The target had a maid and a child with him."


    "Did you see them leave?"


    The young gang member hesitated, shaking his head,


    "¡­No."


    Maidens like these were not usually worth the effort of recording.


    And indeed, he had not seen the maid and the child leave.


    Mark nodded, asked no more questions, and quickly walked away on his own.


    He was planning to go back and inquire with other informants nearby.


    Half a day later.


    At the Haiya Gang''s base.


    Inside a plainly decorated office,


    Mark leaned back in his chair and repeated:


    "You haven''t seen them?"


    "Yes, sir."


    He sighed, waved his hand to indicate to the gang member in front of him to leave.


    This was the last informant he had questioned.


    The results were all the same.


    Those stationed at the doors of inns and other places had not seen the blonde target, nor the middle-aged man he had disguised himself as.


    Sitting in his chair, resting his forehead in thought for a moment.


    Mark stood up and slowly walked into the depths of the base.


    ...


    Time passed silently like water.


    On the second floor suite of the Blue Rose Inn,


    Colin stood by the window, feeling somewhat emotional.


    Unknowingly, it had been eight days since he arrived at Bananka Island.


    A faint light entered from outside the window, signaling that the sunrise was upon them.


    Although, due to the angle and location, he could not see the sun rising from the sea,


    the gradual climb of golden light on the staggered grey and white facades outside the window still revealed the arrival of dawn.


    Looking out, there was a field of gilt.


    After breakfast, when the time was about right,


    Colin packed all his luggage into his storage ring and walked to the door.


    "Renee, remember what I told you?" he said.


    "I remember, master," Renee responded.


    Colin nodded his head.


    He had stayed in the Blue Rose Inn for a week; it was time to change locations.


    To move to a much quieter place.


    The street where the inn was located was the central street of the Blue Bay district, but it was too bustling.


    The main reason for staying there previously was its proximity to the Golden Anchor Auction House, which was convenient for the auction of the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    But after today, once the Golden Four-leaf Clover was auctioned off, he would no longer need to stay here.


    ''Maybe, I could move near the shipyard¡­''


    As he thought, he descended the stairs disguised as the ordinary young man he had appeared to be when he first entered the Blue Rose Inn.


    When he came downstairs, the clerk at the reception glanced up at him but had no special reaction.


    Quickly, the clerk returned to browsing a book.


    Colin kept a calm expression.


    The current change in his features was accomplished with the power of the Strong Life Talent combined with the Ultimate Knight''s control over physical form.


    Such physical transformations were difficult to see through.


    Leaving the Blue Rose Inn,


    he briskly headed for a back-alley he had chosen near the Golden Anchor Auction House, planning to revert to his original appearance there before entering the auction.


    But he hadn''t gone far when, passing around a street corner,


    Colin''s brow suddenly furrowed, his stride faltered, and he gradually slowed down, quietly following a long-haired Wizard. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Using his peripheral vision, he could clearly see that the long-haired Wizard was holding a piece of white paper with three figures drawn on it.


    The figures on the paper consisted of one male and two females, one tall and one short, one a maid and the other a child.


    With such distinctive features... There was no doubt it was his group.


    Colin''s heart sank.


    But after observing a little more, his heart eased.


    Perhaps the only things that matched them were the figures'' heights on the paper¡ªtwo tall and one short.


    Everything else, whether it be hairstyles or facial features, entirely mismatched them.


    ... Regardless of whether the drawing on the paper was of him and the Renee sisters or not,


    With such a rudimentary sketch, the prospect of finding them by it... seemed quite difficult.


    With an unaffected expression, Colin swiftly passed the long-haired Wizard and walked away.


    In a short while, he had, as planned, reverted to his original appearance and arrived at the Golden Anchor Auction House.


    He took out his purple gold entry pass for the auction.


    After the attendant closely compared his appearance to their records, they showed him to a seat on the right side in the middle of the hall.


    ¡ªThis was the complimentary seat provided by the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    Regarding private boxes... of course, there were some.


    However, they required an additional fee, around 50 Magic Stones.


    Not much, but unnecessary.


    After all, the seats in the hall were at a distance from each other and had partitions in between.


    The privacy afforded was passable.


    On a small round table to the right of the red cushioned armchair, there lay a booklet introducing the auction''s items.


    Once seated, Colin began to flip through it.


    At the moment, what he was most in need of was, without doubt, the knowledge relating to Advanced Official Wizards.


    And another complete set of Meditation Method appropriate for the Official Wizard stage.


    For the former, he planned to buy it at a bookstore, as after all, it was only a broad overview of Advanced knowledge,


    Not something treasured. The auction house surely would not have it.


    For him now, the price was also not too expensive.


    Previously on Blackstone Island, the Black Pearl Trading Company had quoted him 350 Magic Stones.


    The price on the fleet was obviously a bit higher, and he estimated that on Bananka Island it would be cheaper.


    As for the latter¡ª the complete Meditation Method¡ª


    Colin sighed softly.


    Previously, the price he heard on the Black Pearl Trading Company was 50,000 Magic Stones.


    Even accounting for the inflated prices on the fleet, he would probably need at least ten thousand Magic Stones.


    And the value of the Golden Four-leaf Clover, according to the Appraiser''s estimate, was at most 15,000 Magic Stones...


    Thinking this, Colin closed the booklet in his hands that contained little of interest.


    Perhaps it was to maintain a sense of mystery.


    The booklet only introduced a few treasured items such as his Golden Four-leaf Clover, serving as the highlights of the sale.


    A glance revealed that there were Witch Tools, Magic Potions, and even rare artifacts listed.


    But there was no Meditation Method.


    Leaning slightly back against the soft chair,


    Colin closed his eyes and waited quietly for the auction to begin.

 Chapter 123 - 113 Give Some Face

    I don''t know how much time had passed.


    Hum¡ª


    The auction stage not far away gradually lit up.


    Under the soft white light, a middle-aged man with neatly trimmed black beard stepped up.


    He wore an exquisite white Wizard Robe with gold patterns, a rare head of black hair.


    The auctioneer in the white robe smiled and walked without stopping to the high desk engraved with Golden Anchor, picked up the golden gavel placed on it, and struck the base.


    Dang!


    The quiet murmur that had been present in the hall slowly faded away.


    Colin also opened his eyes and sat up straight.


    It looked like the auction was about to begin.


    "Honored Wizards, welcome to Golden Anchor Auction House, I will be your auctioneer today¡ªAli."


    The auctioneer in the white robe began his opening remarks and gave a brief introduction.


    "This auction is Golden Anchor Auction House''s large-scale monthly auction, with a total of 57 items to be auctioned today, and the estimated time needed is 6 hours..."


    After the introduction, the auctioneer started to explain the key points.


    "Next, I will introduce to everyone the rules of this auction and points of attention."


    "This auction will be an ascending bid auction, where I will start by announcing the estimated reserve price set by the auction house. Subsequently, you can compete by raising your bids.


    Furthermore, at the armrest of your seat, there is a Bidding Crystal provided. You can use it by inputting your Magic Power."


    At this point, he paused for emphasis and said:


    "At the same time, I would like to specially remind all esteemed Wizards to use the Bidding Crystal for bidding to protect your privacy and safety as much as possible, in order to avoid unnecessary troubles..."


    Colin, who was caressing the crystal on the right armrest that he had lit up, nodded slightly.


    Such an anonymous method of bidding obviously had higher safety.


    After all, in this world, if one had no power, there were many times when one could buy with life but couldn''t use without life.


    ¡­ Presumably, such anonymous bidding methods must be quite common in the auction houses of this world.


    After all, if one couldn''t ensure their safety, then who would participate in auctions?


    Auction houses could only build up a good reputation and have a steady stream of customers by ensuring the safety of the auctioneers as much as possible.


    While thinking this, the auctioneer on the stage was also nearing the end of his opening speech.


    "¡­ The handover of small auction items will be delivered immediately to the corresponding bidder''s seat through a special device provided by Golden Anchor Auction House at the same time as the successful bid."


    "Please collect them promptly."


    "Lastly, from the moment you participate in the auction, it implies that you agree to all the regulations of Golden Anchor Auction House and that you trust the professional appraisal results of Golden Anchor Auction House.


    After the auction ends, no returns shall be supported for any reason."


    After saying this, the auctioneer in the white robe paused and then continued:


    "The rules of this auction and points of attention have now all been announced."


    "Let us now begin the official auction."


    Upon hearing this, Colin adjusted his posture slightly, placed his hand on the Bidding Crystal, and felt an inexplicable anticipation.


    Before he could fully prepare,


    a fiery red Magic Crystal appeared out of nowhere on the table on the stage.


    "A First Rank Advanced Fireball Witchcraft Sun Fireball Magic Crystal, good quality, starting bid 500 Magic Stones,"


    said the auctioneer in the white robe.


    After a moment, someone began to bid.


    "Five hundred and ten Magic Stones."


    Under the effect of the Bidding Crystal, the speaker device at the top of the auction hall transmitted a mechanical voice.


    "Five hundred and fifteen Magic Stones."


    Another voice of the same tone immediately followed in the next moment.


    After hesitating for a moment, Colin too felt tempted and with a thought, called out his own bid.


    "Five hundred and twenty-five Magic Stones."


    He still vividly remembered the First Rank Advanced Sun Fireball.


    The might displayed by Wizard Lap when casting it had left a deep impression on him.


    Although using a Magic Crystal that is higher than one''s actual Rank, it is not like the Foolishness Scepter, which won''t add any consumption.


    Instead, it will increase the consumption of Spirit.


    As a result, the number of times a Magic Crystal can be used is greatly reduced due to the limitation of Spirit, and it also slightly diminishes its potency.


    But the First Rank Advanced witchcraft Sun Fireball, even if slightly reduced, was still at least at the level of First Rank Intermediate witchcraft.


    And now, with the bonus of the Foolishness Scepter, if he were to cast a golden Arrow Shooting Skill.


    And after the knowledge paid was offset by the knowledge gained from casting witchcraft, to control it at a rate where about five casts would reduce one point of progress.


    Then the power of his cast would just barely reach the level of Basic Level First Rank witchcraft.


    The Sun Fireball Magic Crystal, of good quality, could be recharged at least ten times.


    Fully charged, it was expected to allow five casts... For him, perhaps only one cast was possible.


    But items like these, which could serve as a temporary trump card, were naturally better the more you had.


    "Five hundred and forty Magic Stones!" someone called out a bid again.


    "Five hundred and forty-five Magic Stones." Colin paused, then bid again.


    However, perhaps there were many with the same thoughts as him.


    The price of the Sun Fireball Magic Crystal did not stop at five hundred and forty-five Magic Stones.


    Instead, it climbed all the way, soon surpassing six hundred Magic Stones.


    Colin also stopped bidding rationally.


    After all, he wasn''t exactly what you''d call wealthy; he had just come into an unexpected fortune.


    Moreover, he now had two other more pressing needs¡ª


    Buying a ship and a Meditation Method.


    Neither was cheap... this unexpected fortune might not be enough...


    It was better to save.


    In the time that followed, with this mindset, he mostly just watched in silence.


    Only occasionally did he call out a bid, but none were successful.


    However, soon a new auction item made him put away his indifferent attitude.


    "The Ancient Banu Meditation Method, an incomplete ancient meditation method, contains the complete content from Apprentice to First Rank Wizard, and some incomplete content of a Second Rank Wizard."


    "The starting bid is five thousand Magic Stones."


    Sitting up slightly, Colin watched the white-robed auctioneer in front of the Crystal Ball, feeling somewhat excited.


    He hadn''t expected a meditation method would actually be auctioned!


    And the starting bid was only five thousand Magic Stones!


    ''Let''s add five hundred for starters!''


    He placed his right hand on the Bidding Crystal without hesitation and called out.


    "Six thousand Magic Stones!"


    But someone was faster than him.


    His expression changed slightly, and he raised the bid on the Bidding Crystal to seven thousand Magic Stones!


    "Eight thousand Magic Stones!" A mechanical voice came again.


    His right hand stiffened slightly, and he involuntarily stopped his bidding.


    To prevent random bidding, Golden Anchor Auction House would assign each bidder a fixed bidding limit before the auction.


    This limit differed for each Wizard and was judged based on the assets each Wizard displayed.


    For Colin, most of his limit came from the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    Only nine thousand...


    He sighed, and in that brief moment of contemplation,


    The bid for the Ancient Banu Meditation Method had already reached ten thousand.


    Such a price had already exceeded his maximum bidding limit.


    And it seemed, it was not the final selling price.


    "Eleven thousand Magic Stones!"


    "Eleven thousand five hundred Magic Stones!"


    "Eleven thousand five hundred and fifty Magic Stones!"


    "Twelve thousand Magic Stones!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bidding voices in the hall rose and fell in succession.


    Suddenly, a voice came from a single-person private box upstairs.


    "Gentlemen, please give me, Ruth, some face. This is nothing but an ancient meditation method that is both incomplete and flawed, and outdated..."


    But before he could finish, the mechanical bidding voice continued to ring out.


    "Thirteen thousand Magic Stones!"

 Chapter 124 - 114 Difficulties

    Ruth hesitated, then let out a heavy snort, exuding the imposing aura of a First Rank Junior Wizard as he loudly bid,


    "15,000 Magic Stones!"


    At that moment, a scoff echoed from another private box.


    "...didn''t you say that this was just a flawed and outdated Ancient Meditation Method?"


    "Why not let us have it then?"


    "Cut the nonsense, we are all Wild Wizards, who doesn''t understand the value of a complete First Rank Meditation Method!" Another voice said grimly.


    Wild Wizards like them mostly practiced incomplete Meditation Methods, with their path forward often blocked, which was all too common.


    Possessing a complete First Rank Meditation Method might not necessarily be adaptable.


    Even if modified, it would have various flaws and wouldn''t compare to other Meditation Methods...


    Regardless, it was still far better than their current dead ends with no progress!


    Upstairs, Ruth let out another cold snort, about to retort.


    But then he heard,


    Ding.


    The white-robed wizard on the stage struck his gavel.


    The auction house went silent.


    The white-robed wizard swept his gaze around and said sternly:


    "Please respect the order of the auction and do not interfere with the bidding process in any form!


    This is Lord Bananka''s Golden Anchor Auction House!


    The only thing that can decide the ownership of the auctioned items is Magic Stones!"


    Ruth''s face turned sour.


    This white-robed wizard was merely a Peak Wizard Apprentice backed by the Bananka Wizard''s Golden Anchor Auction House¡­


    Yet, he ultimately kept quiet, only silently continuing to bid.


    Suddenly,


    "Ah, it''s still better in the Schools, Wild Wizards have it tough."


    A soft voice spoke.


    Colin was startled.


    The faint voice came from the seat next to his.


    It seemed two acquainted individuals were seated there, quietly conversing.


    "You''re right, being a Wild Wizard is a dead end..."


    "Look at those bidding Wizards, even if they luckily advance to First Rank Wizards, they are still desperately fighting over a worn-out Meditation Method that School members disdain..."


    "Shh¡ª"


    "Choose your words wisely."


    "Alas..."


    The two next to him fell silent, the bidding inside the auction hall continued, likely not to end any time soon.


    After a while,


    One of them next door suddenly said,


    "I''m planning to head to the Siya Continent soon."


    "This¡­well, it might be for the best, at least the Siya Continent has the Wizard Alliance, unlike Bananka Island which leaves no room for advancement for us Wild Wizards.


    Even if we are already Gang Wizards here, we still can''t see a way forward."


    "Alas¡­Who knows, the Schools monopolize knowledge, and Wild Wizards everywhere face the same plight."


    "Wanting to join a School mid-way is even tougher¡­"


    "However, we Apprentices are still better off; to join a School, we just need to pass a knowledge test.


    If we wait until we advanced to Official Wizards, then we also need to consider if the new Meditation Method can adapt to changes."


    "That makes sense, it''s wise to join a School early before advancing¡­"


    Both sighed together.


    Elsewhere,


    The bidding for the Ancient Banu Meditation Method was reaching its conclusion.


    "41,000 Magic Stones the first time!" called out the white-robed wizard from the stage.


    "41,000 Magic Stones the second time! 41,000 Magic Stones the third time!"


    Ding!


    He swung his golden gavel, striking the base while declaring solemnly,


    "Sold!"


    "The bidding for the Ancient Banu Meditation Method is concluded, now onto the next item..."


    Colin was silent, caressing the Bidding Crystal on his right hand.


    After the white-robed auctioneer called for a halt, Ruth and the others refrained from speaking again.


    Only the mechanical voices of bidding resounded in the auction hall.


    ...It was unclear who ultimately won the Ancient Banu Meditation Method.


    Forty-one thousand Magic Stones... far more expensive than he had imagined.


    ...Could it be said to truly be a Meditation Method possessing complete knowledge of a First Rank Wizard?


    He sighed inwardly, worrying about how he would acquire the subsequent Meditation Methods.


    Now he realized that he had previously thought too simply.


    Even if the Golden Four-leaf Clover fetched a high price, supporting his purchase of Meditation Methods for subsequent First Rank Wizard stages,


    what about the Second Rank Wizards?


    What about the Third Rank Wizards?


    ...He had long heard of the hardships faced by Wild Wizards.


    However, previously on Blackstone Island, he was after all a proper member of a School.


    Although he had heard of the hardships of Wild Wizards, it was merely hearsay...


    Now that the Lap School was destroyed, and he had become a Wild Wizard, he truly understood deeply.


    Not to mention, if the Lap School were a normal School,


    he wouldn''t be worrying about advanced Meditation Methods like he was now.


    Moreover, taking the Haiya Gang issue into account,


    if he were on Blackstone Island, or if he had a power backing him equivalent to the Haiya Gang, or even slightly less powerful,


    he would not choose to tread so cautiously and avoid conflict.


    He would have directly understood the matter!


    But now, alone, his combined combat skills amounted to those of a newly advanced First Rank Wizard,


    but the Haiya Gang supposedly had genuine First Rank Official Wizards... After all, he had personally killed their members, so it was better to avoid trouble and lay low for the time being.


    ''Perhaps... it''s time to make a move towards Siya Continent.''


    He mulled over this quietly in his heart.


    As the apprentice beside him had said, Siya Continent was the true land of flourishing wizards.


    Bananka Island, while more than double the size of Blackstone Island,


    was filled with strictly ruled Gangs, and as a Wild Wizard now, it was tough to acquire more resources.


    Moreover, the articles he had seen in the newspapers¡ª


    those Divine beings that kept descending, along with the warnings issued by the Wizard Alliance...


    all made him feel vaguely uneasy.


    What''s more,


    although Erica was well-acquainted with him, she wasn''t naive enough to rely merely on a verbal promise.


    The promise to deliver Erica''s remains and the letter to the Royal Family of the Holy Flame Kingdom,


    they had formally signed a complete contract.


    Even though for Colin, even if such a contract had not been signed,


    he would have certainly done everything in his power to fulfill this promise!


    After all, regardless of Erica''s intentions,


    being able to successfully escape the Wizard Tower and obtain the Foolishness Scepter as well as the Knowledge Crystal,


    Erica had played an indispensable role in all of this!


    Such a debt of gratitude, he would not forget... just as he would not forget the humiliation and hatred from when those Gold Divine beings descended and caused him to flee in panic!


    But,


    for Erica, naturally signing a complete contract was more reassuring.


    The content of their contract was simple, which was that he needed to successfully deliver the remains and the letter.


    There was only a time limit set¡ªthree years.


    He needed to fulfill this promise within three years.


    Of course, for situations like being unable to find the Royal Family or if the Royal Family had been annihilated...etc., there were corresponding clauses in the contract.


    All things considered, perhaps Erica was well-prepared, or perhaps the strong computing power brought by the tower spirit allowed her to cover every detail.


    The content of the contract had considered all aspects in great detail and matched his thoughts as well.


    Only the timing was a bit tight.


    "The next auction item..."


    The auction continued.


    Unknowingly, while he reflected, it had already reached the latter part.


    Colin focused his mind and refrained from thinking further, concentrating his attention on the auction.


    It shouldn''t be long now before his Golden Four-leaf Clover would be next to take the stage...


    S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 125 - 115: Auction Ends

    "The next auction item, a modified Golden Four-leaf Clover."


    He didn''t have to wait long; as soon as the white-robed auctioneer spoke up,


    the familiar Golden Four-leaf Clover was presented.


    "This modified Golden Four-leaf Clover, compared to the original, maintains its soul-enhancing effect without reduction, and has added the benefits of strengthening vitality, with the expected acquisition of a slight healing ability."


    "The starting bid¡ª5000 Magic Stones!"


    Ding!


    "The bidding starts now!"


    The white-robed auctioneer swung the gavel and struck the golden podium, making a ''ding'' sound.


    Maybe it was an illusion,


    but Colin always felt that right after the gavel fell, the auction hall became extraordinarily silent. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint layer of tension lightly shrouded his heart¡ª


    after all, aside from the Golden Four-leaf Clover, he only had a few hundred Magic Stones, a mere pauper!


    With these few hundred Magic Stones, he couldn''t afford much whether for buying a ship or acquiring knowledge.


    He was counting on the auction of the Golden Four-leaf Clover to quickly realize his dream of buying knowledge and a ship, to set sail for the busier Siya Continent sooner!


    "6000 Magic Stones!"


    Soon, the familiar mechanical sound of bidding echoed.


    "6050 Magic Stones!"


    "It''s a Golden Four-leaf Clover..."


    Adjacent bidders started whispering among themselves.


    Colin''s expression subtly shifted.


    He was seated in the main hall of the auction, which was a fairly ordinary area.


    The seats, while somewhat spaced apart, weren''t far from each other, and the partitions between them were just ordinary wooden planks.


    Coupled with his keen senses, the conversations nearby were quite clear to him.


    "7800 Magic Stones!"


    Colin composed himself, no longer paying attention to the apprentice next door, focusing all his attention on the voices calling out bids.


    At this moment, the bid for the Golden Four-leaf Clover had climbed to 7800 Magic Stones.


    The rate of bidding had slightly decreased but was still continuous.


    It seemed that the increase was significant.


    Previously, the Appraiser at the Golden Anchor Auction House had appraised McIntosh''s Golden Four-leaf Clover at between 6000 and 15000 Magic Stones.


    It was just uncertain what the final amount would be...


    Colin silently awaited the final price, with his heart expecting around 10000 Magic Stones.


    After all, the auction house would take a 15% commission.


    If it were to go for less than 10000 Magic Stones, it wouldn''t be much more than the direct sale to the auction house for 8000 Magic Stones.


    Inside the auction hall.


    "8200 Magic Stones!"


    "8220 Magic Stones!"


    The mechanical voice calling prices continued, but the increments diminished gradually.


    It seemed they were nearing the limit.


    Colin''s heart sank.


    Unfortunately, as the owner of the Golden Four-leaf Clover, he couldn''t participate in the bidding.


    Otherwise, he might have been able to strategize a bit.


    Suddenly!


    "10000 Magic Stones!"


    The mechanical sound of bidding rang out once again, but this time, it jumped to 10000!


    The continuous flow of bidding inside the auction hall suddenly ceased.


    This was precisely the reaction that the bidder calling out this price wanted.


    He intentionally waited until everyone''s competitive spirit was waning and the increments of the bids were decreasing before he abruptly raised the bid significantly.


    In doing so, it was clear he could discourage many of the bidders.


    "11000 Magic Stones!"


    But some people are not so easily deterred.


    "11150 Magic Stones!" he called out without hesitation!


    "11700 Magic Stones!"


    The voices bidding did not stop...


    And they kept resounding.


    As if in a blink of an eye, the bidding price for the Golden Four-leaf Clover skyrocketed.


    And then, before Colin could react, it was settled!


    "Fourteen thousand eight hundred Magic Stones once!"


    "Fourteen thousand eight hundred Magic Stones twice! Fourteen thousand eight hundred Magic Stones three times!"


    Ding!


    The golden gavel swung down.


    Though it landed on a gold base just like itself,


    it seemed to strike Colin''s heart, making his heart involuntarily leap with joy.


    14800 Magic Stones!


    Even after deducting a fifteen percent commission, that still left 12580 Magic Stones!


    He had never possessed such a quantity of Magic Stones before.


    ''It''s a pity... it''s still quite a bit short of the 14999 Magic Stones needed for the Sea Swallow,'' he thought somewhat dully.


    And then he shook his head, laughing.


    ''Greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant...''


    If it had been before, when he was simply trading Magic Crystals,


    even if he were trading the more valuable Memoria Crystals,


    his net income would be no more than 300 Magic Stones a month after expenses.


    To save up over ten thousand Magic Stones like now, it would take at least three years!


    ''Indeed... one doesn''t grow rich without sudden wealth, nor does a horse fatten without night grazing.''


    Colin thought to himself, then composed his expression, returning to a calm demeanor.


    Having surfed frequently in his previous life, he, of course, knew there was another line to that proverb¡ª


    ''Sudden wealth won''t enrich the destiny of the poor, night grazing won''t fatten a toiling horse.''


    For the remainder of the auction, Colin did not pay much attention.


    After all, the items that came up later were beyond what he could currently afford.


    He sat in the auction seat, pondering how to allocate the twelve thousand plus Magic Stones.


    At the same time, he spared a bit of attention to listen to the white-robed auctioneer''s introduction of the items as a way to gain knowledge.


    After a while, he made his decision.


    He would not use these Magic Stones for the time being.


    First, he would go to the book store to purchase knowledge regarding advancement to Official Wizard, carefully understanding the path forward before making plans.


    After all, personal strength was everything.


    While the Sea Swallow was tempting, it was only an external object.


    Moreover, with his current Magic Stones, he couldn''t yet afford the Sea Swallow.


    Time quietly slipped by.


    When the sun was high, the monthly Golden Anchor Auction House officially announced its conclusion.


    The light on the stage went out, replaced by the Bright Crystal chandeliers at the top of the hall, which began to emit light.


    Colin rose and followed the crowd out.


    He involuntarily glanced at the two Wizard Apprentices who sat next to him, who had been conversing from time to time.


    They wore ordinary grey robes with hoods, nothing special.


    Their appearance suggested they had not auctioned anything either.


    Noticing his gaze, the two apprentices turned to look at him.


    But all they saw was Colin''s back as he quickly headed toward the exit.


    The process of retrieving the Magic Stones went smoothly.


    The procedures at Golden Anchor Auction House were clear and simple, no excessive fees, and no delays in payment...


    Indeed, a Second Rank Wizard ran the auction house.


    After cautiously storing the Magic Stones in his Storage Ring,


    Colin hastened to his next destination¡ª


    Bananka Book Store.


    Ten minutes later, Colin arrived at the Bananka Book Store, also on Blueberry Street.


    "Here."


    Colin pulled out three hundred Magic Stones and handed them to the female clerk.


    "Thank you for your patronage," said the clerk as she took the Magic Stones and carefully counted them.


    She then handed the introductory booklet for advancing to Official Wizard to Colin.


    Colin took the booklet, rubbing his thumb over the matte, white cover, feeling a little excited.


    As if remembering something, he asked:


    "Do you have any flying spells here?"

 Chapter 126 - 116 Law Enforcement Team

    "Of course, sir," said the short-haired female clerk warmly. She smoothed the hair by her ear and added,


    "What type of Flying Witchcraft do you need?"


    "What types do you have? Bring them all out for me to see," Colin replied.


    In fact, if he calculated carefully, he had just advanced to the rank of Advanced Wizard Apprentice about half a month ago.


    Originally, he had planned to learn some Flying Witchcraft or diving spells after advancing to an Advanced Wizard.


    But one thing after another had caused delay after delay.


    Now, the Lap School had already been destroyed,


    and he had not yet managed to complete this plan.


    "Alright, sir, I''ll go get the catalog for you," the short-haired female clerk replied.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, then added, "Bring the diving spells too, please."


    On the sea, Witchcraft that allowed one to survive underwater was naturally indispensable.


    As for why he waited until now to learn it,


    this was mainly because the Spirit Fog that enveloped the soul would not dissipate until the Advanced Wizard Apprentice rank.


    Before then, the magic consumption for spells like Flying Witchcraft would greatly increase due to the presence of the Spirit Fog.


    The increase was quite substantial,


    so much so that an Intermediate Apprentice might even struggle to keep themselves afloat.


    However, if an Advanced Apprentice flew with an Intermediate Apprentice, the consumption would not increase.


    It wasn''t long before


    the short-haired female clerk came over with a booklet.


    "Sir, here you are."


    "Hmm."


    Colin took the maroon-covered booklet, opened it, and browsed carefully.


    Most Flying Witchcraft revolved around Force Fields or airflow.


    Of course, there were also some that involved life transformation,


    and a few that dealt with magnetic fields, though these typically required the aid of devices.


    Like how his Arrow Shooting Skill required the use of metal Cone Bullets.


    As for spells that allowed survival underwater, life transformation was the mainstream.


    After all, life transformation spells easily resolved the difficulty of underwater oxygen supply.


    Although the maroon booklet did not seem thick, the text inside was small, and it contained no shortage of spells.


    For a moment, Colin was somewhat dazzled as he read.


    Seeming to sense his indecision,


    the short-haired female clerk beside him suggested,


    "Sir, if you have no particular requirements, for Flying Witchcraft, I recommend the Soaring Technique, and for diving spells, I recommend the Naga Transformation Skill."


    "These two spells are not expensive, but they''re quite effective.


    In fact, they are the most common Flying and Diving Spells in the market... precisely because they''re good enough that most people choose these two spells."


    Colin nodded in agreement and flipped to the sections on the corresponding spells.


    But the next second, he softly exclaimed in his heart.


    The motion of flipping the pages also stopped.


    "Is this Oran Flying and Diving Skill a spell that allows for both flying and diving?"


    He pointed at a spell at the top of the page in the booklet and asked. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The short-haired female clerk leaned over, furrowed her brows in thought for a moment, then replied,


    "Yes, sir, the Oran Flying and Diving Skill can handle both flying and diving."


    She hesitated and then added,


    "But I wouldn''t recommend it to you."


    While the Oran Flying and Diving Skill allows for both flying and diving, its speed in flight is slower than most Flying Witchcraft, and its speed underwater is also slower than most diving spells... quite mediocre."


    "Perhaps its only merit is that it covers both flying and diving effects."


    "In situations that require both, there is no need to switch spells,


    thus saving time, and reducing magic consumption."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, patiently listening to her complete explanation.


    Then he said, "I''ll take that one, please bring it to me."


    The short-haired female clerk was taken aback, but her extensive experience allowed her to quickly recover.


    "Alright, sir."


    Without any questions, she turned and fetched the Oran Flying and Diving Skill.


    Meanwhile, Colin quietly stood and waited.


    His reasoning was simple.


    With Golden Paper on hand, all learned Witchcraft could be continuously Limit Breaking.


    Looking at it this way,


    for him, such spells that required knowledge of several disciplines, and that had multiple effects, were clearly more worth learning.


    And the new Defensive Witchcraft that merged into what he named the Steel Armor Force Field,


    had also given him a vague new idea.


    Put simply,


    perhaps through the newly emerged fusion feature of the Golden Paper, he could use one spell as a base and continuously merge new spells into it.


    Thus, provided he kept going, he could create a powerful spell tailor-made for himself!


    The female clerk brought the Oran Flying and Diving Skill.


    After paying with Magic Stones and signing the standard non-disclosure contract,


    Colin carefully pocketed the Flying and Diving Skill and did not linger.


    He continued towards his next destination ¡ª the dock where the guide Mod was located.


    He had spent ten Magic Stones to have Mod do two things for him.


    One was to help him find if there were any second-hand vessels like the Sea Swallow for sale.


    The other was to help him find a new place to live.


    After all, if he needed to buy a new vessel, there likely wouldn''t be one readily available, and it would require some waiting.


    This meant he would need a quieter place to stay.


    Thinking this over, he walked briskly.


    But before he could leave Blue Shell Street,


    sudden shouts came from behind him.


    "Excuse me, sir, is the Law Enforcement Team looking for you?"


    He turned around to see, to his surprise, it was the Golden Anchor Auction House''s black-clad servant!


    Colin feigned confusion and asked,


    "What is it?"


    "Nothing... I mistook you for someone else," the black-clad servant paused slightly.


    The person''s silhouette looked so much like their target, but on closer inspection, the face was clearly not...


    The black-clad servant shook his head and left.


    Colin sighed with relief; after leaving the auction house, he had prudently changed his appearance and had managed to avoid this trouble.


    ''But why would the Law Enforcement Team be looking for me?''


    He felt somewhat uneasy.


    ''It''s a pity I don''t have my own ship...''


    Otherwise, now that the Golden Four-leaf Clover had been sold, and he had acquired a summary of the knowledge needed to advance to Official Wizard...


    Everything was almost settled, and he could have left Bananka Island right away.


    But for now, he could only lie low.


    After pondering for a moment, with a flicker in his eyes, Colin walked in the direction the black-clad servant had left.

 Chapter 127 - 117: Do a Small Favor

    Golden Anchor Auction House.


    "Are you sure that the person you saw before was him?"


    In the corridor, the Haiya Gang''s Mark was staring at the two apprentices in front of him and asked in a low voice.


    He was holding a portrait that Blumer, the Deacon of the Haiya Gang, had given him.


    On it was clearly Colin''s face.


    "Yes, sir," confirmed the two apprentices from the Haiya Gang, after examining the portrait once more with care.


    "Hmm," Mark, with a calm expression, put away the portrait and walked towards Hart, a member of the Law Enforcement Team.


    He had come with Hart.


    Or rather, he was the officer specially assigned by the Haiya Gang to accompany Hart to the Golden Anchor Auction House''s monthly grand auction.


    His mission was simple¡ª


    To fulfill the proper tribute to the Haiya Gang from Hart''s Law Enforcement Squad for the month.


    Such as bidding on some auction items to give to Hart.


    Having completed all this, he was supposed to leave.


    But he never expected to see a familiar silhouette on his way out.


    "Lord Hart," he approached and, nodding to Hart, said:


    "I''ve confirmed with those two gang members sitting next to him.


    According to them, the wizard''s appearance is exactly the same as the new portrait Deacon Blumer gave me yesterday."


    "It seems I indeed did not see wrongly, that shadow was definitely the target the Haiya Chamber of Commerce is currently searching for."


    "Since he looks like the portrait Blumer gave you, there can be no mistake," Hart replied with a smile.


    He stepped aside to let a blonde waiter wearing the Golden Anchor Auction House''s formal black robe pass in the corridor.


    Clearly, Mark had requested the use of a Retrospection Crystal from Blumer.


    Judging from this newly confirmed portrait, as long as the target wasn''t an Official Wizard, there could be no mistake.


    "Let''s go inside and wait for a while. I just asked the Golden Anchor Auction House for assistance in the name of the Law Enforcement Team; it shouldn''t take too long to bring him back."


    As he walked into the nearby office, he turned back with a smile and said:


    "After all, on Bananka Island, no one dares to disregard the Law Enforcement Team''s presence.


    So... don''t feel troubled. This is just a minor matter."


    "The Haiya Chamber of Commerce has made no small contribution to the development of the island and has always cooperated actively with the work of the Law Enforcement Team.


    We should naturally help with such small matters."


    His tone was gentle, with not the slightest air of superiority, despite Mark being a mere officer sent to pay tribute from the Haiya Gang and himself being a member of the Law Enforcement Team.


    The friendly attitude doesn''t cost any Magic Stones but can bring unexpected gains.


    "Thank you, sir," Mark nodded and walked into the office.


    The next second, faint noise came from around the corridor''s corner.


    His steps faltered slightly, and he instinctively looked over but noticed nothing.


    Shaking his head, he continued walking into the office.


    Around the corner of the corridor.


    Colin, in the Golden Anchor Auction House''s standard black robe, leaned down.


    While helping a black-robed waiter pick up his dropped documents, he cautiously kept an eye on the corner from whence he''d come.


    Moments later, seeing no one approaching, his heart finally eased.


    Standing upright, he handed the documents to the black-robed waiter.


    "Thank you," the waiter said, taking the documents with a puzzled look on his face.


    This ordinary-looking waiter in front of him... he couldn''t seem to remember at all.


    "Don''t mention it," Colin replied with a polite smile on his face.


    The waiter''s doubts gradually dissipated.


    Everything seemed normal... except for the fact that he didn''t understand why this man kept staring at him...


    Feeling Colin''s gaze, the waiter felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    Forcing out a friendly smile, he then moved forward, continuing his walk. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With such a vast system at Golden Anchor Auction House and numerous personnel, it was normal for him, a mere black-robed waiter, not to recognize everyone.


    Behind him, Colin calmly watched the black-robed waiter walk away,


    After the waiter from the Golden Anchor Auction House had approached him, he had managed to bluff his way through.


    But afterward, he always felt anxious.


    He couldn''t remain in the dark any longer.


    Caution and a lack of a sense of security led him to a new decision.


    He removed the waiter''s standard black robe and quietly changed his face, intending to blend into the Golden Anchor Auction House to check out the situation.


    To avoid being in some dangerous situation without his knowledge.


    After watching the shadow of the black robe recede, Colin stopped and didn''t continue forward.


    Based on what the black-robed waiter had said earlier, he had found the place where the member of the Law Enforcement Team was waiting for him¡ª


    The same corridor he had just come from.


    After pondering for a moment, Colin exhaled slightly and stepped out from around the corner.


    As an Ultimate Knight, he had the ability to alter his appearance, although only slightly.


    In fact, he only needed to adjust the features a little and change his height and build somewhat.


    With new clothing and hairstyle, it was enough to make a person look completely different from before.


    Returning to the corridor, the two ordinary members of the Haiya Gang had already left.


    Another higher-ranking member of the Haiya Gang and someone from the Law Enforcement Team walked into an office not far away.


    Taking a few steps forward, Colin listened in with his powerful hearing, and the sound of conversation reached his ears.


    "Ali, long time no see. You don''t mind if we come in and sit for a while, do you?" That was the voice of someone from the Law Enforcement Team.


    "Of course, my friend."


    Was that the voice of the white-robed auctioneer from the auction earlier?


    Colin slightly furrowed his brows, pretending to ponder something and slowed his pace to maximize the time he could remain in the corridor.


    This was a short corridor, visible at a glance.


    Obviously, he couldn''t stay long; otherwise, it would be easy to arouse suspicion.


    Inside the office.


    The white-robed auctioneer, Ali, rose to his feet and approached with a smile.


    He knew Hart, who, although fundamentally cold, miserly, and greedy for wealth, was good at superficial pleasantries, leaving no room for criticism and suitable for acquaintanceship.


    Moreover, they were both Peak Wizard Apprentices.


    In terms of identity, one was a Golden Anchor Auction House''s Official Auctioneer responsible for collecting treasures for Bananka Wizards; the other, an Official member of the Law Enforcement Team.


    Interacting with each other had no downsides.


    Hart brought Mark to the visitor area next to the office, where they sat down on one of the four sofas.


    Ali also came over, and behind him, unbeknownst to them, followed a maid holding a tray with tea.


    "Have some tea." Ali smiled as he sat down, signaling the maid to place the tea down.


    Hart picked up the exquisitely designed white gold-rimmed teacup, gently sniffed it, and revealed a smile, saying,


    "The nai tree tea leaves here are truly top-grade; their fragrance is much richer than in other places."


    Ali smiled slightly, also lifting his teacup, and said,


    "If you like it, I''ll give you some when you leave."


    "That''s a deal then," Hart said cheerfully, then added, "Just yesterday, I found a batch of beautiful shells at the port. I''ll have someone send you some later."


    Ali smiled and did not refuse.


    Favors should be reciprocated.


    The two chatted for a short while longer.


    Hart suddenly changed the subject and, turning to the neglected Mark, initiated a conversation,


    "By the way, I remember you saying that our target is good at disguises, so why did he reveal his true face at the auction house?"


    Mark lifted the teacup, concealing his nervousness. He frowned and said,


    "Perhaps he was careless, believing that he wouldn''t encounter us in the auction house?"


    "Perhaps that''s the case..." Hart watched him and nodded in agreement, then turned to Ali across from him and said,


    "We''re talking about a target recently wanted by the Haiya Chamber of Commerce. You definitely won''t believe it; he actually attended the auction just now."


    "Oh, really? What a coincidence." Ali raised his eyebrows.


    "Yes," Hart chuckled again and turned his head, saying,


    "Mark, why don''t you show the portrait to Ali? He might remember something, too."


    "Alright." Mark agreed, taking out the portrait from his chest and handing it to the white-robed auctioneer Ali.


    Ali took it, unfolding the portrait with a slight frown.


    After a moment, he relaxed his frown and said,


    "...I remember now. It was that particularly handsome young Wizard."


    "Indeed handsome, and Mark said he''s skilled at disguises," Hart speculated. "Maybe he underwent some life modification in this area."


    "I think so too." Ali nodded in agreement and then said, "Come to think of it, I''ve met him before."


    "Oh?" Hart voiced his curiosity timely.


    Mark watched them silently, unable to join the conversation. He was once again left out of the loop.


    Despite Hart being an auctioneer and Ali being from the Law Enforcement Team,


    in reality, they both belonged to the Bananka School, which in terms of status and identity, was a world apart from him, a gang-affiliated Wizard.


    Even though he was also a Peak Wizard Apprentice, if it weren''t for Hart bringing him along, he would never be able to strike up a conversation with the white-robed auctioneer.


    "Just some time ago, this Wizard came to the auction house to commission the sale of a Magic Potion¡ªapparently, the Golden Four-leaf Clover that was sold today..." Ali continued.


    Hart, leaning against the sofa, slightly raised his eyebrows upon hearing the words "Golden Four-leaf Clover."


    The next second, he thought he caught something out of the corner of his eye and subconsciously looked up slightly.


    At the office window, a black-robed servant was slowly passing by.


    Hart didn''t think much of it; such scenes were all too common.


    "So, it seems the reason he didn''t disguise himself at the auction today might be because he also didn''t disguise himself when he came to the auction house before!"


    Mark suddenly interjected.


    "Thus, to attend the auction normally and to get the Magic Stone, our target had to reveal his true face."


    After speaking, Mark took a sip of tea, catching his breath slightly.


    He was afraid he would be interrupted again and unable to rejoin the conversation.


    "A reasonable theory." Ali was stunned for a moment but quickly smiled at him in praise.


    And Hart next to him collected his thoughts and continued the conversation,


    "Yes, that must be the case."


    The three continued chatting, waiting for the target to be brought back.

 Chapter 128 - 118 Second-Hand Ship

    It was already evening, and the sunset neared the ocean surface.


    "Liii¡ªLiii¡ª"


    White seabirds flapped their wings overhead in the dimming sky, heading toward their nests. Their intermittent cries made the brilliant sunset clouds on the distant horizon seem even lonelier.


    The rich orange and yellow glow of the sunset illuminated the area.


    On a street, Colin strolled slowly, listening attentively to Mod, who was walking beside him, explaining in detail.


    "...So, to sum up, there are three vessels of the same class as the Sea Swallow among the second-hand ships, and I personally recommend the first one to you," Mod said.


    Colin nodded absently and asked,


    "Tell me in detail about the reasons you recommend the first second-hand vessel."


    He looked at the gradually setting sun distantly, seemingly listening to Mod''s explanation, but his mind was somewhat preoccupied with what he had heard earlier at the auction house.


    A moment later.


    "Sir, sir?" Mod''s call brought him back to reality.


    "What is it?" he asked quietly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ve finished explaining my reasons for recommending the first second-hand vessel."


    Mod replied with a hint of helplessness, paused, then took the initiative to say,


    "Sir, let me go over it once more."


    At this point, he emphasized,


    "Please make sure to listen carefully this time; I have other matters to attend to later...


    "Perhaps I won''t have time tomorrow or the day after," Mod added.


    "Alright," Colin agreed, nodding without asking why there was no time.


    After all, Mod was not his servant; they simply had a business relationship.


    He set aside his concerns about the Law Enforcement Team and focused on listening to Mod''s explanation.


    "The first vessel, I recommend it for three reasons¡ªwear, price, and warranty."


    Clear and orderly words reached his ears, and Colin nodded in satisfaction internally.


    This was also why he continued to employ Mod''s services.


    "First is the wear and tear. On the surface, the first vessel has been in use for six years, one year more than the third and three years less than the second.


    But in reality, the first vessel was for private use, whereas the other two have been used as passenger ships, and as far as I know, they have been used more frequently than the first one."


    "Besides that, there are no major differences between the three vessels, none of them have undergone major repairs, and there would be no significant refitting required after purchase."


    Colin nodded in agreement.


    Then Mod carefully explained the other two advantages.


    He concluded¡ª


    "So the first second-hand vessel is the best when it comes to wear. In terms of price, it is only 800 Magic Stones more expensive than the cheapest second one.


    Regarding warranty, it is the only one among the three ships built by the reputable Danlan Shipyard. The other two were made by smaller factories."


    Colin nodded, agreeing with Mod''s assessment.


    All things considered, the first one was indeed the best ship relative to the others.


    "Did the owner say there could be a further discount?" he asked after a brief pause.


    "They did not say there could be a discount," Mod shook his head, then added, "But I guess, if you, Sir, are willing to take some time to haggle, you might save another five hundred to a thousand Magic Stones."


    "Hmm, when can it be ours at the earliest?" Colin nodded somewhat reluctantly.


    The price for the first second-hand vessel was a solid ten thousand Magic Stones, not cheap given its quality.


    After all, it was a ship that had served for six years, and although purportedly in the same class as the Sea Swallow, its fittings were somewhat inferior.


    He sighed inwardly.


    If it wasn''t for the fact that he currently did not know how to deal with the Law Enforcement Team and planned to leave early to avoid trouble,


    He would have preferred to spend some time and effort on negotiations to save those five hundred to a thousand Magic Stones,


    Or perhaps, he would simply spend more to buy a brand new Sea Swallow.


    After all, on the upcoming voyage of tens of thousands of miles, on the vast ocean, the ship would be the support of his life.


    And since ships tend to hold their value, once he arrived on the Siya Continent and sold the Sea Swallow, he wouldn''t lose much of the Magic Stones he spent.


    "If you wish, Sir, I can take you to meet the seller tomorrow.


    If things go smoothly, you could take possession of the ship on the spot," Mod pondered briefly, then replied.


    "I thought you were busy tomorrow?"


    "If it''s for your matter, Sir, I can attend to mine after we''re done."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, "When is the earliest time?"


    Mod considered for a moment and said,


    "Probably around nine in the morning, I''ll wait for you at the dock."


    "Hmm. Let''s plan on that," Colin agreed, nodding.


    Then he bid farewell to Mod and hurried away.


    Meeting Mod at this time was already a bold move.


    But from the intelligence he had gathered, it seemed the Law Enforcement Team members were only apprehending him as a favor to the Haiya Gang.


    He didn''t expect them to put in too much effort.


    And as long as they didn''t,


    Just the Haiya Gang alone, as long as he was careful to conceal himself, wouldn''t be able to find him immediately.


    What he intended to do was take advantage of this window of time. If he could quickly purchase a vessel and leave before the Haiya Gang found him, he could escape the ensuing trouble.


    ''After all, there''s no loss at the moment. Being alone and with limited strength,


    When faced with such matters, it''s best to avoid conflict as much as possible,''


    he consoled himself while walking home.


    Yet, he always felt somewhat displeased,


    Observing the sky growing darker by the minute.


    He pondered for a moment, and ultimately, he suppressed the urge to turn back.


    Bananka Island did not have as strict a curfew as Blackstone Island,


    But the guard forces at night were not to be compared with those during the day.

 Chapter 129 - 119 Rules

    When Colin returned to the inn near the Danlan Shipyard, which he had instructed Renee to find anew, the sky had already turned completely dark.


    The streets were now sparser in terms of pedestrians compared to daytime, replaced by many silver-white Heavy Armored Guards on patrol.


    Patrols consisting of groups of five Guards, their silver-white Heavy Armor fitting as if naturally made, with only the latticed visors revealing a few tiny gaps.


    Clack, clack, clack¡ª


    The Guards marched past in formation, with precise, uniformly measured strides.


    Colin withdrew his gaze, not lingering any longer, and hurriedly entered the moderately-sized, plain inn.


    He had rented a suite at the end of the first-floor corridor.


    When he got back to his room, Renee had already prepared dinner for him.


    Without rushing to dine, he walked over and sat down on the sofa, asking Renee,


    "How did the inquiry go?"


    "It''s mostly done," Renee nodded, paused, and then began to relate:


    "Bananka Island is a well-known trade island far and near, ruled by the Bananka Wizard, a late Second Rank Wizard..."


    Renee went on to detail the information she had gleaned from taverns and other places.


    "You did well, Renee."


    After a while, Colin leaned against the sofa backrest and praised her.


    Previously, most of what he knew about Bananka Island was through the tales of the guide Mod, a single individual.


    Only a small part came from his own personal experiences.


    Although that wasn''t necessarily a big issue, Bananka Island was a completely new and unknown environment for him; it never hurt to learn more about it.


    After all, it was not particularly wise to only listen to Mod''s account.


    This thought occurred to him as soon as he arrived, but he was usually busy with training and had no time to spare.


    Fortunately, there was Renee.


    Combining the information gathered by Renee, who inquired under the guise of an ordinary traveler, his understanding of Bananka Island became much clearer.


    Mod''s initial words had indeed misled him to some extent.


    Bananka Island was not Blackstone Island.


    Here, the Gangs on the trade island were not as blatantly violent as those on Blackstone Island showed.


    They all adhered to the rules set by the island''s sole ruler¡ªthe Bananka Wizard.


    Previously, Mod''s words made him believe these Gangs were unbridled in style, capable of oppressing foreign wizards at will.


    But now it seemed,


    They were more like unscrupulous chambers of commerce.


    Compared to the Gangs on Blackstone Island, their methods were milder and more restrained.


    They needed to comply with the rules set in public.


    Moreover, that Lord Bananka, it was said he valued reputation very highly.


    No wonder that day in the alley, the two Haiya Gang wizards could have taken by force but chose instead to say they were looking after business for him.


    Colin couldn''t help but feel slightly relieved at the thought.


    ...


    The next day.


    Dawn was breaking.


    The clanking patrol sounds of the Steel-armored Guards that persisted all night outside the suite window finally came to a rest.


    In their place rose the noisy sounds of the streets.


    Colin walked out of the inn, heading towards the port, ready to meet with Mod.


    But no sooner had he stepped out of the inn than he frowned.


    ''I didn''t expect the Haiya Chamber of Commerce to have even found this place...''


    Not far ahead to his left, a man in a grey robe was holding a portrait and questioning passersby.


    It was evident that the portrait was of him.


    Colin couldn''t help but frown slightly; he wasn''t worried about being recognized, as he was currently in disguise.


    But such a degree of searching was definitely not normal.


    Before this, he had only seen his portrait on Haiya Gang members he encountered on the road and on the fixed bulletin boards on Lanbei Street.


    And on the bulletin board, there were several other portraits next to his.


    He was just one among many, nothing special.


    Clearly, at that time, the Haiya Chamber of Commerce was only searching with normal intensity.


    But unexpectedly... now he could even see searchers here.


    Subconsciously, he remembered eavesdropping on the White-robed Wizard, who unintentionally exposed himself as the commissioner of the Golden Four-leaf Clover auction.


    For over ten thousand Magic Stones, it would seem the Haiya Gang was justified in such an extensive search.


    Colin understood in his heart.


    It was getting late; he withdrew his gaze and continued onwards.


    The newly found inn was near the Danlan Shipyard, not far from the port.


    Before long, he reached the agreed meeting place and looked around, but saw no sign of Mod.


    Click.


    He pulled out his Pocket Watch, which showed the time as precisely 9 o''clock.


    Colin''s brows furrowed slightly, and he looked around again, but still, there was no sign of Mod.


    Having met with Mod not for the first time, it had always been only him running late.


    Mod was always five minutes early.


    Never early, nor late.


    But now...


    After a few more minutes, there was still no sign of Mod.


    Hesitating, Colin started to search in the direction he usually saw Mod coming from.


    He stepped onto the street on the left at the intersection.


    He hadn''t walked far when he saw Mod''s figure.


    Next to Mod were two familiar figures. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the Law Enforcement Team Wizard and Haiya Gang member he had seen at the auction house he snuck back into.


    His expression unchanged, Colin''s footsteps faltered slightly, and he quickly turned into a dark alley on the left.


    Moments later, when he came back out, he had already changed his appearance.


    Colin continued walking slowly towards Mod and the others.


    Soon, the sound of their conversation drifted to him on the gentle breeze.


    "Hart sir, I am willing to cooperate with your investigation, but please remember¡ª"

 Chapter 130 - 119 Rules_2

    "No matter who its previous owner was, this Golden Four-leaf Clover in my possession was fairly bought with my own money from Wizard Bananka''s Golden Anchor Auction House!"


    At this moment, Mod was emphasizing something to Hart from the Law Enforcement Team.


    His speech was not fast, but his tone was not as smooth or gentle as usual; it had taken on a measure of toughness and sharpness.


    Indeed, Mod could not afford to worry too much.


    He had scrimped and saved for decades just for this Magic Potion that could improve his aptitude.


    More than ten thousand Magic Stones had emptied the savings he had accumulated over those years.


    And now he was over fifty years old, he could not afford to lose this Magic Potion!


    Upon hearing this, Hart''s expression turned slightly angry.


    Mod paused momentarily, slightly softening his tone as he continued:


    "Of course, I trust the long-standing reputation of the Golden Anchor Auction House, as well as the Law Enforcement Team led by Wizard Bananka. My interests will surely not be harmed."


    "Just the other day, I was praising the Golden Anchor Auction House and Law Enforcement Team to the manager of the Purple Balsam Trading Team.


    As for the manager of the Cold Crow Trading Team who is currently on the island, I have also recommended the Golden Anchor Auction House to him on his previous visit." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suppressing his impatience, Hart''s frown relaxed, and he adopted a gentle smile as he said:


    "Rest assured, I am simply carrying out my official duties. Wizard Bananka often instructs us to respect everyone''s interests, and I won''t forget that."


    "I just hope you understand that, while you have paid Magic Stones, this Golden Four-leaf Clover belongs to the Haiya Chamber of Commerce, not to the thief.


    Therefore, the Golden Four-leaf Clover must be temporarily seized."


    "As for the Magic Stones, they cannot be returned to you immediately, I hope you can understand.


    After all, most of the Magic Stones you paid have already been passed on to the thief by the Golden Anchor Auction House."


    "We need to catch him and recover those Magic Stones in order to return them to you."


    Mod''s face darkened, ready to question.


    But Hart preemptively continued:


    "Of course, whether we can capture that thief or not, I will try to ensure that your interests are protected."


    Mod''s lips moved, but in the end, he sank back, devoid of further words.


    He would rather have Hart angry at him than have Hart answer him so seriously.


    He was a smart man.


    Although Hart verbally promised to try to protect his interests,


    Mod knew very well that it was nothing more than a perfunctory gesture.


    But what could he do? He was only a Basic Level Apprentice.


    The only thing special about him might be that he knew some people from working as a guide on the docks.


    His face was grim, but his heart was not yet resigned.


    How could he give up?


    One could say he had spent the first fifty years of his life working hard for this Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    And this Magic Potion that could improve his aptitude also determined the latter half of his life.


    How could he possibly give up?


    Hart noticed the unwillingness in Mod''s eyes and slightly furrowed his brow.


    When he had arrived, he had already investigated.


    Mod was a native wizard of Bananka Island, with many friends due to his job, leading to a wide network of connections.


    He wasn''t just some easily bullied outsider.


    Hart sighed softly to himself. His identity in the Law Enforcement Team brought both advantages and restrictions.


    Otherwise, why would he need to treat someone like Mod, a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, with such courtesy?


    But Wizard Bananka valued the island''s image to a demanding degree.


    Dealing with a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice like Mod wasn''t a problem.


    But if it caused damage to the image of the Golden Anchor Auction House and the Law Enforcement Team...


    He didn''t want to risk that, not even a bit.


    After all, it was known that long ago, the gangs of Bananka Island were all bloody thugs.


    But now they were like docile sheep!


    Those who didn''t understand the rules had long since disappeared.


    "Lord Hart," Mark from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce, who was standing nearby and had listened to their conversation, asked with the Golden Four-leaf Clover in hand, "What about this Golden Four-leaf Clover?"


    "Store it properly for our Mod, keep it safe, and strive to capture the thief as soon as possible."


    "Understood." Mark nodded in understanding and carefully put away the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    Clearly, Hart in front of him had changed his mind.


    It seemed that out of some consideration, he had decided not to take Mod''s Golden Four-leaf Clover directly and instead continue his pursuit of the thief.


    Mark let out a small sigh in his heart as he remembered what had happened yesterday.


    Yesterday, when the three of them were chatting at the Golden Anchor Auction House.


    After viewing the portrait, the white-robed auctioneer Ali had told them that he too had seen the person depicted. He had inadvertently revealed that the target was the owner of the Golden Four-leaf Clover that had been auctioned off yesterday.


    Finally, Ali had curiously turned to ask him¡ª


    "Why does the Haiya Gang want to apprehend this man?"


    Just as he was about to answer truthfully, Hart on the side had preempted him, saying,


    "It''s because he stole a Magic Potion from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce!"


    Then he turned back, winked at him, and said with a smile,


    "You agree, right, Mark?"


    Without a doubt, he had ultimately concurred with Hart''s statement.


    There was nothing complicated about that.


    The target had killed two of their Haiya Gang''s members and was already their intended mark.


    Now that they discovered he was in possession of a treasure, it was just icing on the cake.


    He just regretted letting Hart know.


    This mean that the Haiya Chamber of Commerce would inevitably have to share a portion with him, reducing his own commission.


    "Mark, the task of searching for the target still requires your Haiya Chamber of Commerce to take great pains," Hart said to him with a smile.


    He then leaned in a little closer and whispered softly,


    "After all, if I were to seek help from the Law Enforcement Team, we would unavoidably have to share with others.


    This way, the Haiya Gang would undoubtedly receive even less, you understand."


    "Yes... as far as I know, the gang has already intensified the search for the target," Mark quickly replied.


    In his heart, he was increasingly regretting agreeing to do Hart a little favor yesterday.


    Hart smiled, then added, "I''m not taking it without giving something back. If there''s any need for the Law Enforcement Team to step in, just call me."


    As he said this, his tone shifted, full of confidence,


    "That target is just a Wizard from out of town, isolated and powerless. As long as we find him and keep a tight lid on things, isn''t he at our mercy?"


    Mark nodded.


    If the Haiya Gang were to undertake it, they might not be able to guarantee complete success, but with Hart from the Law Enforcement Team added...


    That target would definitely not escape from the palm of their hands.


    "By the way."


    At this moment, Hart seemed to remember something and, pointing at Mod next to him, suddenly said to Mark,


    "Mark, get the portrait out for Mod to have a look."


    He turned his head and said to Mod with a smile,


    "Considering the people we''ve dealt with, the two of us together might not have met as many as you have. Perhaps you''ve come across that thief before."


    Mod took the portrait and unfolded it.


    His pupils contracted slightly, and he was about to speak.


    But then, a familiar voice came from the side.


    "It looks like you''re looking for me?"


    Colin walked towards them, no longer disguising his face, appearing directly in front of Hart and Mark.


    Hart looked at Colin and couldn''t help but be startled, rarely at a loss for words.


    Meanwhile, Mark, who didn''t think too much of it, looked at Colin with a surprised smile and shouted,


    "You dare to fall into the trap yourself, thief who stole the Golden Four-leaf Clover from our Haiya Chamber of Commerce?"


    "Oh," Colin said with a faint smile, "how do you prove that the Golden Four-leaf Clover is yours, not mine?"


    Mark heard this childish retort and revealed a mocking smile on his face, continuing,


    "How do you then prove that the Golden Four-leaf Clover is yours, not the Haiya Chamber of Commerce''s?"


    He sneered inwardly, ready to watch Colin struggle to prove his point.


    Only to let Colin realize that it was all in vain.


    But he didn''t get to hear Colin''s argumentative words.


    Instead, he heard Colin continue,


    "Since we can''t agree and neither of us can prove our case..."


    "The gentleman here is from the Law Enforcement Team, right? Why don''t we just let the Law Enforcement Team investigate thoroughly and clear up the truth of the matter?"


    Mark was taken aback, but then he sneered again.


    The Wizard before him, from who knows where, was so naive and foolish.


    "Fine," he said without hesitation. "Let the officer from the Law Enforcement Team decide."

 Chapter 131 - 120: Taking the Initiative

    Hart stood to the side, his brows tightly furrowed, and did not take up the conversation.


    Colin seemed to deliberately raise his voice, allowing the passersby around to cast curious glances this way.


    The local residents of the island were fine; after a quick glance, they withdrew their gaze and left.


    But the travelers, especially those who had just arrived on the island, were somewhat curious and paused for a moment to watch.


    Hart''s expression was unchanged, and he did not hurry to speak, only carefully observing Colin.


    "Lord Hart?" Mark turned his head and called out, looking somewhat puzzled.


    In his view, since the target had walked into their net on his own accord, wasn''t this exactly what they had hoped for? What was there to hesitate about?


    Yet Hart did not pay him any heed, maintaining an indifferent expression.


    From the target''s words, it was clear that he did not know about his and Mark''s relationship.


    Naturally, he would be unaware of their behind-the-scenes scheming.


    Keeping the indifference and continuing to conceal his and Mark''s relationship was obviously more advantageous for them.


    "What''s the matter, officer of the... Lord," Colin turned his head and said, his expression exhibiting a perfectly balanced level of puzzlement, yet his eyes were as calm as a deep pool.


    Hart watched him, his eyebrows relaxing, his face calm as he spoke in a deep voice,


    "The Law Enforcement Team always acts with fairness and justice, and we will definitely clarify the whole story.


    We will not let any visitor to Bananka Island suffer a loss of their interests, nor will we allow Bananka''s reputation to be tarnished!"


    Having said that, he paused briefly before continuing,


    "Therefore, in order to conduct a more thorough investigation, I ask for your cooperation to temporarily accompany us to the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Team to wait for the investigation."


    "Of course, I''d be happy to."


    When Hart saw that Colin agreed without hesitation, some of the doubts in his mind were alleviated.


    Perhaps he was overthinking it.


    Thanks to the Bananka wizard''s stringent demands, ordinary travelers generally had a very good impression of their enforcement team.


    This visiting wizard in front of him might really just be a naive youth who couldn''t see the true nature of things.


    But no matter what, as long as he agreed, once they left a bustling street like this,


    Everything would be settled.


    The puzzlement on Mark''s face disappeared; he understood Hart''s intention.


    ''It''s lucky that I didn''t act too familiarly with Hart just now,'' he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.


    "Lord Colin..." Mod suddenly spoke.


    His expression was somewhat strange.


    He had explicitly analyzed for Colin the nature of the law enforcement team and the island''s merchant guilds, so why did he still behave like a regular traveler new to the island?


    "What''s the matter, Mod? You don''t suspect that my Golden Four-leaf Clover came from theft, do you?" Colin said with a laugh.


    Mod stayed silent and did not respond; he strongly suspected that the Golden Four-leaf Clover was indeed Colin''s.


    After all, he was the one who had introduced Colin to the Golden Anchor Auction House.


    At that time, Colin had just arrived on the island and had no time for thievery, nor did Mod believe that Colin could have stolen a valuable magic potion like the Golden Four-leaf Clover from the hands of the Haiya Chamber of Commerce.


    "Is there anything else, sir?" Hart interjected. "If not, shall we head to the Law Enforcement Team''s headquarters together now?"


    "Nothing more, let''s go," Colin nodded, paused, and then turned back to Mod, "Oh, and remember to schedule another meeting with the ship seller for me."


    With that, Colin pulled out a small, neatly prepared pouch from his bosom and handed it to Mod.


    "Here''s the payment for this time, take a look."


    Hart''s brows furrowed slightly at the sight of Colin handing over the Magic Stone.


    In his mind, the Magic Stones on Colin were undoubtedly his already.


    It was a pity that currently, on this bustling street, there was nothing he could do.


    "Of course, Lord."


    Mod hesitated imperceptibly, composed himself, and took the pouch.


    A moment later, he looked up and watched as Colin and the others gradually walked away; his expression turned somber.


    Now that the Golden Four-leaf Clover had been taken by Hart for temporary custody, getting it back... would not be so easy.


    He stood still for a long time, rooted to the spot.


    Thinking back to Colin''s meaningful words, he slowly walked to a secluded corner and opened the pouch he had just received.


    In another part of town,


    Hart and Mark escorted Colin at a leisurely pace.


    They walked one after the other in silence, with no words exchanged, no eye contact, no gestures.


    Like strangers passing by each other.


    They continued along the street, soon reaching a junction.


    Hart paused in his step, glanced at Mark, and led the way to the right.


    Mark understood, slowed his pace slightly, and drew closer to Colin.


    While watching his reactions, he said with a mocking tone,


    "I really don''t know where you, the thief, get your confidence from. That specially crafted Golden Four-leaf Clover clearly belongs to our Haiya Gang!"


    Colin responded with a slight smile, and not a word.


    Mark didn''t mind, seeing as he seemed completely unaware.


    They followed Hart, turning to the right toward the road that led to the Haiya Gang''s headquarters.


    Mark then coldly threw out another remark,


    "Once we reach the Law Enforcement Team''s headquarters, the Lords there will surely bring you, the thief, to justice!"


    He said no more, merely controlling his steps, falling half a pace behind Colin, subtly blocking any retreat.


    Maintaining this formation, they continued for a while. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The three arrived outside a majestic and stern villa.


    In front of the high wrought iron gates, there were no signs, only four Guards in Half Armor standing watch.


    This was a separate road leading only to this one building.

 Chapter 132 - 120 Taking Initiative 2

    Therefore, apart from them, there were no other figures on the road.


    Colin understood in his heart.


    He had anticipated this situation.


    He just hadn''t thought it would come to light so quickly.


    Now, it seemed he had greatly overestimated Hart and his companion.


    However, he reconsidered.


    This was quite normal, as Hart and his companion were clearly aiming to plunder his Golden Four-leaf Clover or auction it for Magic Stones.


    Previously, on the bustling streets near the port, surrounded by a crowd, just raising his voice slightly had attracted a lot of attention.


    Under those circumstances,


    Hart obviously wouldn''t act violently, but would stabilize him and take him somewhere more convenient to make their move.


    This was in part to avoid damaging the reputation of the Law Enforcement Team.


    On the other hand, perhaps they didn''t want other members of the Law Enforcement Team to know, to avoid sharing the profits.


    Unfortunately, Hart didn''t know that he had already realized everything¡­ let alone understood his true strength.


    "What''s wrong?" Hart, ahead of him, stopped when he saw him pause and asked curiously, then sincerely added,


    "Let''s get going, trust the Law Enforcement Team. We should get in quickly to clarify the real situation."


    "Alright."


    Colin smiled, his expression unchanged, and continued following them towards a villa that clearly wasn''t the Law Enforcement Team''s station.


    Entering through the black gated door topped with spikes, they passed through the front garden along the path.


    Mark then dropped the pretense, quickly moving ahead of him and taking the lead.


    Meanwhile, Hart from the Law Enforcement Team positioned himself behind Colin, blocking his retreat.


    Mark, leading in front, frequently looked back but failed to see the panicked expression he anticipated on Colin''s face.


    Observing Colin''s calm demeanor, identical to earlier, Mark felt irked, feeling something was amiss.


    He slowed his pace slightly, looked back, and mockingly said to Colin,


    "You fool, do you really think this is the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Team? Look up and see where we really are."


    Hart, following last, frowned upon hearing Mark''s words but was too late to stop him, so he focused on Colin''s reaction, preparing for a potential fight.


    A moment later,


    His expression grew puzzled.


    For some reason, Colin showed no reaction to Mark''s words, as if he hadn''t heard them.


    Mark, walking in front, frowned upon seeing this and thought Colin was too foolish to grasp what he was implying.


    So he straightforwardly clarified,


    "I know that Golden Four-leaf Clover is yours, not our Haiya Chamber of Commerce''s, and the gentleman from the Law Enforcement Team behind you knows it too.


    If you''re not a fool, you should understand what I''m saying."


    "Be wise and hand over all the Magic Stones you gained from auctioning the Golden Four-leaf Clover; perhaps this will spare your life."


    They had just reached a clearing.


    Mark stopped, turned around, and glared fiercely at Colin.


    Hart adjusted his position, teaming up with Mark to surround Colin in the middle.


    Colin calmly observed everything as he had expected.


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    Unbeknownst to when, a group of Half-armored Haiya Gang Knights also approached, forming another layer of encirclement around the three of them.


    Mark was not surprised; these modified knights were whom he had quietly ordered the guards at the entrance to call upon when he entered.


    Perhaps they would not be very effective, but it was worth trying.


    He had also instructed the guard to call two familiar gang members, both Peak Wizard Apprentices.


    They were probably still on their way and might need some more time to arrive.


    Nevertheless, that was not a concern, having him and Hart, two Peak Wizard Apprentices, especially since Hart was from a traditional School, much stronger than his Gang Wizard capabilities.


    Although on the surface Hart and he appeared as Peak Wizard Apprentices, realistically he might remain as a Peak Wizard Apprentice for life while Hart was only momentarily at this stage.


    Despite many thoughts in his mind, reality moved swiftly. He watched Colin, furrowed his brows slightly, and impatiently emphasized:


    "Hand over the Magic Stone quickly, don''t waste our time."


    If Colin could be coerced into handing over the Magic Stone willingly, that would undoubtedly be the best option.


    If not, they would at least capture Colin and force him to reveal the location of the Magic Stone.


    Otherwise, killing Colin would be futile if they did not know where his Magic Stone was.


    Colin looked at everything unfolding before him and smiled faintly.


    "What if I said all the Magic Stones have been used up by me; what would you do then?"


    "Used up?!"


    Mark asked back instinctively, his expression darkening.


    Hart from the Law Enforcement Team also frowned.


    The worst-case scenario had occurred, he felt the Golden Four-leaf Clover in his pocket and thought to himself,


    ''If they really have been spent by him, it might be more worthwhile to deal with Mod now.''


    But quickly, he reconsidered, reminding himself that he had a legitimate reason and could use the authority of the Law Enforcement Team to return the goods purchased from Colin to the merchants.


    The only worry was... that Colin might have bought some services or other products that couldn''t be returned.


    As he was deep in thought, he heard Colin speak faintly again:


    "I was deceiving you, most of the Magic Stones from the auction are still with me." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hart''s expression froze, his train of thought instantly interrupted. A surge of anger rapidly filled his mind.


    But even angrier was Mark.


    With a thought from Mark.


    Ssst!


    A thick dark-red vine suddenly appeared beneath Colin''s feet!


    The vine, like a giant python with black poisonous spikes, wrapped itself around Colin''s left leg, quickly entangling his entire body and tightly binding him!


    It formed a dark red cocoon.


    Seeing Colin completely bound without resisting, Mark''s expression eased slightly, and he snorted coldly.


    His eyes were cold, thinking that soon he would make Colin understand what pain felt like!


    On the other hand, Hart was watching the dark-red vine ball, his anger gradually subsiding.


    But before he could look away,


    In the next second!


    Bang¡ª!


    A brilliant orange-red flame burst forth from within the vine cocoon, instantly setting the entire cocoon ablaze.


    It quickly turned to ash.


    The black ashes left by the dark-red vine drifted down like snowflakes, and as the bright firelight gradually disappeared, it revealed Colin unscathed.


    This move combined the Fireball Technique with High Temperature Tolerance.


    By keeping the output intensity of the Fireball Technique within the endurance range of High Temperature Tolerance, one could achieve harming others without injuring oneself.


    Both Mark and Hart were momentarily stunned.


    The next second, Hart was the first to react, preparing to attack again.


    Swoosh!


    A faint light streaked through the air.


    Pfft!


    A sudden intense pain in his abdomen caused his gathering magic power to disperse abruptly, making him let out a muffled groan.


    When he regained his senses, to his surprise, it wasn''t just him.


    Mark and the Half-armored Knights beside him were also lying on the ground, continually moaning.


    The sun was bright at that moment, but Hart felt no warmth, only a bone-chilling cold.


    Fear crawled up his heart like a slippery long snake.


    The scene before him made it clear that he had undoubtedly kicked an iron plate!


    Not daring to think too much, he quietly pulled out the Communication Crystal from his pocket.


    Amidst the wailing crowd, Colin stood quietly, glancing at Hart with an indifferent expression.

 Chapter 133 - 121 Things Done

    Swoosh!


    The open space beside the villa.


    A figure in a gray robe slowly descended.


    "Lord Ellis..."


    Hart, clutching his penetrating stomach wound, greeted the captain who had just arrived in front of him.


    Seeing Ellis''s arrival, his heart suddenly felt relieved, but as he relaxed, the pain in his stomach became clear, making his face turn paler.


    "What has happened here?" Ellis, wearing the standard gray robe of the Law Enforcement Team, glanced at Colin, who was standing not far away, and asked.


    His face was calm, showing no expression, and he did not rush to take action; he just stood there, quietly waiting for Hart''s response.


    "My lord, this is what happened." Hart, enduring the throbbing pain from the wound in his lower abdomen, walked to Ellis''s side and whispered:


    "The Haiya Chamber of Commerce has lost a Magic Potion, and this man is the thief who stole the potion..."


    "Thief? Then why didn''t you bring him to the Law Enforcement Team, and why come here?"


    Ellis frowned, his tone growing colder.


    This was not a base for the Law Enforcement Team; it was just a remote small base owned by the Haiya Chamber of Commerce. There wasn''t even an Official Wizard on duty.


    Feeling the icy tone of Ellis, Hart shivered, clenched his teeth, and continued:


    "The Magic Potion has been recovered; we brought him here to inquire about the whereabouts of the Magic Stones obtained from selling the potion... but we didn''t expect him to be so powerful..."


    "Powerful?"


    "Yes, he must be among the top competitors of Peak Apprentices." Hart recalled the strength of the witchcraft Colin had used and speculated.


    "Idiot!" Ellis snorted coldly and, with a big wave of his hand, knocked Hart back to the ground.


    Under the Supersensitive Vision, the Spiritual Light of a First Rank Wizard emanating from Colin nearby was unmistakably conspicuous... Hart was so blind!


    He turned his head to look at Colin and said sternly:


    "Although you are a First Rank Wizard, this is Bananka Island, not a place where you can do as you please! You must obey the rules... Otherwise, even if you are a First Rank Wizard, it won''t end well for you!"


    His tone was quite impolite.


    The Spiritual Light coming through the Supersensitive Vision was rather thin; the wizard in front of him, although an Official Wizard, was at most a Basic Level First Rank.


    Seemingly of the same rank as him, but as the captain of the Bananka Law Enforcement Team, he felt no need to be gentle.


    Especially since there was a world of difference between the real strength of a Wandering Wizard and a School Wizard.


    "That Magic Potion rightfully belonged to me; there''s no question of violating any rules," Colin replied indifferently, then looked at him and asked sternly:


    "Is this how the esteemed wizards of Bananka rule their island, arbitrarily seizing the wealth of foreign wizards, framing them with baseless accusations?"


    Ellis watched Colin, his brows slightly furrowed.


    Not to mention anything else, he simply disliked Colin''s attitude.


    However, he did not get angry but instead turned his inquisitive gaze toward Hart on the left, planning to understand the situation first.


    At this moment, Hart was still shocked by the realization of Colin''s true level and had not snapped back to reality.


    "Hart?"


    Hearing Ellis''s impatient call, Hart shivered all over and finally suppressed his shock.


    As he looked toward Ellis, hesitation appeared in his heart about whether to tell the truth or...


    Before he could weigh his options clearly.


    "Lord Ellis, he''s talking nonsense!" Suddenly, Mark, who was aside, called out first:


    "Not only did he steal the Magic Potion from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce, but he also killed two of our members!"


    After speaking, Mark breathed slightly, his face flushed.


    He turned his head away, avoiding eye contact with Colin, just silently watching Ellis.


    Ellis retracted his gaze and turned back to look at Colin, his expression noticeably colder.


    He was confident that Mark wouldn''t dare deceive him.


    Meanwhile, the flush on Mark''s face gradually faded as he watched the confrontation between Ellis and Colin, regretting his impulsive words.


    But that flicker of regret was quickly dismissed by him; the situation had reached a point of no return, and he could only follow through.


    On the other side, Hart watched this scene unfold, his expression changing repeatedly.


    Mark was indeed foolish. If Colin had been just a Wizard Apprentice as they assumed, then this approach would have been fine.


    But now...


    Yet he ultimately said nothing, especially since he had just told Ellis the same thing as Mark...


    Now to suddenly change his story...


    No...No!


    In the current situation, continuing to hide the truth was the most foolish thing to do.


    After much hesitation, Hart finally made up his mind, moved closer to Ellis, and whispered everything softly in his ear.


    Lastly, he whispered emphatically:


    "Lord Ellis, the Golden Four-leaf Clover has been recovered, but the Magic Stones obtained from the auction are still on him, totaling over ten thousand!"


    "And the buyer of the Golden Four-leaf Clover was merely an ordinary Basic Level Wizard Apprentice..."


    "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?" Ellis slowly spoke, his tone icy.


    Hart shivered all over and hurriedly spoke in fear:


    "I dare not, my lord, I just..."


    "Enough!" Ellis said impatiently.


    He glanced at Mark, not far away, his gaze cold and chilling the latter.


    But ultimately, Ellis said nothing more and turned his head to look at Colin, his gaze flickering, he continued in a cold voice:


    "Come with me! Who the Golden Four-leaf Clover truly belongs to shall be determined by our Law Enforcement Team''s investigation."


    Upon hearing this, Hart was slightly stunned; he looked at Ellis''s stern face and gradually understood.


    Obviously, although Ellis seemed impatient on the surface, his heart tended more toward continuing to confront the First Rank Wizard before him.


    This was the best outcome he had imagined.


    After all, he had already offended Colin; instead of hoping for Colin''s forgiveness, it was better to take this opportunity to settle things directly!


    "Do you really not see the truth?" Colin gazed at Ellis before him, his voice slowly deepening.


    ...Just a foreign Wild Wizard.


    Ellis stared at him, his face cold as he said,


    "Please cooperate with the Law Enforcement Team''s investigation."


    "Are you sure you want to do this?" Colin chuckled lightly.


    Ellis''s brow furrowed tightly.


    ...An ignorant fool!


    He could no longer maintain his stern facade and bluntly tore it away, directly saying:


    "What are you anyway..."


    "Ellis, is this how Lord Bananka usually teaches you?"


    At that moment, an old wizard wearing black round-framed glasses slowly emerged from the path behind Colin.


    Following him was Mod, holding a crystal.


    Mod hurried forward, respectfully returning the positioning crystal to Colin, his face hardly hiding his shock.


    He had not expected the Colin before him to be a powerful Official Wizard!


    "Lord Qu Laidun," Ellis, upon recognizing the newcomer, restrained his expression slightly and greeted him with some respect.


    Qu Laidun was the most authoritative Appraiser at the Golden Anchor Auction House and a late-stage First Rank Wizard in his own right. Within the Bananka School, his status and power far exceeded Ellis''s.


    Qu Laidun ignored him, instead gazing at Hart and the other person with a somewhat angry expression.


    He had not expected Hart and his companion to be so bold as to target a guest of the Golden Anchor Auction House!


    And an Official Wizard at that!


    If this incident were to accidentally leak, becoming a rumor known to the wizards of Bananka...


    He couldn''t help but feel a chill in his heart.


    A good reputation needs day after day, year after year to build, but to destroy it takes only once.


    Wizards of Bananka value reputation highly. They often emphasize¡ª


    If Bananka Island didn''t have such a reputation, how would so many travelers come? Without so many travelers, how could it have transformed from a barren island to the now well-known trading island...


    If this matter was known to the wizards of Bananka...


    Qu Laidun grew increasingly angry.


    "These Law Enforcement Team members have had it too easy for too long, becoming more and more brazen, covering up for those corrupt chambers of commerce, and now they dare to do this!


    It seems... it is time to report to the wizards of Bananka!"


    Although he thought much, his face betrayed none of his feelings.


    He only turned his head to look at Ellis, his voice deepening:


    "That Golden Four-leaf Clover belongs to Colin here... you better handle your subordinates properly."


    Ellis frowned slightly inwardly.


    If nobody knew about this, it would be one thing, but now that Qu Laidun had personally come...


    He shook his head inwardly, and the fleeting thought of seizing an opportunity suddenly dispersed... It wasn''t worth it.


    Despite his many thoughts, only a moment had passed in reality.


    The next second, Ellis turned his head and glared at Hart and the other man, his voice stern:


    "You didn''t tell me the truth?!"


    The faces of Hart and the other man instantly turned pale!


    Especially Hart, who incredulously looked at Ellis, understanding his plight in a flash.


    His heart suddenly sank to the bottom.


    Seeing this, Colin felt neither sadness nor joy.


    He withdrew his gaze and turned his head to look at Qu Laidun, saying,


    "Thank you for coming to prove my innocence, Lord Qu Laidun."


    "You''re welcome; the wizards of Bananka always teach us to respect the interests of travelers," Qu Laidun suppressed other emotions and answered with a smile.


    "Moreover, the information you had your servant give me about that special Golden Four-leaf Clover was very useful to me."


    He had been very amazed by the ingenious idea of the Golden Four-leaf Clover when he appraised it.


    He marveled that it could enhance the Life Force effect without damaging the original efficacy of the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    So he had asked Colin for more information about the Golden Four-leaf Clover.


    At that time, Colin hadn''t said much... It seemed he had held back.


    Speaking of this, Qu Laidun seemed to recall something, adding:


    "Of course, even without this knowledge, I would have come anyway, as this is what we at the Golden Anchor Auction House should do."


    He turned his head to look at Colin, his voice deepening:


    "Mr. Colin, I assure you, Bananka Island will definitely give you an explanation for this."


    "Ah!"


    A scream came from the left.


    Nearby, Hart and Mark were being brutally bound together by Ellis using light-blue thorns. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thorns easily pricked into their skin, causing them to cry out in pain.


    "Let''s go, Mr. Colin, let''s rest elsewhere for now."


    Qu Laidun smiled, beckoning Colin to follow him,


    He hadn''t yet fully shared the knowledge about the Golden Four-leaf Clover with him.

 Chapter 134 - 122 Buying a Ship

    After a round of hustle, the time had already arrived at evening.


    The setting sun was fiery red, and the twilight sky was brilliant.


    Outside the door, Colin was bidding farewell to Mod and Qu Laidun.


    The two exchanged pleasantries, and then Qu Laidun looked directly at Colin and said in a deep voice,


    "Mr. Colin, this matter is not yet over. I will urge Ellis and the Haiya Merchants to give you an explanation as soon as possible."


    Colin responded with a noncommittal smile and then bid farewell to Qu Laidun.


    Walking on the road, the red-orange glow tinted his face with a layer of reddish-gold.


    After a while,


    Mod, who was nearby, suddenly stopped and bowed deeply to Colin, saying with genuine sincerity,


    "Thank you, Mr. Colin."


    "If it had not been for your initiative, the Golden Four-leaf Clover would probably have been out of my reach once again."


    After saying this, a hint of hesitation flashed across his face, and then he added,


    "Regarding the purchase of a ship for ocean voyages, there might be better options."


    "I know the manager of the De Lan shipyard. A few years ago, I introduced a major client to him. To thank me, he gave me a privilege voucher for an eight percent discount on the purchase of ships under 30,000 Magic Stones."


    "Perhaps you, Sir, could make use of it."


    "Oh," Colin''s face momentarily lit up with surprise, "then I shall gladly accept."


    Having dealt with the Haiya Chamber of Commerce issue, the next thing he undoubtedly wanted to do was to buy a ship.


    Colin pondered to himself.


    He had earned a total of 12,580 Magic Stones from selling the Golden Four-leaf Clover. The Sea Swallow''s original price was 16,000 Magic Stones, and the salesperson had offered a discounted price of 14,999 Magic Stones at the time... Calculating this, if he could get an eight percent discount, perhaps he wouldn''t need to consider buying a second-hand ship.


    However... it was unclear whether this eight percent discount applied to the original price or the discounted price...


    The two continued walking forward, as, over their shoulders, an orange-yellow sunset gradually sank into the distance.


    The next day.


    Early in the morning, the sun had just risen.


    Outside the De Lan shipyard.


    "Sir."


    Mod greeted the just-arrived Colin respectfully at the entrance.


    "Let''s go," Colin nodded and led him straight into the De Lan shipyard.


    They had agreed to buy the ship today after they parted ways yesterday.


    After all, the matter should be expedited.


    It was best to finish it sooner rather than later to avoid unnecessary dreams and entanglements that would consume too much energy.


    Upon entering the De Lan shipyard, the person who received Colin and Mod was the same salesperson with a goatee who had attended to Colin the last time he came alone.


    Seeing Colin, the salesperson''s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly stepped forward, saying,


    "Sir, nice to see you again."


    "Have you decided to buy the Sea Swallow this time?"


    "Yes," Colin nodded without concealment.


    The salesperson''s smile grew even brighter with Colin''s confirmation.


    "Sir, this way, please."


    He led Colin into the reception room.


    Since Colin had decided to purchase the Sea Swallow, he didn''t hesitate anymore and immediately began discussing the various customizations for the Sea Swallow with the goatee-bearded salesperson.


    So, about two hours passed before Colin squared away all the details.


    Then came the time to pay.


    "Sir, the price I gave you last time was 14,999 Magic Stones, but that was the standard price for the standard configuration.


    Based on your specific personal requirements this time, the price will change slightly," the goatee-bearded salesperson explained.


    "Alright, so what''s the final specific price?"


    "I''ve done a rough calculation, and it''s about an increase of 1,000 Magic Stones from the original standard, which is 15,999 Magic Stones. I can authorize a discount for you, bringing it down to 15,666 Magic Stones."


    Colin nodded and, without rushing to respond, turned to look at Mod.


    Sensing his gaze, Mod stepped forward, understandingly pulling out a brass ship-shaped emblem that he had already prepared.


    "Is this... our emblem?" the goatee-bearded man asked in surprise, taking the emblem.


    "Yes, that was given to me three years ago by your manager Finn, saying that it could be used to enjoy an eight percent discount on ships under 30,000 Magic Stones."


    "I see... I''ll have to ask the manager," the goatee-bearded salesperson''s expression showed some hesitation.


    He had never heard of such a thing before, nor had he seen other clients use a similar emblem.


    Mod''s heart sank.


    Could it be that the De Lan shipyard''s manager had just been leading him on?


    "What''s the matter, is this emblem not valid?" Seeing this, Colin inquired in a calm, deep voice.


    With a thought, the aura of an Official Wizard began to emanate from him.


    As if being choked, the mustachioed salesman''s face turned pale instantly, and he said tremblingly,


    "Sir... I just need to ask the manager."


    "Go ahead," Colin withdrew his spiritual oppression.


    He knew the salesman was just confused; he intentionally made things difficult to showcase the strength of the Official Wizard he was imitating, to prevent any unnecessary trouble that might occur later.


    After that.


    Perhaps the effect of Manager Finn''s badge was truly significant, or maybe it was because of the strength he had demonstrated.


    In any case, the process went smoothly.


    Even the discount promised by the badge, 20% off, was applied to the discounted price of 15,666 Magic Stones given by the mustachioed salesman.


    That meant he ultimately secured the Sea Swallow for only 12,533 Magic Stones.


    After paying the Magic Stones, Colin ran his fingers over the pattern of his Storage Ring and felt a wave of regret.


    Thinking of how his assets had shrunk once again to less than a thousand Magic Stones, it was hard not to feel a bit of heartache.


    However, once he reached the Siya Continent, he would be able to sell the Sea Swallow and convert it into cash.


    The mustachioed man spoke to him respectfully,


    "Sir, according to your requirements, your Sea Swallow will be completed in about half a month. Please leave an address, and someone will come to notify you when it''s ready."


    "Mhm," Colin lightly exhaled, returned to his senses, left the address of the inn, and then left with Mod.


    As they stepped out of the Deblue shipyard, it was nearly noon.


    Looking around, the streets outside bustled just as the days before.


    Having settled a significant matter, although his feelings were complex, overall, he felt relieved.


    He turned to say goodbye to Mod and return to the inn.


    "Sir."


    But Mod spoke up first.


    "Now that you have bought the Sea Swallow, may I ask when you plan to head to the Siya Continent?"


    Colin gazed at him but didn''t answer.


    "It''s like this, Sir,"


    Mod began to explain on his own initiative.


    "I''d like to take your ship to the Siya Continent... Of course, I will pay for my ticket in Magic Stones¡ªhow about 1,500 Magic Stones?"


    Colin pondered for a long while before slowly nodding,


    "That''s fine. I plan to leave as soon as I get the ship. Leave me an address, and I''ll have my maid inform you when it''s time."


    Now that he had bought the ship and was short on Magic Stones... Mod seemed to understand the situation well; it was a fair-weather voyage, an opportunity to make an easy profit without fail.


    "Thank you, Sir Colin!" Mod seemed relieved as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, a grateful smile appearing on his face.


    Afterward, Mod shared his residence address with Colin, then said goodbye and departed.


    Colin also turned and continued towards the nearby inn.


    As he walked, noticing the stream of people bustling around him, he couldn''t help but reflect.


    Regardless, now that he was walking alone on the street, at least he didn''t need to keep up his disguise, sparing him some time.


    Time flew, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.


    This day, after breakfast, Colin prepared to go out with the sisters Renee to buy some necessary supplies for the sea voyage.


    But just as they were leaving the inn, they faced a Steel-armored Guard head-on. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Excuse me, are you Sir Colin?" the Guard respectfully asked, stopping him.


    Colin nodded, assessing the Guard in front of him, whose body was covered in shiny silver Steel Armor.


    He suddenly remembered the patrolling Guards he had seen at night before.


    However, different from the patrolling Guards seen previously at night, this Guard''s Steel Armor was more refined, its structure seeming more streamlined and slender.


    Overall, it looked more advanced.


    All of a sudden, with a mechanism triggered by the Guard, a small slit suddenly opened around the neck of his tightly sealed helmet.


    The Guard then took off his helmet with both hands and rested it on his left arm.


    "The thing is, Sir, the Law Enforcement Team, to express their apologies, has specifically sent you some token compensation. Additionally, the Haiya Chamber of Commerce has also entrusted me to deliver their compensation to you."


    The Guard pressed his hand to his chest and bowed slightly as a sign of respect, then explained as he took out two palm-sized wooden boxes from the bag on his back.


    "Oh," Colin raised an eyebrow.


    While Qu Laidun had informed him that he would indeed get a response, Colin had never taken it seriously.


    After all, this was Bananka Island, and the full name of the Law Enforcement Team was Bananka Law Enforcement Team.


    For him, a foreign Wizard, to receive comparatively fair treatment was already no small feat.


    He had never anticipated any compensation and felt something must have happened behind the scenes that he was unaware of.


    But there was no reason to hesitate; he accepted the wooden boxes.


    He beckoned to the sisters Renee, found a corner to sit down in the inn''s ground floor hall, and gently opened the wooden boxes.

 Chapter 135 - 123 Rejection

    The first thing Colin opened was a wooden box from the Law Enforcement Team.


    Inside was a Magic Crystal set in a ring, with an accompanying description¡ª


    "First Rank Advanced Sun Fireball Magic Crystal." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin picked up the thumb-sized, fiery red crystal, somewhat surprised.


    He had seen the same type of Magic Crystal at an auction before, with the final transaction price being around seven hundred and fifty Magic Stones.


    He slipped the ring embedded with the Sun Fireball Magic Crystal directly onto his finger.


    Unfortunately, a Low Rank Wizard using a High Rank crystal not only consumed more energy but also had its power correspondingly reduced.


    He then opened another brown wooden box from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce.


    What was inside was much more straightforward and crude compared to the compensation from the Law Enforcement Team.


    A dove-egg-sized, round Magic Stone caught his eye.


    Clearly, it was a Middle-grade Magic Stone, roughly equivalent to one thousand ordinary Magic Stones in value.


    Colin put the Middle-grade Magic Stone into his Storage Ring without delay and continued on his way as planned.


    Unlike the bustling Blue Bay Street Inn where he previously stayed, this inn was somewhat quieter.


    But thanks to Bananka Island''s prosperous trading environment, travelers were still seen everywhere.


    After walking for a while,


    the cries of a newsboy selling papers nearby caught his attention.


    "Bananka Wizards set new trade regulations to protect the island''s fair and just trading environment, and establish a Monitoring Office!"


    Colin''s eyebrows lifted, preparing to stop the newsboy to buy a newspaper,


    when he heard a whispered conversation between two idle passersby leaning against the wall not far away.


    "It looks like the Bananka Wizards are determined to clean up the Law Enforcement Team this time..."


    "That''s what I think too. Those outsiders may not know, but could we, the locals, not be aware?


    How many people have been conned by the Law Enforcement Team in collusion with our Chamber of Commerce? They are stealing from the Bananka Wizards. I''ve long felt it''s not right."


    "Sigh... Who knows how our guild will handle this afterwards. Are we going to have to do legitimate business?"


    "Who knows..."


    Colin unobtrusively shifted his gaze back and said to the newsboy.


    "Give me a newspaper."


    "Here you are, sir."


    He took the newspaper and unfolded it.


    The front-page headline of the first page was the news he had just heard.


    After reading carefully, he was somewhat astonished.


    He hadn''t expected the Bananka Wizards to make such a big move.


    But it was no longer his concern.


    "Let''s go." Colin shook his head and continued towards his destination with Renee.


    Before long, they arrived at the trading market.


    "Spices, one kilogram of each kind, ten kilograms of rock sugar..."


    Inside a shop, Renee was listing items one by one to the shopkeeper from a written procurement checklist.


    "Excuse me, madam. Are you looking to purchase supplies for an ocean voyage?" the affable shopkeeper asked, interrupting her.


    "Yes," said Renee, pausing.


    The shopkeeper smiled, pulled out a somewhat yellowed checklist from the cabinet below, and said,


    "If you''re purchasing supplies for an ocean voyage, please take a look at this. Our Siwo Chamber of Commerce has specially tailored many preferential packages for long voyages."


    "Okay." Renee nodded, receiving the list to carefully check it.


    Colin, who stood behind her, retracted his gaze.


    These things, he usually left entirely to Renee to handle.


    His main purpose this time was to stroll around to see if there was anything else worth purchasing on the island.


    After all, according to the planned voyage, once they left Bananka Island, the stops along the way would all be small islands.


    It might be some time before they encountered another thriving trade island like Bananka until they reached the Siya Continent.


    On the other hand, by coming out this time, he was also tasked with placing the purchased supplies directly into the Storage Ring, to avoid transportation and thus save some transportation costs.


    Seeing that Renee was able to handle things with ease,


    Colin did not pay further attention and simply waited quietly at the side, pondering the new Flying and Diving Skill he learned recently.


    Suddenly.


    Crash¡ª


    A noise of something falling and subsequent commotion came from not far away, followed by a painful scream.


    "Believer! Stop him... He''s a believer! A dog of the Divine!"


    Colin''s expression changed slightly, and he quickly walked to the shop''s entrance to look outside.


    At the roadside ahead, a vendor was clutching his chest and pointing at a gaunt man with his back to him, shouting loudly.


    Upon hearing the vendor''s words, the gaunt man''s face changed, and without caring to remain hidden, he started to run.


    His direction was towards Colin.


    Colin''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Hisss¡ª!


    But the next second, the man''s footsteps abruptly halted, and with hands painfully grasping his own throat, he emitted a rasping sound, then collapsed to the ground.


    Next,


    Swoosh!


    A white-robed figure descended from the sky, landing behind the man.


    Round-framed black glasses, white hair¡ªit was none other than Qu Laidun, an appraiser from the Golden Anchor Auction House, whom he knew well.


    At the moment, Qu Laidun''s face was grim as he slowly approached the fallen gaunt man.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Suddenly, behind him, a squad of silver-armored guards split the crowd and ran over.


    At the forefront of the guards was a somber-faced middle-aged wizard, who swiftly came to Qu Laidun''s side.


    The two exchanged words in a low voice.


    Seeing everything had settled down, Colin turned his attention back to pondering the Flying and Diving Skill of Oran.


    However, not long after,


    A familiar voice came from outside the shop.


    "Master Colin, we meet again," Qu Laidun said with a smile as he entered the shop, greeting him.


    "Master Qu Laidun," Colin turned around to respond.


    "I was just nearby purchasing some items, and it''s a coincidence we''ve bumped into each other again," Qu Laidun exchanged pleasantries, then continued, "Speaking of which, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you."


    "Please speak," Colin said.


    "It''s nothing major," Qu Laidun said with a smile, and added, "I was just wondering about your plans for the future... Do you intend to leave Bananka Island, or are you planning to settle here for a longer period?"


    "I haven''t decided yet," Colin answered vaguely.


    "Undecided?" Qu Laidun nodded, "May I ask what you think of the Bananka School?"


    "The Bananka School... It''s very good; their strength is also quite formidable," Colin replied with polite praise.


    "Then, Master Colin, would you be willing to join the Bananka School?"


    "Join the Bananka School?" Colin could barely hide his surprise.


    Then he instinctively asked, "But I am already an Official Wizard. It would be difficult to change my practice to the Meditation Method..."


    Qu Laidun paused, then chuckled,


    "You misunderstand, Master Colin. I am talking about joining the school as an external deacon, without needing to change your Meditation Method."


    He then added,


    "However, as an external deacon, although not having access to the school''s systematic knowledge, the rest of the benefits are actually equivalent to those of school members... What do you say?"


    Colin furrowed his brow in thought.


    After a long while, he slowly spoke up,


    "I''m sorry, Master Qu Laidun, but I am used to my freedom, so..."


    It seemed to catch Qu Laidun off guard, a flash of astonishment clearly crossing his face.


    He paused, then with some patience said sternly,


    "Have you considered this carefully, Master Colin? The Bananka School very rarely recruits external Wild Wizards.


    Though you are a First Rank Wizard, if you wish to advance further, even if you cannot convert to the Bananka School''s Meditation Method, staying within the school might still give you a much higher chance of advancement than if you were on your own!"


    "Moreover, there are many other benefits to being in a school. I believe you, as a Wild Wizard, are very aware of this!"


    Qu Laidun''s tone was gentle, yet had shed some of its earlier warmth.


    He had anticipated that Colin would be overjoyed, given the well-known hardships of a Wild Wizard... The chance to join a school, though not skyrocketing one to heaven, was still a transformation of one''s being!


    Which Wild Wizard wouldn''t want that?


    In fact, he wouldn''t have come to recruit just any Wild Wizard, had he not reported the Law Enforcement Team incident back to the Bananka Wizards, who then mentioned it to him.


    Yet Colin seemed rather uninterested in joining.


    "I''m sorry... Master Qu Laidun," Colin repeated firmly but respectfully.


    Qu Laidun watched him, saying nothing more.


    "Since you do not wish to join the Bananka School, then I shall not disturb you further."


    With mere words, Qu Laidun turned and left.


    Watching his retreating figure, Colin remained impassive.


    Leaving Bananka Island to head for the Siya Continent had been his plan from the very start, and he had never considered changing it.


    Leaving aside the three-year contract with Erica, even for his own future, his best option was to go to the Siya Continent.


    On Bananka Island, at best he could only be an external deacon to the Bananka School.


    But if he went to the Siya Continent, perhaps he could become a true member of a new school.


    The benefits of being a school member need not be overstated.


    Compared to staying on Bananka Island as a deacon with no prospects, heading to the Siya Continent to join a new school was obviously a better choice.


    Sunrise, sunset, high tide, low tide.


    And so, time swiftly passed by another six days.


    That day, just as dawn broke over the distant horizon of the sea,


    Colin stepped out of the inn, accompanied not only by the Renee sisters,


    but also by a young man¡ªan employee from the Leiden Shipyard.


    That''s right, his Sea Swallow had been completed.


    Now, it was time to proceed with the inspection!

 Chapter 136 - 124: Leaving the Nest (5k)

    Walking on the road, Colin''s steps were light, his heart barely containing his joy.


    The efficiency of the Lan Shipyard was even higher than expected.


    They had planned to finish manufacturing in half a month, but it only took thirteen days to complete.


    Walking on the road, he found himself inexplicably recalling the feeling of picking up a new car in his previous life.


    The feeling of picking up a ship... In his view, it was somewhat similar.


    But undoubtedly much more exciting.


    After all, the ship was far more important than any car in his past life, both in price and significance.


    The Lan Shipyard wasn''t far from the inn; they could get there on foot by crossing two intersections and taking a turn.


    He hastened his pace and soon reached the first intersection.


    "Master?" Renee stopped and looked at him for instructions.


    "Mhm," Colin nodded, realizing what needed to be done, and instructed, "Go ahead, and remember to have Mod tidy everything up."


    Renee nodded and briskly walked in the other direction of the intersection.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and continued to lead Demi and the employees of the Lan Shipyard forward.


    He had already packed all his belongings into the Storage Ring.


    If all went well, he planned to set sail directly from the Lan Shipyard''s dock that led out to the sea after picking up the ship.


    As for the ship''s fuel,


    The Lan Shipyard also had coal for sale, and his Storage Ring was also stocked with plenty of coal... There was no need to worry.


    ...


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Elsewhere, a Guard clad in golden patterned Steel Armor jogged down the street.


    His movements caused the metal armor to collide and produce a clanging sound.


    After a while, the clanging came to a halt.


    He paused briefly in front of the inn to make sure he had the right place and then strode boldly inside.


    "Excuse me, sir, may I help you?" The waitress in the lobby became nervous upon seeing his imposing approach and asked.


    "Does your inn have a Wizard staying here who is accompanied by a maid and a little girl?" The Guard glanced at her and asked in a deep voice. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Yes!" The waitress thought for a second before responding respectfully.


    In this world, inns hadn''t the principle of protecting the privacy of their guests.


    "Go and inform that person that a Golden Knight from the Bananka School has a message and requests an audience," the Golden Knight said indifferently.


    He didn''t remove his helmet, but his voice was still clear, as if it wasn''t obstructed at all.


    "Alright..." the waitress agreed, flustered.


    But soon her expression faltered as if she remembered something, and she stammered an explanation, "But sir, the Wizard just left not too long ago..."


    "Where did he go?"


    "...I do not know, sir," the waitress shook her head.


    They were just an inn, they might answer when a guest would return or leave, but knowing where a guest went after leaving was a bit too difficult.


    The Golden Knight understood this as well, and without further inquiry, simply turned and left.


    He had other Official Wizards to notify.


    ...


    "Are you satisfied with what you see?" The salesman with the handlebar mustache, smiling, pointed at the white vessel berthed in the dockyard.


    "The exterior is quite nice," Colin said with a faint smile.


    The main color scheme of the Sea Swallow was white, and its streamlined body was as elegant as a dolphin.


    "Let me take you aboard for a closer look."


    "Mhm," Colin nodded.


    The salesman led him up the Sea Swallow, stepping on the ship''s side ladder.


    What first caught his eye at the bow of the Sea Swallow was the large white smokestack on top of the forecastle, a necessary vent for the boiler inside.


    This feature distinguished the Sea Swallow from modern yachts of his past life and gave it a unique temperament... a bit rough, but not crude, instead filled with a sense of power.


    Colin ran his hand over the steel railing coated with a layer of white paint.


    In his previous life, steam engines had not developed to such maturity before being replaced by internal combustion engines.


    On modern small vessels, such smokestacks were rare.


    After all, internal combustion engines using diesel or gasoline as fuel didn''t require such large exhaust vents...


    Colin shook his head to dispel the memories.


    Above the deck, the superstructure had two stories.


    Below the smokestack was the modest captain''s cabin, and further below was the living room.


    Master and guest bedrooms, as well as other functional rooms, were all located beneath the deck.


    The deck of the Sea Swallow was not the traditional yellow teak but a layer of gray steel treated for slip resistance.


    At the moment, it was bare without any sofas, deck chairs, or sun umbrellas.


    The primary purpose of seafaring vessels in this world was safe navigation, and comfort obviously couldn''t compare to the leisure yachts of his past life.


    Of course, facing the numerous dangers at sea, he also wasn''t in the mood for leisure.


    Just as he was about to go below with the salesman, an employee from the Lan Shipyard boarded the Sea Swallow.


    The man stepped aside, revealing Renee and Mod behind him.


    "Master, Mr. Mod has arrived," Renee said respectfully.


    "Mr. Colin," Mod also greeted Colin respectfully.


    "Mhm," Colin nodded, scrutinizing Mod.


    He had specifically instructed Renee to ask Mod to bring all their belongings.


    But now it seemed that Mod was only carrying a bag.


    Either it meant he had very few items, or like Colin, possessed a storage Witch Tool.


    He turned and continued down to the deck.


    Mod stepped forward, engaging in conversation proactively.

 Chapter 137 - 124 Leaving the Nest (5k)_2

    "Sir, I thought you might change your mind."


    "¡­What do you mean?"


    Mod''s steps paused slightly as he asked, confused:


    "Didn''t the people from the Bananka School come to find you?"


    "Yesterday afternoon, the Bananka School, for some reason, issued a notice to actively recruit Wild Wizards.


    Anyone who is an Intermediate Apprentice or above can join the Bananka School, and among them, the outstanding ones could become official members of the School!"


    "Someone like you, an Official Wizard, they should have sent someone specifically to contact you¡­"


    Colin did not rush to ask further but slowed his pace and turned his head to signal Renee to step forward and listen to the bearded salesman''s explanation.


    He then moved to the back with Mod.


    "Such a big move from the Bananka School, has something happened recently?" Colin asked in a calm, low voice.


    "This¡­" Mod frowned and shook his head, "Sir, I''ve been at home lately, just finished assimilating the power of the Golden Four-leaf Clover, and took the opportunity to advance to an Intermediate Apprentice, so I''m a bit out of the loop... I haven''t heard about anything special happening."


    Colin nodded, feeling a bit puzzled.


    He pondered for a moment and then turned to Mod again:


    "Has the Bananka School ever recruited Wild Wizards like this before?"


    "Not at all, sir," Mod affirmed with a shake of his head, "I''ve lived on Bananka Island for nearly sixty years and I''ve never seen the School do such a thing, joining the Bananka School has always been harder than reaching the heavens for a Wild Wizard..."


    "Hmm." Colin''s puzzled feeling deepened, and he failed to comprehend.


    From simple logic, it could be deduced¡ª


    The Bananka School''s recruiting of Wild Wizards on the island obviously meant they needed more Wizards.


    Thinking in reverse, this also meant the School was lacking Wizards.


    But how could the powerful Bananka School suddenly be short on Wizards?


    His brow furrowed slightly.


    Whoom¡ª


    The sound of flames igniting echoed.


    "¡­Are you saying this stove can freely control the intensity of the flame and doesn''t require fuel?"


    "Yes, it can control the fire''s intensity, but it''s not like it doesn''t need fuel; rather, it uses Magic Stones as fuel, although the consumption is not significant¡­"


    The bearded salesman in the distance was introducing the kitchen to Renee.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and continued to ponder.


    Normally, if a School wanted to increase the number of Wizards, they would usually choose to cultivate them from childhood.


    Only Wizards nurtured from childhood could truly be considered members of the School.


    It was rare for a School to recruit Wild Wizards directly, and even if they did, it would be only a small number.


    After all, although such recruitment might expand the School''s power temporarily, in the long run, the disadvantages far outweighed the benefits.


    Unless, there was an urgent need for more manpower for something¡­


    Like discovering a new island that needed expansion, or¡­ encountering some kind of external crisis!


    He suddenly remembered the incident six days ago when Qu Laidun tried to recruit him at the trade market.


    And¡­


    The captured, emaciated believer.


    "Sir, you''ve seen everything on the ship now, are you satisfied?"


    The bearded salesman suddenly asked.


    Colin shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts, not delving any deeper.


    Now that he was about to leave Bananka Island, whatever happened on the island¡­ it no longer concerned him.


    He lifted his gaze.


    Although his thoughts had been brief, some time had already passed in reality.


    They had moved past the kitchen and arrived at the steam boiler room located on the lowest level.


    Neat, orderly cold-colored steel pipes came into view, with shiny mechanical gears beside them, glossed with a thin layer of lubricant, softening their hardness and adding a touch of elegance.


    Although inactive at the moment.


    Just by imagining, one could guess that when this mechanical heart started, it would be an awe-inspiring sight.


    "Alright."


    Colin withdrew his gaze and nodded. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is there anything else that needs to be modified?" the bearded salesman continued to inquire.


    "There is none."


    "Okay, sir," the bearded salesman nodded, paused, and then added, "Do you have a permanent berth at the port, sir? We could take it there and moor it for you¡­ or you could choose to temporarily store it in the Denland Shipyard, with a storage fee of one Magic Stone per day."


    "No need, I''m already familiar with the operation of the Sea Swallow. I''ll handle it myself from here on," Colin declined with a shake of his head.


    "¡­Alright then, I won''t disturb you further," the bearded salesman understood and took his leave.


    Colin, along with Renee and the others, proceeded along the corridor toward the deck, eventually reaching the captain''s cabin at the very top.


    "Is everything taken care of?" he asked, looking back at Renee and the others.


    "Everything is ready, and we''ve brought all our belongings," Renee, leading Demi, replied.


    "I''m ready as well," Mod quickly added.


    "Then, let''s set sail," Colin said while turning back, reaching out to press on the pale blue crystal fixed to the table, invoking his Magic Power.


    Hum¡ª


    A pale blue glow lit up, enveloping the entire captain''s cabin in a mysterious atmosphere.


    "Welcome to use the Sea Demon''s Heart, Captain," a mechanical voice echoed in the captain''s cabin.


    It wasn''t a being like a tower spirit, just a fixed witchcraft device to assist in ship operation.


    "Start the Sea Swallow, preheat the boiler," Colin said softly, his eyes flickering with anticipation.


    "Right away, Captain."


    Click¡ª


    The ship shuddered slightly, and the distinctive sound of interlocking mechanical gears began to turn.


    Then.


    The bearded salesman by the dockside gestured to the distance.


    Clang¡ª


    The grey steel gate obstructing the Sea Swallow''s path slowly lifted, spilling white light in and brightening the previously dimly lit shipyard.

 Chapter 138 - 124: Leaving the Nest (5k)_3

    After his eyes adjusted, an immensely vast landscape unfolded before him.


    The clear azure sky stretched endlessly, occasionally dotted with white clouds, while the deep blue sea was equally boundless, with only a few ships embedded in its expanse.


    At the sight, Colin couldn''t help but exhale softly, his expression uplifted.


    No further hesitation.


    "Set sail," he commanded in a deep voice.


    Though his tone was calm, it couldn''t hide his anticipation and nervousness.


    Boom.


    At his command,


    The steam engine suddenly roared to life, and puffs of dark grey smoke drifted from the Sea Swallow''s thick chimney.


    The propeller at the stern began to slowly rotate, and before long, white foam was churned up.


    The ship also gradually began to move.


    A gentle breeze blew as Colin turned his head to look back.


    Under the dome of the steel crisscrossed shipyard, a mustached salesman stood respectfully by the dock waving farewell to them.


    From above, the white Sea Swallow looked like its namesake, a nimble seagull, taking flight from its narrow nest toward the vast ocean...


    *


    *


    *


    In an unnamed sea domain,


    Shriek¡ª


    A white seabird cried out and landed momentarily on the railing of the white ship below.


    For them, the vessel was a rare resting place amid the boundless sea. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Renee withdrew her gaze and stared at the sea beside the ship.


    Before long,


    A figure slowly emerged from beneath the water''s surface.


    The next second, it broke through the water with a splash, stirring up a wave!


    The resting seabird nearby, startled, flapped its wings and took off with a flutter.


    The figure, carried by its inertial, came to midair,


    But instead of falling back down to the deck under gravity''s pull, it continued to hover.


    "Master," Renee greeted him.


    Colin looked down at her and nodded slightly.


    Perhaps because they faced the same scenery every day, he always felt time at sea passed quickly.


    Unconsciously, today marked the fifteenth day since his departure from Bananka Island.


    He controlled his body, slowly descending onto the deck below, his expression calm.


    But deep inside, he couldn''t help recounting the loud bang they heard the morning after leaving Bananka Island¡ªan unknown source.


    He always felt that the bang was somehow tied to Bananka Island...


    After all, such a loud bang, barring natural fierce beasts and the strange, in this world, possibly only a Wizard of Second Rank or higher... or a Divine being, could have caused it.


    An inexplicable sense of apprehension engulfed him, so in this time, he practiced even harder.


    So much so that he had progressed his newly acquired Flying and Diving Skill to the point of instantaneous activation.


    It seemed he would soon reach the Limit Breaking Point.


    Thinking carefully, it had been over a month since his departure from Blackstone Island... and his strength had increased considerably.


    With a thought, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    Faint golden particles converged.


    "Master,"


    However, Renee interrupted him.


    "Mr. Mod has something for you."


    "Hmm... have him come over," he paused, nodded slightly, used the Cleaning Technique on himself to remove the water stains, and then walked towards the lounge on the first floor not far away.


    Once in the lounge, he sat down.


    Colin leaned back on the soft sofa, reading through the information on the Golden Paper line by line.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice (3/100); Ultimate Knight (76/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice''s Circulation Meditation ¢ò¡ü (100/100); Sunlight Breathing Method ¢ò (63/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Minor; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Force Field (23/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (Gold); High Temperature Tolerance I¡ü (100/100); Fireball Skill I¡ü (100/100); Swift Skill I (76/100); Oran Flying and Diving Skill (62/100); Detect Evil I (2/100); Purification Evil Power I (3/100)]


    [Skills: Basic Magic Crystal Making; Blood Pattern Transformation Skill I (33/100)]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (3/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Points: 0]


    On Rank, there wasn''t much change; it was still Advanced Wizard Apprentice and Ultimate Knight.


    Only the progress of the Wizard Rank was slow...


    It seemed time to break the limit for the Circulation Meditation.


    But he hesitated.


    Initially, he didn''t break the limit for Circulation Meditation because Magic Stones were limited, and he prioritized breaking the limit for the Talent Strong Life.


    Lately, however, it was because he planned to understand more about advancing to Official Wizard before making a measured decision.


    In this period, he did indeed study knowledge related to advancing to Official Wizard.


    Overall, special prerequisite training is required for a successful transition to an Official Wizard, and this training is critical to whether one can break through to become an Official Wizard.


    Yet Circulation Meditation didn''t include this aspect.


    This meant that even if he continued to break the limit of Circulation Meditation, it would likely not add significantly to his strength but might just increase some Magic Power.


    Running his fingers over the smooth armrest of the brown leather sofa, Colin recalled another piece of information.


    Previously, a conversation between two Wizard Apprentices at the auction made him realize that an Official Wizard who joins a School must consider whether the Meditation Method is compatible.


    But Wizard Apprentices don''t have to consider this aspect.


    Combining the recent knowledge he learned, it was clear that this is because a Wizard Apprentice can still freely switch Meditation Methods.


    Once one advances to Official Wizard, they can no longer change Meditation Methods at will.


    Nevertheless, regardless,


    If he were to join a new School, he would likely need to change his Meditation Method, which was undoubtedly certain.


    Means even if he broke the limit for Circulation Meditation now, he would probably have to change it later.


    He sighed.


    It was somewhat wasteful.


    The Limit Breaking Points now needed to break the limit of Circulation Meditation had reached one thousand... and that was no small number.


    After considering, Colin decided to put it off for now and prioritized breaking the limits for High Temperature Tolerance and Fireball Skill once again.


    As for Circulation Meditation, he would wait until he arrived at the Siya Continent to clarify the specific situation before making plans.


    After all, there was only a little over half a month''s voyage left to the Siya Continent.


    "Lord Colin,"


    After making these decisions, Mod had just arrived.


    He knocked on the door and called out respectfully from outside.


    "Come in,"


    Colin put away the Golden Paper and invited him in.

 Chapter 139 - 125 Rest

    "Master Colin," Mod approached and sat down in front of him, his complexion slightly pale.


    "Still feeling seasick?" Seeing his continued poor spirit, Colin couldn''t help but ask further.


    "It''s a bit better after activating the protective shield," Mod replied.


    His seasickness was not merely a simple physical issue, but rather more due to some peculiar tainted babblings of the ocean, similar to the reason sailors suffered from insomnia when they left Blackstone Island.


    However, as the Sea Swallow, valued at over ten thousand Magic Stones, it naturally possessed corresponding protective features.


    While it couldn''t be said to provide complete protection, it could at least mitigate some negative conditions.


    "Mm," Colin nodded, slightly relieved.


    Being on the same ship, it was necessary for him to pay attention to the state of each crew member and passenger, to ensure any crises could be nipped in the bud.


    "Is there something you need?" Colin asked again.


    "It''s like this, Master Colin," Mod hesitated but finally spoke up, "I was wondering if you would be willing to accept payment for teaching?"


    "I have some questions about cultivation I''d like to ask, and I can pay in Magic Stones. How about one hundred Magic Stones per session? Of course, depending on the question, the specific price can still be negotiated."


    Colin was somewhat surprised, but after a moment''s thought, he agreed:


    "That is acceptable."


    A price of one hundred Magic Stones was already not low. After all, the Bananka bookstore sold overviews on Advanced Official Wizards'' knowledge for only three hundred Magic Stones... An opportunity not to be missed.


    "Thank you, Master!" Mod''s face clearly showed a flash of joy upon receiving his consent.


    As a Wild Wizard, it was normal for him to frequently encounter issues in his cultivation.


    Previously on Bananka Island, in such cases, he often sought the guidance of familiar Advanced Apprentices and paid them for answers.


    However, now in the vast sea, he naturally could not find any other Advanced Apprentices for guidance; Colin was the only one he could turn to.


    Fortunately, Colin was more approachable than he had imagined.


    After pausing for a moment, Mod began to pose his question.


    "Master, I would like to ask you about the knowledge of the Meditation Method."


    "When I reach the Siya Continent, I plan to try joining a new School, and I already have a target. I''ve been modifying the target School''s Meditation Method recently, but I''ve encountered some issues."


    "To smoothly modify the Meditation Method, I''ve completely dispersed all the Magic Power I accumulated through previous cultivation, to facilitate the cultivation of new Magic Power, but somehow, the Magic Power doesn''t disperse completely.


    Of course, I know that such issues always arise when modifying the Meditation Method, and that the Magic Power cannot be completely dispersed."


    "But the residual Magic Power is too abundant, greatly affecting the efficiency and quality of my re-cultivation. I would like your help to see how I might further disperse some..."


    Colin listened expressionlessly, yet he was somewhat astonished inside.


    Blackstone Island was just a remote backwater, and the Lap School was merely created by a Lap Wizard for ritual purposes.


    Thus, although he was a Wizard from a School, in some areas of knowledge, he was not as well-versed as Mod, who had a small fortune and lived on Bananka Island.


    For example, he did not know about such drawbacks in modifying the Meditation Method.


    In that case... perhaps he should also make preparations ahead of time.


    "Here are my two Meditation Methods, Master, please have a look." After narrating his issue, Mod proactively handed over the Meditation Methods he practiced.


    Colin wasn''t surprised; while Meditation Methods were precious, this did not include the Apprentice stage methods.


    It was the knowledge of Meditation Methods for Official Wizards and above that the Schools maintained.


    Such as the Apprentice stage content in Meditation Methods were not uncommon.


    Previously in the Bananka bookstore, they openly priced it from five hundred up to ten thousand Magic Stones.


    Unfortunately, for him at the present, without involving the Official Wizard stage Meditation Methods, these were merely some wasteful papers... No amount of cultivation could advance him to becoming an Official Wizard.


    Colin took the Meditation Methods, briefly looked through them, then raised his head and gazed at Mod, saying:


    "This problem is not simple; I am not certain if it can be solved. If it is solved, I would require a payment of two hundred Magic Stones. If not, I would still need a compensation of one hundred Magic Stones... do you agree?"


    "No problem," Mod agreed without hesitation.


    Although earning Magic Stones was not easy for him on a daily basis, he labored precisely for the sake of spending them, and he would not hesitate or dwell on such matters.


    "Very well."


    Colin nodded, holding two Meditation Methods in hand, ready to discuss in detail with Mod in the study next to the master bedroom.


    As he had said, he wasn''t sure whether he could solve Mod''s problem, since he was just an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    But even if he couldn''t solve it, it would still be an interesting attempt¡­ The longer he stayed in this world, the more he liked to learn new knowledge, one could even say he was somewhat obsessed.


    Moreover, even if he couldn''t solve it, it wouldn''t damage his disguised prestige as an Official Wizard.


    After all, an Official Wizard wasn''t omnipotent, and the prestige only came from power.


    "Sir,"


    Before he could stand up, he heard Renee''s voice from outside.


    "Rael Island is approaching!"


    Colin raised an eyebrow, took the Meditation Methods, and walked out of the first-floor reception room to look into the distance.


    On the vast ocean, within sight, there appeared a crescent-shaped island with lush, abundant vegetation, creating a lush green vista.


    He then pulled out his pocket watch to check the time.


    It was exactly three in the afternoon, and by the speed of the Sea Swallow, they would probably arrive at this sole rest stop of their half-month journey by four o''clock.


    He took another look at Rael Island.


    "Let''s go," Colin withdraw his gaze, signaling Mod to continue following him.


    There was still some time before reaching Rael Island, and it shouldn''t be wasted.


    ¡­


    An hour passed in a flash.


    Woo¡ª!


    The steam whistle sounded.


    The Sea Swallow slowed down its speed, approaching the coast of Rael Island like a white fish, and finally slowly docked at the old wooden pier.


    Click.


    The gangway unfolded, and Colin, along with Renee and others, slowly descended the metal stairs.


    The previously calm waters near the dock now rippled in circles due to the slight swaying of the Sea Swallow.


    Goo goo~ S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Several indistinct bird calls sounded in the distance.


    Stepping onto the pier, the somewhat old wood creaked under the weight.


    Colin paused slightly, looking in the direction the dock extended.


    A dense green jungle met his eyes.


    The wooden dock here didn''t connect to a beach or a bustling port, but a secluded jungle as if it had never been touched by humans.


    Colin''s brows slightly furrowed as he recalled the notes Gibson from the Black Pearl Trading Company had made on the sea chart about this island¡ª


    "Rael Island, a lush crescent-shaped island, not dangerous."


    "Possible to obtain some vegetables and other supplies here."


    "Caution: Do not rashly enter the jungle alone. Although there is no danger to life, it is difficult to find one''s way out without local guidance."


    As he hesitated,


    "A good afternoon to you, respected Wizard Sir, who has come from afar."


    A hoarse yet enthusiastic voice sounded not far away.


    *


    *


    *


    Later sections of the plot, according to comments, were a bit redundant, and looking back, there indeed seems to be some, just haven''t had the energy to modify it yet, hope later readers understand. Chapter 140 departs, Chapter 141 arrives at the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    ¡ª Striving to write better, Ten Gardens.

 Chapter 140 - 126: Feeling Honored

    Colin looked in the direction of the voice.


    At some unknown point, a dark-skinned young man with a vine-woven headpiece had appeared next to the pier.


    "Is this your first time on Rael Island, sir? I am Marz, a merchant and guide on the island."


    Marz approached them with a broad smile on his face.


    He wore a light green vest decorated with unique pale yellow patterns and didn''t look like a wizard.


    "Yes," Colin replied, nodding slightly.


    Marz smiled again and asked,


    "Do you need a guide, sir? It only costs one Magic Stone."


    He paused and then added,


    "Don''t think it''s too expensive. It''s always like this for guides on Rael Island, only we can move freely through the dense forest."


    "Lead the way," Colin nodded, not beating around the bush. He took a Magic Stone from his pouch and handed it to him lightly.


    "Very well, sir," Marz''s face lit up with a hint of surprise as he skillfully took the Magic Stone and bowed to Colin with his hand over his chest.


    Then he turned and took the lead, walking ahead.


    Colin and his companions followed closely behind.


    Soon, they reached the end of the pier where it connected to the lush jungle.


    "Sir, remember to stay close to me once we enter the jungle."


    Standing outside the jungle, Marz turned his head and reminded them.


    The dense, thriving jungle behind him had thick, twisting vines everywhere... there appeared to be no path entering it.


    Marz didn''t explain; he just charged straight into the jungle.


    The next second, as he moved, the vegetation that had obscured the area behind him simultaneously shifted to the sides, rustling softly.


    Soon, a narrow path appeared before them.


    Colin slightly raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.


    "Not many people live on Rael Island, and there aren''t many wizards either..." Marz started to explain as he led the way,


    "But we have never suffered from the disturbance of the Fierce Beasts or Demons, all thanks to Rael''s protection."


    Colin didn''t respond; he just curiously observed the surroundings,


    "These plants are part of Rael," Marz timely answered. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "However, they are only a part... if they leave this island, they will all become ordinary Magic Plants."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, not asking further.


    The Wizard World was vast, far surpassing Earth from his previous life.


    There were still many unexplored places, many unsolved mysteries, and phenomena.


    Although he was very interested in mysteries like Rael, it was not a time for additional complications.


    Colin and his group followed Marz through the jungle.


    The vegetation in front parted while the one behind closed immediately after they passed, making them feel as though they were in a rectangular box. Endless green surrounded them, and the directional space overhead was capped at two and a half meters by densely packed plants.


    Fortunately, some resilient rays of sunlight managed to penetrate through large and small gaps, allowing them to see their surroundings.


    The dense plant cover also provided good sound insulation. In such a confined environment, the surroundings were so quiet that only the rustling of their clothing and faint breathing sounds could be heard.


    Tap, tap, tap¡ª


    They walked on.


    The view was a continuous field of green, making both distance and time seem blurred.


    After an unknown period,


    a gleam of White Light suddenly appeared in front of Marz, and the plant vines rustled as they divided to either side.


    Their view abruptly opened up.


    A narrow, winding path unfolded before everyone.


    "Welcome to Geyle Village," Marz, with his hand over his chest, turned back and bowed with a smile.


    Colin looked up.


    On both sides of the road stood ancient trees that could be embraced by several people.


    Such trees were not uncommon in this jungle; only here, they clustered more densely.


    It was above the trees, though, where his real interest lay.


    There, more or less, were some round-domed wooden houses.


    The houses were connected by thick vine suspension bridges.


    "Marz!"


    Suddenly, a shout came from a wooden house on a giant tree not far to the left.


    A dark-skinned, handsome man with sharply-defined features stood by the cabin window looking at them, his expression somewhat icy.


    "Lord Yul...," Marz trembled, his face looking rather ugly as he responded.


    He subconsciously walked towards a large tree beside him.


    But after taking one step, as if thinking of something, he turned back to call to Colin and the others.


    "Follow me, everyone."


    Colin nodded, although he could have used the Flying and Diving Skill to fly up, it wasn''t necessary.


    When in Rome, do as the Romans do¡ªhe wasn''t one to seek attention.


    "Just grab a vine and give it a pull," said Marz.


    Then, he casually chose a vine hanging by a large tree, held it, and gently pulled it down.


    The brown vine seemed to come to life, actively wrapping around his rough arm and slowly pulling him up to the treehouse.


    Colin also chose a vine, held it, and gently pulled it¡ªthe coarse, cold vine crawled up his arm like a long snake and secured itself.


    Immediately after, a gentle force pulled him up, instantly bringing him up to the treehouse.


    "Lord, if you keep going inside from here, you will see the place where supplies are sold... I won''t accompany you there."


    Marz quickly pointed out the way and then hurried toward the handsome young man.


    "Let''s go." Colin curbed his curiosity, calling Renee and the others to follow Marz''s direction.


    He hadn''t forgotten that his only purpose was to replenish some supplies for the ship.


    Colin and his group gradually moved away, their figures disappearing into the shadows of the trees.


    The handsome young man withdrew his gaze, stepped out of the cabin, and asked Marz coldly in front of him:


    "Marz! The sacrifice is about to happen, why did you bring a group of outsiders in?"


    Marz pursed his lips, squeezing out a smile, "I saw them looking around at the dock, it seemed to be their first time, and I was worried they''d wander into the forest..."


    Yul watched him quietly, his intense gaze causing Marz''s voice to get quieter and finally fade away.


    "I understand, Lord Yul."


    Yul was silent for a long time before he slowly said, "I know you want the village to earn more Magic Stones... but with the sacrifice happening in a few days, just a few Magic Stones won''t help us and might reveal us..."


    After finishing, Yul paused, then raised his hand to Marz''s shoulder, looking at him and heaving a slight sigh, "It''s an honor for Alice and the others to be chosen, you should be happy for them... Marz."


    Marz slowly bowed his head, his face obscured by the shadow.


    After a long time, a barely discernible response came.


    "Alright, Lord Yul."


    ...


    "Did we get all the supplies?" Colin asked Renee outside a treehouse.


    "We got everything, Lord," Renee answered, her face showing some joy as she looked at the fresh vegetables in her hand.


    This island was really as the Lord had said, suitable for replenishing fresh vegetables and fruits... at least the fruits and vegetables for sale looked very good.


    "Then let''s go... it''s getting late."


    Colin looked up at the Sky, although most of his view was blocked.


    But through the gaps between overlapping green leaves, he could still discern that it was getting late.


    "Are you all leaving?" asked Marz.


    He had caught up to Colin and the others after finishing his conversation with Yul.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, "Thank you for your help."


    "No need, it''s my duty," Marz responded softly.


    The supplies Colin bought weren''t as many as he had expected, which disappointed him somewhat.


    "By the way, Lord, the exit fee is still one Magic Stone," he hesitated before reminding him again.


    In fact... on Rael Island, services like guiding, had always been free in the past.


    Except for setting up stalls at the dock, bringing travelers into the village allowed the travelers to spend money in the village.


    But that was before.


    Now he really wanted to earn as many Magic Stones as possible.


    "Hmm."


    Colin readily took out a Magic Stone and handed it to Marz.


    To him, spending two Magic Stones for entering and exiting was quite worth it.


    After all, Marz not only guided them in and out but also accompanied them most of the time.


    This spared them much trouble and saved a lot of time.


    And time was more important than Magic Stones; he was willing to pay some Magic Stones for it.

 Chapter 141 - 127 Nightmare

    At the pier.


    The originally clear water surface turned deep and mysterious due to the dim sky, resembling a piece of deep blue crystal. On its smooth surface, the distant orange sun cast a golden shadow.


    Dang.


    Colin stepped on the white steel gangway of the Sea Swallow, causing the hull to sway slightly.


    The deep blue crystal-like water under the ship rippled as if melting, and the crimson reflection also swayed.


    "Sir, I will escort you here, it''s getting late, so I will head back now," Marz said to them, his face somehow somber.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, continuing onto the Sea Swallow along with Renee and the others via the gangway.


    When they reached the deck, Colin looked back.


    Marz''s figure gradually receded, already near the end of the pier, looking somewhat hurried.


    "Renee, prepare dinner, add more fresh vegetables tonight."


    Colin turned to Renee next to him and instructed.


    Then he spoke to Mod following behind, "Let''s continue addressing your problem, I already have some ideas."


    "Yes, sir!" Mod''s face lit up with joy.


    The two went to the Meditation Room next to the master bedroom below the deck.


    Facing each other on the grey cushions, Colin flipped through two Meditation Methods and after pondering for a moment, began to explain slowly.


    His own training in the apprenticeship Circulation Meditation had broken limits twice.


    Although he was not considered a master in terms of apprenticeship meditation, he was much stronger than a typical Advanced Wizard Apprentice¡­ This was also why he agreed to Mod''s request.


    The sun gradually sank beneath the sea, and the moon slowly rose.


    On the deep blue sea surface, a shimmering path of light reappeared, its color changing from the evening''s crimson gold to silver white.


    Time passed slowly.


    Around nine o''clock in the evening, Colin finally resolved Mod''s problem.


    The solution to the problem was simple¡­ The reason it took so long was mainly because of the time spent helping Mod understand the underlying principles.


    Colin watched Mod''s departing back and let out a soft sigh.


    This wasn''t the first time he recognized the gap between Wild Wizards and School Wizards.


    But this time, he undoubtedly understood the gap more deeply and clearly.


    It wasn''t to say there was a major difference in intelligence between School Wizards and Wild Wizards.


    The main differences were in foundational knowledge, learning frameworks, and logical thinking.


    Wild Wizards, not having received formal education from a magic school, often lacked sophisticated learning thought processes.


    This difference also made it harder for Wild Wizards to learn new knowledge compared to School Wizards, often requiring much more effort.


    Colin shook his head, gathered his thoughts, and with a thought, summoned the Golden Paper.


    Dinner had already been eaten during the explanation.


    Now it was time to move on to the next part¡ª


    Breaking limits again with the Fireball Technique and High Temperature Tolerance!


    ...


    Geyle Village.


    A gigantic ancient tree, at its upper section, had a naturally formed cavity cave.


    Walking along the small path to the depths of the cave.


    Boom!


    A gloomy green flame suddenly appeared in the ancient hall, emitting a light that enveloped the entire cave hall with a sinister and horrifying aura. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This¡­" The young guard beside changed his face drastically, turned, and ran quickly toward the outside of the cave, shouting as he ran,


    "Light of Rael appeared earlier than expected, quickly inform Lord Yul!"


    His voice spread out along the passage towards the outer world, gradually stirring up the originally quiet Geyle Village.


    Minutes later.


    A small wooden hall was already filled with people, all wearing green clothing with unique light yellow patterns.


    The foremost was the handsome Yul, dressed in similar green attire adorned with unique light yellow patterns.


    However, his clothing was more lavish and exquisite, and he also wore a crown woven from golden flowers on his head.


    In the center of the wooden hall, the gloomy green flame hovered in the air, burning silently.


    Despite the presence of many people, all of them kept their mouths shut, their expressions silent, unusually quiet.


    However, upon closer observation, one could see that their gaze was focused on Yul.


    Feeling the gazes behind him, Yul breathed out softly and stepped towards the Light of Rael.


    Upon reaching the gloomy green flame, he raised both hands and reached inside.


    Hiss!


    A clear burning sound could be heard.


    "Ugh!"


    Yul let out a muffled groan.


    The Light of Rael had no temperature, but he felt as if his hands were being scorched by real flames.


    Drops of sweat the size of beans rolled from his forehead, falling onto the ancient tree trunk below, forming tiny wet spots, slowly absorbed by it.


    Yul''s face turned pale, but his expression remained calm.


    Enduring pain was the first lesson for a Priest.


    Soon, he withdrew his hands, subconsciously wanting to clench his fists to move them.


    But his palms did not move as he wished, instead remaining stiff in place.


    Yul''s calm face showed a brief ripple, but it quickly returned to calm, though the slight trembling of his arms still betrayed his inner turmoil.


    Swish.


    He dismissed the whim to move his palms and let his arms hang naturally.


    As a new generation Priest, he knew the consequences of touching the Light of Rael better than anyone else.


    First, it was the palms, then the arms, followed by the feet¡­ finally, the whole person would be left only a shell of flesh and blood, still breathing but without consciousness, lying on the bed like a living dead.


    "Priest Yul, what message did Rael convey this time?" the oldest elder in the crowd asked.

 Chapter 142 - 127 Nightmare_2

    Yul steadied his mind, dispelling the faint fear in his heart.


    Though the fear subsided, thinking of the message delivered by Rael, he couldn''t quite relax.


    He watched the elderly village chief, paused, and then slowly spoke, "Rael requests that we increase the number of sacrifices..." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What?!"


    People murmured amongst themselves, showing looks of surprise.


    The hunched-back old chief furrowed his brows, the wrinkles on his face deepening with worry.


    "How could this be," he sighed.


    But in the next moment, his expression swiftly constrained as he turned to those gathered and calmly announced, "Let''s follow the rules."


    "Yes," the others quickly accepted the reality without any objections.


    Then they all dispersed to prepare for the selection ceremony.


    Yul also followed and left the cave hall.


    "Marz," he suddenly called out with a frown to someone not far off.


    "Where are you going?!"


    Marz paused in his steps, turned back, and said,


    "I''m going to notify the travelers at the dock! The Light of Rael has appeared, Nightmare is sure to come tonight, I have to warn them!"


    Having said that, he turned and continued to run towards the distance.


    A puzzling look crossed Yul''s eyes as he suddenly spoke again,


    "Stop, Marz."


    Marz turned his head to look at him, with a somewhat confused expression.


    "This time, the Light of Rael has appeared ahead of schedule, and the number of sacrifices has also increased... Everything is different from before. It''s better for you to stay in the village to avoid any mishaps," Yul explained gravely, but anyone paying close attention could spot an indescribable look in his eyes.


    "As for those travelers, one could only say they have bad luck."


    "But..." Marz hesitated.


    Thump!


    At this moment, a two-meter-high bonfire suddenly ignited in the clearing beside the ancient tree.


    A group of villagers in pale yellow patterned clothing quietly stood around the fire.


    "The ceremony has begun, come with me," Yul retracted his gaze and said again.


    Behind him, the orange glow of the bonfire cast his face into shadow. Yul looked at Marz, his lips slightly moving, and said in a deep voice,


    "Geyle village can''t afford to lose any more people, Marz."


    Marz looked up at him, and after a moment, nodded his head and walked towards the bonfire.


    Yul behind him watched his figure, his calm eyes reflecting the burning flames.


    He scanned the group and walked towards the stooped figure on the very left.


    "Village chief," Yul began.


    "Do you have something to say?" The old chief looked at him, puzzled.


    Yul''s lips slightly moved.


    Meanwhile, right next to the bonfire, a skinny man with a green leaf headdress just happened to clap his hands against a drum marked with strange beast skins.


    Boom.


    Inside the Sea Swallow''s Meditation Room, Colin raised his hand, clenched his fist, and forcefully knocked on his chest.


    The dull sound echoed through the Meditation Room.


    His face showed a bit of surprise, then, with a thought, he opened his right palm.


    A dim flame suddenly appeared in the center of his palm.


    Colin slowly placed his left hand over the flame but did not feel the expected burn; instead, it was just a warm sensation.


    This flame was probably around a thousand degrees in temperature, too hot for the flesh to withstand. Obviously, he had used Temperature Resistance Witchcraft.


    But in fact, he was now using only one witchcraft.


    As he had also broken through his High Temperature Tolerance until it turned gold, he suddenly realized that High Temperature Tolerance was also a type of Defensive Witchcraft.


    So he tried to integrate it with the new witchcraft that had combined from both Steel Armor and the Hope Defense Field.


    The result was the unnamed Defensive Witchcraft currently bolstering him.


    Perhaps it could be named "Steel Temperature Resistance Field," Colin mused.


    As he pondered, the characters on the Golden Paper began changing correspondingly.


    [Steel Temperature Resistance Field (0/100)]slowly emerged.


    Furthermore, the Fireball Technique had also been broken through.


    Unlike the Arrow Shooting Skill, the Steel Armor, and other witchcraft, which turned gold on the second limit breaking, achieving their limit.


    The Fireball Technique, after the second limit breaking, did not turn gold... this meant that it could be improved even further.


    This implied that Fireball Technique had more potential than some other witchcraft like Arrow Shooting Skill.


    As he thought about this, Colin walked out of the Meditation Room, intending to return to the main bedroom to rest.


    Dang.


    But after only a few steps, his brow suddenly furrowed.


    Tilting his head slightly, he listened intently.


    Dang!


    A harsh clashing sound suddenly burst forth, and not just once - it was one after another, relentless.


    Dang! Dang! Dang!


    It sounded as if a group of large fish were continuously slamming into the Sea Swallow.


    "Attention, we are under unknown attack," the mechanical voice of the Sea Demon''s Heart announced.


    Colin''s expression changed, and he quickly made his way towards the deck!


    Renee and others noticed the disturbance and came out.


    "Master."


    "My Lord."


    They both cast inquiring glances at him.


    "I don''t know the specifics, let''s go up and see."


    Colin answered and continued walking briskly.


    At night, the Sea Swallow''s Protective Shield would always be turned on, attacks from anyone below the status of an Official Wizard were unlikely to break it.


    The Sea Demon''s Heart had not given any indication of the Protective Shield being damaged.


    Thus, he was not too alarmed yet.


    But the next second.


    Bang!!


    A collision sound far more intense than before rang out.


    Colin felt a sinking feeling.


    The impact was so strong and heavy that even the massive Sea Swallow began to shake violently.


    He couldn''t help but quicken his pace.


    Soon, he reached the deck.


    In the dark sky, the bright moon hung high, with only a few insignificant clouds skirting around it.


    The silvery moonlight fell down, illuminating the surroundings, so that Colin didn''t need to use any Light Brightness Skill to clearly see everything around.

 Chapter 143 - 127 Nightmare_3

    Swoosh¡ªSwoosh¡ª


    The waves kept churning, and beside the Sea Swallow, on the dark sea surface, dark monsters had somehow appeared, cruising continuously.


    These monsters had a mud-like texture and humanoid shapes. Each head was different: some were round, some triangular, but all featured a pair of crimson eyes and lacked other facial features.


    Their sizes varied too; the recently larger sound had been caused by a monster on the right side, about two and a half meters tall.


    At the moment, that black monster continued attacking the Sea Swallow, causing ripples across the vessel''s semi-transparent Protective Shield.


    Swoosh!!


    Colin raised his hand and shot a Cone Bullet at it.


    But the black monster showed no reaction at all.


    Under the moonlight, he could clearly see that the Cone Bullet simply passed through it like a gel, merely making a hole the size of a finger in the monster.


    Then, in the blink of an eye, the hole healed itself.


    Most of the black monsters were heading toward the jungle at the end of the dock on Rael Island, but many stayed because of the Sea Swallow.


    Colin lifted his eyes to look further back, and after seeing clearly, he couldn''t help but shiver.


    He had thought there were only a small group of these black monsters.


    But on the pitch-black sea surface behind him, with the waves moving and under the silvery moonlight, he could see countless black dots continuously emerging, densely packed almost everywhere!


    With such numbers, how could one not be afraid?


    Colin steadied himself.


    Although there were many monsters, if their attack power was only like this ... at least until the Magic Stone of the Sea Swallow was exhausted, he didn''t have to worry about his own safety.


    But since there was a two and a half meter tall black monster, he feared there could be even larger ones.


    He naturally would not pin his hopes on not encountering stronger black monsters.


    Looking around, it was now deep into the night.


    Nighttime sailing was indeed a taboo ... Previously at sea, they would always extinguish lights and anchor.


    He finally decided to keep watching the situation.


    Having just tried the Arrow Shooting Skill and found it ineffective against these seemingly mud-made monsters, he also temporarily extinguished the desire to continue attacking.


    After all, these black monsters obviously aimed for Rael Island, and the Protective Shield of the Sea Swallow had a camouflage function.


    So not many black monsters gathered nearby.


    And since the Fireball Technique made a lot of noise, just to kill one black monster, while potentially attracting others, it obviously wasn''t worth the risk.


    "What on earth are these monsters..." Mod looked on, his face somewhat pale.


    He usually didn''t like things that were packed densely, and these black monsters not only numbered in the dense masses but were also filthy and ugly.


    Combining the two made him feel quite nauseated.


    As for safety, he wasn''t overly worried.


    After all, standing next to him was a First Rank Wizard!


    And these black monsters couldn''t even break through the Protective Shield of the Sea Swallow, let alone confront an Official Wizard!


    Time ticked by, second by second.


    More and more black monsters gathered beside the Sea Swallow. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The outside shield with the camouflage feature was now overwhelmed, occasionally leaking their presence.


    This caused the attacks of the black monsters to become increasingly frequent ...


    They couldn''t go on like this!


    Colin frowned slightly, resolute in his decision to take a risk and set sail to leave.


    But just then, a disturbance suddenly came from the sea domain behind them.

 Chapter 144 - 128: The Foiled Conspiracy

    On the deck of the Sea Swallow.


    Colin gazed at the sea domain behind him, illuminated by the bright moonlight shining from the high-hanging moon.


    The dark, ink-like sea surface behind him had fewer black monster silhouettes than before.


    Yet, his heart didn''t feel the slightest bit of relief.


    In his field of vision, he could clearly see three black monsters, clearly larger than the others by more than one size, swimming toward the shore¡ªalso heading in the Sea Swallow''s direction.


    With a rough estimate based on his sight, the body length of these three black monsters was at least five meters!


    Their joined legs, resembling the tails of fish, propelled them forward with powerful thrusts.


    Dark waves churned, and the three black monsters shot through the water like arrows released from their bows.


    Black monsters slightly smaller in size moved out of the way as if they were approaching their king, hastily parting to the left and right and bowing their heads low in the water, almost burying their faces.


    Some unlucky creatures that didn''t veer away in time were, upon collision with the three black leaders, dissolved as if licked by flames¡ªeffortlessly melting away and then transforming into black mist absorbed by the leaders.


    The whole process was silent and swift.


    It was at this moment that Colin noticed those black monsters had more than just crimson twin eyes...


    Beneath that pair of blood-red eyes was a huge, pitch-black maw.


    Those unlucky black monsters, now in anguish, suddenly opened their massive jaws wide, emitting a silent scream. Between their upper and lower lips, like pulled silk, was a connection of countless sticky black threads.


    The black creature leaders swam silently forward.


    Judging by their momentum, these three black leaders were at least as strong as a First Rank Wizard!


    Swish!


    The Foolishness Scepter, adorned with dark golden patterns, appeared in Colin''s right hand.


    His expression turned grave, and he felt a touch of relief inside.


    This was a U-shaped harbor, with only one path leading out to sea... it was precisely the direction from which the black monsters were attacking.


    It was fortunate he had not rashly chosen to set sail earlier; otherwise, the Sea Swallow would undoubtedly have collided head-on with these three black leaders, comparable to Official Wizards!


    Although the witchcraft he cast with the Foolishness Scepter could barely reach the level of an Official Wizard,


    he was, after all, only an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, not a real Official Wizard.


    If he were to contend with these three black leaders, it would likely still not be enough.


    "Go back to your rooms," he instructed Mod and the Renee sisters in a low voice, turning his head.


    Then he walked swiftly alone toward the captain''s cabin at the top, his face somber.


    "...Yes, Master." Renee glanced at the black leaders, then at Colin''s retreating back, pressed her lips together, and turned to head below deck.


    Mod did not hesitate; following Colin''s directive, he quickly made his way below deck.


    He could see that their situation was dire; his heart was anxious, but he felt powerless and could only hope that Colin would manage to lead them to safety.


    On the other hand, Colin had already arrived at the captain''s cabin. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He quickly placed his right hand on the pale blue control nexus crystal of the Sea Demon''s Heart, concentrated his spirit, and slowly infused his Magic Power.


    Whash¡ªWhash¡ª!


    Not far away, the sound of the waves caused by the swimming of the three black leaders was already clearly audible.


    As they moved, the dark waves kept crashing against the Sea Swallow, and the strong impact made the ship shake continuously.


    Colin stole a glance at the three approaching black leaders.


    The silver moonlight draped their exposed, fierce backs above the deep blue sea with a faint silver sheen.


    Turning his gaze away, he parted his lips slightly and breathed out a faint breath.


    "Lower the Protective Shield''s defense intensity; use all the Magic Power for the Protective Shield''s camouflage!"


    He controlled the Sea Demon''s Heart, pushing the Sea Swallow''s stealth capability to the extreme!


    A wave of invisible Spiritual Light flashed by, and the Sea Swallow suddenly became even more inconspicuous.


    From the perspective of the black monsters, it was like a most ordinary piece of reef.


    After doing this, Colin turned his head once more to watch those three distinctly different black monsters...


    Although the effects of the stealthy Witch Array were excellent, his heart still lacked confidence.


    Clasping the Foolishness Scepter tightly in his hand and feeling the scepter''s feedback from its metal-wood surface, his face gradually calmed.


    Whash¡ªWhash¡ª!


    The black leaders were getting closer and closer to the Sea Swallow.


    Under the moonlight, Colin could even see clearly the fine patterns on their bodies, which resembled mud and gelatin.


    Clang¡ªClang¡ª


    Various moving parts inside the Sea Swallow rattled lightly due to the collision caused by the surging waves.


    But the sound was confined by the invisible Witch Array, echoing inside the ship and not leaking out at all.


    Soon after, the black leaders came alongside the ship... and seemed to continue swimming forward without any reaction.


    Colin let out a slight sigh of relief.


    But the next second,


    the black leader at the center suddenly stopped and reared its head in a silent roar.


    A portion of the slightly smaller black monsters nearby, as if receiving some command, turned and fixed their crimson eyes on the Sea Swallow.


    The next second.


    Whoosh!


    They rapidly swam towards the Sea Swallow!


    The three black leaders, meanwhile, led most of the black monsters toward the jungle of Rael Island.


    Watching the surge of black monsters, Colin sighed, and quickly reached for the Sea Demon''s Heart''s nexus crystal.


    "Remove the Protective Shield''s disguise, output full defense for the Protective Shield!"


    Since they had already been discovered, any further disguise would be useless.


    Swish!


    As if an invisible membrane had dissipated, the Sea Swallow came to life once more.


    The difference this time was that a distinct pale blue Protective Shield slowly emerged around it!

 Chapter 145 - 128: The Foiled Conspiracy_2

    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The black monsters, like swift arrows, continuously shot toward the Sea Swallow.


    Although most of them had followed the three black monster leaders into the jungle, there were still at least hundreds of the black monsters left!


    Boom!!


    An orange-yellow Fireball fell onto the group of monsters gathered on the starboard side, exploding with a bang.


    Hiss!!


    The area on the starboard side was instantly cleared, but in the next moment, it was continuously covered with black again.


    Swoosh swoosh swoosh!


    A succession of Fireballs rapidly flew towards the surroundings of the Sea Swallow.


    With the powerful coverage of firepower, the black monsters temporarily couldn''t approach the Sea Swallow, and the situation developed in a favorable direction.


    Hiss¡ª¡ª!!


    But good times didn''t last long, the middle one of the distant jungle''s black monster leaders seemed to notice the change occurring near the Sea Swallow and lifted its head to let out a long hiss.


    In the next second, its body suddenly split into two from the middle, then turned into two slightly smaller black monsters.


    The one on the left turned its head and glared at Colin, hissing softly as it stepped forward with more black monsters in attack!


    In just moments, the area around the Sea Swallow, which had been temporarily cleared, was filled up again.


    Colin repeated his trick, casting a Fireball!


    Bang!


    The black monster leader''s clone emitted a faint black glow, attacking the Sea Swallow with unmatched power.


    The Sea Swallow''s shield shook violently and collapsed in the next second!


    Colin''s expression changed, and he swung the Foolishness Scepter fiercely!


    An orange-yellow Fireball, far stronger than the previous ones, shot like a missile towards the black monster leader and, upon contact, suddenly expanded, engulfing the leader in an intense blaze.


    Before the black monster leader''s clone could react, another Fireball hit its side, but this time it exploded with a bang.


    Boom!!


    The blast wave directly knocked the black monster leader''s clone far away!


    After doing all this, Colin paused for a moment, then used the Sea Swallow''s speaking tube to say to Mod and Renee in a grave tone:


    "Take Demi and leave the Sea Swallow, get on the emergency boat and head to the shore nearby!"


    "Yes!"


    "Right away, Master!"


    Almost the next second, Renee and the others responded. Their voices sounded a bit muffled through the speaking tube, but it did not affect the clarity.


    They had always been attentive to the outside commotion, and although they did not know why Colin had given such an order, the current situation obviously allowed no hesitation!


    Colin quickly walked to the stern, waving the Foolishness Scepter and clearing the black monsters from that area.


    Shortly after, with a click, the gate opened, and a small boat slid out from the stern into the sea.


    "Master!"


    Then Renee and the others appeared.


    "Get on the boat," Colin instructed.


    He gripped the Foolishness Scepter tightly, exhaling gently.


    Once Renee and the others had jumped onto the emergency boat, he concentrated his thoughts.


    A translucent force field emitted from his body, instantly reaching the size of the Sea Swallow!


    But it didn''t stop there; it continued to spread.


    Boom!!


    With an abundance of power, it flung the black monsters surrounding the Sea Swallow away.


    Seizing the moment, Colin suppressed the feeling of exhaustion within himself, invoked his Spirit, and the Storage Ring on his finger flashed!


    Swoosh!!


    The Sea Swallow, over ten meters long, vanished in an instant!


    The black monsters were momentarily stunned, their actions pausing.


    Without stopping, Colin immediately activated the Flying and Diving Skill, flying towards Renee and the others, who had almost reached the shore!


    Ding.


    Oars down, Renee and the rest quickly jumped onto the shore.


    Colin in midair waved his hand, storing the emergency boat, and stepped onto the shore as well.


    This was the left side of the harbor, with only a two-meter-wide area for them to stand, and the jungle was directly behind them.


    Colin''s first instinct was to take Renee and the others into the jungle for temporary shelter.


    But as he approached the jungle, he abruptly retreated, dodging a ferocious vine swinging toward him!


    "These¡­" Renee and the others changed their expressions upon seeing the terrifying vines attacking.


    These plants, which seemed just slightly ominous during the day, had now turned into monstrous creatures.


    Though they weren''t as formidable as the black monsters, there were far more of them!


    It was clearly unwise to go in rashly.


    Colin took a small step back, confirming that the vines wouldn''t come over to attack. Then, he turned to Renee and ordered in a deep voice,


    "Hold onto Demi!"


    "Yes." Despite some confusion, Renee did not hesitate and tightly embraced Demi.


    Colin looked back to see that the black monsters had surrounded them, their numbers so many that they crowded this stretch of the sea domain!


    The leading black beast leader spat out a glob of sticky black liquid from its widely opened mouth toward him!


    Hiss!


    The Steel Temperature Resistance Field expanded, colliding with the black liquid with a clearly audible sound!


    But it withstood the attack.


    He no longer hesitated and raised his right palm, summoning his spirit!


    The Sun Fireball Magic Crystal inlaid on the Storage Ring given to him by the Law Enforcement Team started to emit a faint red light.


    The next second!


    A blinding light burst forth!


    Boom!!!


    The mass of black monsters clustered around the shore of the sea domain were once again cleared, those nearby turned to ashes, and those farther away were blown away by the shock wave!


    The heat from the flames even instantly evaporated a layer of sea water, and white steam rose, mingling with the shrieks of the black monsters!


    "Don''t move!"


    Taking advantage of this moment, Colin extended his hands and grabbed both Mod and Renee, who was holding Demi, one in each hand!


    Then, he activated the Flying and Diving Skill, shooting up from the ground and swiftly flying towards the open sea outside the harbor!


    At this moment, three black beast leaders were already heading toward the jungle!


    Behind them, as far as the eye could see, there was no longer any trace of the monsters in the sea domain,


    There could be no better opportunity to escape!


    Elsewhere.


    The black beast leader clone had awakened from the impact, its body, which had been charred on one side, rapidly recovering.


    In a moment, it was back to normal.


    Hiss!!


    It glared at Colin''s ascending figure with angry crimson eyes, letting out a vicious roar! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It then bowed its head and bulged its back.


    Puff! Puff!


    With two soft sounds, a pair of black membranous wings stretched out from its back.


    Swoosh!


    The black beast leader clone flapped its wings, a faint black light surrounding it as it soared into the sky, shooting fiercely toward Colin and his group!


    Crack.


    A faint sound came from the edge of the jungle where Colin had just been.


    The black beast leader''s flight paused briefly as it turned its head to look.


    "Shh!"


    In the jungle, Yul''s face changed and he quickly gestured for the people beside him to keep silent.


    Through the dense gaps in the vegetation, he breathed a sigh of relief only after he saw that the Nightmare clone continued to chase after Colin.


    But his expression was still somber as he turned to the fully armed warriors beside him and said in a low voice,


    "Let''s go back."


    Marz, who was perched in the vegetation, glanced at Colin''s retreating figure and then at Yul''s downcast face, his heart filled with mixed emotions.


    They had come here at Yul''s suggestion.


    The aim was to take advantage of the Nightmare''s attack on the foreign wizards to see if they could obtain a Magic Stone from them.


    But now that Colin had escaped, their plot had undoubtedly fallen through...


    The plan to use the Magic Stone as a sacrifice... was no longer mentionable.


    Marz hung his head low, following behind Yul as they returned to the village.


    The sacrifice... had to continue.

 Chapter 146 - 129: Arriving at the Siya Continent

    And on the other side,


    The sea was as dark as ink.


    Swoosh!


    The black monster flapped its wings, stirring up the sound of the wind.


    Feeling the approach of the wind from behind, Colin''s heart sank a little as he hung midair.


    His Flying and Diving Skill was just a beginner''s... just as the female clerk had said, his speed was truly mediocre.


    Or to put it bluntly... pathetic.


    If not for the boost from the Foolishness Scepter, he would have been caught by the black monster''s leader long ago.


    Of course, now it wasn''t much different.


    This clearly wouldn''t do!


    Holding Renee and Mod in one hand, he freed up the other to wave the Foolishness Scepter and turned his head to shoot a Fireball at the black monster''s leader!


    Boom!


    The Fireball exploded a few meters from the black monster''s leader, the blast wave causing the creature, caught off guard, to spin midair!


    But this could only temporarily block the black monster''s leader for a moment.


    Before long, it had adjusted its posture and was once again chasing after Colin!


    The black membranous wings beat rapidly, quickly closing in on Colin.


    Boom!!


    The same Fireball attacked again; this time the black monster''s leader was more cautious and dodged early.


    But it didn''t expect the Fireball to turn and accelerate with it, then expand and explode, engulfing it.


    Hiss!


    The black monster''s leader closed its wings, and the black glow on its body intensified, resisting the Fireball''s scorching!


    Colin seized this opportunity to speed up and continue flying, trying to increase the distance between him and the black monster''s leader.


    The leader was stronger than he had imagined; the ordinary power of witchcraft attacks equivalent to those of a First Rank Junior Wizard, boosted by the Foolishness Scepter, had no effect on it.


    Only the attacks from the Sun Fireball, which were equivalent to that of a First Rank Intermediate Wizard, had been able to cause it harm.


    However, all he needed was a temporary delay.


    The chase continued for a long time.


    It wasn''t until Colin looked back and saw that the crescent-shaped island had visibly shrunk in size that he finally slowed his flying speed.


    Breathing out softly, he took the opportunity, while the black monster''s leader was still at bay, to dive down, close to the sea surface. Then, he took out an inflatable lifeboat from the Storage Ring.


    "Paddle away," Colin told Renee, placing the three of them on the inflatable lifeboat, and spoke softly.


    "Yes, Master," Renee replied without hesitation, then paused and stared at Colin, speaking softly. "Master... be careful."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded in response, casually turning his head to look behind.


    After Renee had spoken, the black monster''s leader was already closing in.


    He climbed again, hovering midair, waiting for the black monster to attack.


    The speed of his Flying and Diving Skill was clearly much slower than that of the black monster''s leader, and he had little Magic Power left within him. If he kept fleeing, he would be heading down a dead end.


    Not to mention the speed of the Sea Swallow, barely over thirty knots, not even as fast as the Flying and Diving Skill.


    He had to seize the opportunity while he still had strength left to kill the black monster''s leader and escape!


    His body''s Magic Power and Spirit didn''t allow for any more probing; he had to be decisive!


    Fingering the Sun Fireball Ring on his right forefinger, he hesitated for a moment but chose to hold on to the Foolishness Scepter tightly.


    The Sun Fireball Ring, though pre-charged and not consuming Magic Power, required the use of spiritual power.


    In his normal, full state of spirit, he might have been able to manage a second cast.


    But in his current condition, attempting a second cast had virtually no chance of success. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Only by using the Foolishness Scepter to forcibly enhance the Magic Power!'' He silently made up his mind.


    The Foolishness Scepter arbitrarily enhanced the power of witchcraft, increasing neither the spiritual nor the magic consumption.


    From past tests, if he were to push the Limit Breaking to the Golden Paper level for a Basic Level spell like the Arrow Shooting Skill, it would only be raised to the power of a normally cast spell by a First Rank Junior Wizard.


    The consumption indicated on the Golden Paper for this was that after casting five times, it would decrease the progress by one point.


    Perhaps the increase of knowledge from the Golden Paper, when casting witchcraft at full power, compensated for the knowledge consumed by the Foolishness Scepter.


    So, compared with the power increased by the Foolishness Scepter, such knowledge consumption didn''t seem significant.


    But this was only to the level of a First Rank Junior.


    To increase it further, the consumption of knowledge would rise exponentially!


    Swoosh!


    The black monster''s leader was now less than ten meters from him.


    Colin exhaled a breath, clenching the Foolishness Scepter!


    The next second, he gently swung it.


    Hiss.


    A brightly yellow Fireball tinged with a hint of blazing white appeared before him.


    Swoosh!


    The next second, like a streak of light, it shot towards the black monster''s leader with extraordinary speed.


    The black monster''s leader''s red eyes widened! A clear sense of panic appeared on its face.


    Boom!!


    In an instant, it was engulfed by flames.


    The invisible shockwave made Colin''s figure sway, and his face turned pale as he stared intently at the flames.


    The bright light of the flames made his eyes sting, but he still didn''t look away.


    Thump.


    Before long, the dark creature leader''s clone in the flames stopped moving, curled up from the scorching, and fell into the sea.


    Colin urged the scant Magic Power left in his body, flying toward the remains of the dark creature leader.


    Swoosh!


    Before he even got close, he fired a Cone Bullet to check the solidity of the dark creature''s remnants ahead of him.


    Bang.


    The remains of the dark creature, originally about the size of a man floating on the sea''s surface, turned into powder under the impact of the Cone Bullet and dissolved into the seawater.


    Seeing this sight, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "What''s this?"


    The next second, he furrowed his brow in confusion, concentrated his Force Field, and bent forward to scoop up the last ashes of the dark creature''s remains¡ªa black ball the size of a chicken egg.


    The black ball was smooth and round, flashing with a deep light within.


    Could it be some kind of treasure?


    Colin''s eyes flickered as he once again urged the Foolishness Scepter.


    Bright yellow flames rose from his hands, but instead of expanding, they were constrained to the size of a fist, enveloping the chicken egg-sized black ball and unreservedly transferring all heat onto it.


    Soon, the black ball turned red and then, amid a sickening screech, shattered into ashes.


    But Colin still didn''t stop.


    With Magic Power nearly depleted, he called off the Flying and Diving Skill, allowing himself to fall into the water, focusing the remaining Magic Power on the flames in his right hand.


    Not until his Magic Power was almost entirely exhausted, and the ashes showed no change, did he slowly cease his efforts.


    He lifted his palm and watched the ashes scatter, and Colin finally let down his guard.


    "Master!"


    Renee''s voice suddenly came calling.


    He looked in the direction of the sound.


    Renee and Demi were paddling towards him in a lifeboat.


    Mod, who was standing nearby, caught sight of him alive and his face lit up with relief and surprise before he quickly sat down, grabbing the two oars at the stern of the boat to row toward him.


    Five minutes later.


    Puff¡ªPuff¡ª


    The steam engine of the Sea Swallow began to work, its robust power spinning the paddles below the boat at high speed.


    Inside the captain''s cabin.


    Colin approached the window, gazing into the distance at the crescent-shaped Rael Island.


    Renee and Mod had already been sent to rest.


    The silvery moonlight enveloped the outside.


    For some reason, the more he looked, the more the crescent-shaped Rael Island seemed to resemble the raised crown of an unknown colossal beast.


    The moonlight was clear and bright, yet it couldn''t penetrate the inky blackness of the sea.


    Such speculation made him shiver.


    Shaking his head, he discarded the excess thoughts and, with a thought, summoned the Golden Paper.


    Pale golden particles gathered.


    After seeing clearly, his expression darkened.


    The just recently Limit Breaking Fireball Skill II had once again become Fireball Skill I (93/100), and behind Arrow Shooting Skill, a golden progression also mysteriously appeared (96/100).


    Moreover, the progress of the Flying and Diving Skill had dropped to 43/100, and the progress of Steel Temperature Resistance Field had also dropped to 8/100.


    Colin exhaled gently and turned off the Golden Paper.


    Such results had been anticipated by him when he obtained the Foolishness Scepter.


    After all, this was the single biggest flaw of the Foolishness Scepter...


    Regardless, at the very least, he had successfully escaped the crisis, and he could continue to improve his witchcraft progress in the future.


    After checking the Golden Paper, Colin sat cross-legged on the spot, beginning to restore his Magic Power.


    The sea was fraught with dangers at night, and the drained Magic Power inside him truly left him feeling insecure.


    It would be fine if he stayed still, as the probability of encountering danger was not as high as when moving constantly.


    But now, he had to move... he did not want to anchor so close to Rael Island.


    Whoosh¡ªWhoosh¡ª


    The Sea Swallow shut down all its lights, continually advancing on the pitch-black ocean, like a ghost.


    But the night would eventually end, and after an indeterminable time, the golden sun rose again from the sea horizon.


    Brilliant sunlight spread across the ocean, the sky became clear and bright again, and the sea turned back to azure blue.


    Screech¡ªScreech¡ª


    White seabirds appeared out of nowhere once again.


    Colin stepped out of the captain''s room, and seeing such a scene, his mood involuntarily lightened.


    Thus, day followed night, and tides rose and fell.


    During the next half month of their voyage, they encountered no major crises.


    Some attacks from merfolk demons were effortlessly dealt with by Colin.


    In this way, on January 3 of the year 3584 by the Yanan Calendar, they finally reached the Siya Continent!

 Chapter 147 - 130 Respectable Position

    Yili Kingdom, Anzokeka Port.


    Colin and his companions had arrived here in the morning.


    Looking around, the sky was clear with blue skies and white clouds.


    "Lord Colin, thank you for taking care of us this past month."


    On the dock, Mod, carrying a black backpack, bowed to Colin with his right hand on his left chest.


    Then he stood up straight, looked at him, hesitated, and asked,


    "I wonder where you will be heading after completing your tasks... My final destination is Merredith City under the Wizard Alliance."


    "Mod, you have already asked me this," Colin said with a smile, slowly.


    "I was presumptuous," Mod replied with an abashed smile.


    Colin turned his head to look at the small dock and shook his head, "I indeed have not yet decided on my specific itinerary... If fate allows, we will meet again in the future."


    "Alright, Lord Colin," Mod responded slowly, then looked up and said,


    "Then I will take my leave first."


    "Mhm," Colin nodded.


    Mod paused, bowed with his hand on his chest again, his face showing a hint of melancholy.


    The Sea Swallow was not a large ship; besides him and Colin, only the sisters Renee and Demi were passengers. They typically never interacted with him, merely greeting when they saw each other.


    Thus, over the past month, the person he most often interacted with was Colin.


    After all, he often paid to seek guidance from Colin regarding issues with his training.


    Colin''s demeanor, which he had never experienced before as one of equality, had left a deep impression on him...


    It would have been more reassuring to stay by the side of such a person.


    Sadly, he had more important goals to pursue.


    Mod turned and left, intending to board another ship to a larger port.


    Such an arrangement would significantly shorten the time needed to reach Merredith City compared to starting by land from this location.


    And a simple coastal voyage could be managed by ordinary people and ships.


    Colin watched Mod walking away and gradually withdrew his gaze.


    The Yili Kingdom was just a small country, and Anzokeka Port was only slightly larger than the port on Blackstone Island.


    But to reach the Holy Flame Kingdom located in the interior of the Siya Continent, this port was the nearest according to the map.


    He looked around.


    The dock at Anzokeka Port was not busy... perhaps because it was winter.


    Although he was still wearing a thin Wizard Robe, most people on the dock were dressed in cotton and linen coats, even the sisters Renee and Demi had put on an extra coat.


    Only the working fishermen and laborers wore slightly thinner clothes.


    "Wizard sir, are you looking for a guide?"


    At that moment, a young man finally approached cautiously and asked.


    In his mind, the recent scene of Colin sailing into the port and then magically stowing the ship flashed...


    This young man before him was undoubtedly a mysterious wizard!


    Colin glanced at him and nodded.


    "Find a place to sit, and I''ll ask you in detail."


    "Yes, sir!" The young man, suppressing his excitement, led the way.


    Colin followed the young man.


    The three of them traveled light, with only Renee carrying a small handbag containing their most commonly used items.


    The rest had already been stored in the Storage Ring.


    He was not surprised by the young guide''s reaction.


    Typically, wizards, for the sake of their training, resided in places rich in Magic Power.


    And the Magic Power at Anzokeka Port was very scarce... he felt it as soon as he disembarked.


    He even speculated¡ªthe Yili Kingdom might also be a desert in terms of Magic Power.


    This illustrated that at least in Anzokeka Port, wizards were not common.


    Two hours later.


    Outside the central train station in Anzokeka.


    Sigh~


    A black carriage slowed to a stop, and Colin alighted with the sisters Renee and Demi.


    After inquiring carefully from the young guide, he had planned their route.


    Since the Holy Flame Kingdom was a smaller country, there was no direct transportation available.


    However, there surprisingly was a train in Anzokeka City.


    Therefore, the best route was to take a steam train from Anzokeka City to the northernmost capital of Yili Kingdom, then find a way to the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Suddenly.


    A troop clad in triple-buttoned black uniforms, brown epaulets, and black wide-brimmed hats ran towards from the left. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The pot-bellied middle-aged man leading them approached Colin with a beaming face, removed his wide-brimmed hat, and respectfully greeted,


    "Respected Wizard Sir, good morning."


    As he took off his wide-brimmed hat, revealing the few remaining strands of hair fluttering in the winter wind on his balding head.


    Colin glanced at the middle-aged man, paused slightly on his shiny bald head, and asked,


    "Is there something you need from me?"


    The balding middle-aged man pressed his wide-brimmed hat back onto his head and, after adjusting its position, continued to speak with a smile:


    "It''s like this, Mayor Doyle knows of your arrival and wishes to invite you to join him for lunch."


    "No need," Colin declined indifferently, striding towards the train station with Renee.


    "My lord, please wait..."


    Colin slightly furrowed his brows and turned to look at the middle-aged balding sheriff.


    The sheriff''s heart skipped a beat, momentarily stuck for words. He quickly pulled a delicate gift box from his pocket and handed it to Colin while stumbling over his words:


    "This...is a gift from Mayor Doyle, wishing you a pleasant journey."


    He caught a glimpse of Colin''s calm expression and felt slightly reassured, then added:


    "Inside is a specialty trinket from Anzokeka City... Every wizard visiting Anzokeka City for the first time receives such a gift from Mayor Doyle."


    Colin relaxed his brows and accepted the gift box.


    "My lord, do you need us to arrange your train journey?" the sheriff asked again.


    Colin raised his eyebrows.


    His memories from childhood were vague, and since his arrival in this body, he had only stayed on Blackstone Island and Bananka Island.


    His knowledge of the Siya Continent was limited to some documents he had acquired on Bananka Island...


    Thus, his understanding of the entire Siya Continent''s environment was hardly profound.


    He had not expected such warmth towards wizards in Anzokeka City...


    It was unclear if this was the attitude across the entire Siya Continent or just in Anzokeka...


    But he saw no reason to decline such help, as the sheriff''s assistance would undoubtedly save him a lot of effort.


    "Yes," he nodded to the sheriff.


    After communicating his destination to the sheriff, he was guided to a private compartment to quietly wait.


    About half an hour later, he was led by another group of station staff towards the platform.


    Walking through the corridor, they reached the platform.


    A rugged black steam train appeared before him.


    A rough comparison suggested it was larger than the trains from his previous world.


    The length of each compartment was about the same.


    Boarding the train, the staff led him to a luxurious compartment to sit down before turning to leave.


    He waited again.


    Whoo¡ª!


    The steam whistle blared.


    The train clattered along, slowly moving away from the platform.


    Colin sat on the luxurious yellow sofa by the window, staring out at the slowly receding scenery outside, somewhat preoccupied...


    Walking the streets of Anzokeka City earlier hadn''t elicited such a strong feeling.


    The buildings and streets he saw were only slightly better than those on Blackstone Island and possibly on the same level as Bananka Island.


    But they were far inferior to those from his previous world where buildings were just three or four stories tall and streets were mostly cobblestone or paved.


    But this steam train really bewildered him.


    It seemed the technological level of the Siya Continent had at least reached that of the first Industrial Revolution in his former life.


    Why there was still no electricity or internal combustion engines, though, was a mystery¡ªas for gunpowder.


    When he had first arrived, he had thought of making gunpowder, but had never succeeded.


    Later, when he researched on Bananka Island, he understood that in this world, magic power was needed as a catalyst for gunpowder to function.


    But if magic was needed, it was better to use other forms of witchcraft since, compared to other bizarre types of witchcraft, gunpowder wasn''t a competitive choice.


    Shifting his gaze away, Colin turned to survey the spacious and luxurious compartment.


    The spot he was in was part of the second carriage of the entire train.


    From his observations, this compartment seemed to occupy half the length of the entire carriage¡­ around fifteen meters long.


    The interior was exquisitely and luxuriously furnished, even partitioned into a bedroom, bathroom, and a separate parlor.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this should be designated for the significant figures of the Yili Kingdom.


    After examining the compartment, Colin briefly wondered what to do.


    The train journey would roughly take two days and a night, and he was expected to reach the northernmost capital of the Yili Kingdom by tomorrow evening.


    After a moment of contemplation, he took out the exquisite gift box given by the sheriff, placed it on the table, and opened it.


    A silver-white pocket watch caught his eye.


    ''Indeed a small trinket.''


    Just as he was about to pick up the pocket watch to examine it closer, a clamorous noise suddenly came from the corridor outside the compartment.


    "Princess, you''re here... Wait! Are you looking for the wizard lord?"


    "Please allow me to inform the wizard lord of Your Highness''s arrival... Haven''t you already agreed to give up the compartment?"


    "Get out!"


    A haughty female voice came through.


    ''Trouble¡­''


    Colin slightly furrowed his brow, preparing to instruct Renee to handle the situation.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    But the next second, a polite and soft knocking sounded.


    Accompanied by it was a sweet voice:


    "Respected wizard lord, Princess Connie of the Yili Kingdom has come to visit."

 Chapter 148 - 131 Palace

    Listening to Connie''s tone of voice, Colin was a bit surprised.


    ''It seems it''s not what I thought... she''s not here to pick a fight.''


    There was a pause, and then he instructed Renee, who was standing beside him:


    "Renee, go open the door."


    Anyway, the Magic Power of the Yili Kingdom was meager, and the progress of meditation was slow, making it practically useless; and practicing witchcraft wasn''t convenient on the train either.


    With nothing else to do, he might as well see what the Princess has come to see him for.


    "Yes, Master."


    Click.


    Renee walked over to the door and turned the latch.


    A young girl wearing a luxurious white gown with a small white lace hat appeared before them. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you." Connie smiled and softly thanked Renee, showing none of the rudeness she had displayed in the corridor earlier.


    Her facial features were ordinary, but her skin was exceptionally fair and smooth.


    Arrayed in her gorgeous petticoat, she exuded a noble air.


    Having done this, she walked towards Colin.


    "I apologize for the intrusion, I hope you''ll forgive me," Connie said to Colin, offering a noble''s courtesy.


    "It''s no problem," Colin replied, paused, and then asked, "What can I do for you?"


    "Actually, there''s nothing particular," Connie smiled, sitting down naturally opposite Colin, "I''m just traveling by train with nothing to do, and upon hearing about your presence, I thought I''d pay a visit."


    After she finished speaking, she paused, her eyes filled with expectation as she asked:


    "May I inquire whether you are from Miracle Country?"


    Colin shook his head.


    The so-called Miracle Country was actually what the outside world called the city cluster established by the Wizard Alliance on the Siya Continent.


    But really, it was more like a loose alliance than a country, with no King; the rulers were leaders of the various Schools making up the Supreme Council.


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Connie''s face, but soon, she asked with curiosity:


    "Then may I boldly ask where you are from?"


    "I come from a distant island to the south," Colin replied briskly.


    There was nothing in particular to hide.


    "So, are you heading to Miracle Country?"


    Colin smiled but didn''t answer, instead he countered:


    "Equivalent exchange, it is my turn to ask you a question now."


    Connie was taken aback, and then a spark of excitement flashed across her face.


    In the Royal Capital, those Wizards they revered would always be dismissive towards her.


    Every time she sought to learn something about Wizards, she would come away disappointed...


    Equivalent exchange, eh... Colin''s words somehow made her feel inexplicably comfortable.


    She cleared her throat cheerfully, saying:


    "Please ask away, as long as I know the answer, I will tell you everything!"


    Colin nodded, took out an ordinary map, pointed to the Holy Flame Kingdom''s location, and asked Connie:


    "Do you know about this country?"


    "Is this... the Holy Flame Kingdom?" Connie looked at the map, frowning in inquiry.


    "Yes."


    "...I know a little, but not much," Connie replied, stroking the hair by her ear.


    "It''s okay, tell me what you do know."


    Connie glanced at Colin, suppressing the curiosity in her heart that wanted to ask why Colin was inquiring about the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    She looked up, pondered for a moment to organize her thoughts, and then began:


    "The Holy Flame Kingdom is located north of the Yili Kingdom, with a territory roughly half the size of Yili... Their main resource is the Crystal Mine, but there isn''t much of it. Overall, it''s a poor small country."


    "Anything else? What about its current situation?"


    "There''s more..." Connie furrowed her brows.


    "As for the current situation... "


    "It seems there haven''t been any changes... Oh, I heard there''s been some friction with the neighboring Qi''an Kingdom for some reason recently."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded and then asked the most crucial question.


    "Who is the current King of the Holy Flame Kingdom?"


    "It''s still King Fu''en," Connie replied confidently, "If I recall correctly, he has been in power for forty-five years."


    "Hmm."


    After listening, Colin couldn''t help feeling pleased.


    Ten years had passed, and the Holy Flame Kingdom still existed.


    Erica''s father, King Fu''en, was still there.


    No news could be better than this!


    ''It seems that delivering Erica''s letter might be simpler than I expected.''


    In the time that followed, Connie chatted idly with him for a while, her speech brimming with politeness. After a while, as if noticing it was getting late and though she clearly seemed reluctant to leave, she politely excused herself.


    Had he not heard it with his own ears before, he would have found it very difficult to associate the arrogant voice from the corridor outside with the polite Connie he had just talked to.


    The next evening,


    the train stopped at Chaniuca, the capital of Yili Kingdom.


    Colin stepped out of the carriage with Renee.


    On the other side, Connie exited the carriage with her maid and a few female knights as her guards.


    Connie also resided in carriage number two, right next to him.


    "Good evening, Mr. Colin," greeted Connie as she stepped toward him.


    "Good evening," Colin replied.


    Together, they walked toward the exit of the station.


    That morning over casual conversation with Connie, he had asked her to help him find suitable transportation in the Royal Capital to take him to the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    After all, Chaniuca was Connie''s territory and it would save him a lot of time compared to searching from scratch himself.


    Naturally, Connie agreed.


    Furthermore, to his relief, Connie did not refuse the Magic Stone reward he offered but accepted it nonchalantly.


    This improved his impression of Connie by few notches.


    Exiting the train station, they were greeted by a white steam locomotive.


    Like the train, it was much larger than the regular cars of the previous world.


    At a quick glance, it looked like it could seat at least ten people¡­ of course, he estimated that it wasn''t designed with that many seats inside.


    "Lady Colin, this steam locomotive, as well as the steam train we took before, were both purchased by the Yili Kingdom from Miracle Country," Connie said with a hint of pride.


    Then she paused, sighing, "When I was young, I never would have thought that a vehicle could move on its own without being pulled by horses¡­ The wisdom of the Wizards is truly admirable!"


    Colin didn''t say much, but simply echoed her sentiment with a smile.


    Once they were seated, the steam locomotive slowly began to move.


    Opening the hand-cranked car window, the cold evening wind of winter hit them in the face.


    ''The speed is probably around sixty or seventy yards... but with the snow on the streets, it''s likely not the top speed. And the ride is a bit bumpy, not as comfortable as the cars from my last life.''


    Seemingly sensing something, he cranked the window back up.


    Connie''s cheeks were slightly red beside him.


    It wasn''t embarrassment but the blushing caused by the cold wind just now.


    Although he didn''t feel much himself, judging by the snow piled on the outside, the temperature had to be below zero at least.


    To say that the wind outside was cutting like a knife would not be an exaggeration.


    "I apologize," he politely said to Connie.


    "It''s all right, Mr. Colin," Connie responded with some surprise, her eyes shimmering.


    Although the Sacrificial Wizards of the Royal Capital didn''t like to interact with her, due to her curiosity about Wizards, she usually enjoyed seeking out those suspected to be Wizards for conversation.


    Some were real Wizards, some were fake, but regardless, none had Colin''s unique manner.


    Connie then added, after a brief pause,


    "I just have delicate skin, but I''m a Great Knight as well, so my health is not poor."


    "Understood," Colin nodded politely, closing off the topic.


    Shortly after, they arrived at a gorgeous archway, flanked by tall white walls.


    The steam locomotive slowly reduced its pace and then came to a stop.


    Connie''s personal maid stepped out of the car first, showing something to the Guards.


    "Is this the Palace?" Colin asked in surprise.


    "Yes, Mr. Colin," Connie said with a smile.


    "There is a special place for guests inside the Palace, and as my guest, it wouldn''t do to have you stay at some outside inn."


    Before she finished speaking, the car door opened again.


    The personal maid, with a somewhat unpleasant expression, leaned in and said,


    "Princess Connie, it seems you might need to come with us. The guards are saying they need the King''s permission to allow... to allow your Wizard friend into the Palace."


    Connie''s face grew increasingly troubled upon hearing this, but the next second, she calmed her emotions and turned to Colin with an apologetic smile,


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Colin. Please wait a moment while I see what this is about."


    "If it''s too much trouble, I could stay in an outside inn... It''s just for one night anyway."


    "There''s no need, Mr. Colin," Connie shook her head, firmly stating, "My name is Yili, this is Yili Palace, not somewhere else!"


    Colin nodded in silence, knowing it wasn''t his place to say more.


    Connie got out of the vehicle and followed her maid towards the Guards.


    "Master?" Renee quietly asked him.


    "It''s all right," Colin softly responded.


    He did not have to wait long until Connie returned with a smile, saying,


    "Mr. Colin, everything is settled now."


    "Good," Colin smiled back, nodding in acknowledgment, not inquiring about the details.


    Click¡ª


    The archway ahead was opened by the Guards.


    The steam locomotive started up and slowly drove through.

 Chapter 149 - 132 More Important Matters

    The steam locomotive came to a halt in front of a cluster of dull white buildings.


    "Mr. Colin, it''s getting late. The receiving maid here will take you to your room. I won''t disturb you any longer,"


    Connie said from inside the vehicle, looking at Colin.


    "Alright," Colin nodded.


    "As for your request to purchase a vehicle to go to the Holy Flame Kingdom, it may have to wait until tomorrow..."


    "No worries, I''m not in a hurry," Colin replied.


    "Okay, then I will come to find you tomorrow." Connie smiled, watching as Colin got out of the car with the Renee sisters.


    Colin stood beside the road and nodded to Connie as a sign of acknowledgment.


    Then, with the steam engine roaring, the white locomotive quickly disappeared at the end of the road.


    "My lord, please follow me," the nearby receiving maid said to him.


    "Hmm." Colin withdrew his gaze and followed the receiving maid inside.


    Passing through the main entrance, a winding outdoor corridor came into view, flanked by matte white columns, the bases of which were engraved with floral reliefs.


    They pressed on along the corridor.


    Colin frowned slightly; he felt that the maid walked a bit too fast, her steps hurried, as if she were pressed for time.


    Before long,


    under the guidance of the receiving maid, they arrived outside a standalone two-story western-style house.


    "My lord, this is where you will be staying," the receiving maid said while skillfully unlocking the door with the key.


    After opening the door, she took the corresponding key from her keychain and handed it over to Colin,


    "This is the key. Please keep it safe, sir."


    "Hmm... Renee." Colin turned his head to give a brief instruction before he walked into the house first.


    Renee, understanding what was expected of her, stepped forward to receive the key.


    After taking the key from the receiving maid, she didn''t hurry to follow Colin but turned to the maid again and asked,


    "Is there still dinner available?"


    "If not, if there''s a kitchen and ingredients available here, I can make something myself."


    It was now probably around eight o''clock in the evening, and it had already grown completely dark. They would have had dinner earlier if they hadn''t been on the road.


    Before the receiving maid could reply,


    creak.


    The door of the neighboring western-style house connected by the outdoor corridor suddenly opened, and another maid came out carrying cleaning tools.


    Seeming to realize she had interrupted their conversation, she gave Renee and the other a apologetic smile, then carried her cleaning tools along the corridor and left.


    The receiving maid turned away from the sight, then hesitated before answering Renee,


    "It''s past dinner time, and I''m not sure if the kitchen still has food..."


    "So, is there dinner, or isn''t there?" Renee asked.


    The receiving maid fell silent for a moment before answering,


    "I think not..."


    It was the truth; at this time, the kitchen likely didn''t have any food prepared...


    However, the chef was still there.


    But if the chef were to start cooking from scratch, it would take at least half an hour, plus the time to go back and forth, it would consume close to an hour of her time.


    "I see..." Renee frowned and asked again,


    "Are there ingredients then?"


    "The place you''re staying doesn''t have a kitchen... I can''t authorize the use of other kitchens, I''m sorry," the maid paused before adding.


    Renee wanted to ask more.


    But at that moment,


    "Renee."


    Colin''s voice called from inside the house.


    The maid took the opportunity to say,


    "If there''s nothing else, then I will not intrude any further."


    "..."


    Renee hesitated for a moment but turned and entered the house.


    After all, they weren''t without food as Colin''s Storage Ring contained plenty of provisions.


    Her inquiry to the receiving maid was simply because she wanted Colin to have a hot meal.


    creak.


    The receiving maid straightened up, and once she watched Renee close the door, she quickly turned and briskly walked along the corridor.


    She moved swiftly, and soon caught up to the maid who had been cleaning earlier.


    "Qiong, has the Third Princess brought her friends back again?" the cleaning maid turned to ask her.


    "Hmm, should be leaving tomorrow... seems like another wizard," replied the maid Qiong, slowing her pace slightly.


    The time it took to receive Colin was a bit shorter than she had expected... Now, with a good half hour left before the appointment, there was plenty of time.


    "Another wizard... Is this one reliable?" asked the maid cleaning.


    Princess Connie''s favorite thing to do was to make friends with wizards, and she often invited them to stay, but most of them were unreliable.


    After considering for a moment, Qiong answered, "Should be a real wizard too."


    The cleaning maid was a bit surprised and asked softly,


    "Is it someone from Miracle City?"


    "How could that be!" Qiong shook her head, "Still fall short compared to the two wizards serving the palace... Those two masters are indeed the genuine ones from Miracle City!"


    After saying this, she seemed to think of something, stroked the hair beside her ear, and with some embarrassment, asked the maid next to her:


    "Kathy, can you do me a favor?"


    "Go ask the kitchen to send three dinners to the wizard from earlier... Please, I''ll help you clean next time!"


    Kathy smiled but didn''t hurry to respond, instead suddenly asking with an ambiguous smile, "Going to meet John again?"


    Qiong was startled and smiled shyly.


    "You go on," Kathy generously said.


    "About the dinners..."


    "I''ll take care of it, don''t worry."


    "Just remember to help me clean a few extra rooms next time."


    "No problem!"


    "Thank you, Kathy!" Qiong said, "I''ll go ahead then." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hurry on," Kathy waved her off.


    As she watched Qiong''s departing figure, she shook her head and couldn''t help but sigh,


    "Being young is good..."


    ...


    The King''s Residence.


    Inside the study.


    Wild felt a headache coming on as he looked at his most beloved daughter... Indeed, even the palace guards couldn''t stop her.


    "You''ve brought another ''wizard'' from outside?" Wild sighed as he spoke.


    He deliberately emphasized the word wizard, with a hint of jest.


    The Yili Kingdom was a small kingdom, and in the eyes of wizards, it lacked significant Magic Power, a barren land, hence very few wizards came here.


    Among the friends invited by Connie in the past, although there were indeed some genuine wizards, the number was not many.


    Typically, School wizards would usually wait to reach the status of Advanced Wizard Apprentice before traveling abroad.


    In the past, those requested by Connie were mostly Basic Level Wizard Apprentices, and most of them were only capable of a few tricks...


    Without even thinking, it was clear these were Wild Wizards who had accidentally come into their inheritance.


    However, a Wild Wizard was still a wizard, and under his orders, the entire Yili Kingdom''s attitude towards wizards was predominantly to form good relationships...


    Usually, he turned a blind eye to Connie''s actions.


    "Daddy¡ª" Connie, hearing his questioning words, feigned anger, "I made sure I understood properly before inviting him this time."


    "And this wizard is the mayor of Anzokeka..."


    "Alright, alright." Wild placated Connie with a smile, then asked, "So, what brings you to me?"


    Connie glanced at Wild with puffed cheeks, then informed him about Colin''s request.


    "So... you''re saying I should help him find a means of transport to Holy Flame Kingdom?" Wild repeated.


    As he mentioned Holy Flame Kingdom, he unconsciously furrowed his brow slightly.


    "Yes," Connie replied, not noticing Wild''s subtlety.


    "Very well, I understand," he said.


    "Dad, you can''t just brush me off. I came to you specifically so we can handle this matter properly!" Connie emphasized.


    "Of course, Connie," Wild replied, his thoughts returning, smiling helplessly, "I will order someone to attend to this matter for you in a moment."


    "I have other matters to attend to now, go back and rest early."


    "Alright, goodnight, father."


    Having received the answer she wanted, Connie didn''t dwell any longer, her tone becoming more ladylike.


    With that, she left the room with light steps.


    Wild, seated behind the desk, smiled and a hint of fondness flashed across his face.


    After Connie had left, his gaze shifted back and his expression gradually became more serious.


    Connie''s visit was simply a minor interlude; he had more important matters to deal with now.


    Wild shifted his gaze towards the shadow in the corner of the wall and spoke calmly,


    "Come out and continue, Hayden."

 Chapter 150 - 133 Sacrificial Wizard

    "Your Majesty," a pale-faced man dressed in black gradually emerged from the shadows. He bowed to Wild, then stood upright and began to recount.


    "Today, thirteen women died again in the East District of Chaniuka City... Unlike the previous days, this time the victims were not all prostitutes. Six of them were ordinary farmers."


    Wild propped his chin and furrowed his brows deeply. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such incidents had been occurring for half a month.


    At first, it was thought to be a common homicide case, until the guards could not find the slightest clue and several Great Knights were lost, then it was realized that something was amiss.


    Thus, the matter was reported up layer by layer until it reached him.


    "What do Ivan and Anthony say?" Wild asked.


    Ivan and Anthony were the two Wizards who served the Yili Kingdom.


    Upon hearing this, Hayden hesitated momentarily before saying,


    "Ivan and Anthony said they are busy with experiments and will come to investigate after the day after tomorrow when they are free."


    A flicker of anger crossed the depths of Wild''s eyes.


    Those two Sacrificial Wizards, having already lost the potential to advance, had come to this barren land of the Yili Kingdom just to enjoy the remainder of their lives.


    Most of the time, what they did the most was ask him for money and women... What experiments?


    Obviously, these were excuses!


    Although angry in his heart, Wild''s face betrayed no emotion, and he continued to ask Hayden:


    "Is it the same today in the southwest and north districts?"


    "Yes, the same, thirteen women died," Hayden answered without hesitation.


    Wild was silent for a moment, then slowly said,


    "I understand. You may go now."


    "Yes," Hayden responded, but he did not leave immediately. Instead, he hesitated.


    "What is it?" Wild glanced at him and asked.


    "Your Majesty," Hayden hesitated before asking, "What should we do for the next two days?"


    "... Increase the daily vigilance, advise women to stay at home temporarily and not to go out," Wild said.


    "Yes." Hayden left quietly.


    After he left, King Wild leaned back against the soft back of his chair, raised his hand to his temple, and sighed deeply.


    In his mind, he still saw the silent departure of Hayden.


    Perhaps it was an illusion, but he always felt that the back of the kingdom''s strongest knight¡­ seemed somewhat hunched.


    A sense of helplessness surged in his heart.


    Faced with these bizarre events... mortals are ultimately just mortals.


    They could only rely on Wizards.


    Ivan and Anthony, though they were the kingdom''s Sacrificial Wizards, were very difficult for him to command.


    In fact, if not for the Supreme Council of the Wizard Alliance, which stipulates that Wizards may not interfere in mortal kingdoms... and can only serve as Sacrificials, dealing with strange matters that mortals cannot solve.


    Otherwise... it might not have been his turn to be king.


    Wild leaned back in his chair, the more he pondered, the more frustrated he felt.


    After a long while, he sighed again and shook his head.


    "Overthinking is pointless."


    He quickly adjusted his mindset, stood up, and walked towards the bedroom to prepare to rest.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Connie came to the king''s residence early in the morning.


    Wild had just gotten up.


    He looked at Connie, who had come to pay her respects, with a smile on his face.


    Especially when he saw the wicker food basket she was carrying, which contained breakfast, his smile was even more radiant.


    Speaking of which... it had been a long time since he had had breakfast with Connie.


    "Good morning, Connie," he greeted his daughter with a smile, reaching out to take the wicker food basket.


    But Connie waved her hand, placing the basket to the side, and spoke.


    Wild was taken aback.


    "Wait¡ªfather," Connie said with a smile, "how did the favor I asked of you yesterday turn out?"


    ''The favor asked...''


    Wild''s expression subtly changed.


    Last night, feeling distressed, he had gone straight to sleep.


    As for the favor his daughter Connie had asked... he had completely forgotten!


    But he still did not show his emotions, and while taking the food basket, he continued to smile and said,


    "Of course, I didn''t forget." Glancing around, he called to a tall figure not far away,


    "Hayden, do you remember the task I ordered you to do last night? The one about getting a vehicle for Connie''s new wizard friend."


    Hayden silently glanced at Wild and said,


    "I remember, Your Majesty."


    "That''s good," Wild nodded, then suddenly asked, "How is it going?"


    After a moment of silence, Hayden spoke up,


    "We are preparing to go to the Royal Horse Farm with Her Highness and her friend shortly to pick a suitable horse."


    "Very good," Wild praised.


    Hayden''s adaptability had never disappointed him.


    Thinking of something, he summoned Hayden, stepped away from Connie, and whispered a few words.


    "Don''t show them any Demon Beasts of First Class or higher. Connie doesn''t understand horses, just pick any will do."


    "Understood," Hayden responded softly, fully aware.


    After all, the royal wealth wasn''t blown in by the wind¡ªif every friend that Connie brought back were given too expensive gifts... the royal treasury would probably be bankrupt!


    "Father, what are you talking about? Why are you avoiding me?"


    "Some case matters... some are quite horrific, do you want to hear them?"


    "I don''t want to..."


    "Ha ha ha..."


    Around eleven in the morning.


    "Mr. Colin, how is the selection going?"


    In the stable of the Royal Horse Farm, Connie asked Colin, who was beside her.


    "Almost there," Colin nodded.


    The horses in this world were generally larger and in better physical condition than those in the previous world.


    There were even some of them mixed with the blood of demon beasts, their speed could rival that of a steam locomotive.


    Unfortunately, he hadn''t seen any here.


    However, the two horses he had chosen were also excellent, large in build and muscular all over; they presumably had a faint demon beast bloodline.


    They were certainly much better than the horses used for pulling carts on Blackstone Island.


    And such horses were mostly held by nobles and the royal family; it was very hard to buy them on the market...


    Thanks to Connie, not only had he effortlessly obtained fine horses,


    but now, only on his second day in Chaniuka City, his transportation had been arranged.


    This not only saved him a lot of effort but also a great deal of time.


    Stroking the mane of the black horse in front of him, Colin pondered in silence.


    Yet, once he truly advanced to become an Official Wizard, unless the distance was really far, he could simply fly there.


    By then, it would no longer be such a hassle.


    Just then,


    a noisy commotion suddenly erupted from the entrance of the stable.


    Then, a figure in a wizard robe, embracing a glamorous woman, walked in.


    "Baby, take a look, choose whichever horse you like," said Anthony, pointing to the horses in the stable bto the glamorous woman.


    He had long hair and a handsome face, but the murky, sinister eyes undermined his overall demeanor.


    At first glance, the impression he gave was not good.


    "Lord Anthony," Hayden greeted him with a faint and calm voice as he walked in embracing the woman.


    But if one observed closely, a hint of anger could be seen in his eyes.


    Connie forced a smile and greeted him as well,


    "Lord Anthony."


    "Knight Hayden, Princess Connie," Anthony responded.


    The woman in his arms, seeing Connie, instinctively tried to curtsy but was tightly held by Anthony.


    Therefore, she could only greet Connie and Hayden in a soft voice.


    "Who is... this wizard?"


    After the greetings, Anthony, looking at Colin, asked with a cautious and gentle expression.


    "Colin," Colin answered succinctly.


    "So, you are Mr. Colin, I am Anthony," Anthony said with a smile, then casually asked,


    "Mr. Colin, have you come from Miracle City?"


    "No," Colin shook his head, replying briefly.


    He then turned to Connie and said,


    "Princess Connie, it''s already getting late, the horses have been chosen... after loading some fodder, I''m ready to leave."


    "So soon?" Connie said with reluctance.


    The stories Colin had told about the island seemed to have made her reluctant to part.


    She glanced at her watch and added,


    "It''s almost noon, why not have lunch before you go?"


    "I learned some new information about the Holy Flame Kingdom yesterday, you might find it useful."


    "...That''s possible."


    Before she finished speaking, Colin, sensing something, took a slight step forward, shielding Renee from view.


    Then he frowned and stared at Anthony from a distance.


    Since he had answered that he wasn''t from Miracle City,


    Anthony had been unabashedly scrutinizing Renee.


    The atmosphere in the stable suddenly grew tense.


    Then, Connie suddenly forced a smile and spoke,


    "Mr. Colin, let''s go have lunch now. What would you like to eat?"


    Having said that, she led the way forward.


    "...I''m fine with anything," Colin gave Anthony a glance, and followed Connie, relaxing his brows.


    "Hold on, Mr. Colin," Anthony called out to him.


    Colin turned back with a frown.


    Anthony, smiling, continued to gaze at Colin and said,


    "I would like to make a deal with you, if that''s possible?"


    "Don''t be too quick to refuse... I presume, Mr. Colin, that you come from a background as a Wild Wizard. I am from a school, and I can offer knowledge as payment,"


    "And all you have to give is..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence but redirected his gaze to Renee again, waiting for Colin to respond.


    But he didn''t get the answer he was expecting.


    "Not interested."


    Colin looked at him, then suddenly smiled.


    Turning around, he continued to walk forward, waving his hand and adding,


    "I don''t want, nor am I interested in any deal with you."

 Chapter 151 - 134: A Sudden Change

    In the vast stable, Anthony, who was embracing a woman, was utterly astonished; even his handsome face slightly distorted.


    In his eyes, Renee was just a mere maid... Colin had shown such disrespect!


    He couldn''t fathom where that confidence came from!


    It took a while, but Anthony finally came back to his senses.


    Watching Colin''s retreating figure leaving the stable, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.


    But he didn''t rush to act out. Instead, he raised his hand to check the detailed feedback coming from the Trojan Reconnaissance Bracelet Type 2 on his left wrist.


    A moment later, a more detailed investigation result transmitted onto his retina.


    [Target''s strength: Advanced Wizard Apprentice.]


    The strength hadn''t changed; the detection still showed the same realm as his, that of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    Only, there was a small line of notes added below.


    [Note: Target''s body surface exhibits fluctuations of an old-model Audrich Crystal illusion.]


    ''So that''s it.''


    Seeing this new line of information appear before him, Anthony realized the situation.


    No wonder Colin was so confident!


    He probably planned to wait for him to make a move, then use the Audrich Crystal to mimic the aura of an actual Wizard, forcing him to retreat, recognizing the difficulty...


    A slight, contemptuous smile curled at the corner of Anthony''s mouth.


    ''Wizards from such small places really have no experience...''


    He wasn''t lying; he indeed was a genuine School Wizard from Miracle City.


    Although it had been a long time since he left Miracle City, he still felt a sense of superiority over Wizards from other places.


    Throughout the world, the most cutting-edge technologies and knowledge of Wizards mostly originated from Miracle City.


    And they were constantly being updated and iterated.


    The Audrich Crystal was no exception.


    Although it was an extremely excellent Witch Tool for disguise, when it first appeared, even ordinary First Rank Wizards couldn''t see through it.


    But Witch Tools were also constantly innovating and progressing.


    The Trojan Reconnaissance Bracelet Type 2 he had spent a fortune on in Miracle City, although not the latest model,


    had no trouble seeing through the antique Audrich Crystal Colin wore, no matter how old it might be!


    Anthony''s gaze flickered.


    He released the arm around the glamorous woman and smiled at her.


    "Darling, continue choosing the horse you like here. Once you''ve picked one, go back by yourself first... Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I have some matters to deal with."


    After speaking, he followed in the direction where Colin and the others had departed.


    "Of course, Lord Anthony."


    ...


    Inside a restaurant.


    "These are what I learned today about the Holy Flame Kingdom... all told to me by my father this morning."


    At the window seat of the private room, Connie spoke to Colin sitting across from her.


    "I understand," Colin put down his knife and fork, his expression somewhat serious; he paused before asking,


    "When exactly did the war start?"


    "News of the war came yesterday; they said the fighting had just begun.


    But taking into account the time it took for the message to reach us, the war has probably been going on for at least ten days..."


    "Thank you, Princess Connie; this is very useful for me," Colin sincerely thanked her.


    His face seemed calm, but inwardly he was anxious.


    ''I didn''t expect that the Holy Flame Kingdom would actually be at war with the neighboring Qi''an Kingdom...''


    He exhaled gently, looking at Connie with a serious voice.


    "Princess Connie, I have some very important business in the Holy Flame Kingdom, so I might have to leave ahead."


    With the current situation in the Holy Flame Kingdom, he couldn''t afford any further delays... the sooner the better.


    Otherwise, if the Holy Flame Kingdom were defeated, then completing his task of delivering the letter for Erica would be much more difficult.


    It was unfortunate, but there was no helping it; he couldn''t possibly reach the Holy Flame Kingdom right away.


    If going by the speed of the horses he had selected today,


    the trip from Yili Kingdom to the Holy Flame Kingdom would roughly take another seven days...


    He couldn''t help but sigh.


    ''If only I had a horse with a Demon Beast''s bloodline; at least that would save two to three days of travel.''


    But now... there was no time left to search for a better horse.


    As he pondered this, Colin stood up, prepared to hurry and set off at once.


    "Princess Connie, I''ll be leaving now," he said to Connie once again.


    "So soon..."


    Connie on the other side only then came to her senses, a hint of surprise in her expression.


    They had just sat down not too long ago and had only ordered two dishes.


    But seeing Colin''s earnest expression, she refrained from holding him back and instead offered a smile, saying to Colin:


    "I wish you a smooth journey,"


    "If you pass by Yili Kingdom in the future, you are welcome to come and share with me the sights and experiences of your travels."


    Connie''s smile was warm and sweet, making her otherwise ordinary features much more appealing.


    But if one were to look closely, they could still catch that unnoticeable hint of loneliness in the depths of her light blue eyes.


    Despite her usual pastime of taking the train to wander around Yili Kingdom, making Wizard friends,


    in truth, she has never really left the Yili Kingdom since she was a child¡­


    Not even once.


    Although the region of Yili Kingdom is quite devoid of magical power, resulting in fewer Demon Beasts,


    for ordinary people, traveling in the wild without the protection of Wizards is almost entirely reliant on luck.


    And for this reason, she has only moved within the limited scope around the Kingdom.


    Going any further would be courting death.


    ...Yili Kingdom may be large, but to her, it''s just a tiny island.

 Chapter 152 - 134: Anomalies Arise_2

    "I will," Colin replied.


    Upon hearing this, Connie''s lips curved slightly wider as she cheerfully said,


    "Until next time, Sir Colin."


    "Until next time..."


    Clang.


    At that moment, the restaurant door suddenly burst open and Hayden strode in.


    He offered Colin and his companion a bow in apology.


    Then, with a grave expression, he turned to Connie and quickly said,


    "Princess Connie, to ensure your safety, please return to the Palace with me immediately."


    "Has something happened?" Connie looked at Hayden, and without hesitation, she stood up while asking with curiosity.


    "Do you remember what His Majesty mentioned this morning..."


    Their conversation could be heard trailing off behind him.


    Colin, leading the way, did not listen any further but swiftly led Renee out.


    The two horses they had chosen were already waiting outside the restaurant.


    He had also pre-arranged the necessary fodder for the journey, which he stored in his Storage Ring.


    This was initially planned so that they could set off directly after dining with Connie.


    Now, it helped them save some time.


    One horse was black; the other, a mix of brown and white.


    Colin mounted the black horse.


    Renee, carrying her sister Demi, climbed onto the other horse... Riding was not a challenge for her, with skills near those of a Great Knight.


    Giddy up!


    Clip-clop clip-clop¡ª


    Hooves kicked up, and the trio of Colin hurried towards the nearest city gate.


    At this time, the Sky was dusted with light snow.


    On the streets, the number of patrolling Guards seemed to have increased for some reason, and there were hardly any ordinary passers-by. The few that were seen were mostly undergoing questioning by the Guards.


    "Officer, I was just out to buy groceries..."


    "Temporary martial law, hurry home and stay there!"


    People undergoing questioning with frightened expressions and Guards in black uniforms with tense and solemn faces were seen everywhere.


    Colin let out a breath of warm air, which instantly condensed into white mist in the cold air.


    They too were subjected to an inspection by the Guards,


    fortunately, the pass provided by Connie spared them much trouble.


    In this manner, they moved unobstructed through the streets, and after crossing two more, they would be able to leave the city.


    But at that moment...


    The brown and white horse that Renee was riding suddenly let out a cry, and then fell hard to the ground.


    Whoosh.


    In a split second, Renee held Demi and leaped down, safely landing on the ground.


    Before Colin could even ask,


    the black horse he was on also let out a cry, reared up on its hind legs, and then collapsed to the ground.


    Colin dismounted and frowned at the two prostrate horses.


    ...


    Inside the Palace.


    In a luxurious palace hall.


    Wearing a crown, Wild stood anxiously at the doorway, with Hayden beside him, expressionless.


    The snowfall had become heavier without warning.


    The snowflakes scattered down, landing on the pristine rooftops, the meticulously tended grass outside the door, and also on Wild and Hayden.


    Soon, a thin layer of white accumulated on their heads and shoulders.


    Even Wild''s golden crown did not escape, receiving a touch of white as well.


    A little while later,


    the grand doors of the palace slowly opened.


    A graceful woman Knight emerged.


    "Your Majesty Wild, the lords have concluded their experiment; you may enter now."


    She led Wild and Hayden down a long corridor to the outside of a reception room.


    The woman Knight knocked lightly twice on the door and then stepped aside to wait.


    A long time passed, yet no response came from within the room.


    But the woman Knight did not knock again; she quietly continued to wait.


    This was the rule set by the lords.


    "The knock must have been heard by Lords Ivan and Anthony... Perhaps they are still conducting experiments. Your Majesty, please wait a moment longer," the woman Knight said to Wild in a soft voice.


    Wild''s face was expressionless, revealing no emotion. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While Haydn stood by with barely contained anger in his eyes.


    With the Great Knight''s physical condition, he could faintly hear the soft conversation coming from the house¡ªthey were clearly not conducting experiments!


    "... So I surmise he''s just a local wizard, perhaps even a half-trained Wandering Wizard.


    But he has an old Audric Crystal on him, he must have gotten lucky and received some wizard''s inheritance... I think it''s quite possible it''s an Official Wizard''s inheritance."


    "Are you interested?"


    Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Are you willing to share a portion with me?"


    Anthony smiled slightly and said,


    "He''s at least an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, two people working together are more likely to succeed."


    "Besides, old friend¡ª"


    "You''re not unaware that I gave up on advancing long ago, just wanting to enjoy the remainder of my life. In fact, if I hadn''t taken a fancy to his maiden, I wouldn''t have bothered at all."


    After saying this, Anthony added with a laugh,


    "How about this, you can take the majority of the Magic Stone, but the two maids by his side have to be mine."


    Ivan pondered for a moment and then asked,


    "Let me take another look at the Trojan Reconnaissance Bracelet''s detection results."


    Anthony cheerfully took off the bracelet and handed it to Ivan.


    He wasn''t worried about anything, he and Ivan had known each other for decades, and the Trojan Reconnaissance Bracelet bore his mark.


    Ivan reached out and took the bracelet.


    The Trojan Reconnaissance Bracelet was entirely brown, made of some unknown beast leather, with an inconspicuous white crystal embedded in the middle.


    He activated his Magic Power.


    Buzz¡ª


    The detailed detection results appeared on his retina.


    After reading and checking in detail.


    He handed the bracelet back to Anthony, smiling as he said,


    "It''s a deal."


    "It''s a deal," Anthony laughed.


    Having agreed to these terms, they then turned and called out to the outside,


    "Come in."


    Wild entered in a hurry.


    "Your Highness, Wild."


    "Lord Ivan, Lord Anthony," Wild greeted calmly and then got straight to the point.


    "This morning, the patrol guard discovered that over five hundred civilians had died in Chaniuka City''s East District last night, including men and women, old and young."


    Ivan and Anthony slightly tightened their relaxed expressions upon hearing this.


    Wild continued to recount,


    "At the same time, no other deaths occurred last night in the south, north, and west districts, except for an old woman who accidentally froze to death."


    "And this time the deceased in the East District were different from the previous ones."


    "Previously, the deceased had died from heart punctures. But this time, the causes of death varied, and the marks on their bodies were also significantly different from before... but most had incomplete bodies, and nearly all of the dead had their eyeballs missing."


    "Is there any other information?" Ivan asked, his expression growing solemn.


    Yesterday, when Wild had Haydn relay this news to them, they hadn''t taken it seriously.


    From Haydn''s description, they surmised that it was most likely a common demon contamination event.


    After all, the Yili Kingdom had poor Magic Power, unlikely to house any strong Demon Beasts or other strange phenomena¡­ There shouldn''t be so many odd occurrences.


    But unexpectedly, the situation had worsened so much overnight.


    "Further information¡­ the victims were mostly concentrated in the Mist-blue Street area."


    "More information¡­" Wild paused, then said, "Perhaps the two lords need to see the scene for themselves."


    Ivan nodded, stepping aside with Anthony to talk in whispered tones.


    "We can''t delay this matter any longer, Anthony," Ivan said softly to Anthony.


    "I know," Anthony nodded in agreement, then said, "We should go now without delay."


    "But what about that little local Wandering Wizard..." Ivan hesitated to ask.


    He was somewhat reluctant to let the pigeon they had in hand fly away.


    "Don''t worry, they won''t get too far anytime soon." Anthony confidently smiled, then added mysteriously,


    "Perhaps he''ll even return to the Palace on his own initiative."


    After these words, his tone shifted as he said gravely,


    "The fact that so many people died overnight can''t be underestimated."


    "I understand," Ivan nodded, "We''ll carry the important items with us first when we go to the site¡­


    You know, the usual drill."


    "Mm," Anthony nodded.


    If they could handle the crisis, it would be fine, but if they couldn''t¡­ then they could only pray for the Yili Kingdom.


    After all, they were there to make offerings, not to give up their lives.


    Then, the group hurriedly traveled by carriage towards the East District of Chaniuka City.

 Chapter 153 - 135 Theater

    Hiss and rattle¡ª


    The knight Hayden, temporarily playing the role of coachman, pulled hard on the reins with his robust arms, and the carriage gradually came to a stop.


    Four European-style columns supported the grand entrance, its top covered with a layer of pristine snow.


    This was the front of a small theater in the East District of Chaniuka City.


    At this moment, the Yili Knight Order of the King fully surrounded the location, with fully armed and vigilant knights standing not only outside the doors but also beneath every wall.


    Wild stepped down from the carriage.


    "Your Highness, Wild."


    The heavily armored leader of the Yili Knight Order led Wild towards the inside of the theater.


    Hayden closely followed by his side.


    Ivan and Anthony followed behind them.


    Stepping through the grand and spacious entrance hall, they were immediately met with a long and dimly lit corridor.


    The towering figure of the Knight Order''s leader nearly filled the entire passageway.


    Wild, wearing a triangular crown, followed closely behind; his expression was calm, but there was a tinge of anxiousness in his eyes.


    The Yili Kingdom had been established for five hundred years now, facing countless supernatural incidents, large and small. Just the archives alone held records of more than a hundred such events.


    Still, even by those standards, the crazed and bizarre nature of this incident ranked near the top.


    He cast an almost imperceptible glance back at Ivan and Anthony, who were closely following, and he silently sighed to himself.


    "Your Majesty, we have arrived," the leader of the Knight Order said softly, turning his head back before pushing open the narrow yellow door at the end of the corridor.


    What met their eyes was a spacious semicircular hall with rows of orderly red cushioned chairs, while wall-mounted butter candles in chandeliers emitted a dim yellow light.


    Wild and his party stepped out from the passage.


    "Lord Ivan, Lord Anthony, please look," Wild said, stepping aside to give room and gesturing toward Ivan and the others with his raised arm.


    "This...?!"


    Upon seeing the sight that Wild was pointing to, Ivan and Anthony''s pupils constricted in unison.


    On the broad, natural wood-colored stage at the front of the hall, a conical tower made of numerous twisted and entwined limbs and body parts was built up, its top covered with countless bloodied eyeballs. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Tower of Conor Reeves¡­" Ivan murmured, then instinctively asked Anthony beside him.


    Though it had been a long time since he left the School, he still remembered most of his knowledge... Such distinctive characteristics of the tower of flesh and eyes before him allowed him to decisively determine it was indeed the Tower of Conor Reeves.


    "It''s not certain, let''s check again carefully," Anthony said with a grave face.


    Ivan nodded, and together with Anthony, they quickly stepped onto the stage.


    The dim yellow light illuminated the stage as they took turns casting spells.


    "Fine Vision," "Detect Evil," "Reveal Traces"...


    The strange glimmers continually emanated from their hands, revolving around the Tower of Conor Reeves on the stage and flickering.


    They also illuminated Wild''s calm face, yet the bulging veins on his right hand clutching the ground with his scepter exposed his worried heart.


    ...


    Snowflakes were swirling down.


    In the Palace, there was a garden.


    In the center of the white pentagonal pavilion, Connie, wrapped in a thick white cloak, was absentmindedly admiring the snow scene.


    The garden that used to be vivid and colorful was now a sheer white as far as the eye could see. The flowers were white, the grass was white, and even the shrubs and she herself were white.


    After a little while.


    Suddenly.


    Swish.


    A figure abruptly descended from the sky.


    Clang!


    The female Knight behind Connie swiftly drew the sharp arrow from her waist, stepped forward quickly, and shielded her behind her own body.


    Through the gap created by the female Knight''s silhouette, a look of surprise flashed across Connie''s eyes.


    She stood up and gestured for the female knight to step back, asking the figure in suspicion,


    "Sir Colin, why have you returned?"


    "After bidding you farewell, I rode my horse toward the outskirts of the city, and just as I was about to leave, both mine and the maid''s horses suddenly fell dead on the ground," Colin said succinctly, his voice grave.


    "The horses... suddenly fell dead?" Connie asked, puzzled as she handed Colin a steaming cup of red tea, "But the horses from the Royal Horse Farm are regularly checked..."


    Colin waved his hand, declining the red tea Connie offered, and didn''t respond to her comment, but quickly said,


    "Connie, I''ve come to ask you to prepare two more horses for me, and I can pay a reward."


    "Of course," Connie answered without hesitation, then added with a smile, "but there''s no need for a reward, Sir Colin."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, not wasting time with refusals.


    Seeing him accept her offer, Connie smiled joyously and then asked, "So, Sir Colin, shall we go now to choose them?"


    "No," Colin shook his head, "This time I won''t pick them myself. Just choose two similar to the ones before."


    "Then, right now..."


    Colin didn''t answer her question but instead fixed his gaze on Connie and asked in a deep voice, "Connie, do you know where that wizard we encountered in the stables today is now?"


    At his words, a flicker of doubt and unease crossed the depths of Connie''s eyes, but within a second, she managed to contain these emotions.


    Matters between wizards ought to be handled amongst themselves. She was curious, indeed, but she also knew what was appropriate to ask and what wasn''t.


    "You mean Lord Anthony¡­," she pondered with a frown and then slowly surmised, "If I am not mistaken, he should be with my father in a small theater in the East District."


    Then she described in detail the location of the theater.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, ready to turn and leave.


    "Wait... Sir Colin."


    It was then that Connie suddenly called out to him.


    She quickly gave a few instructions to the female knight beside her and then turned to Colin, asking:


    "May I accompany you?"


    She hadn''t asked anything, but she already had suspicions forming in her mind.


    The sudden death of Colin''s horse, as well as his urgent inquiry about Anthony''s whereabouts... It was hard for her not to connect the two events.


    The truth was as she suspected.


    After the horse collapsed, Colin initially detected nothing out of the ordinary.


    But later, under the influence of the Foolishness Scepter, he had still managed to reveal some traces.


    The death of the horses was neither natural nor caused by poisoning; it seemed more like a witchcraft curse...


    "You may," Colin glanced at Connie, seizing her arm.


    "Be ready," he whispered.


    Before the sound of his voice faded,


    Whoosh!


    He took off into the sky with Connie.


    Air currents swept up and disturbed the fluttering snowflakes in the air.


    In the sky.


    Connie''s eyes widened as she looked down at the grid-like buildings of Chaniuka City covered by white snow... These familiar structures, from a new perspective, offered her a wholly different feeling.


    Perhaps it was because her blood was naturally filled with an adventurous spirit; in the sky, she felt not fear, but irrepressible excitement.


    As for Colin beside her, such scenes were commonplace... Moreover, he was not in the mood to appreciate the view.


    The biting cold wind struck his face, but his expression seemed even colder.


    A moment later.


    "Sir Colin, there''s the theater!" Connie pointed toward a building below.


    Colin looked in the direction of her pointing finger.


    A modest-sized theater came into view.


    He adjusted their course, diving swiftly downward.

 Chapter 154 - 136 Arrival

    Swoosh.


    Colin descended with Connie in front of the towering theater doors.


    "Connie..."


    King Wilder, standing alone before them, saw Connie and her companion touch down and his pupils constricted slightly.


    But he quickly regained his composure and turned to Connie, asking, "And who might this wizard be by your side?"


    At this moment, Connie had not yet recovered from the thrill of the flight, and with an excited tone, she replied,


    "Dad, have you forgotten? This is the wizard friend I mentioned to you last night... Lord Colin!"


    Wilder was taken aback.


    Wizards capable of flying were usually at least Advanced Wizard Apprentices... He hadn''t expected the wizard his daughter had befriended to be so powerful!


    Wilder quickly replaced his expression with a smile and greeted, "So it''s Lord Colin."


    Then with a hint of regret, he added, "Unfortunately, I''ve been tied up with trivial matters these past two days and have not had a chance to meet you in person."


    As he spoke, something seemed to occur to him, and he turned his head back to Connie with a puzzled question,


    "Didn''t you say Lord Colin was leaving today?"


    Connie was about to explain when,


    At that moment.


    Around the corner of the nearby street, two figures in Wizard Robes suddenly appeared.


    "Lord Ivan, Lord Anthony," Wilder greeted, his face flashing a hint of joy as he spoke, "Have you obtained the missing components for the purification ritual?"


    After inspecting the Tower of Blood Flesh on the stage, Ivan and Anthony had left, informing him that they lacked some essential components.


    Wilder looked at the two men with expectation, hoping to quickly resolve this eerie event... The Tower of Blood Flesh inside the theater had become a major concern for him,


    But the next second, his heart sank slightly.


    Ignoring his words, Ivan and Anthony did not respond.


    "Nice to see you again, this would be... Lord Colin," Anthony greeted with elegance.


    "Where are your two little maids?" He looked around and asked.


    He and Ivan were not going back to fetch anything; they were preparing to leave directly.


    Upon their inspection, the Tower of Blood Flesh had been identified as the Tower of Conor Reeves¡ªa dreadful ritual for summoning demons.


    And the Tower of Conor Reeves in the theater had already served its purpose!


    They were powerless to stop it.


    The Tower of Conor Reeves had successfully summoned a certain demon and transmitted the location of Chaniuka City...


    This meant that if nothing unusual occurred, a demon from another plane would arrive as scheduled tonight at midnight to harvest souls, revel in fear... bringing endless death and pain to Chaniuka City.


    "Don''t waste time talking to him, we must hurry," Ivan said in a low voice.


    While the demon summoned by the theater''s ritual was likely just a Lower Demon at most, theoretically not more powerful than a Wizard Apprentice,


    In reality, due to the diversity of demons, even among Lower Demons, it was common for some of the more outstanding ones to possess the strength of a First Rank Junior Wizard, and some top-tier beings could even reach the level of a First Rank Intermediate Wizard.


    Judging by the quality of this instance of the Tower of Conor Reeves, the probability of summoning such outstanding entities was at least seventy percent.


    They did not want to take that risk... For demons, the souls of wizards were much more tempting than those of ordinary people.


    "No rush, there''s still time," Anthony countered Ivan in a low voice.


    Unlike Ivan, what he wanted wasn''t Colin''s Magic Stone...


    That said, he also began to grow impatient and without further disguise, he bluntly threatened Colin,


    "Tell me where the maids are, and maybe I can persuade my companion to spare your little life." The aura of an Advanced Apprentice emanated powerfully from the two men.


    Seemingly reminded of something, Anthony then added with a smile, "If you''re thinking about using the Audric Disguise Crystal to pretend to be an Official Wizard to scare us, don''t waste the time."


    He lifted his wrist, showing a brown bracelet, and said, "I''ve already seen through your true level... First Class Apprentice."


    Colin was briefly taken aback, realizing that the crystal pendant on his chest was called the Audric Disguise Crystal...


    "Connie, what''s going on?" King Wilder pulled Connie aside and asked in a low voice.


    Connie hesitated for a moment before sharing her suspicions with Wilder.


    She watched Colin''s figure intently and then asked in a low voice, "Daddy, can you stop them?"


    Wild gave a bitter smile, "Matters of wizards, how could we ever point fingers..."


    "But Master Colin alone..." Connie said subconsciously.


    She was vaguely aware of something.


    Although she hadn''t known Colin for long, she had taken quite a liking to him...


    For some reason, she now suddenly felt some regret about telling him the whereabouts of Ivan and Anthony...


    Wild looked at the three outside the theater, tense and on edge, weighed down with worry.


    Naturally, he hoped that Ivan and Anthony would be victorious; after all, he was counting on them to deal with the theater incident.


    "What''s the matter, surprised how I saw through your disguise?" Anthony jeered at Colin.


    But at that moment.


    Thump¡ªthump¡ªthump¡ª


    There was a sudden sound from inside the theater like the beating of a heart. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint vile scent mixed with the smell of sulfur wafted over.


    Anthony and Ivan''s faces changed in unison!


    Had the demon arrived early?!


    Without a single word, they simultaneously turned and leaped into the air, swiftly flying far away.


    Hiss!


    But all of a sudden, a slight friction noise came from the air behind.


    Two Cone Bullets, faster than imaginable, shot toward them!


    Ivan and Anthony didn''t alter their actions, conjuring Defensive Witchcraft around themselves.


    This attack was clearly from Colin, but they chose not to retaliate... Escaping was far more important at the moment!


    But the next second.


    "Ahh!!"


    Ivan and Anthony screamed in unison!


    The Cone Bullets were far more powerful than they had imagined, piercing through their superficial defensive witchcraft with ruthless force, tumbling and puncturing chaotically within their bodies.


    The excruciating pain rendered them incapable of maintaining their Flying Witchcraft, causing them to fall diagonally to the ground like birds with broken wings.


    Colin stepped closer, the Foolishness Scepter in his hand looking even more profound against the surrounding white snow.


    "You... are you really an Official Wizard?" Anthony muttered from the ground, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.


    He struggled to raise his head, scrutinizing Colin carefully.


    "Your Excellency, please spare my life..."


    Meanwhile, Ivan begged for mercy while pressing his hand against his abdomen, apparently trying to apply Healing Magic on himself.


    Colin didn''t rush to finish them off; he''d intentionally spared their lives...


    "What''s inside the theater?" he asked in a deep voice.


    The inexplicable presence from the theater was frightening, and it was after that presence appeared that Ivan and Anthony suddenly fled...


    Beside them, Ivan slowly sat upright.


    "What''s inside the theater is..." Anthony also strained to prop himself up.


    But it seemed his speech was a little slow due to his injuries...


    The next second.


    "What''s inside the theater is... die!!" Anthony''s tone suddenly rose!


    Both he and Ivan convulsed with surges of Magic Power!


    A puddle of pale pink slime and a compressed Fireball, one after the other, flew at high speed hitting Colin!


    Boom!!


    The pale pink slime and compressed Fireball made contact, triggering a violent reaction.


    A spherical flame roiled upwards, with the shockwave immediately sweeping away the snow on the ground, exposing the grey-white colored stone slabs beneath!

 Chapter 155 - 137: Fall

    In the moment the spherical fireball exploded into the air, Ivan swung his right hand simultaneously.


    Whoosh!


    A black metal triangle shuttle half the size of a man suddenly appeared in his hand, and then, with two clicking sounds, black metal handles extended from the wide edges of two corners.


    "Go!" Ivan hissed.


    He and Anthony had known each other for years and had developed a well-rehearsed plan for life-and-death crises like this.


    Their current use of Combined Witchcraft was their most skilled tactic.


    Without any delay, Anthony grabbed one handle while Ivan grabbed the other, and then they both performed the same Flying Witchcraft simultaneously!


    Two flashes of witchcraft brilliance passed!


    Whoosh!


    The two of them suddenly took to the air and then flew off into the distance.


    Their black metal triangle shuttle emitted a dim black glow, which rapidly spread, starting from the palms of their hands where they held the handles, and soon covered their entire bodies!


    From a distance, they seemed to merge into one with the black triangle shuttle.


    The next second, the air around them trembled slightly, and the speed of Anthony and Ivan''s flight suddenly increased!


    Almost doubling in speed, they were like streaks of black light!


    Whoooosh¡ª


    The wind whistled past their ears.


    Anthony to the left felt a slight easing in his tense heart and glanced back subconsciously.


    The smoke from the explosion at the theater''s entrance had yet to disperse, and the spherical flames in the middle were still burning fiercely. The surrounding snow quickly melted under the high temperature of the flames, then gathered into muddy streams of water.


    "Don''t look back. Add a bit more Magic Power and escape with all your might!" Ivan reminded in a stern voice next to him.


    He didn''t believe that he and Anthony''s attack had successfully killed Colin.


    Although their Combined Witchcraft was strong, in terms of power, it was only at the top end of an Apprentice''s level and had not yet reached that of an Official Wizard.


    And the witchcraft used by Colin, though understated, was even slightly stronger than their Combined Witchcraft.


    At a glance, it seemed they were not without a chance of victory and didn''t need to choose to escape.


    But they had not overlooked that Colin nearly simultaneously released two such powerful spells with apparent ease, undoubtedly holding back.


    And with the battlefield changing in an instant, having been attacked by the Cone Bullets, they had now lost the initiative and suffered significant injuries...


    With the black triangle shuttle in hand... escaping was their most reliable choice.


    This was also confirmed by their long-term practical experience.


    "Mhm." Anthony redirected his gaze, increased his input of Magic Power, and said, "That definitely is an artifact!"


    His other hand was pressed against his abdomen, where a faint green healing light flickered at the point of contact.


    In truth, Anthony had never doubted the scouting result of the Trojan Bracelet Type 2.


    And if the scouting result was correct and Colin''s true strength was merely that of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice... then to be able to cast such strong attacks, that scepter in his hand was undoubtedly suspect!


    "That black scepter with the dark gold pattern, huh¡­ I think so too," Ivan responded with a furrow in his brow, a trace of shock flickering across his face.


    Artifacts were not common, and even fewer were practical, as usually, the cost was higher than the benefit.


    ''That black scepter with the dark gold pattern, I wonder what the cost is... wielding it seems so effortless, as if there''s no price to pay.''


    Ivan couldn''t help but think, but quickly, he shook his head.


    ''Every artifact has its price... perhaps the Wizard from that small place is unaware.''


    In fact, it was indeed the case that many artifacts concealed costs that were difficult to detect.


    If one was a Wild Wizard unfamiliar with the nature of artifacts, they often mistook them for treasures without a price...


    But the price must ultimately be paid, and such wizards usually did not end well.


    Ivan''s expression darkened. Once he successfully escaped, he was determined to sell the news of Colin possessing an artifact scepter...


    Artifacts might not be generally practical, but that didn''t affect their value!


    After all, the value of an artifact was never solely in its use.


    For a Wizard, the real value of an artifact lay in exploring the fundamental, counterintuitive rules behind it!


    Besides, that black scepter-like artifact clearly enhanced witchcraft... If he were to sell the news, it would bring him at least a few thousand Magic Stones in income!


    Although his mind was filled with thoughts, only a brief moment had passed in reality.


    But even in this brief moment, with the enhancement of the black triangle shuttle, he and Anthony had already escaped hundreds of meters.


    And their speed continued to increase!


    Elsewhere, at the theater''s entrance.


    The fiercely burning flames were parted from the middle by an invisible Force Field.


    Colin walked out, holding the Foolishness Scepter in hand.


    His gray Wizard Robe was intact, but a closer examination would reveal a slight char at the hem.


    The Combined Witchcraft of Ivan and Anthony was powerful, and initially, the Steel Temperature Resistance Field was not cast with the enhancement of the Foolishness Scepter, as even with Golden Paper to offset the cost, the Foolishness Scepter could not be used as a standard method.


    Luckily, the high reactivity brought by the status of an Ultimate Knight allowed him to calmly cast an enhanced Steel Temperature Resistance Field using the Foolishness Scepter at the last moment.


    He looked up and saw that Ivan and Anthony, now in the distance, were merely specks in the sky.


    Colin was slightly startled.


    The truth was that only a few bits of conversation had elapsed since he was attacked. By the time he cast the enhanced Steel Temperature Resistance Field... Ivan and Anthony had already escaped so far!


    Such speed was clearly far beyond his own Flying and Diving Skill.


    Chasing was probably hopeless...


    But letting them go was absolutely impossible!


    Colin let out a measured breath, determination flickering in his eyes.


    Two Cone Bullets appeared in his hands.


    With Spirit as a guide, Magic Power surged like a river, caressing the Foolishness Scepter, causing the dark golden patterns to light up.


    The next second!


    Boom!!


    Two Cone Bullets, shimmering with cold light, shot out like lightning!


    The momentum remained subdued.


    But almost in the very next moment, even before the sound could spread, those two distant specks on the horizon suddenly shattered into several smaller pieces!!


    Colin withdrew his gaze, feeling some heartache as he summoned the Golden Paper.


    As expected, the previously achieved Arrow Shooting Skill had reverted back to Arrow Shooting Skill I...


    However, thankfully, the progress backstage remained at 99/100, so he wouldn''t need to spend too much time to recover to the limit again and then proceed to Limit Breaking.


    It just meant that he needed to expend twenty more Limit Breaking Points...


    Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª


    The unexplained noises in the theater continued, and the nauseating aura still spread incessantly.


    But there were no new changes... It seemed to have stabilized for the time being.


    Colin took back his gaze, and after pondering for a moment, he put away the Golden Paper and then, using Flying and Diving Skill, he soared into the sky, quickly heading towards the place where Ivan and his companion had fallen.


    "Connie..." Wilder, beside the theater, watched Colin''s retreating figure and murmured subconsciously, "Your friend..."


    Shock was written all over his face...


    Connie on the other hand didn''t think too much at this moment. She had never had a good impression of Ivan and Anthony¡ªthere was only revulsion.


    Right now, with Colin emerging victorious, her heart was filled mostly with joy.


    Wilder glanced at Connie''s expression, then back at where Colin had disappeared... A bitter sentiment rose within him.


    His crown had fallen off during the earlier blast of flames. He stooped to pick it up, holding it in his hands and stroking it gently.


    With Ivan and Anthony dead, who would help him deal with the incident at the theater?


    Last night five hundred people died, what about tonight?


    The Yili Kingdom''s capital, Charnuka, had a history of more than two hundred years. Was it going to end in his hands?


    ''If only I hadn''t brought this wizard to the stables...''


    Looking at Connie, his expression involuntarily darkened.


    During the confrontation between Colin and Anthony, he had already learned everything from Connie...


    He exhaled gently and turned his head again, trying to ease his mood.


    But the next second, seeing a gleeful Connie, he couldn''t help but turn back and scold harshly:


    "Connie, look at the mess you''ve made!"


    Connie turned her head in shock and asked puzzledly, "Dad, what have I done?"


    "From now on, you stay in the Palace, forbidden to mingle with wizards!" Wilder said coldly, anger rising uncontrollably.


    "Dad..." Connie''s lips parted slightly, her eyes showing confusion, anger, but above all, hurt.


    She didn''t understand why her father would suddenly say such a thing.


    Wilder didn''t explain, he only turned his head toward the theater opposite, his complexion gradually turning pale.


    Unbeknownst when, the snowfall in the sky had ceased.


    The space in front of the theater''s entrance was desolately empty, the snow upturned and melted by the attacks of the wizards, exposing a patch of gray and pitted ground... Like an obvious scar.


    With a sigh, Wilder walked slowly toward the theater entrance, his hair, without the stability of the crown, being constantly blown up by the cold wind, disheveled and wretched.


    Behind him stood Connie, silent and stationary.


    Elsewhere, at the place where Ivan and Anthony had fallen, Colin was searching quickly.


    He somewhat regretted using such a powerful attack... Not only had the bodies of Ivan and his companion shattered into several pieces, but they had also fallen from the sky, making them somewhat difficult to locate.


    After a while, he finally managed to search and inspect the main parts one by one.


    He found two Storage Rings, a black triangular shuttle, and a brown bracelet from Anthony''s hand.


    Without examining the shuttle and the brown bracelet, he tried to open the Storage Rings.


    In the next second, his heart sank.


    The Spiritual Imprints on them were not something that could be dissolved in a short time.


    Looking back towards the direction of the distant theater, Colin''s expression turned worried.


    In fact, the reason he checked the Storage Rings first was to see if he could get some information relating to the mysterious aura within the theater.


    After all, only with sufficient understanding could he make the right judgment.


    It was evident that a crisis was brewing inside the theater; otherwise, Ivan and Anthony wouldn''t have turned tail and run.


    But what was a crisis for Ivan and Anthony might not necessarily be a crisis for him... His strength was not the same as theirs.


    It''s just a pity... With the current lack of clear information, he couldn''t determine if he could handle whatever was inside the theater.


    But after a moment''s hesitation, he still took off into the air, preparing to fly to the theater.


    The situation at the theater seemed stable for now.


    No matter what, Connie had helped him a lot, and that was a fact.


    Ensuring his own safety, if he could, he was not going to ignore the situation.


    Moreover.


    Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª


    Even from such a great distance, he could clearly hear the eerie sound emanating from the theater.


    And judging from the stillness of the streets and the fearful looks of the guards in the distance... It seemed that he was the only one who could hear the noise.


    All of this gave him some grave suspicions... He feared he might have been marked by the creature inside the theater.


    To flee was futile in the face of these things.


    Ivan and Anthony''s Storage Rings were temporarily inaccessible, but he still had the Knowledge Crystal Ball that Erica had given him!


    The knowledge inside it was scarce and fragmented, but there might be records relevant to his current situation.


    But at this moment, without any knowledge, he didn''t know where to start searching; he would need to first understand the situation at the theater.


    As he thought, he accelerated his flight.


    Before long, he could see Connie''s figure, preparing to land.


    But just at that moment!


    The strange sound from the theater suddenly ceased¡­ The nauseating aura pervading the surroundings also began to fade. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A hint of confusion appeared on Colin''s face as he slowly descended.

 Chapter 156 - 138: Changes Inside the Theater

    "Lord Colin!"


    Connie looked up at Colin, who had landed in front of her, her eyes slightly widened in disbelief and filled with surprise.


    "Um." Colin looked at her and nodded slightly, then his expression turned serious as he looked at the theater.


    The snow had already stopped, and without realizing it, the wind also seemed to have quietly ceased.


    On the open ground in front of the theater, Silver-armored Guards were scattered around the tall entrance hall, their expressions solemn. Scanning the area, Colin did not see Wild.


    He paused and asked, "Connie, where is His Majesty the King?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If one wanted to quickly understand the situation in the theater, aside from Ivan and Anthony, the best person to ask was undoubtedly King Wild.


    Upon hearing this, concern flashed across Connie''s face, and she turned to look at the theater, speaking softly,


    "My father and Hayden entered the theater."


    Entered the theater...


    "When?" Colin pressed.


    "Just after the sound from the theater stopped," Connie replied.


    After the sound had stopped... that meant they had just gone in not long ago.


    Hm?


    Suddenly, Colin turned his head to look at the theater entrance.


    There, amidst a commotion among the Silver-armored Guards, Wild and Hayden emerged together!


    Wild was in front, head bowed, his expression grave, still showing traces of fright, as if he had seen something unbelievable.


    "Dad," Connie said softly.


    Perhaps Wild was still caught up in the anger or the scenes he had witnessed inside the theater, he only bowed his head, deep in thought, and did not respond.


    "Dad¡ª" Connie repeated, "Lord Colin has returned."


    "Connie, don''t disturb..." Wild looked up, saying instinctively, his gaze somewhat vacant.


    But the next moment, when he saw Colin, his eyes suddenly focused, and a flicker of joy emerged from deep within.


    "Lord Colin!" he hurriedly greeted.


    "Your Majesty," Colin responded, then, still focused on the theater, he asked, "What exactly is the situation here?"


    Wild, seeing him ask proactively, felt even more incredulous.


    He had thought Colin might have left earlier¡­


    "What''s going on? Hurry and explain it to me briefly," Colin urged.


    Though the banging sound had disappeared and everything seemed over,


    he was not taking it lightly.


    Whether he had to interfere or not, he first needed to understand the current situation, to clarify his own position and comprehend why he could hear the sound from such a far distance...


    After understanding, if this crisis was beyond his ability, he wouldn''t recklessly show off.


    But if it was within his power, he couldn''t stand by and do nothing.


    After all, this was his steadfast human nature, his bottom line, the only beacon anchoring his heart in this world filled with murky darkness.


    ''Knowledge''s end is mysterious¡­ and the only light that can anchor rationality is human nature.''


    He hadn''t forgotten this proverb, widely circulated in the Wizard World, which he had once mentioned to Regina.


    If he left out of fear without understanding anything, he would definitely regret it.


    Wild didn''t delay any further and organized his words to tell Colin everything he knew.


    A moment later, Colin nodded slightly, digesting what Wild had said.


    Clearly, this was a typical sacrificial event, but the specific object of the sacrifice was unknown; it could be divine, or perhaps a demon, or even some unknown entity.


    However, judging by the quantity of the sacrifice, the "thing" summoned should not be very powerful... Colin breathed a sigh of relief.


    But to be certain, more information was needed.


    With a thought, Colin took out the Knowledge Crystal Ball.


    The McIntosh Wizard Tower had been unmanaged for too long, and the tower spirit had been in a state of insufficient origin energy for a long time... To reduce the burden, the knowledge stored inside the tower spirit had long since dwindled.


    Later, after the two raids by the Blackstone Family and Wizard Lap, as well as the mutual consumption with Erica...


    By the time Erica gifted it to him, the Knowledge Crystal Ball only contained fragmented knowledge, mainly about Magic Potions.


    Other knowledge, such as Magic Meditation, was basically absent.


    But, assuming a dead horse as a living one, he would search first, and if nothing was found, then he would think of other solutions.


    Night... prostitute... female... thirteen... dismembered body... eyeballs... Tower of Flesh...


    Colin carefully sifted through the information.


    Soon, a fragment of information entered his mind.


    "Conor Reeves Tower?" he murmured.


    A demon named Conor Reeves, known for spreading cruel rituals among humans...


    As if recalling something else, Colin looked up at the apprehensive Wild and asked,


    "You mentioned there''s been a new change inside the theater... What exactly has changed?"


    Wild paused at his words and let out a soft breath, saying,


    "Lord Colin, it''s hard to accurately describe in words. If you want to understand the specific situation, it might be best for you to see it on-site."


    Colin pondered for a moment and nodded, "Let''s go."


    "May I come along with you, Lord Colin?" Connie interjected from the side.


    Wild turned his head to look at her, his eyes clearly expressing deterrence.


    He didn''t want Connie involved in these matters.


    Connie smoothed out a lock of hair by her ear, turned her head, and focused on Colin, pretending not to notice Wild''s expression.

 Chapter 157 - 138: Changes Inside the Theater_2

    "Sure," Colin replied.


    Then he looked at her with a serious tone, "But you must understand, Connie, this is your own choice, and whatever the consequences, you must bear them yourself."


    Although Wild and the others had just come out from there with a high likelihood of safety, some things still needed to be clarified in advance.


    "Okay, Sir Colin," Connie paused before responding.


    Colin nodded, then they both walked towards the interior of the theater.


    "Sir Colin, are you planning to go to the Holy Flame Kingdom afterwards?" Wild asked Colin on the way.


    "Yes," Colin nodded and added, "Thanks to Connie for providing the horses."


    "No need for thanks," Connie quickly responded, her face beaming with a smile.


    Wild looked at her helplessly, then turned to Colin and hesitated before continuing,


    "Sir Colin, perhaps I have a better way to reach the Holy Flame Kingdom."


    A better way?


    Colin stopped and turned to look at Wild.


    Wild paused before he continued.


    "Sir Colin, according to my method, perhaps you could reach the Holy Flame Kingdom by tomorrow¡­"


    "What will I need to pay?" Colin interrupted him.


    "No, no¡­" Wild hurriedly waved his hands, sincerely saying, "You don''t have to give anything, I just have a small request¡­ Of course, this request doesn''t affect anything, whether you agree to it or not, I will still tell you this method truthfully."


    "Okay," Colin nodded, then quickly added, "I know your request."


    Wild''s request was merely for him to help take care of the theater¡­ which wasn''t contradictory to his own plans.


    He wasn''t in a hurry to know what the better method to the Holy Flame Kingdom was, he continued,


    "Let''s first go and see the scene."


    Joy clearly appeared on Wild''s face.


    "Yes," he replied curtly, containing his emotions.


    Passing through a narrow passage, they saw the stage of the theater.


    Colin looked around, then paced towards the stage to closely inspect it, before turning to Wild to ask.


    "Are you sure what you saw previously was a tower of flesh made from arms and legs, with countless eyes at the very top?"


    "I''m sure, Sir Colin," Wild responded without hesitation.


    Looking around, Colin frowned slightly.


    The spacious theater, neatly arranged in arcs of red upholstered chairs, the natural wood stage, and the thick dark red curtains behind it.


    Everything seemed ordinary¡­ yet, where the Tower of Conor Reeves should have stood complete on the stage, now there was only a dark brown mottled bloodstain.


    Swoosh!


    Detect Evil!


    A magical light poured from his palm, spreading around.


    The next second, some dark red traces quietly emerged.


    "What is this?" Wild''s pupils shrank.


    Connie swallowed her saliva.


    The scene in the theater was overall less disgusting than she had imagined, with no severed limbs, just a large pool of dark brown mottled bloodstains.


    Yet, this terrifying bloodstain, combined with the empty, dimly lit theater hall, sent shivers down one''s spine.


    It felt as though creepy eyes might be hidden behind each red upholstered chair, in each dark shadowy corner, and even on the ancient ceiling, secretly watching you.


    Colin frowned slightly, observing carefully.


    The dark red trace, starting from where Conor Reeves previously was, spread towards the heavy curtains behind the stage.


    If it wasn''t for the wooden stage''s natural wood color showing no bloodstains, he might think that the Tower of Conor Reeves had suddenly become sentient and decided to move toward the curtains behind the stage.


    No¡­no, the absence of bloodstains didn''t necessarily mean no passage¡­


    At that moment, as if to verify his guess.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Like a breeze across a wheat field, that dark red curtain moved without wind, rippling.


    Colin''s expression tightened and he subconsciously extended his right hand.


    Buzz¡ª


    A black scepter engraved with dark golden patterns appeared in his hand.


    Immediately, a flash of Spiritual Light passed.


    He fortified himself with a Steel Temperature Resistance Field, equivalent to a First Rank Basic Level witchcraft.


    Seeming to think of something, he once again swung the Foolishness Scepter, blessing Connie and her father with a Steel Temperature Resistance Field.


    "Leave quickly," he ordered in a deep voice.


    A sense of discomfort transmitted vaguely from his soul grew stronger...


    Behind that curtain, there must be something!


    It was at this time that Colin finally confirmed that he had indeed been targeted by the inexplicable presence in the theater.


    Immense malice brewed behind the curtain, concentrating on him like a bone-deep carbuncle!


    "Yes!" Wild did not hesitate and quickly pulled Connie along as they made their way back by a longer route.


    The empty theater was eerily quiet, filled only with the sounds of Wild and Connie''s footsteps and their panting.


    They had yet to reach the passageway on the left side of the audience area.


    Bang!


    Colin swung his hand, sending a blazing Fireball towards the curtain behind the stage in a probing attack.


    The Fireball broke and ignited the dark red curtain like tinder in a fierce fire!


    Using the blazing light, Colin clearly saw that behind the curtain of the stage there was nothing.


    The next moment.


    Hiss!!


    A creepy sound transmitted, and Colin''s hair stood on end.


    The sound was coming from the ceiling!


    He stepped to the left and looked up.


    A creature made of countless limbs and severed arms appeared in his vision!


    Upon closer inspection, that creature''s exposed skin was densely embedded with countless eyeballs, almost one every few inches!


    All those eyeballs, originally tightly closed, now opened widely due to the assault, with bloodshot whites and black pupils moving chaotically, finally focusing on Colin.


    At that instant, an invisible mental assault was released.


    The residual impact spread, causing Wild and Connie, not far away, to suddenly groan and stagger a bit.


    However, it seemed that the Steel Temperature Resistance Field was effective as they paused only briefly before continuing to run outside.


    But Colin, who bore the brunt, was not so fortunate, his face deathly pale, with fresh blood leaking from the corner of his mouth and a buzzing noise in his head.


    Among the original witchcraft that made up the Steel Temperature Resistance Field, only the Hope Defense Field had some minor mental defense effects.


    Facing the multieyed limb creature''s attack now revealed this vulnerability undoubtedly.


    Boom!


    The multieyed limb creature viciously lunged forward but missed, crashing into the stage and smashing the wooden floor into a large pit.


    Though Colin was affected by the mental assault, his body continued the dodging maneuver, and the reflexes of an Ultimate Knight enabled him to perfectly evade.


    The multieyed limb creature adjusted its posture and turned its "guns" again towards Colin.


    Its eyeballs began to whirl chaotically again.


    This couldn''t go on!


    At this sight, Colin bit hard on the tip of his tongue, the pain in his body slightly alleviating the dizziness in his brain.


    Without hesitation, he swung the Foolishness Scepter, increasing the cost paid!


    The next moment!


    A fireball the size of a person shot rapidly towards the multieyed limb creature.


    Bang!!


    Flames soared up, forming a giant sphere that enveloped the multieyed limb creature.


    The flesh of those limbs charred instantly under the scorching flames; the creature, in agonizing pain, thrashed wildly trying to extinguish the flames, desperately struggling and flailing its multitude of arms and legs, running in all directions.


    But under Colin''s control, the flames clung to it like a stubborn disease, always enveloping it.


    In just a short while, the multieyed limb creature gradually lost its life force, collapsing in the corner of the stage, curled into a ball and burned by the flames.


    By now, several spots on the stage had caught fire, but Colin waved his hand to extinguish them, focusing his energy on burning the multieyed limb creature until it was completely reduced to charred ashes before he ceased.


    This creature was weaker than he had envisioned.


    If one disregarded the mental attack, it seemed to have only the power of a Peak Apprentice...


    Or to put it another way, the mental attack was perhaps just about the level of a Peak Wizard Apprentice, but because it specifically targeted his vulnerability, it felt formidable. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what exactly was this multieyed limb creature?


    The information recorded in the Knowledge Crystal Ball did not mention that the Tower of Conor Reeves'' ritualistic Flesh Tower could become animate?


    Moreover... this creature lacked the distinctive aura of a demon.


    Slowly stepping forward, Colin approached the remains of the multieyed limb creature.

 Chapter 158 - 139 Temporary Stay and Gratitude

    Approaching, Colin''s eyes were met with a half-person-sized clump of charred embers.


    It was the remains of the multi-eyed arthropod monster after it had been burned by flames.


    It seemed that the burning had been too thorough, and despite Colin''s repeated examinations, he was not able to glean any useful information.


    He stood up and once again waved his scepter.


    Swish¡ª


    A glow from the Detect Evil witchcraft shone from the tip of the dark gold-patterned scepter, spreading rapidly in all directions. With his full magical powers, the light soon covered the entire theater.


    Colin carefully scanned the surroundings, but the empty theater revealed no further traces of anything abnormal.


    Still not reassured, he waved the Foolishness Scepter once again, slightly increasing the cost.


    The enhanced Detect Evil witchcraft swept over the entire theater.


    The results remained unchanged; there were still no signs of anything abnormal.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then closed his eyes again.


    The sense of discomfort that had originally lingered in his soul had also vanished without a trace.


    It seemed... the incident at the theater had been resolved.


    At that moment.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Suddenly, orderly footsteps resounded from the theater corridor, mixed with the sounds of metal armor colliding.


    The next second, Hayden and the commander of the Yili Knight Order led a squad of knights running out from the passage.


    "Sir Colin," Hayden said, scanning the area and feeling somewhat relieved.


    He then spoke to Colin, "His Majesty the King has ordered us to come and assist."


    Although he said this, Hayden knew in his heart that his men were more likely sent as cannon fodder.


    But it seemed that the situation in the theater had already been brought under control.


    "The monster has been taken care of; clean up the battlefield," Colin directed.


    Upon hearing this, Hayden completely relaxed.


    "Yes, sir!" he answered, bowing his head, then turning to walk towards the commander of the knights, presumably to delegate tasks.


    Meanwhile, Colin quickly headed towards the theater exit.


    Since his arrival at Blackstone Island, he had encountered countless incidents, many of which were inexplicable.


    Like the incident at the Yili Kingdom theater, if it could no longer be detected with current methods and his strength, then lingering here would be a needless worry, serving no significant purpose.


    Rather, it was better to hasten his travel to the Holy Flame Kingdom and fulfill the promise he made to Erica as soon as possible, to head towards the jurisdiction of the Wizard Alliance.


    Miracle City... He had long been looking forward to it.


    Exiting the theater, Wild was anxiously waiting outside. Seeing Colin emerge, Wild''s eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly greeted,


    "Sir Colin!"


    "The situation inside...?"


    "It has been resolved," Colin nodded and then added, "At least, with my current methods, I can no longer detect anything out of the ordinary."


    Wild nodded, finally allowing his expression to relax.


    He then said, "Sir Colin, the Yili Kingdom will remember your assistance today."


    Colin observed Wild''s face, suddenly smiled, and said, "Just don''t blame me for killing your Yili Kingdom''s Sacrificial Wizard."


    Wild''s expression shifted, and he replied with an awkward smile, "Of course not." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin let the matter go with just a smile and continued, "Tell me, what was the better way to travel to the Holy Flame Kingdom you mentioned before?"


    Wild collected himself and, glancing around, said, "It''s bitterly cold outside; how about we move to a more comfortable spot in the Palace where I can..."


    "No need," Colin cut him off, "I am in a hurry."


    Wild paused, then went on to explain, "Sir Colin, this is the situation."


    "The better method I mentioned is that, by coincidence, a merchant caravan''s Flying Airship will be passing through the Yili Kingdom tomorrow for supplies, and their next route happens to go by the Holy Flame Kingdom."


    "If I remember correctly, wizards have previously taken flights with this caravan''s Flying Airship. As a wizard, you should also be able to board their Flying Airship directly with a Magic Stone and travel to the Holy Flame Kingdom."


    "If you can board the Flying Airship... with its speed, we should arrive at the Holy Flame Kingdom by tomorrow evening."


    Wild smiled, "If you want to take the merchant caravan''s Flying Airship, then you will have to wait until tomorrow morning."


    "So... if you would like, you may continue to stay at the Palace tonight."


    Colin did not reply but first asked, "Are you certain the caravan will arrive in the Yili Kingdom on time tomorrow?"


    Wild nodded without hesitation, "For nearly ten years, every three months, they have never changed their schedule."


    In fact, he wasn''t sure if that Flying Airship belonged to a merchant caravan or what it was for...


    But indeed, it had arrived punctually every three months, and wandering wizards had indeed hitched rides using a Magic Stone.


    However, to be on the safe side, Wild added, "If by some chance the Flying Airship does not arrive on schedule tomorrow... the Yili Royal Family owns a batch of Demon Beast hybrid horses. I am willing to gift two of them to you, sir.


    With their speed, heading to the Holy Flame Kingdom would be at least two or three days faster than riding the normal horses previously provided."


    Colin nodded slightly in response.


    "So Sir Colin, will you stay at the Palace tonight?" Wild continued to inquire.


    Naturally, he wished for Colin to stay at the Palace... or at the very least to remain in the Yili Kingdom tonight.


    On one hand, he wanted to cultivate a good relationship with Colin, and on the other, he wanted to see if Chaniuka City... would continue to experience anomalies this evening.


    After a pause for thought, Colin nodded, "That''s fine."

 Chapter 159 - 139 Temporary Stay and Thanks_2

    If there really was a Flying Airship, then it would clearly be his best option.


    Twenty minutes later.


    Outside the Guest House in Yili Palace.


    King Wild, along with Colin, stepped down from the carriage.


    "Master Colin, we''ve arrived at the Guest House, your room is the same one as last time... As for your maid, Knight Hayden has already gone to the North City Gate to call for her, she should arrive shortly."


    "Mm." Colin nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.


    Wild paused, then added, "I don''t know if you''re free this evening, but I''d like to invite you to dine with us."


    At this point, he stopped again and supplemented, "Connie will also be joining us for dinner."


    Connie, who was standing beside them, first looked puzzled, then her heart skipped a beat, she smoothed her hair, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    She only admired Colin and had no other intentions.


    "There''s no need." Colin shook his head to decline.


    With such time, it would be better to properly sort out the items he had obtained today from Yili and Anthony.


    Wild kept a calm expression and nodded, not saying anything more.


    His words were merely a polite gesture.


    "Master Colin, then I will take my leave. When the merchant convoy arrives tomorrow, I will have someone inform you."


    After speaking, he turned his head to the stunned Connie and softly signaled, "Quickly say goodbye to Master Colin."


    Connie snapped back to reality and said, "Goodbye, Master Colin."


    "Goodbye."


    Wild smiled, bowed again to Colin, and then turned with Connie to board the carriage.


    Click¡ª


    The carriage door closed, blocking the outside view, and Wild''s smile gradually disappeared, turning cold.


    Gee up!


    The coachman cracked his whip.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    The luxurious carriage sped away on the neat cobblestone road, leaving the Guest House far behind.


    After a while, they came to an intersection.


    Inside the carriage, Wild''s worried and icy expression softened slightly, he lifted the curtain, and spoke to the coachman in front,


    "Detour to the Wizard Palace."


    "Yes, Your Majesty." The coachman pulled the reins, steering left to the palace where Ivan and Anthony had lived.


    Dropping the dark gold curtain, Wild sighed softly.


    Although the theater incident had been resolved, Yili Kingdom''s two Sacrificial Wizards, Ivan and Anthony, were both dead...


    And if nothing unexpected happened, Colin would leave tomorrow.


    If Yili Kingdom encountered another strange incident after his departure,


    Then he could only hope for paid assistance from nearby Schools, like the other weaker neighboring kingdoms.


    However, the assistance of Schools was unreliable, whether in terms of time, effectiveness, or other aspects, it wasn''t as convenient and effective as having his own Sacrificial Wizard.


    Just the time it took was a difficult issue to address.


    If faced with a strange incident,


    Yili Kingdom would first need to convey the message of the incident to a School...


    If sent to the nearest School and the messenger rode a Demon Beast hybrid horse bred by the Royal Family, it would take at least twenty days one way.


    Thus, a round trip would take at least forty days, and that''s assuming the School immediately sent someone.


    Usually, Schools could not dispatch someone right away, and so the whole process could take at least two months...


    Of course, there were other ways to inform the Schools, but they would still take at least half a month at a minimum.


    Half a month... many strange incidents could undergo significant changes in even an hour, let alone half a month. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wild couldn''t help but sigh once again.


    He couldn''t claim he didn''t resent Colin.


    But... that was all he could afford, resentment; holding a grudge was useless... and he didn''t dare to.


    Some time passed.


    The carriage slowed down, arriving at the Wizard Palace.


    Wild got out of the carriage.


    He was here to properly secure the items left by Ivan and Anthony for future use.


    Approaching the palace gate, Hayden took a step forward and knocked vigorously on the door.


    Before long, a shapely female knight opened the door.


    This was the same female knight who had opened the door for them earlier in the day.


    Wild didn''t remember her name... after all, she was merely one of Anthony''s playthings.


    "Your Majesty, the King." The female knight greeted calmly, bowing slightly as usual, and then was about to refuse the King''s visit.


    "Ivan and Lord Anthony..."


    Wild was anxious and did not wish to engage in more conversation, turning to Hayden and signaling slightly.


    Understanding the cue, Hayden stepped forward, forcefully moving the female knight aside to clear the doorway.


    "You?!" The female knight looked shocked and angry, glaring at Hayden. Her face, which had a certain beauty, was now distorted with rage.


    She instinctively wanted to strike back, but soon came to her senses and stopped herself.


    Although she was a Knight just like Hayden, she was merely a Basic Level Knight who had been artificially enhanced with witchcraft, while Hayden was a battle-hardened Great Knight... They were not comparable.


    She frowned, looking away from Hayden and turning to Wild, "Your Majesty Wild, you''re just going to watch your Knight treat me this way... What do you think Lord Anthony would think if he knew?"


    Wild frowned, growing increasingly impatient.


    These women always thought that by having a Wizard as support, they could do as they please, but in reality, everyone knew they were nothing more than playthings.


    If there was a real conflict, Anthony would never fall out with him over such a trifle...

 Chapter 160 - 139 Temporary Stay and Thanks_3

    He did not wish to waste words, simply continuing to walk forward on his own.


    Hayden followed closely behind, whispering to her as they passed,


    "Anthony and Ivan are both already dead."


    The female knight was first shocked, then incredulous, and her face soon turned ashen.


    "Dead? How is that possible?!"


    "Anthony and Sir Ivan had just gone out at noon today, and it isn''t even evening yet..."


    Ahead, Wild overheard the female knight''s mutter and suddenly stopped. He turned to look at her, puzzled, and asked,


    "After leaving with us at noon, didn''t Ivan and Anthony return to the Palace?"


    At this point, the female knight was already panic-stricken. Seeing that Wild had questioned her, she quickly knelt on the ground, trembling as she responded,


    "Your Majesty the King, after Anthony... and Ivan went with you at noon, they did not return."


    Upon hearing this, Wild furrowed his brows.


    He remembered that after checking the tower of flesh and blood at the theater, Anthony and Ivan had spoken to him about needing to return here to take some necessary ceremonial items.


    Considering the length of time since they had left, they should have had more than enough time to return...


    They hadn''t come back at all?


    Wild felt a sudden surge in his heart and quickened his pace to Ivan''s residence.


    After a thorough search, he found virtually nothing of value left inside, only some daily necessities such as bedding linens.


    Seeing this scene, a dreadful guess slowly emerged in his mind.


    Wild''s back broke out in a cold sweat.


    At that time, Ivan and Anthony had not come back to take any items needed for the ceremony at all! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instead, they had already left quietly!


    He opened his mouth, taking light breaths.


    If it hadn''t been for Colin, if Colin hadn''t returned...


    "Hayden, prepare the carriage, to the Guest House.


    I must properly thank Lord Colin!"


    Wild let out a deep breath, his expression solemn as he instructed the knight Hayden outside the door, relief filling his tired eyes.


    ...


    The Guest House.


    It was still the two-story western-style building at the end of the long corridor.


    Even the serving maid staying there was the same one as before.


    Walking to the door, the reception maid slowly stopped, took out a key from around her waist, and gently unlocked the door.


    Then, she took down the key, turned around, and presented it to Colin with both hands respectfully.


    "Here''s your key, sir."


    "Mm." Colin took the key and stepped inside.


    "Sir," the reception maid Qiong suddenly asked, "Would you need dinner?"


    She bowed her head slightly, not daring to meet Colin''s gaze, feeling somewhat apprehensive.


    She had thought Colin had left, but to her surprise, he had returned to the Guest House by the afternoon.


    Moreover, this time she saw clearly that it was King Wild himself who had personally escorted this wizard, his expression filled with great respect.


    She couldn''t help but feel a bit worried.


    Although last time, at the end, she had asked Kathy to go to the kitchen to get dinner for Colin and others, her initial attitude hadn''t been very good...


    Qiong bowed her head, waiting for Colin''s response.


    But at that moment.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Clear footsteps echoed in the corridor.


    Colin looked up and slightly raised an eyebrow as King Wild and Hayden approached.


    "Lord Colin," Wild came forward, smiled ruefully, and said, "After much thought, you saved Chaniuka City, and even the whole Yili Kingdom; how can I not properly thank you!"


    "Of course, I know you, Lord Colin, are focused on your practice, so my thanks won''t involve a banquet or anything like that..."


    Pausing there, he continued, "Do you know why the Yili Kingdom was able to employ two wizards?"

 Chapter 161 - 140 Life Tower and Breathing Skill

    Colin shook his head.


    "Words alone can''t explain," said Wild with a mysterious smile,


    "but this is the gift I wish to thank you with."


    "Please come with me¡­ It will take no more than an hour of your time."


    At this point, despite hesitating, Colin decided to follow Wild''s steps.


    To be honest, he was also curious about how the Yili Kingdom had managed to recruit two Sacrificial Wizards.


    They walked through the hallways and climbed into a carriage.


    Ten minutes later, the ornately decorated carriage slowed and eventually stopped.


    Colin stepped down from the carriage and was met with the sight of a luxurious palace.


    "This is the former residence of the wizards Ivan and Anthony," Wild explained as he led Colin inside.


    Soon, the pair approached an ancient, gray building deep within the palace grounds.


    Narrow windows, a semicircular archway, and a low dome¡ªthis was a typical tower.


    The mottled exterior was covered with green ivy, and nearby, white roses swayed in the breeze.


    No guards were stationed here, and Wild took the initiative to open the iron-bound wooden door for Colin.


    The two walked in side by side, with Hayden remaining outside.


    To Colin''s surprise, the interior of the tower wasn''t dim. Two large beeswax candles cast a bright light all around.


    Looking around with the help of the light,


    a soft, sophisticated gray velvet carpet lay in the center, covering almost two-thirds of the area, encircled by obsidian-like interior walls that shimmered faintly under the candlelight.


    Besides these, there was nothing else.


    No... there was also an attic.


    Colin looked toward the spiral staircase built against the curved inner wall.


    "The second floor is just a resting room," Wild explained in a timely manner.


    Colin shifted his gaze.


    "To save your time, I''ll cut to the chase."


    "This place is known as the Life Tower. Since the inception of the Yili royal family, except for those who met accidents, nearly all royal family members have lived at least eighty years.


    Half of them lived past the age of one hundred due to this very Life Tower."


    Colin nodded slightly.


    Although Great Knights were not uncommon in this world, he had the Golden Paper, whereas many others relied on life transformation by Wizards.


    True breakthroughs on one''s own as a Great Knight were rare.


    Typically, only those who naturally break through could live nearly 150 years, while most life-transformed Great Knights lived much less than 150 years.


    Some even less than a century.


    So, for the common man, living to the age of one hundred was considered an exceptionally long life.


    "Lord Colin, please focus your mind and feel," Wild reminded him again.


    Colin obediently half-closed his eyes to concentrate.


    In an instant, the sounds of the burning beeswax candles, the friction of Wild''s clothes, and the scent of roses brought by the wind through the narrow windows¡­ all came to mind.


    As he concentrated, a strange breath suddenly appeared.


    It was as elusive as morning mist and as regular as tidal waves at sea, but most importantly, it was filled with a vibrant, budding-sprout-like vitality.


    It seemed that Wild noticed Colin had felt it.


    Wild spoke, "The Life Tower is just an ordinary tower. What makes it special is the unique life force present here."


    Colin opened his eyes.


    Wild handed him a prepared leather scroll.


    "This is a Nameless Knight Breathing Skill, discovered simultaneously by the ancestors of the Yili royal family when they found this place."


    "The Life Tower does have life-extending properties, but they are not strong. A common person living here would, at most, gain only two to three more years of life through gradual influence."


    "However, if one practices this Nameless Breathing Skill along with living here, even those not becoming Great Knights can mostly reach the age of one hundred!"


    Colin listened as he looked through the scroll that Wild narrated.


    Although Wild''s words were tempting, he knew that lifespan was not only limited by the body but also by the spirit.


    Between the two, the spirit has the higher priority.


    If one''s spirit was sufficient, with his current life strength, he could live for at least two hundred years.


    Merely increasing life strength was of little use to him.


    But if Wizards could stay here, it might also provide benefits to the spirit¡­


    Colin was amazed.


    Then, Wild smiled and added, "Of course, that''s the effect for common people¡­ As for Wizards, I''ve heard Lord Ivan say, if they practice the Nameless Breathing Skill here long-term¡­ they could extend their lives by two to three years."


    Two to three years¡­


    It didn''t sound like much, but if it were the day near death, even one more day could drive one to madness!


    However, for him now, this seemed somewhat negligible.


    After all, to extend life, one needed not only to learn the breathing skill, but also to persist for a long time¡­


    Seemingly noticing his uncertainty, Wild spoke again:


    "Lord Colin, I''m not jesting here. To gain the life-extending effects of the Life Tower, there is also another, quicker method."


    He reached into his coat and pulled out a semi-transparent stone, its smooth surface shining under the candlelight.


    A hint of pain flashed through Wild''s eyes. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is a Life Seed left by an ancestor of the royal family who broke through to become a Great Knight through the Nameless Breathing Skill.


    It allows one to temporarily possess the absorption ability of the Nameless Breathing Skill, and the first practice here in the Life Tower yields the best results."

 Chapter 162 - 140 Life Tower and Breathing Skill_2

    "If a lifetime of practice here could extend one''s life by ten years, then the life span extended by the first practice must account for at least two to three years."


    This is actually a Life Seed...


    Colin reached out to take the semi-transparent Life Seed from Wild, and only now, holding it in his hand for a careful look, did he realize¡ª


    The Life Seed felt more like a crystal with lower transparency, and its shape was not irregular... The whole was diamond-shaped, and its surface seemed to have countless facets like a diamond from a previous life.


    Neither the original owner of the body nor he had much knowledge about knights.


    So... he did not know whether it was this Breathing Skill that was special, or if other knights also had such a "stone" formed inside them after breaking through to become a Great Knight.


    But at least the Sunlight Breathing Technique he practiced did not have such a tangible "Life Seed."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty Wild," Colin said, pausing before asking, "How should I use this Life Seed?"


    Although according to the initial effectiveness of about thirty percent, the life span he had extended this time was at most one year... but who would complain about having too much life?


    "Just place it in front of your chest and concentrate," Wild answered.


    Colin nodded, walked to the middle of the carpet, sat down, and did as Wild had said, placing the semi-transparent Life Seed in front of his chest, then slightly closing his eyes.


    Perhaps it was because a wizard''s spirit was strong, he felt the Life Seed on his chest warming up instantly.


    Immediately afterward, he himself seemed to become a black hole, with an invisible vortex forming around him as the center on the first floor of the tower.


    Like this, about half an hour passed.


    Colin slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.


    Looking down, he saw that the semi-transparent Life Seed in his hand had now turned to dust.


    Unconsciously, he opened Golden Paper.


    "Master Colin, how do you feel?" Wild, who had been waiting for a while, asked with a smile.


    "Not bad," Colin replied, but his attention was not on Wild.


    Light golden particles gathered, and the semi-transparent Golden Paper appeared in front of him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He scanned carefully from top to bottom.


    In the section of the Breathing Skill, a new line of text slowly emerged¡ª[Nameless Breathing Skill (36/100)]


    Colin was not surprised; after all, when using the Life Seed, he was running the Nameless Breathing Skill, which was tantamount to practicing it, so it was normal for it to be recorded on Golden Paper now.


    It''s just that the progress was a bit more than he had expected.


    With a thought, Colin renamed it¡ª[Yili Breathing Method (36/100)] and then put away Golden Paper.


    He did not pay much attention to the Breathing Skill, after all, it was just a Breathing Skill dedicated to life extension at the Life Tower.


    But out of consideration for collecting knowledge.


    He still carefully memorized the Breathing Skill from the parchment scroll, before returning the brown scroll to Wild.


    After doing all this, the two walked out side by side.


    "Master Colin, do you have any other plans after going to the Holy Flame Kingdom?" Wild asked casually on the way.


    "I''ll think about the next steps after I reach the Holy Flame Kingdom," Colin said with a smile, revealing no more information.


    Wild nodded and then said, "Welcome to come back again... Yili Kingdom will always welcome your arrival."


    Then he shifted the conversation:


    "This time, using the Life Tower has only about a thirty percent effect. If you have a chance to come to Yili Kingdom again in the future, you are welcome to come to the Life Tower again... If you are willing, you can also consider residing in Yili Kingdom for the long term."


    "By that, I mean, perhaps you could consider becoming the new Sacrificial Wizard of Yili Kingdom," Wild cut to the chase.


    In fact, aside from feeling grateful, another consideration for bringing Colin to the Life Tower was indeed this reason.


    The original Sacrificial Wizard of Yili Kingdom had died, and naturally, they needed to find a new Sacrificial Wizard.


    Given the current situation, there was no one more suitable than Colin.


    Colin smiled slightly, declining:


    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty Wild, I''m used to being free on my own and don''t wish to become a Sacrificial Wizard."


    He had anticipated Wild''s request.


    Although the life-extending effects of the Life Tower were good, apart from the first time, subsequent life extension required frequent practice, even better if one could practice every day... the cost was too high.


    The maximum life extension was only about two years... the cost-effectiveness was really not high.


    Only wizards like Anthony, who no longer had hope for the future, would choose to retire here.


    Furthermore, there were probably other limitations of the Life Tower that had not been disclosed to him.


    Otherwise, Yili Kingdom would not have been able to possess the Life Tower for so long.


    Wild wanted to persuade him further, but looking up at Colin''s serious expression, he sighed silently in his heart and chose to give up.


    "Master Colin, then I won''t disturb you further. When the Flying Airship arrives tomorrow, I will come to inform you."


    Upon leaving the palace, Wild and Colin said goodbye.


    "Alright," Colin nodded, turned, and boarded another carriage to return to the Guest House.


    The next day.


    The mansion at the Guest House.


    Around ten o''clock in the morning.


    Knock knock knock¡ª


    A rhythmic knocking sounded.


    Renee, who was resting downstairs, got up to open the door.


    "Your Majesty the King."


    "Hello," Wild said with a smile, "Is Master Colin here?"


    "Your Majesty Wild."


    At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the staircase.

 Chapter 163 - 140: Life Tower and Breathing Skill_3

    Colin walked down slowly as he looked at Wild and asked, "Has the Flying Airship arrived?"


    "Yes, Master Colin," Wild answered with a smile, nodding his head.


    He was in an exceptionally good mood.


    After Colin had dealt with the monster in the theater, last night there had been no more death occurrences in Chaniuka City.


    The peculiar incident had indeed been successfully resolved!


    The removal of this great danger from his mind even made him no longer regret Colin''s departure.


    Therefore, as soon as the Flying Airship arrived today, he had come in person, without delay, to bid farewell to Colin.


    "Excellent." Colin showed a hint of surprise on his face at the news.


    Although he appeared calm on the surface, he still couldn''t help feeling anxious after hearing about the current situation in the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    If the Holy Flame Kingdom were to be defeated, not to mention the fate of the Royal Family.


    He would undoubtedly have to spend much more time on this issue.


    "Let''s not delay any further, let''s leave now," Colin urged.


    Wild naturally had no opposition.


    They stepped out of the villa and walked along the outdoor corridor.


    Colin needed no introduction from Wild; he spotted the Flying Airship in the sky at first glance.


    Its grey-black iron hull and streamlined body hovered silently in the sky, enough to leave people in awe.


    But in fact, the Flying Airship wasn''t very large, merely a size larger than his Sea Swallow.


    However, because its current flying altitude was quite low, it still appeared formidable.


    After all, there were many massive things on land, not to mention at sea... But it was not so in the sky, where massive things were rare.


    Taking a carriage, it was not long before


    Colin and his companions arrived at Palace Square.


    At that time, the Airship had already docked in the very center.


    A troop of Knights was busy transferring supplies from several huge carriages nearby, carrying them one by one into a massive storage compartment that had opened on the side of the Airship.


    Next to them, a middle-aged Wizard in a white robe supervised the work. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My lord, this is the Wizard I mentioned to you who wishes to board the Flying Airship," Wild introduced.


    "Very well," the Wizard in the white robe replied affably, his friendly demeanor becoming even more approachable with his smile.


    "Where does your excellence wish to travel?" he turned and asked Colin.


    "The Holy Flame Kingdom," Colin answered briefly.


    The Wizard in the white robe pondered for a moment before saying, "That will be 200 Magic Stones. What do you think?"


    200 Magic Stones¡­ were somewhat expensive.


    But time was more valuable than money.


    Colin nodded without hesitation: "No problem."


    "Good, we have almost finished replenishing supplies. If there is nothing else you need, you can now follow me onto the Airship to prepare for departure," the Wizard added.


    "Alright," Colin nodded.


    After bidding farewell to Wild, he followed the white-robed Wizard into the Flying Airship.


    "We''re here."


    In a short while, after navigating a narrow passage, the white-robed Wizard led them to a cramped cabin.


    "Please remain in the cabin as much as possible unless it is necessary, to avoid any needless trouble."


    "We are expected to arrive at the Royal Capital Lane of the Holy Flame Kingdom around three o''clock this afternoon."


    Colin nodded in acknowledgment, indicating he understood.


    The time he''d been on the ship was brief, but from his observations, it seemed this vessel was likely not any ordinary merchant ship.


    His cabin, though cramped, was equipped with a private washroom. Aside from the absence of a window, it lacked nothing.


    Unless something unexpected happened, he would not set foot outside the cabin before arriving at the Royal Capital Lane of the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    Fulfilling his promise to Erica was imminent, and he had no desire for further complications.

 Chapter 164 - 141 Royal Family and Knight

    Before long.


    The seat beneath him gave a slight shudder, and though there were no windows, Colin knew that the Flying Airship had taken off.


    He looked around more carefully.


    Grey-blue smooth steel walls, equally hard and cold grey-blue ceiling... S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it weren''t for the grey-white carpet underfoot, the soft brown couch he was sitting on, and other furnishings that were not exquisite but still comfortable, this place would give off the vibe of a closed prison.


    Lifting the hem of his Wizard Robe, Colin took a Pocket Watch from his shirt''s front pocket.


    It was exactly eleven o''clock in the morning.


    According to what the white-robed Wizard had said¡­ it should take about four more hours to arrive at the Holy Flame Kingdom''s Royal Capital Lane.


    Indeed¡­ no matter the world, when it comes to speed, aviation is always among the top modes of transportation.


    Colin silently praised to himself.


    He put away the Pocket Watch, his thoughts stirred, and he stood up to carefully check his surroundings, with Magic Power swirling in his hands.


    After observing a complete round, there were several obvious witchcraft fluctuations at some points on the cabin walls.


    But he wasn''t surprised.


    The white-robed Wizard had specially informed him before leaving that almost every place on the Flying Airship was closely monitored. He advised him to avoid using witchcraft as much as possible, or it might cause unnecessary trouble.


    Sitting back down on the couch, his thoughts moved again, and he took out two Storage Rings with different designs from his pocket.


    He began to concentrate on erasing the Spiritual Imprints originally left by Anthony and Ivan.


    Though witchcraft was monitored in the cabin, its main function was to detect witchcraft fluctuations, which did not hinder him from sorting through the items he had obtained from Ivan and Anthony.


    As for the brown bracelet and the triangle shuttle, he had already figured out their specific functions last night, and even understood their names well.


    This was mainly because these standard Witch Tools all had a simple explanation inscribed within them.


    He now finally understood why Anthony was so certain that he was only an Advanced Apprentice¡­


    It turned out that the disguise effect brought by the Audric fake crystal on his chest had been exposed by the Trojan Bracelet Type 2.


    Yes¡­ through the Trojan Bracelet, he had also learned the true name of the White Crystal Pendant on his chest.


    As for the Extreme Shadow Triangle Shuttle¡ª


    This black triangle shuttle was also a standard Witch Tool that was selling well in the Miracle City.


    Its function was simple yet powerful, to reduce friction during flight, thereby increasing the flying speed.


    It was a rather good Flying Witch Tool for Apprentices.


    So, as he thought and erased the Spiritual Imprints, time passed without his noticing.


    Suddenly, a sensation like popping bubbles came through, and the two Storage Rings in his hand immediately felt no longer cold and unyielding.


    Colin spread his spiritual power over them, rebranded them first, then stimulated the Magic Power towards the Storage Ring on the left.


    A space about five meters by five meters appeared in his mind¡­ with roughly the same height as well.


    He probed the other one next.


    The space inside was smaller, about three meters by five meters, and its height was only about two and a half meters.


    Compared to the Storage Ring Erica had given him, these two rings combined were not even half as large.


    He knew the longest side in his Storage Ring was nearly twenty meters, and the shortest was also ten meters.


    An hour later.


    Colin had sorted through everything inside the Storage Rings.


    It was no wonder that Ivan and Anthony, who had retired in Yili Kingdom, had only a little over seven hundred Magic Stones between them.


    However, Colin considered another possibility.


    It might be that the two of them spent all their wealth on the Trojan Bracelet and the Extreme Shadow Triangle Shuttle.


    Perhaps because they saw no hope for the future, they spent their savings on these two Witch Tools for reconnaissance and escape and chose a small country to indulge in pleasures.


    In addition, there were two books, one was a Life Transformation Technique with peculiar effects, and the other was a health maintenance notebook¡­


    That unnamed Life Transformation Technique was obviously Anthony''s collection, the effect of which could make ordinary women acquire the strength of a Basic Level Knight while also becoming fair-skinned, beautiful, shapely, and sweet.


    As for the health maintenance notebook, just as its name suggested, it was a notebook on health maintenance, with the main topics involving diet and daily health care.


    Other knowledge like witchcraft¡­ there wasn''t a book.


    To this, Colin wasn''t particularly surprised.


    If Anthony and Ivan had given up on advancing further as Wizards, then they wouldn''t learn new Wizard knowledge.


    And if they weren''t learning any new Wizard knowledge, then given the limited space in the Storage Ring, they naturally wouldn''t carry books on knowledge they had already mastered.


    After all, for Advanced Wizard Apprentices, as long as they had already mastered the knowledge, there was basically no need to review¡­ carrying the books or not didn''t matter.


    Besides, what could be considered useful were some Apprentice-period Magic Crystals, such as the Fireball Technique¡­ but the power was average and not much use for anything significant.


    After categorizing the useful items into his own Storage Ring, Colin leaned back on the couch and rested with closed eyes.


    Two hours later.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    The steel door was knocked upon.


    "Your Excellency, we''re nearing Holy Flame Capital Lane," came the voice of the white-robed Wizard from outside the door.


    Renee opened the door for him.


    "Good afternoon," Colin stood up from the couch, walked to the door, and greeted politely.


    "Good afternoon, Your Excellency," replied the white-robed Wizard with his ever calm demeanor.


    He paused and then continued,


    "Our observations indicate that war is breaking out in Holy Flame Capital Lane. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the Flying Airship will enter stealth mode and will not land."

 Chapter 165 - 141: The Royal Family and the Knight_2

    "If I''m not mistaken, you are an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, so you may need to fly down on your own."


    The wizard in the white robe took a gray cloth bag from his waist.


    "Of course, to show our apologies, we will refund you fifty Magic Stones."


    The Royal Capital of the Holy Flame Kingdom, Lane, had also fallen?


    Colin felt a sinking feeling in his heart as he took the Magic Stones.


    But hurrying was of no use at this moment. He gently exhaled and asked,


    "Why does a Wizard creation, the Flying Airship, need to avoid mundane wars?"


    Hearing this, the wizard in the white robe smiled meaningfully and said,


    "Do you not know, sir? The Supreme Council has decreed that Wizards may not intervene in mortal conflicts."


    "That''s true," Colin replied, his expression unchanging. "Don''t misunderstand me. I''m just here to visit an old friend in the Holy Flame Kingdom."


    Even though he said this, he had just arrived on the Siya Continent... and was unaware that the Wizard Alliance''s Supreme Council had such a regulation.


    The wizard in the white robe nodded amicably and continued,


    "Please follow me, sir."


    "I will take you to the hatch."


    After passing through a narrow corridor of grayish-blue steel, the wizard led him to a tall, tightly closed hatch.


    The howling wind passed through the solid steel plates.


    The wizard walked to the side of the hatch and touched the white crystal embedded there.


    After a moment, he said to Colin,


    "Please wait a moment, sir. The Flying Airship will soon reach above Holy Flame Capital Lane."


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, taking a deep breath to calm the anxiousness in his heart.


    Another moment passed.


    Suddenly, the wizard in the white robe spoke up,


    "Sir, please prepare yourself."


    "We have arrived above Lane. I will open the hatch for you."


    Colin nodded, took hold of Renee''s arm, while she held Demi in her embrace.


    Seeing that they were ready, the wizard didn''t delay any longer and touched the crystal, channeling Magic Power from his fingertips.


    "Farewell, sir. I wish you a smooth journey," he said with a gentle blessing.


    Click click click¡ª


    The sound of mechanical gears turning echoed.


    Whoosh¡ª


    A gust of fierce wind rushed in from the gap of the opening hatch, lifting the wisps of hair on his forehead.


    With a thought, the Extreme Shadow Triangle Shuttle appeared in his hand, followed by the release of the Flying and Diving Skill.


    Wrapped in the glow of witchcraft, his toes quietly left the ground, and he and the Renee sisters instantly hovered in midair.


    "Goodbye," Colin nodded to the wizard in the white robe as a sign of acknowledgment, then without any hesitation, flew out of the hatch.


    A magnificent seascape of clouds¡ªicy white ripples and golden light¡ªfilled his sight!


    This was a scene one could only witness on an airplane in his previous life...


    But in this life, in this world where mighty power was his own, such sights had become frequent views ever since he had learned the Flying and Diving Skill.


    While he wouldn''t say he was used to it, it certainly didn''t shock him as it had the first time.


    Swoosh!


    He carried Renee in a dive downward, plunging into the sea of clouds in the blink of an eye.


    The cotton-like clouds were not soft at all, but turned into white mist speeding past them.


    In no time, the white clouds thinned out.


    The shrunken earth appeared before him like a model.


    A quick glance from Colin locked onto the burning fires of the grey-black city below.


    ...


    Clang!


    In the palace''s inner hall, a Great Knight clad in heavy armor swung his giant sword forward, barely deflecting a blade aimed at King Delaisi.


    Then, with a backhand sweep, the blade''s edge slit through the vulnerable throat where the enemy knight''s helmet met the breastplate.


    Spurt!


    Blood gushed out, and the enemy knight screamed as he fell, becoming another nameless corpse at the feet of the Great Knight.


    The Great Knight gripped his sword, breathing heavily like a broken bellows, sweat streaming down to pool in transparent puddles at his feet.


    "Sir Burns... are you alright?" King Delaisi asked the knight before him, still shaken with concern.


    By his side, Queen Polly clung tightly to her son Gallagher. Feeling her son''s sobs, she couldn''t hold back her stern voice,


    "Burns, I command you to persevere. Don''t forget your oath; defend us with your life!"


    "Polly!" King Delaisi''s face showed anger.


    Startled, Prince Gallagher in Polly''s arms trembled, his crying growing louder.


    "Your Majesty!" Polly remonstrated.


    Burns paused slightly in his movements, took a deep breath, and said softly:


    "I''m alright, Your Majesty Delaisi."


    Then he raised his head and swept his cold, resolute gaze across the knights of Qi''an Kingdom, who had already lost their courage.


    Straining his overtaxed body, he lifted the giant sword, with the blade pointing forward in a feint.


    Whoosh¡ª


    The knights of Qi''an Kingdom''s hearts skipped a beat, and they subconsciously widened the distance.


    Seizing that instant,


    "Your Majesty, keep close to me!"


    Burns shouted and stepped toward the weak point that had appeared on their left, breaking through!


    Swish, swish!!


    As the giant sword swung again and again, accompanied by cries of agony and the sound of bodies hitting the ground, Burns cut a narrow path of survival through the encirclement like a hot knife through butter.


    "Quick!" Delaisi barked softly, pulling Queen Polly along and quickly following in Burns''s footsteps.


    But at that moment, Prince Gallagher, facing an enemy knight, looked at the fierce face and the flashing cold light of the sharp sword, his calves suddenly went weak, and he could no longer step forward.


    In the distance, a pale yellow liquid could be seen soaking from underneath him.


    Queen Polly, thrown off balance by his sudden halt, nearly tumbled to the ground.


    Swish!


    The surrounding enemy knights naturally would not miss this opportunity and swung their swords in attack!


    "Your Majesty!!" Polly cried out in anguish.


    "Burns!" Delaisi exclaimed.


    The tall knight up ahead changed his expression¡ª


    Even though he was on the verge of breaking out of the encirclement, he did not hesitate.


    Burns forcefully parried the last knight''s attack in front of him, killed him with a backhand stroke, and then quickly turned to leap toward Polly and her son!


    Swish!!


    Just in the nick of time, he used his own armor to narrowly block the fatal attack for Polly and her son.


    Sword met armor with a clanging sound.


    Burns straightened up, ready to break out again with Polly and her son.


    Just then!


    Swish!


    An enemy knight seized the moment and thrust his blade, aiming at Burns''s left calf.


    Splat!


    The sharp sword penetrated flesh, and nearly the entire blade sank in, likely touching the bone.


    "Ugh!" Burns grunted, enduring the pain and kicked out at the enemy knight with his other leg!


    The enemy knight was knocked backward by the forceful kick.


    Burns took the chance to swing his giant sword, stabbing into the enemy knight''s exposed lower abdomen as he reeled back!!


    "Ah!!"


    Then he let out a roar, lifted the enemy knight high above, and glanced fiercely around.


    "Gurgle."


    For a moment, there were faint sounds of swallowing, and the Qi''an Kingdom''s knights'' movements simultaneously paused.


    Seeing the corpses all around, they no longer had the courage to advance.


    Polly, taking advantage of the opportunity, pulled Gallagher forward to flee and join up with the king.


    Burns controlled his muscles to close the wound on his calf, and then flung his giant sword.


    Bang!


    The body dropped heavily.


    He stepped forward to catch up with Polly''s figure.


    They were breaking out toward a corridor.


    Polly and her son were at the forefront, Delaisi in the middle, and Burns covered the rear.


    Those knights of Qi''an Kingdom had not given up; they just did not approach anymore, following at a distance like hyenas... waiting for the right moment to strike.


    Ahead, Burns watched all this... feeling his strength on the verge of exhaustion, feeling the excruciating pain in his left leg, his heart sinking involuntarily.


    But he still forced his pace, concealing his weakness.


    Jogging all the way.


    Burns looked back in surprise to find that the pursuing knights of Qi''an Kingdom had vanished.


    It was at that moment.


    They reached a crossroads.


    Burns looked at the familiar intersection, his instincts urged him to go straight ahead.


    But Polly, leading Gallagher, turned left.


    "Your Highness Queen!" Burns called out to her, then said solemnly, "Princess Eliel is just ahead, aren''t we going to take her with us?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Polly paused in her steps.


    She looked at the knight who had been loyal to Eliel''s mother, the guard who had remained faithful to the late queen, her expression darkening.

 Chapter 166 - 142 Leaving Together

    "Polly!"


    The King Delaisi''s expression sank slightly upon seeing this.


    Before Polly could speak, he sternly said, "According to Burns, keep going straight to meet up with Princess Eliel."


    The surprise attack launched by the Qi''an Kingdom had caused chaos, and among the entire royal family, only Queen Polly and Prince Gallagher were with him.


    The other princes and princesses... their residences were closer to the front and had already been overrun. Only Eliel was living deep within the palace.


    ...There probably weren''t many left of the Yili royal family. If they could preserve one more, then naturally, it was best to save one more.


    "Your Majesty!" Polly said anxiously, "This way is the only escape!"


    To the left here was the place where horses were usually kept, and straight ahead was a side door specifically for horses'' entry and egress.


    Salvation lay just ahead! Who had time to rescue that princess whom she didn''t even like!


    Seeing the urgency in Polly''s demeanor, Delaisi hesitated again.


    "Your Majesty, the princess is just ahead!" Burns, standing beside them, once again reminded him in a firm voice, then lifted his leg and continued moving forward.


    He was loyal to the royal family, but he was even more loyal to the former queen.


    Breaking through the corridor in this direction was his deliberate doing. The purpose was to rescue the daughter left behind by the queen¡ªPrincess Eliel.


    The princess''s residence was deep within the palace; from the direction of the Qi''an Kingdom''s attack, it was highly likely that it had not been affected yet.


    Seeing Burns continue forward, Delaisi''s face finally lost its indecision.


    "Let''s go." He made a resolution, called out to Polly in a low voice, and quickly followed Burns'' pace.


    To the left seemed to be a shortcut to escape, but without Burns, he wasn''t willing to go alone.


    They jogged along and soon reached the outside of Eliel''s residence.


    Here were several bungalows connected together.


    "Princess Eliel!" Burns called out several times.


    Bang.


    He pushed open the main house door and looked around but did not see anyone.


    "Princess Eliel!" he called out again.


    After a while, a crisp female voice came through.


    "Knight Burns?"


    Creak¡ª S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The white door of the side room on the right suddenly opened.


    A petite figure holding a bucket appeared before them, her face marked with confusion, and wiping away the beads of sweat from hauling water off her forehead, her ear-length blonde hair shone brilliantly golden in the sunlight.


    Burns felt a twinge of distress at this sight.


    Ever since Queen Daisy died six years ago, Eliel''s situation had been getting worse.


    At first, it was not too bad, but eventually, even the Crown Prince''s palace residence was occupied by Gallagher, and she was forced to move to this secluded place.


    And up until now, not a single maid or servant had appeared...


    Burns scanned the area and quickly understood the situation.


    Those maids were the most informed, and by now, they must have heard the news and already fled...


    And Eliel... she probably still did not know what was going on.


    "Eliel."


    Delaisi looked at the daughter he once favored the most and was momentarily stunned... When had she grown up?


    But there was no time now for sentimentality.


    "The Qi''an Kingdom has already breached the palace." A fleeting sadness passed over Delaisi''s face.


    He subconsciously touched the two items closely kept on his chest, and hope suddenly filled his heart again.


    With them, and as long as the royal family was there, there need not be concern for the loss of the Holy Flame Kingdom!


    He quickly recomposed himself and urged Eliel, "Put down the bucket and hurry up and come with us."


    Eliel pieced together Delaisi''s words and the maids'' unusual behavior from earlier in the day, instantly understanding the situation.


    "Let''s go."


    She threw down the bucket without hesitation, not bothering to pack anything, and dashed straight out.


    Burns followed closely behind.


    Queen Polly and Delaisi trailed at the end.


    "Knight Burns, where have the enemy forces currently occupied in the palace?" Eliel asked proactively.


    Burns was somewhat surprised and, after a moment of thought, said:


    "The Qi''an Kingdom''s knights launched their surprise attack from the north side of the palace, and now they have at least taken the entire front hall."


    He then added, "I''m planning to escort your highnesses out through the side door of the stables."


    "Mhm," Eliel nodded, not wanting to say much.


    No matter what the situation, she always hoped to know a little more information... Asking Burns these questions was just a habit.


    The group ran in silence.


    Passing through the corridor, turning at the crossroads.


    Before long.


    A clearing appeared before them.


    To the left of the clearing was a small stable, and directly opposite was a white-painted wooden gate made of sheet iron.


    Lush green grass, gentle sunshine, with the remaining four horses in the stable nuzzling occasionally...


    This place seemed unaffected by the war, still tranquil and peaceful.


    They all sighed a breath of relief upon seeing such a scene.


    "Burns, you go open the gate, I''ll take them to ride the horses," Delaisi commanded.


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Burns nodded in response and strode forward.


    As Burns gradually moved away, the surroundings were still and peaceful, but Delaisi couldn''t help feeling a chill in his heart... It seemed too quiet around him.


    He shook his head and walked towards the stables.


    The stables were lined up along the wall, a total of about eight stalls, and currently, only the four on the right had horses in them.


    He opened the wooden door of the stall on the far left and led a horse out by the bridle.


    Delaisi mounted the horse.


    On the other side, Polly and the other two mounted their respective horses individually.

 Chapter 167 - 142 Leaving Together_2

    Magic Power may have been weak and stubborn, but he was already nearly seven years old and had learned to ride a horse. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A group of people headed towards a side gate.


    By the time they reached the gate, Burns had already opened it.


    Behind the white gate was a brick road that wasn''t very wide, barely accommodating a carriage to pass through at a time, with high walls on both sides and some man-made indentations for vehicles to pull over.


    "Run, Burns, go scout ahead!" Polly urged.


    There were only four horses, and as a Great Knight, Burns could match the speed of a galloping horse for a short time; in her view, he obviously didn''t need to ride.


    Feeling the pain in his left leg, Burns remained silent and quietly moved forward.


    In his mind, there were still four horses in the stables, and Prince Gallagher was only seven years old, naturally smaller and weaker than his peers...


    The best choice now would seem to be for Gallagher and his mother Polly to share a horse, then let him, the only combatant present, mount and rest for a while...


    "Polly, ride with Gallagher, and give a horse to Burns!"


    Delaisi frowned and said in a deep voice.


    He had witnessed Burns'' left leg being stabbed by a sword...


    Before Polly could respond.


    Whoosh!


    An arrow suddenly shot from behind, hitting the wooden door behind them.


    Delaisi''s pupils contracted slightly.


    "The pursuers are here!!" Polly cried out in alarm.


    Swoosh!


    Several more arrows followed.


    Most of them missed, but a few landed on the horse that Gallagher was riding!


    "Ah!" Gallagher exclaimed.


    The black horse beneath him neighed miserably, rearing up and throwing him to the ground before crazily bolting forward.


    Gallagher fell to the ground heavily... but fortunately, he was not seriously hurt.


    "Mommy, save me..." he reached out his arms.


    "My child!" Polly called out urgently, pulling on the reins to reach Gallagher''s side and quickly pulled him up onto the horse.


    Once Gallagher was mounted, Polly felt slightly relieved and shouted at the knight ahead:


    "Burns, cover our retreat!"


    Then she turned to Delaisi and said, "Your Majesty, hurry and escape!!"


    She whipped the horse.


    The brown horse beneath her carried them forward in their escape.


    "Eliel, go!" Delaisi also called out softly, urging his horse forward.


    But Eliel hesitated as she watched the silent Burns walking towards the rear.


    Clang!!


    Some knights from the Qi''an Kingdom emerged from behind the door, and Burns drew his Giant Sword to face them, attacking as he said:


    "Princess Eliel, leave quickly!"


    "I''ll handle the pursuers..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking.


    The clear sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out!


    Polly and the others, who had initially fled, had turned back around.


    Looking up, a troop of knights had unexpectedly appeared on the road ahead.


    Burns'' heart sank, he raised his Giant Sword and disengaged from the fight, moving to Eliel and the others'' side.


    The knights of the Qi''an Kingdom silently pushed forward, steadily closing the encirclement.


    Burns and the others retreated step by step, drawing back into the square indentation intentionally left in the road''s surrounding wall.


    Breathing out lightly, Burns gripped the solid and rough handle of the Giant Sword in his hand.


    The situation seemed a haunting repeat of the previous standoff in the palace.


    Only this time... his own condition was much worse.


    He swung the Giant Sword slightly.


    His muscles, once reliable as hardened steel, now sent sharp pains from excessive strain, almost causing him to lose grip on the Giant Sword in his hand.


    ...Perhaps today would be the day when the Yili Royal Family met their demise.


    Delaisi and the others behind him also wore faces of despair.


    Just as Burns was prepared to fight to the death.


    Swoosh!!


    A figure descended from the sky, landing between them and the knights of the Qi''an Kingdom.


    An invisible Force Field suddenly expanded from this person outwards!


    Boom!!


    The knights surrounding Delaisi and his group were knocked to the ground like wheat in the wind by the tremendous force, with some at the front being flung high into the air and then crashing heavily to the ground, their fate unknown.


    "Wizard... Mister Wizard?!" Delaisi exclaimed in shock.


    The Holy Flame Kingdom was just a trivial little country; it was very rare to see a wizard there.


    "Are you the King of the Holy Flame Kingdom¡ª Delaisi?" Colin asked for confirmation.


    The Holy Flame Palace was no small place; it had taken him quite some effort to find Delaisi and his party.


    "Yes," Delaisi nodded, his heart feeling uneasy.


    "Uh huh." Colin looked him over carefully, comparing him with the last description he had of the king by Erica.


    "I will explain the specifics later. For now, all you need to know is that I''m here to help you escape."


    "Mount up, follow me!"


    Colin raised his hand and cast several Swift Skills on their horses.


    Delaisi exchanged a glance with Polly and, without further hesitation, remounted his horse.


    "Knight Burns, mount up," Eliel suddenly said, gesturing for Burns to ride with her.


    "Princess Eliel..." Burns looked up in surprise, having prepared himself to follow on foot.


    But he didn''t overthink it and quickly approached and swung himself onto the horse.


    They were waiting for the mysterious wizard ahead; this was undeniably their real chance at survival, and he didn''t want to provoke the wizard''s impatience with petty delays.


    "What''s your name?"


    But Colin, who was in front, suddenly asked, a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    He had not paid much attention to the girl in front of him at the beginning, but now that she lifted her head, he noticed.


    Whether it was her amber-like green eyes or her dazzling ear-length blonde hair, he couldn''t help but be reminded of an old friend who had passed away¡ª Erica.


    The resemblance was uncanny!


    "Eliel... Mister Wizard, my name is Eliel Saint Flame," Eliel said, nervously smoothing her hair behind her ear as she answered.


    "Erica is your...?"


    "My sister."


    "Uh huh." Colin withdrew his gaze.


    So that''s why they looked so alike... but why had he never heard Erica mention she had a sister?


    But he didn''t dwell on it.


    "Let''s go, follow me." He spoke in a deep voice, moving ahead to lead the way.


    It seemed they had already passed through the encirclement; on the road ahead, they didn''t encounter any large groups of enemies.


    Only a few knights guarding the palace entrance posed a challenge, but Colin dealt with them swiftly.


    In this way, they smoothly and unhindered, Colin led Delaisi and his party to a successful escape from the palace.


    For him, as a wizard, the most difficult part wasn''t taking Delaisi and the others out but finding them.


    Now that they had been found, the rest was naturally a clear path.


    A few minutes later,


    Outside the western city gate of the Royal Capital Lane, by Holy Flame Capital.


    A forest area.


    "Master." Renee came out, delighted.


    She had been waiting there for a long time with Demi and a few horses.


    "Uh huh." Colin responded with a smile, then turned to Delaisi and the others, "Change horses, continue on!"


    The stamina of horses was inherently limited, and without magic power, the Swift Skill would further accelerate their exhaustion.


    This was knowledge he had acquired when learning the Swift Skill.


    That''s why he had Renee waiting here with several horses, ready to swap out when needed for the Royal Family of the Holy Flame to continue riding.


    This way they could leave the area as quickly as possible.


    He shouldn''t have been worried about pursuers from the Qi''an Kingdom, and he honestly didn''t need to go through these motions.


    But the words of the white-robed wizard from the Flying Airship had not been forgotten.


    The regulation laid down by the Wizard Alliance''s Supreme Council that prohibited interference in mortal wars had limits he wasn''t exactly clear on.


    So, to reduce impact and avoid complications, he chose a quick in-and-out approach, like lightning streaking across the sky, taking the Royal Family away before anyone could react.


    Moreover...


    Colin waited for Delaisi and the others to change their horses while looking in the direction of Lane.


    The ancient city walls were mottled, with some smoke still rising from within the city.


    He wondered if it was just an illusion,


    But he always felt that there was another wizard''s presence in the Ryan Palace...


    Taking a light breath, Colin looked away and mounted his horse as well.


    Delaisi and the others had finished changing their mounts.


    Dappled with light and shade,


    They continued riding along the forest path.

 Chapter 168 - 143: Gain without Effort

    The winter sun seemed even more desolate than in other seasons.


    Traversing through the woods, the originally dark brown earth had been covered by white snow. Fortunately, the snow was not too deep, and the horse beneath him, though panting heavily, still pressed on.


    The slender pine needles around occasionally had snow slide off, falling onto the horse, where it was quickly melted away by the heat from its body.


    Colin led the way on horseback and did not hurry to converse with Delaisi and the others, as his main goal was to get as far away as possible.


    Renee and her sisters rode a horse closely by his side, followed by the procession of the Holy Flame Royal Family.


    Snap.


    Colin took out a metal pocket watch gifted by the Yili Kingdom from his chest and opened it.


    It was already after five in the afternoon.


    The sun began to slope westward, and its light gradually grew weaker.


    "Esteemed Wizard,"


    Suddenly, Delaisi spurred his horse forward, speaking to him in a low voice with caution.


    "What is it?" Colin turned his head to look.


    Delaisi squeezed out a smile and asked, "Wizard, may I know where we are heading now?"


    "The Lanshan Kingdom," Colin answered without hesitation.


    He had already thought everything through.


    Although his promise was only to deliver a letter, the current crisis that the Holy Flame Kingdom faced was almost tantamount to annihilation.


    And only a few individuals of the Holy Flame Royal Family, like Delaisi here, remained...


    So, partly to ensure he wouldn''t violate the contract he had signed with Erica, and partly out of old friendship,


    he planned to take the remaining few of the Holy Flame Royal Family to the Lanshan Kingdom to settle them properly.


    The reason it was en route was because their current direction of travel was towards the Wizard Alliance, and the Lanshan Kingdom was the first kingdom on the route he had planned.


    He had essentially fulfilled the promise to Erica, and it was time to start his plan¡ªto join a new School in the Wizard Alliance.


    However... he harbored some inner concerns.


    The Wizard Alliance was still very foreign to him.


    How to join one of those Schools was a headache-inducing problem.


    After all, in this world, regardless of the School, there was a preference to nurture members from a young age to ensure a solid and reliable foundation in basic knowledge, which also fostered a sense of belonging to the School.


    It was very difficult for an outsider to become an official member of any School.


    "The Lanshan Kingdom..." Delaisi nodded, "I understand, Wizard."


    Colin watched him, paused, and then continued,


    "I am Erica Saint Flame''s classmate, and I''ve come to the Holy Flame Kingdom to deliver a letter to you and her mother on her behalf."


    He took out a brown letter sealed with red and blue intertwined flame wax from his Storage Ring and handed it to Delaisi.


    He had intended to wait until the sun set and they had found a suitable location to make camp before bringing up the matter with Delaisi and the others.


    But, since Delaisi had broached the subject now, it seemed fitting to explain his purpose at this moment.


    Delaisi froze, unconsciously taking the letter in his hand. The black horse beneath him also slowed down gradually.


    "Erica..." he murmured voicelessly, as that long-unheard name awakened faded memories in his mind.


    It reminded him of his once most cherished daughter... and the woman he still dreamt about¡ªQueen Daisy.


    After a while, he regained his composure.


    "What is it, Your Majesty?"


    "What did the Wizard say? Where are we heading now?"


    Polly, who had caught up from behind, asked in confusion, seeing his demeanor.


    The conversation between Delaisi and Colin hadn''t been loud, and she had not caught the details. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delaisi glanced at her, shook his head without responding, and pulled on the reins to urge his horse to continue forward.


    Polly frowned as she watched his retreating figure.


    A moment later, Delaisi rode back to Colin''s side.


    "Sir... How is Erica now?" he asked in a low voice with a hint of joy. After a pause, he asked with confusion,


    "Why hasn''t she come back in person..."


    As he spoke, he seemed to realize something.


    Delaisi''s complexion suddenly turned ugly; the fleeting joy that had arisen in his heart from the news of Erica rapidly faded.


    "I''m sorry, Erica has died," Colin said steadily, watching him.


    Such news was bound to reach Delaisi sooner or later. There was no point in hesitating or trying to cover it up.


    "..." Delaisi raised his head to scrutinize Colin''s expression. His lips moved silently, then he lowered his gaze and murmured,


    "So she''s already gone..."


    As the then King of the Holy Flame Kingdom, he had anticipated such an outcome when he agreed to the Wizard''s proposal.


    Death was not uncommon to him.


    But he hadn''t developed a heart of stone...


    Erica, his once most beloved daughter.


    Had she really died without him ever seeing her grown-up endearing appearance?


    Delaisi''s horse, lacking direction, began to slow down once more.


    Colin slowed down as well, then asked,


    "Is Erica''s mother no longer with us?"


    Erica had described her mother, Queen Daisy''s, appearance to him, but the woman beside Delaisi now did not match the description.


    And in his thorough search of the Palace, he too had not found anyone who fit the description...


    "Queen Daisy... indeed, she has died."


    Delaisi snapped back to reality, replying solemnly.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, and though he had expected this, he couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.

 Chapter 169 - 143: Gain without Effort_2

    Delaisi finished answering and then stared absently at the letter from Erica in his hand.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and urged his horse forward.


    He had wanted to give Erica''s remains to Delaisi as well... but it seemed that now was not the appropriate time.


    Better to wait until they camped and set up camp later on.


    And so, he led Delaisi and his group forward in silence.


    More than two hours later, when the sky was almost completely dark,


    they arrived at a natural mountain cave to camp and set up camp.


    Crackle crackle¡ª


    The campfire blazed fiercely, with Delaisi and the others sitting around it.


    Colin and Renee, however, started another campfire and kept some distance from the rest.


    The original owner of this cave¡ªa mountain beast equivalent to an Advanced Knight, had been turned into fragrant roast meat over the fire and was now being consumed by them.


    It was now the time of rest after dinner.


    Delaisi''s face had regained its calm, and he gazed at the urn that was now in Eliel''s arms, his expression somewhat wistful.


    Before dinner, Wizard Colin had given him Erica''s urn.


    As for why it had been cremated, according to Wizard Colin, it was Erica''s specifically instructed last wish.


    Withdrawing his gaze, Delaisi caressed an object he kept close to his chest and finally made up his mind, rising and walking towards Colin.


    Polly, who was nearby, watched him leave, as if understanding something, her face suddenly showing a tense expression.


    "What is it?"


    In front of the fire, Colin saw Delaisi approaching and asked with confusion.


    "My lord."


    Delaisi suddenly knelt on one knee, then took out a badge shaped like a feather of intermixed silver and gold from the clothing next to his skin and handed it to Colin,


    while saying, "I accidentally found this badge in the Crystal Mine outside Kabu City in the southern part of Holy Flame Kingdom, along with the remains of a wizard."


    Here, he paused before continuing:


    "The remains of the wizard in the Crystal Mine, along with the other items, had already decayed, leaving only... this feather badge."


    As Delaisi spoke, Colin took the feather badge.


    The badge was only as long as a thumb, and the feathers were clearly defined and exquisite. Upon close examination, a faint spiritual fluctuation was detectable.


    "Lord Colin, if this badge is of use to you, I would ask you to take us to Merredith City within the Wizard Alliance."


    Colin didn''t rush to answer but tried to probe the feather badge with his spiritual power.


    The badge didn''t react.


    He then added his Magic Power and tried again.


    This time, the feather badge immediately emitted a faint glow, with the silver and gold colors starting to flow slowly in a pattern, seemingly containing a peculiar beauty.


    But Colin wasn''t paying attention to that; he closed his eyes slightly, processing the information that had just been transmitted by the feather badge.


    Tin Saint School... the 1656th examination voucher... Neustadt City...


    Moments later, he slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing through them.


    As luck would have it, he had found a pillow when he was sleepy; it had come without any effort!


    The information in his mind indicated that this feather badge was actually an examination voucher for a "Tin Saint" School within the Wizard Alliance.


    As long as certain requirements were met, one could take the School''s exam with this badge.


    Using it to pass the exam meant one could join the Tin Saint School.


    ...Although he didn''t know what level the Tin Saint School was at within the Wizard Alliance, the stringent requirements for joining suggested it wouldn''t be too shabby.


    "King Delaisi, it is of great use to me,"


    He said to Delaisi in a serious tone, "In return, I accept your request and will take you to Merredith City."


    Compared to the use of the feather token to him, delivering Delaisi and the others en route to Merredith City within the same Wizard Alliance was a simple task.


    "Thank you, Lord Colin." Delaisi''s face showed joy.


    He slowly rose to his feet, looking at Colin and asking casually,


    "Lord Colin, may I know what use this feather badge has?"


    "I''ve had it for a while, and aside from being particularly sturdy, I haven''t discovered any other special aspects to it; I''m quite curious."


    Colin looked at him and didn''t hide anything, briefly explaining the function of the feather badge to Delaisi.


    Now that the badge was in his hands, there was no way for Delaisi to take it back, so letting him know the specific use was no harm.


    "So that''s it," Delaisi said, suddenly enlightened, before sighing, "Such a badge, had it remained in our hands, would have probably ended up as a mere ornament..." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having said that, he bid Colin farewell and returned to their side of the campfire.


    "My king, how did it go?"


    Seeing Delaisi return, Polly quickly asked.


    Delaisi touched the pocket on his chest and nodded.


    In reality, they had obtained more than just that feather badge from the wizard''s remains in the Crystal Mine.


    There were several other items as well.


    Unfortunately... the attack by the Qi''an Kingdom was so sudden, he could only take the two smallest items¡ªtwo badges.


    Although he had already given Colin one of them.


    But as for Colin, he didn''t know much about him... so to be cautious, he chose to keep the existence of the other badge a secret.


    After all... this remaining badge might be the only hope for rebuilding the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    Polly saw him nod and a joyful expression appeared on her face, about to inquire about the details.


    But Delaisi stopped her with a look in his eye.


    He sat down cross-legged, picked up a thin twig from the nearby wood, and began to write on the dirt ground between him and Polly as if it was a sheet of paper.

 Chapter 170 - 143: Gain without Effort_3

    "The wizard has already agreed to take us to Merredith City."


    "Those two badges are indeed proof of joining the Wizard School."


    Polly''s eyes flickered with a hint of joy.


    After receiving the inheritance from the Crystal Mine wizard, they had browsed through numerous books and documents.


    Most efforts were in vain, and in the end, they only found snippets of information about the remaining badge.


    It was in a fragment of a travelogue that they found the letter...


    Overall, the badge was connected to Merredith City, and they vaguely knew it would help them join the school.


    This was also why Delaisi asked Colin to take them to Merredith City.


    However, now with Colin''s explanation, they finally understood the specific purpose of the badge.


    It seemed Polly thought of something and began to write with her hand moving.


    "Your Majesty, did you only ask that wizard to take us to Merredith City?"


    Delaisi frowned slightly.


    "Mind your manners, Colin is Erica''s classmate, not just ''that wizard.''"


    This was his genuine thought, and he was also worried that the mysterious wizard might find a way to detect their written conversation.


    After Polly read it, she looked up at him and said nothing.


    Delaisi sighed inwardly; knowing Polly, she clearly hadn''t taken his advice to heart.


    "I indeed only asked Colin to take us to Merredith City. Is there a problem?" Delaisi continued writing.


    Polly glared at Delaisi and wrote on the ground:


    "Your Majesty, why don''t you ask him to help us reclaim the Holy Flame Kingdom! With the wizard''s mighty power, Qi''an Kingdom would certainly be no match!"


    "Once we regain control of the Holy Flame Kingdom, we can then send Gallagher to Merredith City.


    By then, using the remaining badge to join the school, and with the support of our entire nation, Gallagher can pursue his studies and cultivation... Perhaps through this, the Holy Flame Royal Family could leap to become a Wizard Family!"


    Delaisi appeared hesitant, Polly''s words were indeed tempting.


    Although they knew little about wizards, their knowledge of the wizarding world was merely from fragments like the Wizard Alliance and Miracle City.


    But helping them defeat Qi''an Kingdom seemed like a trivial task for a wizard.


    However... if Colin thought they were overstepping, that could be troublesome.


    To be fair, he felt that Colin''s willingness to escort them to Merredith City had already met his expectations.


    "Your Majesty, isn''t that wizard Erica''s classmate? I see him willing to travel miles just to deliver a letter for her; he must have some feelings for Erica."


    Polly glanced at Erica who was warming herself by the fire with Knight Burns and continued writing.


    "If Your Majesty thinks that the badge isn''t enough to sway that wizard, perhaps offering Erica''s sister¡ªEliel to him would surely..."


    Snap.


    Delaisi slapped the writing stick out of Polly''s hand!


    To avoid making too much noise, he didn''t use much force... but the anger in his eyes was unmistakable.


    Polly looked up in astonishment, her expression ugly. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Delaisi''s anger subsided, he looked at Polly, his heart suddenly softened, and he picked up the stick and wrote on the ground:


    "Do not mention offering Eliel again. As for what you suggested, I will ask Colin if he is willing to help."


    Having written that, he stood up decisively and walked toward Colin again.

 Chapter 171 - 144: Seizing the Opportunity

    Polly, standing behind him, watched Delaisi rise and walk toward Colin.


    But her lingering anger had not subsided, and she rudely erased the words on the ground with the thick branch in her hands.


    Delaisi was still protecting Eliel; it seemed he couldn''t forget the woman who had given birth to her¡ªQueen Daisy.


    Thinking of this fanned the flames of her rage even further.


    Daisy...


    Daisy!


    Even though she had been Queen for six years, whenever people mentioned the Queen, those in the Palace still thought of Daisy first!


    In what ways was she inferior to her?!


    Meanwhile.


    "Your Majesty, what''s wrong?" Colin looked up and asked.


    Delaisi hesitated, a bit embarrassed, and then said:


    "Sir Colin, I mean, if it''s possible, could you help us reclaim the Holy Flame Kingdom?"


    "Of course, I''m not demanding, but merely requesting."


    "If this task is a mere trifle for you, and you are willing¡­" The Holy Flame Royal Family would remember your kindness.


    "If you are unwilling, that''s also fine; the Holy Flame Royal Family will still remember today''s kindness."


    After finishing, Delaisi anxiously watched Colin.


    Though he had secretly left behind a badge, whether he could take part in a School once he reached Merredith City was still an unknown.


    If, as Polly had said, he could persuade Colin to help them reclaim the Holy Flame Kingdom¡­that would obviously be a more secure method.


    In fact, had the Holy Flame Kingdom not fallen, he would not have thought of making a desperate trip to Merredith City.


    "I see." A flicker of realization crossed Colin''s face as he shook his head at Delaisi:


    "I am sorry, Your Majesty Delaisi, but I cannot comply."


    "Alright... okay." Delaisi nodded, the glimmer of hope in his eyes fading instantly.


    ''Apparently, Delaisi is probably unaware of the restrictions the Supreme Council places on wizards.''


    Colin paused for a moment, his tone gentle as he began to explain.


    Delaisi was, after all, Erica''s father, and out of respect for old friendship, he was willing to take extra time to explain.


    "Your Majesty Delaisi, it''s not that I don''t want to help. It''s because the Wizard Alliance has a regulation that wizards must not interfere in the wars of mortal Kingdoms."


    As for how restrictive it was exactly, he wasn''t clear, so he kept his explanation brief.


    "I see." Delaisi nodded, feeling inexplicably relieved.


    Though he hadn''t received the answer he most hoped for, at least the wizard in front of him seemed approachable... which gave him a sense of security.


    "It was presumptuous of me." Delaisi apologized again, "Then I won''t bother you any longer."


    It seemed¡­ relying on Colin to help them reclaim the Holy Flame Kingdom was unfeasible.


    Delaisi worried.


    He also wondered if they could successfully join the Wizard School in Merredith City with the badge¡­


    He very much wanted to just take out the badge and ask Colin.


    But he didn''t dare¡­


    As for the truthfulness of what Colin said¡­ he did not doubt it.


    After all, Colin, being a distinguished wizard, wouldn''t need to go out of his way to make excuses if he didn''t want to help them.


    Delaisi sat down next to Polly.


    "Your Majesty, did the wizard agree?"


    As soon as he sat down, Polly, curbing her anger, hastily wrote on the ground.


    Delaisi did not write back, only shook his head toward her.


    A shaking head¡­ the wizard did not agree?!


    Seeing her hopes dashed, Polly''s face darkened significantly.


    Unlike Delaisi, who had hopes of a wizard appearing within the Holy Flame Royal Family, thereby rebuilding the Holy Flame Kingdom¡ªor perhaps even rising to become the Holy Flame Wizard Family without rebuilding¡­


    She knew these were futures far down the line.


    She only knew that once they reached Merredith City, she would no longer be the distinguished Queen of the Holy Flame Kingdom¡­


    But merely a common mortal.


    And by then¡­ the past luxuries, power, and glory would all become irrelevant to her.


    Delaisi, observing Polly''s distressing expression, thought for a moment and then picked up a branch to write in explanation:


    "Sir Colin is not unwilling to help us, but the Supreme Council of the Wizard Alliance has a rule¡ªwizards may not step in the wars of mortal kingdoms."


    Polly looked at Delaisi''s writing and scoffed coldly in her heart.


    In her view, how could there be such a foolish rule among wizards!


    It was like saying humans should not cut down trees or hunt wild animals¡­ What benefit was that to wizards? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was clearly an excuse Colin made up because he didn''t want to help them!


    "Your Majesty, are you just going to give up?"


    "He''s obviously stalling you. How could there be such a foolish rule!"


    Polly wrote quickly on the ground.


    Delaisi frowned.


    He had long known Polly''s character¡­ after all, before coming to the Palace, she had been the pampered daughter of the Kingdom''s most powerful Duke.


    After arriving at the Palace, her status had been raised even higher, and no one dared to disrespect her.


    He sighed almost imperceptibly in his heart.


    The environment she had grown up in made Polly¡­ too naive and arrogant, always feeling that everything should suit her wishes.


    But even if Colin was making excuses, what could they do?


    Even if he was stalling, they should still be grateful that Colin was willing to make the effort to find an excuse, maintaining the most basic dignity between them, rather than rejecting them bluntly.


    As for helping them.


    He too hoped Colin could help them¡­ but how could he demand that?

 Chapter 172 - 144 Leveraging Momentum_2

    "Polly, that''s enough!" Colin was willing to escort us to Merredith City, and that''s plenty."


    He interrupted Polly''s writing and noted it down with emphasis.


    He knew that further argument with Polly would be futile, and it wasn''t worth wasting more time entangled in this matter.


    After all, Colin seemed amiable, but who could guess what he really thought?


    Now their lives and future were in Colin''s hands... They couldn''t push their luck any further.


    After completing his writing, Delaisi stood up and walked over to where Eliel and Burns were.


    "Father."


    "Your Majesty."


    Eliel and Burns greeted him.


    Delaisi nodded and slowly sat down next to Eliel.


    Eliel cradled an onyx-colored square urn, her expression serene.


    She could scarcely remember what her sister looked like...


    But their deceased mother mentioned almost daily...how remarkably similar the two sisters were in appearance, almost like twins.


    She remembered her mother''s whispers on the bed, six years ago when she died.


    They were directed at her, whispers...but not of her own name.


    Instead, "Erica."


    Eliel clutched the urn in her hands a bit tighter.


    Beside her, Delaisi wanted to start a conversation but didn''t know where to begin.


    Since Queen Daisy''s death six years ago, his attitude toward Eliel had gradually grown colder, especially as he was busy quelling internal strife within the kingdom and marrying Polly, the daughter of Duke Hel.


    Even now, it had been years since he had a proper conversation with Eliel.


    Thinking back, Eliel was barely over six, close to seven, around the same age her sister had been when she left...


    ...So young, yet faced with the sudden death of her mother and the unexpectedly cold demeanor of her father.


    Later, even her living quarters were taken over by Gallagher...


    Remorse slowly surfaced in Delaisi''s heart.


    Yet he had never shown concern for Eliel.


    Instead, in order to appease Duke Hel and quell the internal conflict, he turned a blind eye to Polly''s actions.


    Once he had consolidated his position over the years, using Polly to settle old scores from past conflicts within her family.


    His guilt toward Polly grew, and he became even more indulgent of her.


    Not only did he make Gallagher the crown prince...but he had also never again inquired about Eliel.


    And so, in silence, until Polly approached him, Delaisi had never managed to speak a word.


    "What is it?" He asked as he saw Polly coming toward him.


    "Gallagher wants to go outside to relieve himself," Polly said coldly, pushing Gallagher in front of Delaisi. It was clear that the anger in her heart had not yet subsided.


    In the past, Delaisi would have immediately risen to accompany Gallagher outside.


    But now, for some reason, he looked at the quiet Eliel, then at the noisy Polly, and felt an inexplicable impatience.


    He didn''t rise but instead turned his head to issue an instruction.


    "Burns, take Gallagher out to relieve himself."


    Polly was stunned, but sensing Delaisi''s change from his usual demeanor, she felt a shift in her confidence and said nothing else, silently following Burns as he led Gallagher out of the cave.


    Surprised by this development, Delaisi thought to himself,


    ''Indulging her all the time certainly won''t do.''


    Outside the cave.


    Burns held a torch as he led Gallagher to the left of the cave entrance.


    "Your Highness, let''s do it here. It''s unsafe to go too far."


    "No," Gallagher, looking into the dark night, seemed oddly excited as he continued forward, "this is too close, I want to go somewhere farther."


    "Prince Gallagher." Burns stepped forward two paces, coming around in front of Gallagher and said sternly, "The night is dangerous; it''s not advisable to go far!"


    "Mommy¡ª" Gallagher''s face fell, and he turned to Polly for help.


    Polly soothingly smiled at Gallagher and then firmly addressed Burns.


    "Burns!"


    She didn''t see the issue¡ªafter all, it was just a spot to relieve oneself, what''s the harm in going a bit further?


    To her, it was clear Burns was making a mountain out of a molehill.


    "Princess Polly?"


    "Burns, what are you afraid of?" Polly frowned, then spoke as if it were obvious, "Isn''t the wizard inside the cave? If anything happens, all you need to do is delay for a moment, and he will come to our rescue."


    Burns bowed his head in silence and eventually stepped aside.


    The pair continued forward with Gallagher.


    Burns looked at the figure of Gallagher beside him and sighed silently.


    The prince represents the future of the Holy Flame Kingdom.


    But Gallagher, almost seven, still acted so petulant and childish...


    Contemplating this, thinking of the future of the Holy Flame Kingdom... his heart weighed heavily.


    After a while, Gallagher stopped in a thick bush.


    The sound of rustling leaves filled the air¡ª


    Burns stood on guard, watching the surroundings.


    Soon, Gallagher finished and the area remained quiet, with no incident.


    "Prince Gallagher, since you''re done, let''s head back quickly," Burns reminded again. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though he was prepared to stay with Gallagher a while longer, unexpectedly, Gallagher nodded in agreement.


    Seeing Gallagher''s shivering figure, Burns realized.


    The temperature drops after nightfall, and they had fled the palace so hastily that they did not bring enough clothes. Gallagher was still wearing the lighter clothes from daytime... It seemed he felt too cold and wanted to return to the warmth of the fire inside the cave.

 Chapter 173 - 144 Borrowing Momentum_3

    That''s a relief... Burns let out a sigh of relief and took the lead to head back.


    You have to know that they were far from a time of comfort.


    The King, Queen, a Princess, and a Prince of the Holy Flame Kingdom were still alive, and as long as Qi''an Kingdom wasn''t stupid, they would undoubtedly send troops to pursue!


    Suddenly, Burns''s footsteps faltered, and he raised a hand to signal Polly and the others behind him.


    At first Polly was startled, then a trace of fear flashed through her eyes, she covered Gallagher''s mouth, and carefully stood still.


    Although she had just confidently said those words, the chaos in her heart was unavoidable when real danger approached¡ªthey still remembered the appearance of the maids and knights who had died gruesomely earlier that morning.


    The three of them stood silently in place, not moving an inch.


    Polly listened carefully, aside from the wild beast''s roars coming from somewhere, she did not hear any other noises.


    She didn''t relax but continued to stand still as Burns had signaled.


    After a while, still no sounds came through, and Burns in front of her made no move.


    A flicker of doubt crossed Polly''s eyes.


    A suspicion arose in her mind... Could it be that Burns, because of the words spoken earlier, harbored a grudge and intentionally stopped to frighten them?


    Beside her, Gallagher, who had initially stood quietly in cooperation, now seemed unable to persist any longer and began to pry Polly''s hand away from his mouth.


    It was at this moment that Burns slowly turned around, his brow furrowed in confusion, he murmured:


    "It seems I heard wrong."


    Just now, he had faintly heard a feeble sound similar to the clash of steel, but after he stopped, he did not hear it a second time.


    Burns turned back around and continued forward.


    He did not see Polly behind him, staring at him with ice-cold eyes.


    To Polly, Burns''s actions clearly confirmed her last suspicion...


    ''That bitch Daisy''s lackey! I am the Queen; how dare he!''


    Polly seethed inwardly.


    She wanted to explode right then and there, but looking at Burns''s tall figure.


    She weighed for a moment and chose to swallow her pride for the time being, deciding to settle the score once they got back to the cave.


    Otherwise, if Burns became furious and did anything disadvantageous to her and her child, that would be disastrous.


    After all, they were still some distance away from the cave, and here it was just them and Burns¡­ They had to be cautious.


    "Wait."


    They had walked a bit further when Burns suddenly stopped again and turned back to give a low command.


    Again?!


    A visible trace of anger flashed across Polly''s face.


    "Burns...!"


    She hadn''t finished speaking when she saw Burns dashing into the nearby woods on the left. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then there were several muffled sounds of bodies colliding.


    Burns dragged the corpse of a Knight wearing light armor out of the woods.


    Polly''s complexion changed drastically!


    "Is this... Qi''an Kingdom''s pursuers?" she asked hesitantly, lowering her voice involuntarily.


    "Judging by the armor, it should be."


    Burns nodded, then looked down at the corpse again.


    Apart from being ordinary, the nose on the corpse''s face was eerily strange... as if it were a dog''s nose?


    Perhaps it was a natural deformity... Burns didn''t care much.


    With a grave expression, he murmured his speculation:


    "No other knights were found around... this might be a scout of Qi''an Kingdom''s pursuing forces."


    "But in any case, the pursuing forces of Qi''an Kingdom must have caught up... we need to report back to the Wizard at once!


    Otherwise, it will be troublesome if Qi''an Kingdom beats us there."


    Having said that, he hoisted up the corpse and began to walk briskly forward.


    Obviously, the body could not be left here; he planned to move it elsewhere to deal with it.


    "Burns." Polly called out to him from behind.


    Burns, with the corpse on his shoulder, turned around in confusion.


    Polly smiled and said:


    "With that Wizard there, what are a few Qi''an Kingdom pursuers?"


    "Just leave the corpse here... there''s no need to bother that Wizard with this news."


    Watching Burns''s puzzled face, Polly lost her patience, the smile gradually fading from her face, she said coldly:


    "This is an order, Burns, just follow it!"


    If Qi''an Kingdom couldn''t catch up, they would really only be able to proceed to the unknown fate of Merredith City.


    But if Qi''an Kingdom did catch up and dragged that Wizard into the conflict, forcing him to confront Qi''an Kingdom...


    Perhaps, they could use the power of the Wizard to recapture the Holy Flame Kingdom!

 Chapter 174 - 145: Accessories

    Burns watched Polly, then slowly shook his head.


    He was undoubtedly loyal, willing to give up his own life for the Holy Flame Royal Family.


    But Polly...


    He couldn''t understand Polly''s command.


    They were now all relying on the protection of the Wizard.


    How could such an important matter not be told to His Excellency the Wizard?!


    Polly''s actions were undeniably putting the few remaining members of the Holy Flame Royal Family in danger!


    If the order had come from Delaisi, he might still have carried it out. But now the order was only from Queen Polly... he didn''t want to obey.


    Having said that, he didn''t wait for Polly to reply and turned, shouldering the body and walked away.


    Seeing Burns''s actions, Polly''s pale face suddenly turned crimson with anger, and as she was about to explode,


    Burns''s voice suddenly came through.


    "Her Highness Polly, it''s cold and dark outside; it''s best to follow me quickly and return."


    His tone was calm and natural, no different than usual.


    But Polly, watching Burns''s figure, holding the torch and walking farther away, felt the darkness and silence around her slowly engulfing her, and her anger was suddenly replaced by fear.


    She stamped her feet in rage, then pulled Gallagher along and gritted her teeth as she chased after him.


    "Burns, you don''t understand my deeper intentions," Polly caught up with Burns and explained, restraining her anger.


    Burns''s steps paused slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he still explained,


    "Your Highness, whatever your deeper intentions might be, concealing this matter is not a wise choice. It puts all of us... in danger.


    Besides, if the Great Wizard finds out what you''ve done... our fate might not be much better than being caught up to by the Biqian Kingdom."


    "What danger, Burns!" Polly refused to listen to him, arguing back, "With that Wizard here, how could we be in any danger?!"


    "Didn''t you see it when you fled the Kingdom today?"


    "Any kind of soldier, Knight or otherwise, is no match for him!"


    Polly continued to speak, but Burns could no longer listen.


    He pursed his lips and shook his head inwardly.


    Even if the Qi''an Kingdom''s pursuers posed no threat to Colin, from Colin''s behavior¡ªas he was hastening their journey¡ªit was either because he was in a hurry, or he didn''t want to attract further trouble.


    Regardless of Polly''s purpose.


    If because of this matter, the only support they had, the Great Wizard, became displeased,


    The loss would outweigh the gain for them.


    Moreover, Polly really hadn''t considered the consequences of this matter being exposed!


    If it were to be revealed...


    "Burns!" Polly, seeing that Burns was ignoring her, was almost frantic with rage but helpless.


    She could only advise continuously from the side.


    After walking for a while,


    Burns suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    Polly paused and instinctively stepped back slightly.


    The moment her clamorous voice faded, another faint sound gradually emerged.


    The sound of flowing water came softly.


    After carefully distinguishing it, Burns headed toward the jungle on the left.


    Parting the shielding trees, a river about two or three meters wide appeared in front of them.


    Despite the deep winter, there were still spots in the river, the size of a human head or a palm, that were not completely frozen. It was these spots where the water flowed and made a slight gurgling sound.


    Burns took down the body he was shouldering, picked up a stone, and after careful observation,


    He chose a spot that wasn''t frozen and chiseled the icy surface around it until it was big enough to accommodate the body of a Light Armor Soldier.


    Then he lifted the body of the Light Armor Knight, tossing it into the river.


    Splash.


    After the Light Armor Knight''s body fell in, it was quickly swept downstream.


    The fragment of the hole he had excavated, under his careful effort, now almost showed no signs of being man-made.


    Although these actions were many, with the enhanced physique of a Great Knight, it took only a few minutes to complete.


    Burns watched the Light Armor Knight''s body disappear and breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    In this way, it might at least confuse the pursuers from the Qi''an Kingdom following them, making it not so easy for them to catch up.


    "Her Highness Polly, let''s go."


    He turned to look at Queen Polly, who appeared calm, and was somewhat surprised inside.


    He had anticipated Polly would try hard to stop him from dealing with the traces of the Knight''s body... S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Perhaps seeing that I had already disposed of the body... she has given up on her impractical ideas.''


    Burns secretly speculated in his heart, then turned and continued leading the way back to the cave.


    By now, it had been a while since they had left, and if they didn''t return soon, they might cause Delaisi His Majesty concern.


    The night was moonless, the wind gentle, and all around, utterly silent.


    Burns led the way, his left shin throbbing with piercing pain... the injury he received earlier that day while saving Polly and her child was quite severe.


    Now, the ability to walk with ease was all due to his resolute will and the physique of a Great Knight.


    With the harsh winter cold, the feeling in his leg gradually shifted from pain to numbness... he now only wished to quickly return to the warmth of the cave.


    After walking for a while, they were about to reach the cave.


    But at that moment!


    Whoosh!


    A figure, dressed in a pitch-black Wizard Robe, leaped out like a phantom from the forest to the left and appeared before them!


    "Ah!!"


    Gallagher and Polly both screamed in terror simultaneously.


    Not only because of the sudden appearance of the figure in the Wizard Robe... but more so because of the dreadful face resembling a dog and a bear, drooling saliva, and with crisscrossing fangs!

 Chapter 175 - 145 Accessories_2

    Clang!


    "Your Excellency is..."


    Burns drew his sword from his waist and asked cautiously.


    Before he could finish,


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Several figures clad in light armor leaped out from between the trees.


    Burns turned his head to look.


    These armored figures were strikingly similar to the knights he had previously thrown into the river, each bearing some beast-like features on their faces, all dressed in the light armor of the Qi''an Kingdom!


    Beast-like eyes, beast-like ears, beast-like mouths... all that was missing was a nose!


    Realizing this, a sudden epiphany struck Burns, followed by a heavy sinking feeling in his heart.


    This wizard, who had suddenly blocked the way, turned out to be the pursuer!


    He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and turned his head to speak quickly:


    "Princess Polly, the situation is dire, you must take Gallagher and hurry to the cave to inform Wizard Colin!


    Tell the wizard, our pursuers from behind... actually include a wizard!!"


    "As for me... I will fight with all my might to create a chance for you and Gallagher to escape!"


    Exhaling quietly, Burns pressed down the panic in his heart.


    The reason Polly had been fearless before was because she thought the pursuers from the Qi''an Kingdom posed no threat to them with a wizard for protection.


    But now that the pursuer behind them was actually a wizard, the situation was entirely different!


    It seemed... Princess Polly could also understand the urgency of the matter.


    This news must be conveyed to Colin at once!!


    Gripping the sword in his hand, Burns was prepared to fight to the death, pondering how to create enough time for Polly and the others to escape.


    But the next second,


    "Princess Polly, what''s wrong?"


    He couldn''t help frowning at Polly, who remained unresponsive beside him.


    In such a critical situation, to be still frozen in place...


    "Hehehe!" The beast-faced wizard suddenly laughed coldly, "How interesting."


    Burns quickly turned his head, warily watching him.


    In the wizard''s hand was a piece of red-gold cloth, about the size of two fingernails.


    ''What is this?'' Burns wondered.


    "I really can''t seem to understand... why would you leave such clear traces for us along the road?" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beast-faced wizard tilted his head, raising the piece of cloth towards Polly and asked with bewilderment.


    He was genuinely puzzled, for without the distinct red-gold cloth traces, it would have taken some effort to accurately track down Polly and the others in the vast forest.


    Especially since his modified hound-nosed knights had vanished... perhaps, they might have never found them.


    Hearing this, Burns'' expression froze; he looked at the piece of red-gold cloth in the wizard''s hand and then at Polly''s red-gold clothing...


    A sense of indescribable absurdity surged in his heart!


    Polly... this foolish woman!!


    "Bur... Burns, I command... command you to protect us with your life!"


    At this moment, Polly finally snapped back from her fear, stammering a subconscious order.


    "I''m so confused!" The beast-faced wizard shouted suddenly, banging his own head fiercely with his hand!


    As if suddenly seized by a mental illness.


    He lifted his gaze to Polly.


    Swoosh!


    The next second, as if teleporting, he suddenly appeared in front of Polly, grabbing her chin to lift it, locking eyes with her, manically questioning:


    "I''m really so confused!"


    "Why would you leave traces for me if you''re so afraid of me?"


    Polly''s chest heaved with heavy breaths, her eyes filled with terror.


    Suddenly, the beast-faced wizard sniffed the air, frowning as he glanced at the damp mark that had seeped onto Polly''s lower half, and his expression abruptly shifted from manic back to calm.


    Crack!


    The crisp sound of a neck breaking filled the air.


    "Never mind, if it''s hard to understand... just kill it."


    The beast-faced wizard let go of his grip, and Polly''s lifeless body fell to the ground.


    "Mama¡ª"


    Bang!!


    Gallagher''s cry came to an abrupt halt.


    Shock, horror, fear...


    A torrent of complex emotions gripped Burns'' heart!


    But he didn''t hesitate; he bolted towards the cave with all his might.


    "Delaisi!"


    "Wizard Colin!"


    "Strange wizard attacking!!"


    Not far from the cave, he shouted as he fled, attempting to draw attention and spread the vital information.


    The very next second.


    Spurt!


    Burns suddenly felt the wound on his left calf burst open under a mysterious force, followed by a gush of blood spurting out, his leg giving way, and he collapsed to the ground.


    "Pah."


    He spat out the snow in his mouth, quickly got up on one leg, and continued to shout:


    "Strange wizard attacking!!"


    "Strange wizard attacking!!"


    "Keep yelling, yell even louder."


    The beast-faced wizard, accompanied by a few beastification knights, followed leisurely behind Burns, their voice calm and elegant.


    "Call out that wizard behind you..."


    The next second, his voice became strange, as if squeezed through clenched teeth.


    "Thief!"


    "That thief!!"


    "...Insignia, insignia! Those relics are all mine!!"


    The beast-faced wizard gasped heavily, the fur covering his face seeming to thicken.


    He lifted his hand and thumped his head forcefully, regaining a little clarity in his gaze after a moment.


    Touching the dense, prickly hair on his face, his heart was shrouded in darkness.


    "What part of knowledge is it that I''m missing! How exactly to comprehend the concept of Melos biological fusion!"


    The beast-faced wizard roared in his heart, fed up with the plight of a wandering wizard.


    He must obtain those two badges that were credentials to join a School!!

 Chapter 176 - 145 Accessories_3

    Otherwise... if this continues, he would transform and corrupt...


    He clenched his fists.


    A layer of confusion suddenly veiled the eyes of the beast-faced wizard, and a sinister smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.


    "It seems... this state isn''t too bad; I am much stronger now than before."


    The coarse black hair on his face, like some kind of living creature, kept churning and trembling at this moment.


    The next moment.


    Bang!


    His palm collided with his head with a dull thud.


    Under the stimulation of pain, the confusion in the eyes of the beast-faced wizard finally faded, and the black hair on his face also calmed down.


    "My condition is getting worse." He lifted his head, trying hard to maintain his sanity.


    In the distance, Burns had taken the opportunity of his chaos to hop away a considerable distance.


    "Stranger wizard..."


    Burns''s shouts continued.


    A flash of brutality flickered in the eyes of the beast-faced wizard as he lifted his arm.


    Swoosh!!


    Like a phantom, he rapidly charged towards Burns!


    The sound of the wind whistled past his ears; he could already imagine the beautiful scene of Burns being pierced from behind by his claw, lifted high, with blood spraying everywhere!


    Getting closer...


    Almost there!


    The scene imagined in his brain was about to become reality in the next second!


    A brutal smile appeared on the corners of the beast-faced wizard''s mouth.


    Swoosh!!


    The next second, a hard cone bullet shot towards him at high speed.


    The beast-faced wizard''s pupils suddenly shrank, and his legs bent at an incredible angle as he crouched down, narrowly avoiding the cone bullet.


    "Colin, Wizard!"


    Burns cried out in surprise at the sight of Colin floating in the air.


    "Uh-huh." Colin responded softly as he continued to pull out cone bullets and shoot them at the beast-faced wizard.


    Burns and his group had been out for too long, so he was somewhat worried and decided to check up on them.


    Not far from the cave entrance, he heard Burns''s shouts and hurried over.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Cone bullets continuously shot at the beast-faced wizard.


    To quickly eliminate the enemy, he used the Foolishness Scepter to enhance his Arrow Shooting Skill to a power close to that of a First Rank Basic Level...this was the most cost-effective enhancement he had tried.


    With such an enhancement, he would likely use the Arrow Shooting Skill about five times before its progress would decrease a bit.


    Although the beast-faced wizard dodged the first cone bullet, he was not so lucky with the subsequent continuous shots.


    Pfft, pfft, pfft!


    The hot tips of the bullets chaotically hopped inside his body, and his body trembled continuously as if struck by an invisible force.


    The situation was very favorable.


    But the next second!


    Swoosh!!


    The beast-faced wizard''s figure suddenly disappeared from view.


    Colin looked up and saw that, unbeknownst to him, the beast-faced wizard had sprouted two tattered flesh wings, glowing purple, from his back.


    He was now quietly floating right in front of him,


    Hum¡ª


    The defense strength of the Steel Temperature Resistance Field was raised to its maximum, and Colin''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Ding... ding... ding...


    The previously shot cone bullets squeezed out from the beast-faced wizard''s body and fell to the ground.


    Around the fist-sized wounds, malignant growths rapidly sprouted one after another, instantly sealing the wounds completely.


    "Such recovery power, it might not be much weaker than my own."


    Since the cone bullets were useless... Colin waved the Foolishness Scepter once again!


    Boom!


    An orange-yellow fireball shot towards the beast-faced wizard at high speed!


    "These fireballs... and the previous cone bullets, surely they''ve already exceeded the Apprentice level."


    "Could it be an Official Wizard?!"


    The Beast-faced Wizard thought to himself as he effortlessly dodged the Fireball.


    Although his current state was nearly corrupt and degenerate, hanging by a thread, it had granted him power surpassing that of an Apprentice Wizard.


    He hadn''t reached the level of an Official Wizard, but in terms of speed, he was already at the threshold!


    Dodging such a slow Fireball was a piece of cake!


    "No, if it were an Official Wizard, it wouldn''t be this easy... This Magic Power is probably just a bit stronger than an Apprentice''s, barely touching the threshold of an Official Wizard."


    The Beast-faced Wizard continued to dodge the Fireballs, waiting for a chance to counter-attack.


    "It seems that this power must come from that scepter!"


    A flash of greed sparkled in the Beast-faced Wizard''s eyes, but then his expression changed.


    Whoosh!!


    A Cone Bullet suddenly shot towards him.


    The Cone Bullet was much faster than the Fireball, and he couldn''t dodge in time,


    Pfft!


    The Cone Bullet penetrated his body, the immense kinetic energy causing a slight delay in his dodging motion.


    Then a Fireball followed closely behind and hit him hard!


    There was no escaping now!


    The Beast-faced Wizard''s expression changed as he closed his wings around his body to shield himself.


    Boom!!


    The Fireball exploded, blasting huge holes in his purple-tinged flesh wings, and the edges burned fiercely like a clinging bone plague.


    Severely injured, the clarity in the Beast-faced Wizard''s eyes faded away like a receding tide, and strange swellings continuously emerged from his body like waves.


    Just as the clarity was about to disappear completely and his body seemed on the verge of bursting,


    The Beast-faced Wizard took a deep breath and barely managed to regain his senses.


    Immediately, the battered purple-tinged flesh wings began to rapidly heal.


    "That was close... Looks like I''ll have to rely on my speed advantage to fight this out."


    As the Beast-faced Wizard thought this,


    A blinding light burst forth!


    A Sun Fireball, like a glowing sun, struck him.


    "No!"


    The Beast-faced Wizard''s eyes filled with fear as he desperately flapped his flesh wings!


    But the next second, his body melted away instantly like ice under summer sunlight.


    "Hu¡ª"


    Colin exhaled a heavy breath, the red light on the crystal of the Sun Fireball Ring on his index finger gradually dimming.


    Realizing that the witchcraft just touching the threshold of an Official Wizard couldn''t harm this peculiar Wizard, he had prepared to use the Sun Fireball.


    After all, he couldn''t drag the battle on too long, as it could lead to complications.


    But if he had used the Foolishness Scepter to elevate his Magic Power a notch higher, the cost would not have been small, and he didn''t want his progress with the Fireball Technique to regress again.


    Fortunately, the power of the Sun Fireball was still strong enough... to secure victory.


    He turned to look at Burns on the other side.


    Clang!


    He just saw Burns retract his Giant Sword.


    At his feet, where he stood on one leg, lay the three Light Armor Knights who had accompanied the Beast-faced Wizard.


    He was about to ask for details about what happened,


    Patter¡ªpatter¡ª


    But suddenly, a series of sounds came from behind...


    Turning his head, he saw that it was the remains of the Beast-faced Wizard, making a slight noise as they hit the ground.


    Colin approached, glanced, but did not find a Storage Ring or anything similar.


    "This is..."


    Among the ash-gray remains, he found the only object that had survived the Sun Fireball¡ªan Crown Ornament.


    It was considered an ornament because the crown was only the size of a regular ring, made of metal, interwoven in gold and silver colors, and exquisitely detailed.


    "It looks familiar..." Colin frowned slightly as he picked up the ornament.


    "Better keep this for now, it''s not the right time." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He turned and walked over to Burns, who was barely able to stand, ready to inquire about the specifics of everything.

 Chapter 177 - 146 Talent

    "You mean... Queen Polly and Prince Gallagher are both dead?"


    Colin stared at the ashen-faced Great Knight and repeated in surprise.


    Burns remained silent. Even if Queen Polly had brought her fate upon herself, as a Guardian Knight of the Royal Family, it was his dereliction of duty.


    "Let''s head back," sighed Colin.


    He had not expected such an event to occur...


    "Yes," Burns responded softly, hopping on one leg beside the bodies of Polly and the other, hefting them up one by one.


    Perhaps because he was standing on one leg, what should have been a simple action seemed nearly enough to make him fall over.


    "Your leg... is injured?" Colin asked.


    "Mmm," Burns nodded silently.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then conjured a force field to lift the bodies of Polly and the other off Burns''s shoulders.


    He looked around at the deep dark jungle and continued,


    "Let''s go, I''ll fly you back."


    Without waiting for Burns to respond, he grabbed his shoulder, leaped up, and flew towards the cave.


    Although they had dealt with the Beast-faced Wizard, Colin was not sure if other dangers lurked nearby.


    And with Delaisi and others currently alone in the cave... it was better to bring Burns back quickly and regroup to avoid further accidents.


    The wind howled past, Burns gritted his teeth against the pain, blood seeped from his calf wound, then whipped away by the biting cold wind, quickly freezing into tiny droplets in the air.


    Seeing this, Colin frowned slightly and slowed down a bit.


    ''After all... if Burns''s left leg was rendered useless, he would need to expend energy caring for him during the rest of the journey.''


    ''Pity, his own abilities were too limited, thinking about it now, he hadn''t mastered a single healing witchcraft... Resources, especially knowledge resources, were still so lacking.''


    While thinking, they soon returned to the cave.


    Perhaps because a fire had been lit inside, as soon as they entered, the temperature difference between the inside and outside was distinctly noticeable.


    The icy edges by the cave entrance seemed also to have softened somewhat.


    Before long, the dark and cold cave walls gradually brightened, illuminated by the flickering orange-yellow firelight.


    "Colin..." Delaisi was about to greet him, but as he saw the scene before him, his pupils constricted, and his mind felt like it had been struck by a hammer, dizzy and disoriented.


    Eliel, however, had a calm expression, like an undisturbed ancient well.


    Colin slowly set down the bodies of Polly and the other, calmly saying:


    "Let Burns explain the specifics to you."


    With that, he paused and then added solemnly, "Your Majesty, you have ten minutes to handle all of this."


    "After ten minutes, to avoid possible new troubles, we will continue our journey, leaving here as quickly as possible."


    Delaisi finally came to his senses, nodded silently, then took a deep breath and started questioning Burns.


    Colin turned and walked away, giving them space.


    "Burns, tell me what exactly happened here."


    "Tell me why Polly and Gallagher died, yet you are still alive!"


    Behind him, Delaisi''s voice gradually rose, filled with uncontrollable anger.


    As a Guardian Knight, no matter the circumstances or whatever crisis he faced, Burns should have died before Polly and the other!


    In such a situation where the master dies yet the Guardian Knight lives on, he wondered how Burns would explain this to him!


    "Your Majesty, it is Burns''s incompetence..." Burns knelt on one knee, head bowed in silence.


    In a place unseen by Delaisi, a flicker of resolve crossed his eyes.


    ''Everything was for the Holy Flame Royal Family!''


    ''Wizard Colin is right beside... What Queen Polly did must not be known to him... Otherwise, if it angers the Holy Flame Royal Family...''


    "You!" Delaisi, in a fit of rage...


    Colin shook his head, silently blocking out their conversation, and sat cross-legged beside the fire, beginning to study the newly obtained Crown Ornament.


    Taking out the Crown Ornament, and looking at its delicate craftsmanship and the interwoven gold and silver appearance, he suddenly felt a surge of thought and pulled out the Tin Saint School Token given to him earlier by Delaisi¡ªa similarly gold and silver woven delicate feather badge.


    Placing the two together in his hands, from the craftsmanship, style, and color, it was clear they were related.


    Thinking for a moment, Colin continued to probe with spiritual power and magic power.


    ...


    The ten minutes passed in a flash.


    Colin slowly opened his eyes, confusion evident.


    This Crown Ornament, whether due to damage or some other reason, gave no feedback whether he probed with spiritual power, magic power, or both combined...


    ''No need to rush, it''s more important to hurry on our way now.''


    Shaking his head, Colin extinguished the fire, and got up with the Renee sisters.


    "Are you ready?" Colin asked Delaisi, holding the reins of the horse beside him.


    "We''re ready," Delaisi nodded, his expression calm, showing no signs of sorrow.


    Click-clack-click... sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Walking a few steps, Colin suddenly stopped and looked around, confusedly asking:


    "What about Burns? Isn''t he coming with us?"


    Delaisi''s expression turned cold as he softly said:


    "Lord Colin, he is staying behind to dig graves and erect tombstones for Polly and the other..."


    Upon hearing this, Colin nodded slightly, without saying much more.


    Such occurrences of a lord dying and the servant perishing too were all too common¡­ He was not surprised.

 Chapter 178 - 146 Talent_2

    "Eliel, let''s go," Delaisi called back.


    At that moment, Eliel was turning to look at Burns, who stood silently in the cave, his gaze flickering.


    Burns leaned against the cold cave wall, watching them leave, with the corpses of Queen Polly and her child beside him.


    Seeing Eliel looking at him, Burns'' resolute face softened slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled into a small smile as he said,


    "Princess Eliel¡­ go on."


    His voice was rough, but still calm and collected.


    "Eliel!" Delaisi said sternly.


    Burns had failed to protect Queen Polly and her child and had failed to fulfill his knightly vows!


    This was the price he had to pay!


    "Father," Eliel turned her head, hesitated, and then slowly began, "Knight Burns¡­ is not what you think."


    "There''s no need to plead for him, Eliel."


    Delaisi frowned in confusion but was not angry, instead gently advising.


    It seemed¡­ Eliel felt pity for Burns being left alone, moved by compassion for him.


    But in his view, Burns''s solo survival was a taboo¡­ Not executing him on the spot and leaving him a glimmer of hope was already very merciful.


    Eliel¡­ was still not wise enough.


    However, with only the two of them remaining in the Holy Flame Royal Family, and his age already advanced...


    Eliel was clearly the only hope left for the Holy Flame Royal Family¡­ focus on cultivating her more in the future.


    Colin turned back, frowning at them.


    "That''s not how it is."


    Feeling Colin''s gaze, Eliel felt a bit anxious and quickly spoke.


    Then, without waiting for a response, she crossed her hands and placed them on her forehead.


    Immediately after, an invisible spiritual fluctuation emitted.


    Colin raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise.


    The next second.


    A palm-sized human figure enveloped in White Light appeared in the cave and then gradually disappeared into the air the next second, like a drop of water into the sea, leaving no trace.


    Seemingly sensing something, Colin closed his eyes, feeling carefully.


    But he detected no abnormalities.


    "Father, Lord Colin," Eliel began to explain quickly.


    "This evening, after I received my sister Erica''s urn, I discovered I had such an ability... or rather, triggered such an ability."


    Colin interrupted Eliel''s narration, curiously asking,


    "Is that Spiritual Body still here?"


    Without using witchcraft, his senses couldn''t detect the presence of the Spiritual Body.


    "It''s still here." Eliel closed her eyes.


    Whoosh.


    The faint White Light appeared again, not far in front of Colin.


    The White Light lasted for a while, then extinguished again, like a flickering firefly losing its light.


    Colin was amazed in his heart.


    When he was at Blackstone Island, he had heard that some people naturally possessed special Talents... but he had never seen one.


    He never expected that Erica''s sister would be such a rare entity.


    "You just said... you just triggered the ability?" Colin asked, seemingly recalling something.


    "Yes, Lord Colin," Eliel said, a bit nervously smoothing her hair by her ears.


    "Over six, nearly seven years ago, right after the day my mother died, I gradually began to see an illusion occasionally and heard some strange sounds from it."


    "Usually, I couldn''t understand what the sounds were saying, or rather, the sounds did not make any sense, and the main form the illusions took was a white globe of light."


    Speaking up to here, Eliel seemed a bit embarrassed, hesitated, but still continued.


    "After my mother passed away, gradually no one talked to me, and the number of people I interacted with became fewer and fewer, so I started talking to the illusion¡­


    Anyway, the illusion never responded until tonight, after I got my sister''s urn¡­ and then I suddenly found myself able to control it."


    "Uh-huh," Colin nodded and then added,


    "Continue, what do you want to tell Delaisi?"


    Eliel''s newly revealed Talent made him willing to give her more time.


    "Thank you, Lord Colin," Eliel nodded and thanked him, then continued her narrative:


    "Tonight, when Knight Burns was out with Queen Polly and Gallagher, I suddenly had an idea and summoned the illusion to follow them."


    Hearing this, sensing something, Burns'' expression gradually became agitated, and he couldn''t hold back,


    "Princess Eliel!"


    Eliel just glanced at him and decisively said:


    "So, Father King, I know everything that has happened."


    "Queen Polly''s death shouldn''t be blamed on Knight Burns, it was her own doing!"


    Then, she truthfully recounted the entire incident exactly as it had happened.


    "...That''s what happened."


    Eliel finished her last sentence.


    Thump!


    Behind her, Burns suddenly fell heavily on his knees, his head deeply bowed.


    On the other side, Delaisi also came to his senses, his complexion gradually paling, and he quickly knelt down to Colin.


    ''Queen Polly did such a thing, even though it wasn''t successful, no one can guarantee what Wizard Colin might think.


    The worst situation... is that Colin might feel this decision wasn''t just Queen Polly''s idea, but a result they had all discussed together.''


    ''But now, it''s also not easy to explain that this was only Polly''s idea and had nothing to do with them...


    After all, if it backfires and makes Colin think they were shirking responsibility, then it''s all over.''


    Delaisi bowed his head, his thoughts chaotic and tangled. Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    "Rise," Colin said, not surprised by the reactions of Delaisi and the others.


    But it was clearly Polly''s personal idea, and he wasn''t about to take his anger out on others. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ignorance is not a crime, Polly has already died and paid a sufficient price..." he continued.


    Hearing this, Delaisi finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He stood up, looked back at Burns with a ashamed expression... and thought of Polly, but the original sadness in his heart had already been replaced by anger and relief.


    "Let''s go, don''t delay any longer," Colin urged.


    After speaking, he took the lead and walked outside.


    "Burns, keep up," Delaisi spoke, then hesitated before adding, "I wronged you..."


    "No, it''s not Your Majesty''s fault," Burns interrupted.


    Delaisi paused, his guilt deepening, and he let out a breath before continuing:


    "Let''s go, Knight Burns."


    The group mounted their horses and slowly rode away.


    *


    *


    *


    One month later.


    The chill of winter was gradually vanishing, and a hint of spring began to quietly emerge across the vast land.


    It was now late morning.


    In the forest, golden sunshine penetrated the dense green leaves, casting mottled marks on the riders below.


    Renee shielded her eyes from the sunlight and watched the white birds flitting through the trees above.


    Their long ribbon-like white tail feathers were something she had never seen at sea before.


    "We''re about to leave the forest, stay alert."


    The gentle and magnetic voice came from ahead.


    Looking forward, Renee saw a handsome figure in a gray and white Wizard Robe.


    Ahead of him, there was a growing light... the exit of the forest was just in sight.


    And if the map was correct, once they exited the forest, they would have nearly arrived at their destination.


    Renee''s eyes brightened, and she couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation.


    It didn''t take long for them, and soon the group emerged from the forest.


    Colin took the lead, followed closely by the sisters Rene and Delaisi.


    The warm sunlight shone down.


    First, they felt the wind, a slightly moist breeze characteristic of spring.


    Then, in the distance ahead, the large gray and white walls loomed like a long dragon.


    This was Merredith City... the outskirts of the Meredith Kingdom.


    Merredith City was a city within the Kingdom.


    Its outskirts formed a huge kingdom inhabited by both commoners and wizards, surrounded by many other smaller kingdoms.


    These kingdoms clung to Merredith City, also protecting it.


    Colin gently exhaled.


    As soon as he stepped out of the forest, he clearly felt an increase in the concentration of Magic Power... reaching the levels he had previously experienced at the base of Blackstone Island.


    Although not high, it was much better compared to the places they had passed along the way.


    Squeezing the horse''s sides, they continued to ride forward.

 Chapter 179 - 147: Arrival at Neustadt

    The crowd in front of the city gate formed a long dragon.


    Some walked on foot, others rode horses, and a few rode upon special demon beasts, and of course, there were carriages too.


    Of course, the most eye-catching were always those steel steam locomotives bellowing black smoke.


    On the tall gray-white city wall, there were one large and two smaller gates¡ªa total of three.


    The middle one, which was also the largest, was closed tight, only the two smaller gates on either side were open.


    Although called smaller gates, they were at least seven or eight meters wide and about ten meters tall.


    In front of each, several queues lined up.


    The queue on the left clearly had many fewer people than the one on the right, probably only about one-tenth.


    With just a glance, Colin understood the situation.


    The crowd on the left, either dressed in wizard robes or riding special demon beasts... were all likely wizards.


    Taking Renee and the others to the smaller gate on the left, he chose the shortest queue and got in line.


    Looking ahead in the direction of the slowly moving queue.


    There, several silver figures were inspecting the wizards entering the city, one after the other.


    Helmets, breastplates, leg armor, and so on, connected seamlessly as if one whole... somewhat similar to the patrol knights he had seen before on Bananka Island.


    If not for the classic knight armor''s design... they looked more like robots from a science fiction world.


    These were clearly creations by the hands of wizards... what their strength was like was unknown.


    Looking back at the crowd.


    Most appeared to be wizards who, like him, had come from far away.


    Some apparently didn''t have storage rings and used horses and other beasts to carry bags of supplies.


    The most eye-catching among them was a merchant convoy in the middle of the queue.


    Several unknown demon beasts with triangular head crests, large in stature, and judging by shoulder height, they had to be at least three or four meters tall, resembling an enlarged version of an ox.


    They pulled specially-made iron-frame carts behind them.


    The carts were covered in black cloth, obscuring whatever was inside.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and continued to follow the queue.


    Before long, it was his turn to enter the city.


    "Pass," the silver-armored knight watched him, his voice mechanical and indifferent.


    Colin frowned slightly and shook his head.


    "Move forward to the inspection and registration," said the silver-armored knight without pause, pointing behind him.


    "Next."


    Renee, leading Demi, stepped forward.


    The silver-armored knight looked up at the two, a brief flash of light from the eyepieces of his helmet, and then asked, "Mortals?"


    His voice remained unchanged, still mechanical and cold.


    "She''s with me," Colin quickly explained, "The next three as well."


    "Hmm," the silver-armored knight glanced at Delaisi and the others, nodding his head, "Go together for registration."


    Colin motioned for Delaisi and the others to come forward with him to the registration point.


    The information needed for registration was not extensive, primarily just basic details like names.


    After he paid one Magic Stone for each person, the silver-armored knight took freshly made passes from a pure black machine beside him and handed them to Colin.


    The black passes were only the size of a thumb, shaped like a square with rounded corners, with a small hole at the top, likely to thread a string through for easy carrying.


    Entering the city.


    The bustling noise hit them.


    Ahead was a bustling commercial street.


    Neat and spacious.


    On either side, a dense array of various shops lined up, and on the roadside, there were also some wooden cart vendors... mainly snacks.


    The aroma wafted over.


    Colin stopped and turned to see Delaisi and the others curiously looking around, and he said,


    "Let''s rest here in Eliel for a while, have some lunch, and then we''ll continue on our way."


    Although they had arrived in Meredith Kingdom, they were still a considerable distance from Merredith City, at the heart of the kingdom.


    "Alright, Lord Colin," Eliel replied, slowly approaching on horseback.


    Delaisi and the other person kept their distance, following behind.


    Colin looked away, surveying the area, looking for a suitable place to eat.


    He was supposed to deliver Eliel and the others to Merredith City in the heart of the kingdom, before taking the transmission array from there to Neustadt City.


    A month earlier, the day after they left the cave, Delaisi suddenly approached him and handed over a different badge.


    At that time, he was testing Eliel''s potential as a wizard with the crystal ball.


    As expected, Eliel''s talent was first-class... quite naturally, as someone with such talent would undoubtedly not possess inferior aptitude.


    And that badge, according to the information it contained, was a token of admission to a school named Viting.


    Unfortunately... the age requirement for the exam was fifteen and under, and he was already eighteen that year, thus not meeting the condition.


    So, in the end, he returned the badge to Delaisi.


    "Let''s go there."


    The street was full of eye-catching delicacies, and after scanning the varieties, Colin, a bit overwhelmed, finally chose a nearby store at random to save time.


    Time still needed to be tightly managed.


    If they were to travel on horseback... they probably wouldn''t reach the heart of the kingdom and Merredith City until tomorrow.


    Meredith Kingdom might only have this one city, but that didn''t mean it was small.


    In fact, this one city was equivalent in size to the total area of some smaller countries. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And if that was all, that would be fine, as some provinces and cities in his previous life were as large as entire small countries.


    But...


    Colin turned to look back at the tall gray-white city wall behind him and couldn''t help feeling a sense of awe.

 Chapter 180 - 147: Arriving at Neustadt_2

    If the information obtained was correct, such a tall wall should encircle the entire Merredith City.


    The length was hard to imagine.


    Perhaps, only in such a world could there be such a spectacle of a wall...


    In the technologically advanced world of his past life, although it was possible to build such a wall, there was no reason to do so, and hence, such a spectacle was not to be seen.


    After lunch.


    Without rest, Colin led the way forward, continuing until sunset.


    After a hasty night''s rest at an inn, as soon as it was daylight, they continued on their journey.


    By around noon time.


    On the wide streets.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    Colin and his companions rode on, bathed in the bright sunshine.


    The next second, they suddenly stepped from light into shadow; from a distance, a vast shadow engulfed them.


    In front of them, a colossal grey-black wall stood in their way.


    ''Wizard Alliance-governed, Merredith City... we''ve finally arrived.''


    Colin looked up and exhaled softly.


    As usual for entering the city.


    But they were stopped again.


    Colin took out his pass and handed it to the humanoid golem blocking their path.


    In the past, he had only read about such golems in books... like the renowned ghoul golems, for instance.


    But he had never seen them in reality.


    The humanoid golem before them was entirely black in color, with a humanoid figure topped by an oval, smooth head that had only eyes and a mouth, devoid of other facial features.


    The golem reached out to take the pass, scanning it in front of its chest, but did not step aside.


    "Wizard Colin, those who enter the Wizard City under Wizard Alliance rule for the first time must pay a one thousand Magic Stone entry fee," it said.


    It added, "As for your mortal servants... as there are no more than five, they do not need to pay a fee."


    ''One thousand Magic Stones...'' Colin was slightly shocked internally.


    For an ordinary Wizard Apprentice, such a number of Magic Stones was not a small amount.


    However, since Merredith City had such rules, it was likely that Neustadt City, also under Wizard Alliance rule, would have similar regulations. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Magic Stone fee would have to be paid sooner or later.


    Colin took out ten lower-grade Magic Stones from his Storage Ring and handed them to the guard golem.


    The golem took everyone''s passes and replaced them with new ones adorned with golden patterns.


    His pass was different from those of Renee and the others¡ªit was more intricately patterned and larger in size.


    "Wizard Colin, this is the universal pass of the entire Wizard Alliance, please infuse Magic Power to bind it," said the golem.


    Colin did as instructed and infused Magic Power.


    As if branding a witch tool, a faint connection emanated from the pass in his hand.


    Subsequently, some information came through.


    Upon a cursory glance, Colin felt a surge of elation.


    This was the information about the Wizard Alliance that he had always been lacking.


    Suppressing the urge to examine it in detail right then and there, Colin led Eliel and the others forward.


    No sooner had they entered the city than Colin raised his eyebrows in surprise without having a clear view of their surroundings.


    He stopped to sense the environment carefully.


    The concentration of Magic Power here far surpassed any place he had been to.


    Indeed, as they had come closer to the Kingdom Center, the density of Magic Power had increased.


    He had anticipated the rich Magic Power of Merredith City.


    But he hadn''t expected the difference to be so vast... If quantified, the concentration of Magic Power here was at least ten times greater than that of Lap Wizard Territory.


    Just outside the city moments earlier... the concentration of Magic Power was about the same as that on Bananka Island.


    It was unthinkable that merely a wall separated such vast differences.


    Coming back to his senses, he turned to Delaisi and the others and slowly said,


    "Eliel, His Majesty Delaisi, we have arrived at Merredith City."


    "It''s time for us to part ways."


    Delaisi, withdrawing his curious gaze from the surroundings, looked at Colin with a tinge of reluctance.


    But he, too, knew that this reluctance stemmed more from the unease of being in unfamiliar surroundings.


    "Alright, thank you for all your care along the way, Sir Colin," said Delaisi, placing his left hand on his chest and bowing deeply.


    Behind him, Burns and Eliel followed suit, placing their hands on their chests and bowing deeply in gratitude.


    "Eliel, this is for you."


    After pondering for a moment, Colin looked at Eliel and took out several Magic Crystals equivalent to the power level of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice from his Storage Ring, handing them to her.


    This was partially in consideration of his friendship with the old friend Erica, and partially to sow a good deed.


    After all, given Eliel''s unusual Talent and the possession of a School Token,


    It was likely that as long as she managed to join a School, her achievements would not be modest, given time.


    "Thank you," said Eliel, taken aback. After a moment''s hesitation, she accepted the Magic Crystals.


    In the past month, through Colin''s introduction, she had gained some understanding of the world of wizards.


    She recognized the value of the Magic Crystals in front of her and understood her own situation.


    "I will remember this kindness," she said, looking at Colin and adding.


    Colin gazed at Eliel, her determined appearance...


    In a moment of reverie, the image of the blond, green-eyed girl in front of him gradually merged with that of another blond, green-eyed girl under the moonlight the second day after he had crossed over.


    He still remembered her resolute words, her firm gaze... and that note slipped through the crack in the door.


    ''Unknowingly... it has been a long time.''


    Exhaling a breath of stale air, Colin smiled and then suddenly offered his blessing,


    "Eliel, may you succeed in joining a School and become a great Official Wizard in the future."

 Chapter 181 - 147 Arrival at Neustadt_3

    Eliel was somewhat surprised, and then raised his fist firmly in reply,


    "I will try my hardest, Lord Colin."


    Colin nodded, and then waved at them.


    "Goodbye."


    He did not hesitate, and promptly turned and left.


    The last blessing for Eliel... was actually adapted from a note Erica had originally written to him.


    "Finally, I hope you can successfully advance and become a great Official Wizard!"


    These were Erica''s original words.


    ... Official Wizard.


    Colin walked briskly, somewhat impatient in his heart.


    Although Merredith City is also a Wizard City under the governance of the Wizard Alliance,


    it is not the city where the Tin Saint School is located, and not his ultimate destination.


    So even if everything around him looked great, knowing he was just passing through, he didn''t spend much time appreciating it.


    The long journey was 99 percent complete, just one more step!


    Driven by this mindset, Colin didn''t admire his surroundings anymore and hurriedly made his way to the Transmission Array he had learned about beforehand.


    "Is the destination Neustadt City?" asked the Wizard Apprentice on duty.


    "Yes," Colin nodded.


    "Okay, the total cost is six hundred Magic Stones. You need to wait for a hundred people, or you can choose to make up the remaining Magic Stones for an earlier departure," explained the Wizard Apprentice with a smile.


    "How many more people are needed now?" Colin looked at him, hesitating before asking.


    The Wizard Apprentice scanned the waiting hall in front of him and said after a moment,


    "About thirty more people are needed, would you like to leave earlier?"


    "...No need."


    "Okay," the Wizard Apprentice on duty smiled unchanged and nodded.


    After a moment, he added,


    "It won''t actually take too long to wait, according to past situations, we can depart in about half an hour."


    "Okay, thank you. Here are the Magic Stones," Colin nodded to him and paid the six hundred Magic Stones in advance.


    Half an hour passed in an instant.


    The seats in the waiting hall gradually filled up.


    "Please note, the Transmission Array to Neustadt will activate in five minutes. Wizards in the waiting hall, please enter through the passageway in an orderly manner."


    As the mechanical voice sounded, a section in the middle of the front wall of the waiting hall slowly rose.


    A corridor about three meters wide appeared in front of them.


    Colin stood up and walked forward with the crowd.


    After turning a corner, a large circular Witch Array emitting a faint glow appeared before them.


    Made entirely of metal, silver, gold, black... various colors of metal were orderly merged together, and although the colors were numerous, they were filled with an inexplicable sense of order.


    The Transmission Array was divided into several neat areas.


    Colin, with sisters Renee, slowly walked to their designated spots following the guidance.


    Once everyone stood still.


    "The transmission is about to begin, please ensure that Storage Rings and other items have been placed into the shielding box," the mechanical voice sounded.


    Colin subconsciously raised his hand to check, confirming that the Storage Ring on his finger had been placed into the black shielding box he was holding.


    This could not be taken lightly, or he had to be prepared to lose the contents of the Storage Ring forever.


    After checking, a little while passed.


    The mechanical countdown sounded,


    "Transmission beginning, three, two, one!"


    The Transmission Array burst into light!


    Colin felt his vision suddenly go dark. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then the next second, his vision cleared again.


    He was looking at the same Transmission Array, seemingly still in Merredith.


    But seeing the different ceiling, different walls... Colin knew he had finally arrived at his real destination¡ª


    Neustadt!

 Chapter 182 - 148: The School in the City

    Old Parker Inn.


    "Excuse me, how much is the accommodation price here?"


    In the simple and bright lobby, Colin stood at the front desk and asked the apprentice witch-waitress in front of him.


    Two hours had almost passed since he teleported to Neustadt City.


    And this... was the third inn he had found for accommodation.


    "How long would you like to stay, and what kind of room would you like?" the waitress asked proficiently.


    "Introduce them all to me," Colin replied.


    "Of course, sir," the waitress cleared her throat and began to explain.


    "There are three grades for standard single rooms based on their size: eight Magic Stones, twelve Magic Stones, and sixteen Magic Stones. Suites range from one-bedroom to three-bedroom, priced at twenty-five Magic Stones, forty Magic Stones, and sixty Magic Stones respectively."


    After speaking, she paused for a moment and added a few points:


    "If you stay for more than a month, you can enjoy a thirty percent discount. Every room except for the smallest single room is equipped with a bathroom, and only suites come with a kitchen."


    ''A two-bedroom suite costs forty Magic Stones a night, that''s expensive,'' Colin sighed to himself.


    During his travels, he had sailed the seas and crossed continents, staying in inns every so often.


    But even the most expensive inn he had stayed at before didn''t charge more than one Magic Stone.


    ''Neustadt... truly befitting of a mage city under the rule of the Wizard Alliance.''


    Although he didn''t know much about the city yet, the high accommodation fees had given him a strong first impression.


    You see, apart from the Sea Swallow, he didn''t have many Magic Stones on him at the moment, adding up to roughly three thousand Magic Stones.


    For the Colin of the past, this would have been a substantial amount, but considering the cost of living in Neustadt now... it wouldn''t count for much.


    What''s more, when he was in Merredith City, he had paid a thousand Magic Stones as the entry fee, and later the transmission array took another six hundred... leaving him with only around fourteen hundred Magic Stones.


    ''I still need to sell the Sea Swallow as soon as possible and join a School...'' Colin silently pondered.


    Then he spoke to the waitress, "Please set me up with a one-bedroom suite."


    The difference in price between a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom was fifteen Magic Stones... he might as well save where he could.


    After all, a one-bedroom suite including a living room had two rooms, which was more than enough for their stay.


    Besides, the tent and bedding were all complete in the Storage Ring. There was no need to worry about discomfort¡ªafter all, they had come this far mostly like this.


    "Alright, sir, for one night?"


    "Let''s make it two nights for now," Colin shook his head and said, while reaching out fifty regular Magic Stones and a pass to hand to the waitress.


    Compared to the other two inns he had asked about before, Old Parker Inn already offered the lowest prices.


    Other places charged at least forty Magic Stones for the same suite... Now that he had just arrived in Neustadt City, he would have many more expenses in the days to come. Saving even a little would be beneficial.


    "All set, sir. Your room is at the end of the corridor on the second floor. This is your room card; you can use it by inputting Magic Power."


    Colin nodded, took the gray room card and pass from the waitress, and then headed upstairs with the Renee sisters.


    "Renee, tonight, I''m afraid we''ll have to make do and have you and Demi stay in the living room," he said, turning to speak to her.


    "That''s alright, Master," Renee replied with a smile, "Staying in a room is much better than what we had to endure outdoors before."


    Compared to over a year ago, Renee looked vastly different.


    It wasn''t a change in appearance, but more in demeanor and expression.


    "Right," Colin nodded and patted Demi''s head beside her.


    Renee had always been easy to take care of, never giving him cause for disappointment.


    Her presence had elevated his quality of life in numerous ways throughout their travels... not to mention, meals with or without Renee made a world of difference.


    And not just that, the long journey also deepened his trust in Renee to a new level...


    It was just a shame... that Renee didn''t possess the talent to become a witch, and neither did her sister Demi.


    Arriving in the room, Renee started to tidy up, and after he took some daily necessities out of the Storage Ring, he went into the bedroom alone.


    After some exertions today, it was now approaching evening.


    Although Neustadt City had no curfew, the patrols and inspections at night were frequent, and there were fewer people around... it was not suitable to go out to gather information.


    So for today, he planned to rest a bit in the inn and then take a good look at himself.


    He would go out tomorrow to inquire about the Tin Saint School and find a place to sell the Sea Swallow, among other things.


    Thinking all this, Colin''s mind stirred as he sat on the bed and summoned the Golden Paper.


    Faint golden particles converged.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice (8/100); Ultimate Knight (93/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation II¡ü (100/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Method II (87/100); Yili Breathing Method (36/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Basic; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Temperature Resistance Field (16/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (Golden); Fireball Skill II (15/100); Swift Skill I (87/100); Flying and Diving Skill (68/100); Detect Evil I (16/100); Purification Evil Power I (18/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making I (66/100); Blood Pattern Transformation I (36/100)]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    He carefully read from top to bottom. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 183 - 148 Middle School_2

    Overall, there had been no significant improvement.


    In terms of Rank, since there had been no advancement in the Meditation Method, the progress on the Wizard Level was slow, now merely at 8 out of 100.


    And the realm of the Knight, too, because of the hustle of traveling, remained at 93 out of 100, still some time away from reaching the limit.


    As for witchcraft...


    Colin couldn''t help but let out a soft sigh.


    Because of the cost of the Foolishness Scepter, his progress in witchcraft was pretty much the same as when he was on Bananka Island. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''But now that I have finally arrived at a relatively stable place, I''ll keep the Foolishness Scepter as a trump card, not to be used as frequently as before... It''s time to start making an effort to improve.''


    He put away the Golden Paper.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then took out his Wizard Alliance pass.


    He certainly hadn''t forgotten that this pass contained the information about the Wizard Alliance that he currently lacked the most.


    With his eyes slowly closing, his mind immersed within it, he began to carefully peruse the information inside.


    ...


    The next day.


    Dawn''s light faintly shone.


    The hubbub of life began to seep through the street-facing window of the room on the second floor.


    Colin got dressed out of bed and walked to the window to pull back the linsey-woolsey white curtains.


    Looking out the window, the enticing smells of food began to drift up from the street below.


    Baked bread, sandwiches, and more, a variety never seen by him before on Blackstone Island or Bananka Island.


    Neustadt City... or rather, under the rule of the Wizard Alliance in the Siya Continent, the material life was more abundant than he had imagined, just looking at these breakfasts, nearly rivaling the standards of Earth in his previous life.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    A gentle knocking came from the door.


    "Master, breakfast is ready," Renee''s voice followed soon after.


    Pulling his thoughts back, Colin quickly finished his delightful breakfast, instructed Renee and the others to wait for him in the inn, then went downstairs.


    Descending the stairs, an Apprentice Witch at the reception was engrossed in a thick black book.


    Seeing this, Colin seemed reminded of something, he paused slightly and changed direction to approach the front desk.


    "May I assist you with something?" the dark-haired Apprentice asked, looking up from her book.


    Her tone was calm, not the slightest bit irritated by being interrupted by Colin''s sudden approach; after all, being interrupted was a common occurrence in her job.


    "Hello," Colin said, rubbing his bracelet on his left hand, "I don''t really need anything specific, just looking to gather some information... I was wondering if you would be willing to entertain a paid inquiry."


    He had initially intended to go out to a tea house or tavern to gather information from the servers there.


    But on second thought, the information he needed was nothing more than about the Tin Saint School and shipping deals.


    Nothing particularly sensitive, so he decided to directly ask this local Apprentice working the front desk.


    "Paid inquiries are certainly possible¡ª" The dark-haired waitress began with a nod, but then her eyes focused on the bracelet in his hand, and her tone shifted, "However, sir, could you please stop using your detection bracelet?"


    "To be frank... it is not particularly polite."


    She couldn''t sense the fluctuations from the detection bracelet, but she recognized the bracelet on Colin''s wrist...


    If she wasn''t mistaken, it was a Trojan Bracelet Type 2... a very classic model.


    Regrettably... there are now Witch Tools that can evade its detection,


    but those tools are costly, and not many can afford them... the Trojan Bracelet Type 2 remained a high-cost performance choice.


    "I apologize."


    Colin halted his actions, touched his nose, and apologized promptly.


    The results from the Trojan Bracelet''s detection had already transmitted to his retina.


    [Target Strength: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.]


    The dark-haired Apprentice was somewhat surprised by his swift apology, hesitated, then introduced herself:


    "Sofia."


    Colin nodded in response:


    "Just call me Colin."


    Sofia nodded back, inquiring: "Sir, what information would you like to know? You may ask now."


    "After you ask a question, I will name my price, and if you find it agreeable, I will proceed with the answer, how does that sound?"


    "Rest assured, the payment comes after the answer, the price is fair for all."


    "Agreed." Colin nodded, then after organizing his thoughts, he asked:


    "Which Schools are there in Neustadt City, and can you give a brief introduction to each?"


    Sofia paused slightly before responding,


    "Five hundred Magic Stones."


    Colin couldn''t help but frown slightly.


    Sofia sighed.


    "There are close to a thousand big and small Schools in Neustadt City, and even just giving a rough introduction is a significant undertaking... Five hundred Magic Stones is really not much."


    "But I know what you want to ask." Sofia stretched out her palm and gestured a five.


    "Five Magic Stones, and I''ll give you a brief overview of the thirty-six main Schools in the city."


    "Agreed," Colin nodded without hesitation.


    The information about the main Schools of Neustadt City should not be difficult to find.


    However, for him, it would probably take quite a bit of time to gather... and it might not be as detailed and complete as what Sofia had organized, not to mention the possibility of encountering other unexpected issues.


    These five Magic Stones, spent to save time, were not expensive.


    "Very well." Sofia began her explanation.


    "The main Schools of Neustadt City are divided into two tiers."


    "The first tier consists of nine Schools, including Swot, Yista, Silver Guard..., among which the Yista School is the strongest."


    Colin nodded; he knew about the Yista School, as its name was also mentioned in the information on his pass.


    Put simply, the Yista School is the true, uncrowned ruler behind Neustadt City.


    "The second tier has twenty-seven Schools in total, mainly the subsidiary Schools directly under the first tier, with Silver Ring, Wotak, Magic Ring, and Tin Saint attached to the Yista School, and those attached to Silver Guard include..."


    Upon hearing the name Tin Saint, Colin kept a poker face but silently heightened his attention.


    After another fifteen minutes or so, Sofia finally finished introducing each of the thirty-six Schools in turn.


    "The main content of the Schools is roughly as follows."


    After finishing, Sofia let out a light breath and then picked up the tea on her left and took a sip.


    "Give me a detailed introduction to the Yista School and its subsidiary Schools, as detailed as possible... for instance, how to join them."


    "If you only need me to talk about the information that circulates in the street, three Magic Stones."


    "If you want to know some news that outsiders usually can''t find out... twenty Magic Stones."


    Sofia spoke slowly.


    "News that can''t be found out?"


    Sofia smiled and continued,


    "If you, sir, are planning to join the Yista School or one of its subsidiaries..."


    "Then the news I know might not be enormously helpful, but at least can save you some detours."


    Sofia paused for a moment, thereby making her speech more direct.


    "Such as details to take note of in exams, the preferences of the examiners, or even how to obtain a token."


    "Twenty Magic Stones... it''s definitely a bargain."


    Having said so, she quietly awaited Colin''s response.


    For a wizard like Colin, who was clearly from afar, the purpose of coming to Neustadt City was mostly to join a School.


    The city of Neustadt had long formed a series of industries because of this.


    Apart from anything else, the ceaseless supply of tokens in the black market was the best proof of this.


    Of course, this had nothing to do with her as a mere Apprentice.


    She was just selling some information to earn a bit of hard-earned money.


    "Agreed," Colin replied impassively, reaching out and handing over twenty Magic Stones to Sofia.


    He wasn''t surprised that Sofia had guessed he was planning to join a School since he hadn''t made any particular effort to hide it.


    There was no need to hide it... as long as he ensured that the information about possessing a token wasn''t leaked.


    Sofia was somewhat surprised to receive the Magic Stones since the agreement was to answer first and then receive payment.


    But since Colin preferred to pay upfront, of course, she had no complaints.


    She organized her thoughts and began to recount slowly.


    After some time, Sofia finally finished speaking, and she picked up her tea for another sip.


    Colin, on the other hand, was silently processing the information.


    ''The Tin Saint School has an exam in half a month, huh...''

 Chapter 184 - 149 Selling the Boat and Registration

    According to Sofia, there would be an exam held by the Tin Saint School in half a month.


    It''s worth mentioning that the exam was primarily aimed at members of smaller schools under its affiliation, or rather, suitable members from its own subordinate small schools.


    Only then did it apply to those external wizards who were holding tokens.


    And the content of the exam mainly focused on basic wizard knowledge.


    In addition, for Advanced Wizard Apprentices, there would also be an assessment of at least three areas of advanced knowledge they excelled in.


    As for the entry requirements of other schools... Colin took it as an opportunity to broaden his knowledge.


    After all, even the cheapest tokens... According to Sofia, started at at least thirty to forty thousand Magic Stones when purchased on the black market.


    Moreover, schools like the Yista School simply didn''t accept outsiders like him.


    The only acceptance was for ordinary children who fulfilled various requirements and had not yet started wizard training.


    Clack.


    The white porcelain teacup was gently placed on the counter by Sofia, who paused before continuing to ask:


    "Mr. Colin, do you need to inquire about any other information?"


    Now that the Magic Stones had been paid and the information was provided, if there was nothing else, she was going to go back to her reading.


    Colin looked up at Sofia, pondered for a moment, and then continued to ask:


    "Can you recommend any reliable trading markets nearby, or auction houses, pawnshops?"


    "One Magic Stone."


    "Okay," Colin nodded. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sofia organized her thoughts before beginning:


    "Whether you''re looking to buy or sell, I recommend that you go to Copper Rose district. There, on the central street, you can find anything you need."


    "Furthermore, the area is under the control of the Yista School. The commodity prices and commission fees for selling items are higher than elsewhere, but correspondingly, the reputations of their guilds and auction houses are excellent, and there''s never been any malignant incidents."


    Colin nodded, handed over a Magic Stone to Sofia, and after freely inquiring about the address of the Copper Rose district, left the inn and headed towards it.


    In Neustadt City, flying was prohibited throughout the city... Rapid dashing was also banned unless one had special permissions.


    Otherwise, the penalties ranged from a fine in Magic Stones to expulsion from the city or imprisonment.


    Perhaps because of this, there were many public coaches in the city, which were almost seen everywhere on the streets.


    Colin casually flagged down one.


    "How much for a ride to Copper Rose street?"


    "Half a Magic Stone, sir."


    The coachman with a dark complexion replied respectfully from in front of the black canopy.


    "Let''s go," Colin nodded as he boarded the coach.


    The price was reasonable and not as expensive as the accommodation costs... Colin raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Speaking of which, last evening when Renee went out to buy groceries, she also mentioned the price of food in Neustadt City... Roughly estimated, it seemed to be about twice that of Bananka Island.


    It seemed expensive, but compared to accommodation costs, it wasn''t really expensive.


    It seemed, Neustadt City... was mainly expensive in terms of accommodation.


    The coach proceeded with a steady pace, the scenery flashing by rapidly. In a trance, Colin found himself unexpectedly reminiscing about his past life as a young adult striving in the north.


    The headaches over accommodation were somewhat similar to back then.


    Shaking his head, Colin gathered his thoughts.


    The reason why accommodations, or rather housing prices, were so high in Neustadt City was probably tied to its high concentration of Magic Power.


    An hour and some minutes later.


    Tinghai Trading Company.


    Colin stepped in.


    This was the trading company he discovered that would take commissions to sell vessels like ships.


    He planned to ask about the specifics.


    After all, Neustadt City wasn''t just any small town, and finding a suitable buyer without knowing anyone was not an easy task...


    Professional matters should be left to professionals.


    As for trading companies that would directly buy ships, perhaps due to Neustadt City not being by the sea, he hadn''t found any.


    After explaining his intention, the attendant at the front desk led him to a meeting room inside.


    A long-haired middle-aged Wizard Apprentice received him.


    "Sir, would you like to commission us, Tinghai Trading Company, to consign a vessel?"


    "Yes," Colin nodded and asked, "What is the specific consignment process? For example... valuation and commission fees."


    The long-haired apprentice nodded and said:


    "Well sir, our Tinghai Trading Company typically charges a commission fee ranging from two to five percent for consigning vessels, varying based on the type of vessel and different selling prices."


    Colin nodded slightly; if the markdown wasn''t too great, the commission fee of two to five percent was somewhat acceptable.


    After all, consigning through the trading company could save him a great deal of time and energy.


    And he could spend the time bought with Magic Stones preparing for the Tin Saint School exam.


    "If you are agreeable to this commission fee percentage, then we can proceed to the next step," the long-haired apprentice continued.


    "If I may be so bold to ask, did you bring the vessel you wish to consign?"


    "If so, please follow me to an appropriate location to retrieve it, after which we will have a professional Appraiser estimate its market value."


    He spoke while standing up.


    Despite politely asking if Colin had the ship with him, he virtually was certain that the vessel was carried by Colin.


    After all, Neustadt City lay deep inland, and within the city, there were no rivers large enough to accommodate the ship that Colin described to the reception attendant.

 Chapter 185 - 149 Selling the Ship and Registration_2

    The nearest big river was also far outside the city, located in the domain of the Kingdom of Neustadt.


    Colin had naturally thought of this and, without any pretense, followed onto the chamber of commerce''s steam locomotive to arrive at a huge warehouse.


    He retrieved the Sea Swallow. The nearby Appraiser circled around it, casting several witchcraft spells, and then approached with unknown Witch Tools to perform a check.


    A set of procedures took about half an hour.


    The Appraiser stepped down from the ship and came over to them.


    "How does it look, Kellogg?" the long-haired Apprentice asked.


    "The functionality is intact, and it''s in pretty new condition," Kellogg put away his appraisal tools, paused, then continued, "In the past, this ship''s expected selling price would fluctuate between eleven and twelve thousand Magic Stones."


    "However, now due to frequent appearances of divine beings in the far southern seas, the number of Wizards seeking adventures has increased, and the market''s demand for both new and used ships has outstripped supply."


    "So, personally, I estimate this ship could be marked up at least by ten percent over its original price, and finding the right buyer to push it up to fourteen thousand is quite plausible."


    Colin nodded imperceptibly, his mind surging with thoughts.


    The far southern seas... weren''t those from the direction where he had come from on the Siya Continent?


    The descent of divine beings was not unfamiliar to him, having experienced it before.


    But the adventuring Wizards... Those few words carried no small amount of information.


    "Mister, based on the ship you''ve consigned, our Tinghai Chamber of Commerce will guarantee a final selling price not lower than twelve thousand Magic Stones, and our commission fee is 2.9%, what do you think?"


    "If that''s acceptable, you will need to temporarily store the ship at our chamber to facilitate sale, and at the same time, Tinghai Chamber of Commerce will advance you fifty percent of the estimated minimum selling price in Magic Stones."


    "That''s acceptable..." Colin gathered his thoughts and nodded at the long-haired Apprentice, then quickly shifted the topic, "However, this commission fee, I think we could discuss it further."


    After some bargaining with the long-haired Wizard, they finally reduced the commission fee to 2.7%.


    After all these arrangements were made and the contract signed, receiving the advance of six thousand Magic Stones, Colin immediately set off towards the next planned location.


    About an hour later.


    Zion Street.


    European-style white relief pillars, a smooth gray-white marble floor... Colin stood in front of a splendid building, slightly looking up.


    At the top of the foyer, written in a common language were the flamboyant words "Tin Saint" intertwined in gold and silver, just like the feather badge he was holding in his hand.


    The Tin Saint School... or any school''s examination was not just attending on the day of the exam with an emblem; one needed to register in advance.


    Especially for an Advanced Apprentice, since assessing their three primary Advanced knowledge areas was necessary, it was imperative to register early to facilitate the school in setting the appropriate exams.


    According to Sofia, almost every school''s examination comprised two parts¡ªa written test and practical application.


    The written test was easy to understand, similar to exams from his previous life, assessing theoretical knowledge.


    The practical application wasn''t restricted to a single type; it could be casting witchcraft or crafting by Wizards... in essence, anything demonstrating one''s mastery of knowledge.


    Softly exhaling, Colin stepped inside.


    After showing his feather badge, he was directed to the registration office.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    He gently knocked on the door.


    "Come in," a deep voice came from inside.


    Colin pushed the door and entered.


    What he saw was a plain office, with a grey-white wool carpet in the middle, a reddish-brown wooden desk by the window, and behind it a khaki upholstered armchair.


    Sitting on the armchair, a scholarly male with a short brown ponytail looked up from the book in his hands and slowly asked,


    "Are you here to register for the entrance examination?"


    "Yes."


    Colin respectfully replied without delay, stepping forward to the desk.


    The refined ponytailed Male Wizard, seemingly harmless, yet the oppressive feeling from his soul made him cautious.


    This was... likely at least a First Rank Intermediate Wizard or above.


    "Give me the token." Matthew leaned back in the lounge chair, tapping his fingers on the table as he spoke indifferently.


    "Very well, sir." Colin handed the feather badge over to Matthew with both hands.


    "Hm." Matthew casually took it from him, briefly examined it with his Magic Power, then pulled out a dark silver round coin engraved with a feather pattern from a drawer and handed it to Colin.


    "Bind it with Magic Power."


    He glanced at Colin and added, "¡­as an Advanced Apprentice, you''ll need to register three Advanced skills you are proficient in."


    While he spoke, he pulled out a form crowded with various skills from beside him.


    "Mechanical Transformation category: bionic machinery, large-sized puppets¡­; Element category: thermal radiation, Elemental Life¡­; Life Transformation: hybrid energy, Demon Beast bloodline integration¡­"


    Matthew handed the form to Colin and then started reading a book by himself.


    Colin took the form but didn''t hurry to fill it out; instead, he stealthily pulled out three intermediate Magic Stones from his Storage Ring.


    The 6000 Magic Stones lent to him in advance by the Tin Sea Trade Guild consisted of five intermediate Magic Stones, five lower Magic Stones, and five hundred common Magic Stones.


    "Wizard sir, the student has some queries and would like to pay for a consultation," he said, holding the form in one hand and extending the three glowing intermediate Magic Stones towards Matthew with the other.


    Matthew raised an eyebrow but did not rush to take the stones; instead, he spoke dismissively,


    "You are a clever one, having done your homework in advance."


    "Unfortunately¡­" he shook his head.


    Colin''s heart tightened, and he carefully looked up at Matthew, instantly understanding.


    Clenching his teeth inwardly, he pulled out two more intermediate Magic Stones from his Storage Ring.


    "It''s the student''s dulness¡­" he quietly handed all five Magic Stones to Matthew.


    "Not bad!" Matthew said with a smile, patting Colin on the shoulder, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.


    Then, without any hesitation, he took the Magic Stones Colin offered, his movements fluid and precise.


    What amazed Colin was that despite the greedy smile on Matthew''s face and his action of taking the Magic Stones, it did not affect his scholarly and upright demeanor; rather, it added a vividness to his calm and gentle nature.


    With this, Colin slightly relaxed inside.


    This act was not a spur-of-the-moment idea but bought with twenty Magic Stones from Sofia, who revealed this unwritten rule.


    As for its effectiveness... Matthew cleared his throat and asked Colin, "What witchcraft do you specialize in? Just the top three, and preferably of different types."


    After taking the Magic Stones, his tone was far warmer than before, though it could not quite be called enthusiastic, but at least there was some expression.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then said, "Arrow Shooting Skill, Fireball Technique, Steel Armor."


    "Hm." Matthew nodded, taking the registration form from Colin''s hands.


    He pulled a black fountain pen from the wooden pen holder to his right and murmured as he wrote on the form.


    "How to use magnetic fields to accelerate metal arrows, attempts at Spirit-guided Magic Power conversion into fire, simulating Steel with Force Fields¡­"


    Seeing what he wrote, Colin''s heart skipped a beat.


    This was merely rewording those witchcraft skills differently¡­ They were nowhere near the same level of difficulty as the bionic machinery or hybrid energy studies he had seen on the form before!


    Matthew looked up and handed the registration form back to Colin.


    "Alright, I''ll communicate with them, and those will be your subjects for the written part of your Advanced skill test; as for practical applications, just demonstrate those three witchcraft."


    "Now, fill out the rest of the form, and you can leave."


    "Thank you," Colin respectfully took the registration form, a flicker of joy in his eyes. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having Matthew''s confirmation, he could barely contain his excitement; the ache of spending those Magic Stones dissipated in an instant like bubbles!


    Upon leaving the Tin Saint School, and standing in front of its grand, luxurious gates, Colin surveyed his surroundings, holding the round certificate in his hand, feeling slightly dazed.


    ''The commission for "Sea Swallow" has already been consigned¡­ just waiting for the Tin Sea Trade Guild to find a suitable buyer.''


    ''Tin Saint School¡­ if that registering wizard hasn''t fooled himself, it should also be nearly handled,''


    He exhaled softly, murmuring quietly,


    "All is ready, now just waiting for the examination."

 Chapter 186 - 150: Undercurrents Stirring

    Click-clack, click-clack.


    A soft friction sound transmitted through the air.


    Matthew lounged on a cushioned recliner, playing with several Magic Stones in his hands that emitted a faint glow, his lips slightly curved into a pleased smile.


    After Colin left, another Wandering Wizard with a feather badge came¡­


    Regrettably, he wasn''t sensible, and Matthew had to remind him; in the end, he just barely managed to credit him a thousand Magic Stones.


    Of course, Matthew never made a losing deal.


    A thousand Magic Stones¡­ That meant altering only one written exam item.


    While thinking, he took eight feather badges from the wooden drawer on his right.


    By today, he had already logged twenty-five thousand Magic Stones.


    However¡­ this was not the major portion.


    Matthew slowly stood up, adorned with the feather badges, and stepped outside.


    The Tin Saint School held such exams only once every two years.


    If it was merely to receive some bribes, it might appear a bit petty¡­


    ......


    The next morning at the Old Parker Hotel.


    In the room, Colin stood by the window, sipping steaming red tea, staring blankly at the busy crowd on the street.


    Times had changed, and the enchanting glimmering blue that once surrounded his window was no longer there¡­


    However, the location of the Old Parker Hotel wasn''t bad; the street was crowded with people bustling to and fro¡­it might even be described as a sea of people.


    Thinking so, he couldn''t help but let out a soft laugh.


    "Master, everything is packed up."


    It was then that Renee approached, interrupting his thoughts.


    "Okay," Colin replied, retracting his gaze from the window and handing the porcelain teacup to Renee.


    Taking advantage of Renee''s moment away to clean the teacup, he waved his hand and stored the packed items into his Storage Ring.


    Today they planned to move out and not continue staying here.


    After all, just yesterday, he had consulted with Sofia at the front desk about joining the School; if they kept staying here for another half a month¡­


    As long as Sofia wasn''t foolish and put minimal thought into it, she could easily deduce that he might participate in the Tin Saint School examination happening in half a month.


    After all, no other Schools had exams scheduled right in half a month.


    Arriving at the lobby''s front desk, Sofia was still on duty¡­ Colin wondered if she worked twenty-four hours or if someone else switched shifts with her.


    "Checking out," he said, pulling out his keys.


    "Alright," Sofia responded, taking the keys from Colin and refunding the deposit, casually asking, "Have you found a School you''re preparing to join?"


    "Not yet," Colin replied calmly, shaking his head, "Don''t have enough Magic Stones for a token; just finding a place to settle down for now, taking things one step at a time."


    "Alright," Sofia nodded, then added, "If you''re looking for a cheap temporary place¡­ I recommend the Sea Gull District; if you''re careful in choosing, you can find a lot of affordable accommodation there."


    "Thank you for the suggestion," Colin smiled as he received his deposit, his hand pausing slightly with the Magic Stones, "...this isn''t charged, right?"


    Sofia rolled her eyes slightly, "It''s free."


    Colin smiled, tucked away the Magic Stones, and left.


    Now, with the Sea Swallow waiting to be sold and joining the School mostly settled¡­ the lack of these pressures made him feel more relaxed than before.


    He hailed a public carriage at the roadside.


    "Sir, where are you headed?" the Coachman asked.


    "White District, Horseshoe Street," Colin paused before speaking.


    While he had a favorable impression of Sofia, it''s better to be cautious¡­


    Horseshoe Street was a location he learned about from elsewhere yesterday; the street had many hotels, priced similarly to Old Parker.


    It was also close to both the Copper Rose District and the residence of the Tin Saint School¡­ a good residential choice.


    Along with Renee and the others, he boarded the carriage.


    By noon, he successfully found a hotel on Horseshoe Street to settle down.


    Staying for fourteen days, after discounts, the total cost was 320 Magic Stones¡­ Thus, aside from the pending final payment for the Sea Swallow from the Tinghai Commerce Guild.


    He now had about two thousand Magic Stones left on him¡­ spending money like water.


    In the following period, regular and peaceful, he resumed his practice and life felt much like it did back on Blackstone Island.


    Thus, ten days quickly passed.


    The Tinghai Commerce Guild came to him with good news¡ªthe Sea Swallow had found a suitable buyer!


    "Mr. Colin, you''re fortunate to have caught a good time¡­ the buyer offered a very high price."


    It was the long-haired Apprentice, Hume, who personally came to notify him.


    "Lord Hume, what do you mean by that?" Colin asked as he followed the long-haired Hume into the black carriage exclusively used by the Tinghai Commerce Guild.


    "The specifics are somewhat complex... To put it simply, it''s because the Supreme Council issued a notice."


    "It encourages the wizards under the Alliance to head to the far southern seas, offering improved benefits compared to before, so more wizards are starting to travel there.


    As a result, anything related to ocean voyages has begun to increase in price... The price of ocean-going vessels changes every day.


    The Tinghai Commerce Guild decided to wait a few more days, only selling your ship today."


    Having said that, Hume paused, then continued to explain:


    "It''s not that we didn''t want to wait longer, but under the professional estimation of the commerce guild, the prices of ocean-going vessels have pretty much reached their peak.


    If we waited any longer, the market would soon see a flood of new ships... With the manufacturing speed in Neustadt City, a batch of new ships would quickly be released, and ships imported from outside the Wizard Alliance would also arrive soon."


    Colin nodded, he had been busy with his training in recent days. In order to avoid trouble, he had hardly left the inn and was not well-informed.


    "So... what was the final selling price for the buyer?" he paused and asked Hume.


    Hume smiled, showing a number: "Seventeen thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Magic Stones."


    Colin''s heart jumped, barely able to contain his joy, but then, as if thinking of something, he asked again:


    "What about the commission...?"


    "The commission has not changed, please rest assured, my lord." Hume smiled. "Tinghai Commerce Guild, reputation guaranteed."


    Despite saying this, it was because the situation in Neustadt City had recently changed and the backing school had ordered them to avoid trouble as much as possible.


    Otherwise... if it had been before, they would have certainly charged an additional reasonable commission.


    "Thank you for your efforts," Colin nodded, his face showing pleasure.


    Speaking of which, there was something else recently that had made him happy¡ª


    It was his own strength.


    Thanks to the high concentration of Magic Power in Neustadt City, over these ten days, his Wizard Rank had progressed forward by two points to 10/100, while his Knight progress had reached 98/100, nearing an Advanced Limit Breaking.


    It''s worth mentioning, not to say a Wizard''s training progress was one point every five days. If roughly estimated, it would be about one point every eight days.


    After all, the first point of progress had increased on the second day, a clear case of accumulating slowly and advancing suddenly.


    The second point of progress took eight days... that was the real pace.


    "Lord Hume, may I ask where I can see that notice?" Collecting his thoughts, Colin felt curious and asked again.


    "Of course... My lord, you might not be familiar since you just arrived here. For such notices, you can simply go to any bookstore and get a copy for free with your pass," Hume answered.


    "Thank you," Colin nodded.


    Before long, the carriage slowly came to a stop.


    "Have we arrived?" Colin asked.


    Hume pulled aside the curtain of the carriage window, frowning slightly.


    "Not yet..." he smiled at Colin and said, "Wait a moment, I''ll ask the coachman." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as he was about to inquire with the coachman, a voice came from the front.


    "Lord Hume, the Law Enforcement Team is blocking the road ahead," the Coachman turned and said.


    A roadblock?


    Colin instinctively pulled aside the curtain, peering out.


    In front of the carriage, a pale white glow stretched from left to right across the road, similar to the caution strips of his past life, blocking the road.


    In front of the cautionary glow stood a tall Great Wizard wearing a silver-gray Wizard Robe... It was unclear what material his robe was made of, but under the sunlight, it shimmered metallically.


    Behind the Great Wizard, at the entrance of a narrow alley,


    a group of Silver-armored Knights was escorting a group of ordinary wizards with distressed expressions.


    "This is..." Hume murmured in shock beside him, "How did the Law Enforcement Team find the Hidden Rose Black Market?!"


    Colin''s face hardened as he tentatively asked,


    "The Hidden Rose Black Market?"


    Hume furrowed his brow deep in thought, his expression grave.


    Hearing Colin''s question, he composed himself and briefly explained,


    "You should know about the existence of a black market in the city, right? This Hidden Rose is the largest and most representative... It has a very strong backing; it shouldn''t have..."


    At this, Hume''s brow furrowed again, unable to resist peering again at the distant scene.


    The captured wizards were not many, but what they represented was not minor.


    Neustadt City... perhaps the winds of change were blowing.


    Dropping the curtain, the two sat across from each other in the carriage, silent.


    After a while,


    Tuk-tuk-tuk¡ª


    The distinct sound of a steam locomotive suddenly came from behind the carriage.

 Chapter 187 - 151 Silent and Traceless

    Colin lifted the black curtain of the carriage window and peered out behind them.


    To their left rear, unbeknownst to them, a steam locomotive with an elegant platinum and white design had appeared, the brilliance of witchcraft flowing over it.


    Luxurious, noble, elegant...


    One could tell at a glance that the person inside the carriage was no ordinary individual.


    Click, click, click¡ª


    Just then, their carriage suddenly started moving, and at the same time, the coachman''s voice came from ahead,


    "Lord Hume, there''s a Yista School emblem on the carriage..."


    "Uh-huh," Hume responded softly through his nostrils.


    He understood what the coachman meant¡ªthey needed to pull over temporarily.


    Not long after.


    Controlled by the coachman, their carriage moved to the very edge of the road, and other carriages waiting beside them did the same.


    With their actions, the center of the road cleared up enough space for at least three steam locomotives to pass side by side.


    However, in reality, they had not been occupying the entire road, and with the size of the steam locomotive, it could have passed without any hindrance...


    The platinum steam locomotive did not stop but maintained its speed as it drove past them on the left, stopping in front of the white light warning line.


    ''Do they, too, have to wait for the warning line?''


    Just as Colin was about to marvel at the fairness of the Law Enforcement Team.


    Whoosh.


    In his field of view, the white light warning band suddenly dissolved.


    Immediately afterward, a tall silver-grey wizard in a wizard robe, obsequiously bent over and approached the carriage window, his lips quivering.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t hear the content of the conversation, either due to the distance or some witchcraft used.


    A moment later, after the conversation ended, the silver-grey-robed wizard stepped back respectfully, standing aside and watched the platinum steam locomotive continue its journey, crossing through the warning zone as if it were nothing.


    ''Keep a low profile, focus on developing and improving!''


    Colin reminded himself as he let down the black curtain.


    These days, the orderly environment of Neustadt City nearly made him forget this was a world devoid of fairness... The so-called rules were nothing more than what the ruling class needed.


    Those who adhered to the order were always ordinary wizards like them, not factions like the Yista School.


    Just like that.


    They waited in the same place for another two hours or so,


    Until the sun was high in the sky, and the white light warning line was finally removed.


    During that time, several other carriages passed through the warning zone as if it were inexistent, while only their ordinary carriages continued to wait there.


    However... fortunately, everything went smoothly afterward.


    At the Tinghai Commerce Association, he quickly reached a consensus with the seller and signed the resale contract.


    After handing over the highest control authority of the Sea Swallow to the seller, the Tinghai Commerce Association promptly paid him the remaining balance.


    After deducting the fees and adding the Magic Stones he already had, his assets instantly reached about 13,500 Magic Stones.


    With such wealth, Colin walked out of the Tinghai Commerce Association with a straighter back and much more confidence in his heart.


    He intended to hail a public carriage to return to the inn.


    But upon seeing a bookstore not far away, something occurred to him, and he walked towards it.


    As he approached the doorway, he looked up and saw the huge mechanical box placed on the wooden table to the right of the store entrance.


    Beside the mechanical box, a sign read "Take with pass."


    ''This must be where you collect notifications for free.''


    Colin took out his pass and placed it in the corresponding slot, gently turning it.


    A thin sheet of paper spit out from below.


    He picked it up; this was indeed the latest notification from the Wizard Alliance he had wanted.


    Printed in black ink on white paper, its title was very casual ¡ª "Supreme Council Announcement Number 706."


    He glanced again at the grey-white box. He hadn''t noticed any traces of a scan when he had placed his pass... it seemed more like a simple mechanical device aided by witchcraft.


    He had originally thought it was an official device made by the Wizard Alliance, but now it seemed more likely that it was made by the bookstore owner himself.


    He wasn''t in a hurry to read the notification in his hand. With a hint of curiosity, he looked up at the sign overhead.


    A brown oak base with black painted letters ¡ª "Chapman''s Bookstore" came into view.


    Turning his gaze away, Colin stepped into the bookstore.


    Inside, it was like a jewelry store of ancient times, with a transparent countertop engraved with defensive witchcraft arrays.


    Only a young female apprentice manned the shop... Colin felt somewhat disappointed.


    Inside the bookstore... was not as interesting as outside.


    "Can I help you find a book on any particular subject?" asked a freckled-faced average female clerk with a welcoming smile.


    "Do you have any Zeroth Rank witchcraft recommendations for spirit protection or healing?"


    Having come all this way, Colin asked.


    "Yes," the clerk nodded and was about to turn around to fetch the catalog for Colin.


    "Wait," Colin suddenly halted her, "No need for spirit protection or healing for now. Change it to Zeroth Rank witchcraft related to concealment."


    Whether here or elsewhere, truly valuable witchcraft was always firmly held by the Schools and rarely shared. Even bookstores with a School background typically sold lesser quality witchcraft.


    He was joining a School in four days. If he needed witchcraft for spirit protection or healing, he would rather search within the School at that time.


    After all, even though he had Golden Paper, improving witchcraft still took time... He would aim for higher starting point witchcraft whenever possible.


    This way, he could ensure that he had substantive power in the early stages and greater potential for future development.


    After all, if poorer witchcraft could break limits for better ones, then better witchcraft breaking limits would naturally be superior.


    Colin watched as the clerk went to fetch the list of witchcraft names, his thoughts racing.


    As for why he wanted to buy some concealing witchcraft... it was mainly just to be cautious.


    Although the Golden Paper could continually break limits, in the early stages, if one studied carefully, the original shadow of the witchcraft could still be discerned.


    The main use of Concealing Witchcraft, naturally, was to conceal.


    However, within a School, choosing such witchcraft would inevitably be recorded... and in itself, that was a kind of non-concealment.


    The clerk was momentarily taken aback by his sudden change of mind but quickly reacted.


    Soon, she brought the list of Concealing Witchcraft.


    After comparing several options, Colin chose two witchcraft techniques, one called Silent and the other Trace Erasure.


    Silent was a Middle Zeroth Rank witchcraft, of inferior quality, delivering exactly what its name suggested by silencing sounds made by the user.


    Trace Erasure, on the other hand, was an Upper Zeroth Rank witchcraft of average quality that erased traces primarily of magical disturbances, and secondarily of scents. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For comparison, Arrow Shooting Skill and Fireball Technique were both Lower Zeroth Rank witchcrafts, one inferior and the other excellent in quality.


    Colin paid with Magic Stones and immediately headed back to the inn.


    Silent and Trace Erasure had cost him a total of 120 Magic Stones, which was quite cheap compared to other things in the city.


    Thus, the day of the exam approached quickly.

 Chapter 188 - 152: Exam

    That day, the sky was faintly bright.


    Colin left the inn early.


    He wasn''t sure whether it was due to witchcraft, but despite the world''s frequent use of steam engines and the burning of a vast amount of coal, the sky still remained a clear blue, showing no signs of pollution.


    The orange sun rose gradually, and the beautiful clouds dazzled in the sky. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a heart filled with anticipation and joy, he quickly reached the gates of Tin Saint School by public carriage.


    He thought he had arrived early, but upon seeing the school''s grounds, he realized that the space outside was already surrounded by many wizards.


    Roughly counting, there were about twenty or thirty.


    Stepping off the carriage, Colin approached the edge of the crowd, maintaining a certain distance, and waited silently like the other wizards.


    The school gates were still closed, and Matthew hadn''t given him an exact time... It seemed he had arrived too early.


    After waiting for a while more, as the dawn''s rosy clouds gradually disappeared and the white clouds above began to stretch across the sky, the gates of Tin Saint School slowly opened.


    Click.


    Colin pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time¡ªit was exactly eight o''clock in the morning.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    Right then, a sequence of rhythmic horse hooves suddenly echoed from a nearby road.


    Turning around, he saw about thirty to forty large carriages charging towards the entrance one by one, nearly filling up the entire road.


    The large carriages each bore different decorations, most with unique crests...


    ''These must be the carriages of wizard schools,'' Colin thought to himself.


    Clearly, these were the members of the smaller schools who would be joining them in today''s examination.


    The grand entrance of so many carriages was quite impressive, causing the wild wizards who had been standing by the gate to subconsciously make way.


    Colin, already at the edge, moved a few steps back with the crowd, positioning himself even more to the periphery, quickly obstructed by the carriages arriving one after another.


    As the carriages settled, school wizards emerged, dressed in uniform, gathering into several small groups.


    Colin quickly counted¡ªroughly, each large carriage carried about eight wizards, with slight variations depending on the vehicle... Hence, there might be around three hundred school wizards present for today''s examination.


    Turning to glance at the wild wizards nearby... There were about forty.


    As the school wizards arrived, a low din of conversations began to emerge as they interacted with each other.


    Colin looked towards the school entrance, but unfortunately, the carriages obscured his view, making it hard to see what was going on.


    Fortunately, once the school wizards had alighted, the carriages quickly departed.


    After the carriages left, Colin saw that the school wizards had already formed a long line at the entrance.


    He headed instinctively towards the end of the line.


    "You shouldn''t queue here," a cold voice came from behind.


    It was a short-haired school wizard at the end of the line speaking to another wild wizard who had approached to join the queue.


    "This¡­ Okay," the wild wizard with triangular eyes awkwardly smiled.


    "Go to the right," the cold wizard said simply dropping another sentence before turning back to continue queuing.


    The wild wizard with triangular eyes paused briefly, then slowly turned and headed to the right as instructed by the cold wizard.


    Using his keen vision, Colin clearly saw a flash of resentment in the wild wizard''s eyes as he turned around.


    Without a sound, Colin increased the distance between himself and the triangular-eyed wild wizard and then looked to the right.


    In fact, he didn''t think the cold wizard was wrong; although his tone was indeed cold, it wasn''t arrogant. If one ignored the tone, it sounded more like a friendly reminder.


    The wild wizard with triangular eyes¡­ had too narrow a mindset and was not worth befriending.


    As the cold school wizard had indicated, on the right side of the entrance, a separate line had been formed, with several wild wizards already queued up.


    At the front of the queue stood a wizard wearing a grey robe with silver feather patterns.


    Colin lined up with the crowd, slowly moving forward.


    Given the small number of wild wizards, it didn''t take long for his turn to arrive.


    "Your token," the silver-feathered grey-robed wizard requested.


    "Okay," Colin took out a round coin engraved with a feather pattern.


    "Activate it with magic power."


    Colin did as instructed.


    Buzz¡ª


    A translucent blue projection appeared above the coin¡ª


    [Name: Colin.]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice.]


    "Walk forward, then turn right and keep going until the end," the Silver Feather Wizard, while burying his head to record the information, signaled Colin to go inside.


    Colin nodded and, while stowing away his round coin, walked inside, simultaneously casting a glance at the School Wizard on his left.


    Indeed... The direction the School Wizard was heading was starkly different from theirs, turning left instead.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and silently proceeded to the right... An inexplicable, faint sense of worry veiling his heart.


    This blatant differentiation couldn''t help but make him worry about his later situation within the school...


    Upon reaching the end, under the guidance of another Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard, he entered the room.


    The room resembled a classroom from his past life''s school, furnished with rows of wooden desks.


    However, the difference lay in the size of these wooden desks; they were only about half the size of the regular desks from his former life and had no accompanying chairs.


    Judging by their height, they were clearly meant for standing use.


    At the moment, each desk had a transparent Crystal Ball placed on it.


    With no designated place, Colin chose a desk by the window and stood there silently.


    Shortly thereafter, once everyone had gathered, the Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard also walked in.


    At some point, he had suddenly produced a football-sized, dark brown wooden box in his hand.


    "Ahem¡ª", he solemnly set the wooden box on the front lectern and then turned around, coughed a few times to draw attention, and began speaking,


    "Please pay attention, I will briefly explain the specific procedures and precautions of this examination."


    All the Apprentices redirected their gaze toward him.


    "The operation procedure for this examination is very simple, place your credentials in the corresponding grooves in front of the Crystal Ball on the desk, then reach out and touch the Crystal Ball to commence the exam."


    "Those are the specific steps, now let me talk about the precautions."


    The Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard raised his head, scanning the Apprentices with a grave voice:


    "There is only one precaution, and that is, that the use of any witchcraft and all Witch Tools, including Storage Rings, is not allowed."


    Having said this, he paused, then turned and opened the nearby dark brown wooden box continued:


    "Of course, under the influence of the Magic Prohibition Ring, you would not normally be able to use witchcraft or Witch Tools either."


    He took out a black ring made of a glass-like material from the box, around the size of a football, with a square base attached.


    "Note: Do not try using witchcraft or Witch Tools, otherwise, if it results in damaging the Magic Prohibition Ring... Well, I''ll leave it at that; if you find this unacceptable, you can return your credentials to me and leave now."


    The Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard placed the Magic Prohibition Ring on its base, standing it on one side.


    His expression stern.


    Inducting new members was a significant affair for the school, and no matter what happened in other phases, sloppiness was not tolerated in his phase.


    Of course, although he said this, in his heart, he was not as serious as he appeared.


    After all, even if these Wild Wizards passed the examination, the vast majority of them would likely only be peripheral members of the school.


    The real focal point of the examination lay on the School Wizards on the other side.


    The Wild Wizards... especially those not promoted to Advanced Wizard Apprentice in an environment-like city, generally don''t have much potential for development.


    "If no one wishes to leave¡ª", the Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard looked around and said gravely, "then let the examination begin now."


    With that, he activated the black Magic Prohibition Ring.


    It seemed like nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.


    Colin keenly sensed¡ª


    Not sure if it was an illusion, but the air seemed to have become more viscous and dense...


    He subconsciously tried to mobilize Magic Power.


    But the next second, he quickly suppressed such thoughts.


    The words of the Silver Feather Grey-robed Wizard were not forgotten.


    This Magic Prohibition Ring, if it could be damaged by the curiosity-driven witchcraft...


    However... that said, perhaps this Magic Prohibition Ring was not very strong or was consumable, somewhat fragile?


    But, nonetheless, the apparent value was not low.


    Just to be safe... better suppress his curiosity.


    He raised his hand and placed the round coin credential into the corresponding steel groove connecting the Crystal Ball''s base on the tabletop.


    Instantly, white misty vapor arose within the transparent Crystal Ball.


    As Colin was about to place his hand on the semi-transparent Crystal Ball in front of him.


    Tik-tak-tik-tak¡ª


    Sudden, orderly, and loud footsteps came from outside the room, faintly interspersed with the sound of metallic friction and clatter.

 Chapter 189 - 153: The New Notice

    Two Silver-armored Knights strode in.


    "Silver Knight, the examination is underway..." The gray-robed Wizard with silver feathers darkened his expression and spoke sternly.


    "Allyn¡ª"


    The Silver-armored Knight stepped aside, and a gray-robed Wizard with silver feathers walked in.


    Behind him, two more Silver Knights followed.


    "Becky..." Allyn frowned and watched him, "What is this...?"


    "By Lord Shui''s order," Becky spoke arrogantly, word by word, "the examination is to be suspended immediately."


    "Ah?"


    "...Suspended?"


    Upon hearing Becky''s words, the room erupted into noise like boiling water.


    "Silence¡ª" Allyn turned back and spoke in a deep voice.


    He frowned and surveyed the Apprentices, his face as cold as Frost.


    The noise in the room gradually subsided.


    This was the Tin Saint School, where circumstances were more powerful than individuals... especially since the Magic Prohibition Ring at the front was still operational.


    Unable to use witchcraft... these Apprentices were unlikely to defeat those few Silver Knights.


    "What exactly is going on?" Seeing the situation in the room settle down, Allyn turned back to ask Becky.


    "The specifics are complex, I''ll explain later. First, help me inspect them," Becky whispered back, covertly passing a ring to Allyn.


    "You only need to know that Lord Lance has reached an agreement with Lord Shui."


    Allyn took the ring, recognized Lance''s insignia, and hesitated before asking softly, "What do you need me to do?"


    Wizard Lance was his Faction''s senior leader, while Shui was Becky''s Faction''s Wizard.


    Becky shook his head.


    "Just cooperate with me."


    Then he turned and ordered the people in the room, including Colin, "Everyone leave the room now and wait outside."


    As the words fell, Colin scanned his surroundings, but no one moved.


    Becky''s expression instantly soured, and his voice raised: S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A bunch of Wild Wizards, ungrateful for the kindness shown!"


    "I said¡ªleave right now. Can''t you understand Common Language?"


    "You!" A young Wizard in the front row reddened his cheeks and spoke angrily.


    "Ha! Is this how the Tin Saint School treats Wizards who come bearing Tokens?" a sarcastic voice rang out.


    Colin turned to look, and it was a familiar figure¡ªthe triangular-eyed Wild Wizard warned by the standoffish Wizard not to line up in that queue.


    Becky initially ignored the young Wizard''s words, planning to simply signal the Silver Knights to "escort" them out.


    But now, hearing the triangular-eyed Wild Wizard''s statement, his expression stalled, and he was inexplicably shocked.


    Seeing this, the triangular-eyed Wild Wizard scanned the Wild Wizards still remaining in place,


    Feeling their silent stares bolstering his courage, he continued:


    "I''ve already completed half of my exam... If you''re making us leave now, you owe us some explanation."


    After speaking, he turned to the other Wild Wizards and asked, "Don''t you agree?"


    Colin''s expression remained unchanged, and he stayed silent, internally criticizing:


    ''The exam had barely started, and he''s done half already...''


    Nevertheless, whatever the reason, since the triangular-eyed Wizard was willing to step forward, Colin was only too happy to see it.


    The rest of the Wild Wizards in the room likely felt the same way, remaining calm, silent, and watchful.


    Finally regaining his composure, Becky took a deep breath, and after giving the triangular-eyed Wizard a grim glance, he lightly instructed the Silver Knight beside him:


    "Silver Knight¡ª"


    Clang!


    Four Silver Knights, quickly understanding the command, drew their silvery-white Knight swords from their backs and charged toward the triangular-eyed Wizard!


    "Wait, no need to explain either..."


    The situation changed in an instant!


    The Wizard with triangular eyes had a look of panic mixed with fear, slightly bright witchcraft glowing in his hand.


    But in the next second, the Magic Prohibition Ring lit up, and the glow of witchcraft in his hand extinguished abruptly like a bubble.


    In a swift motion, those few Silver Knights apprehended the triangular-eyed Wizard.


    "Ah!!" the triangular-eyed Wizard screamed in agony.


    Blood slowly streamed from his knees and elbows.


    Four Silver Knights corresponded to four wounds.


    They skillfully incapacitated the triangular-eyed Wizard''s ability to move.


    Colin''s brow twitched as he watched.


    He thought they would only capture the triangular-eyed Wizard, but the Silver Knights broke the knees and elbows directly.


    Such injuries... even in this world of extraordinary powers, without superior treatment, it might take at least six months to recover, and recovery might still be incomplete.


    "I''ll say this one last time¡ª" Becky said darkly, "Get out!"


    Tap.


    The first footsteps sounded, followed by a series as continuous as pouring rain.


    Colin''s gaze flickered, and he finally followed the others walking out.


    ''Let''s see how things unfold...''


    It wasn''t that he was afraid of those Silver Knights... after all, their strength was clearly inferior to his.


    With the reaction speed of an Ultimate Knight, not to say he could defeat them, but coping with them was entirely feasible.


    In such a pure physical duel among the Knights, it was always about who was stronger, faster, and had quicker reactions... the one who constituted the advantage.


    After all the Wild Wizards left, Becky closed the door.


    "Allyn, check their examination papers for me." He turned and spoke to Allyn.


    "Okay." Allyn nodded, barely containing his curiosity, and hesitated before asking directly, "What exactly is going on?"


    "And... what exactly needs to be checked in the exam papers? Hasn''t Master Matthew already checked them?"


    Becky responded in a low voice while hastily checking, "Did you see the notice issued by the Supreme Council today?"


    Allyn shook his head, "I came straight here early in the morning, no time to see... I didn''t even know the Supreme Council issued a notice."


    "Indeed, the notice is probably just now being sent to all major bookstores." Becky paused, "Actually, I haven''t seen it either, but Master Shui knew about it long before."


    "Simply put... that old man Matthew, he might be in big trouble this time!"


    "Matthew the Wizard?" Allyn was puzzled, "Wasn''t he just penalized for illicitly selling School Tokens?"


    Just a few days ago, the Law Enforcement Team raided the black market, and the high ranks of the School learned from the Law Enforcement Team that Matthew was secretly selling School Tokens for profit!


    They had just penalized him a few days ago.


    Now could there be another problem?


    Becky smiled and continued, "Unlucky for him, with the notice from the Supreme Council now, the directions of the high ranks of the School have changed... That old man Matthew, this time he might not escape so easily."


    His heart rejoiced at the misfortune as Matthew and his backer, Wizard Shui, were at odds, with frequent minor frictions and accumulated grievances. Now was a good opportunity to kick a man when he''s down!


    "So, what exactly needs to be checked in the exam papers?" Allyn sensed something and then asked bluntly, "Could it be that Matthew helped these Wild Wizards cheat?"


    "Exactly, we need to collect evidence before he realizes what''s happening," Becky nodded and paused before continuing, "Originally, this wouldn''t have been a big deal, everyone turns a blind eye."


    "But the latest notice from the Supreme Council changes everything... It could be the last straw that breaks Matthew."


    "So what exactly is in that notice?" Allyn couldn''t help but ask further.


    "I''ll give you the title¡ª''Twelve Measures to Enhance the Comprehensive Quality of the Wizard Alliance School Wizards,''" Becky began, "Maybe it''s because of the situation in the southern islands, the Supreme Council has taken a tough stance... The high ranks of the School are also quite attentive."


    "I won''t hide it from you, my backer, Master Shui, they plan to take this opportunity to strike, to harshly tear a piece from Matthew and seize the power to absorb Wild Wizards..."


    Allyn was silent, shaken inside.


    Clearly, the notice from the Supreme Council was just a pretext, the real reason being that Becky''s backer''s faction wanted to control the power of absorbing Wild Wizards.


    After all, if one controlled such power... to put it bluntly, it meant the power to embed one''s own people into the School.


    This was a hotly contested power... the former Matthew understood this, so he always just profited from it, staying alone and not joining a faction, thus avoiding sensitive issues.


    But now... since Becky had come to him for assistance, it apparently meant that his backer''s faction and Becky''s backer''s faction had reached a consensus...


    The implications behind this were too deep to fathom.


    The Tin Saint School, it seemed, would be unstable for a while...

 Chapter 190 - 154 Duckweed

    Outside the corridor, Colin leaned against the door, intently listening to the conversation inside the room.


    Although the room had good soundproofing, it could not block out his extraordinary hearing at the Ultimate Knight Realm.


    The voices were extremely faint and somewhat intermittent, but he still managed to roughly understand the specific situation.


    ''Matthew... can he really be so unreliable?''


    Colin felt a sudden sinking feeling. He didn''t know how much this might affect them, the Wild Wizards.


    The worst possibility... might be the inability to join a School again.


    However, Colin reconsidered¡ª


    Becky had not sent them away directly but had asked them to wait outside...


    What had been said was a suspension of the exam, not a cancellation.


    With that thought, his mind settled somewhat, but he still couldn''t help but worry.


    ''Still too weak... like duckweed, drifting with the wind.''


    He clenched his fists slightly.


    One day, he would become a towering tree, a formidable boulder, no longer affected by the wind and rain!


    Looking up, he saw the Wizards in the corridor not talking to each other; they all stood in silence.


    The young Wizard who had spoken out before now looked distressed, with a flicker of panic in his eyes from time to time.


    As for the triangular-eyed Wizard whose limbs were severed, he had been taken away by another Silver Knight to an unknown location.


    Thinking of this, Colin felt an even greater chill.


    For outsiders like them, Wild Wizards with no backing, if something happened on the School''s turf, it might not even stir a ripple.


    After a while,


    there were footsteps inside the room approaching the door. Colin stood up straight without making a sound and stepped aside.


    The next second.


    Click.


    The door was opened by a Silver Knight.


    "Wizards, please return to the examination room," came the indifferent, mechanical voice from his mouth.


    After speaking, he stepped aside to indicate for the Wizards to enter.


    "Return to your previous positions,"


    Allyn instructed from inside the room.


    Upon hearing these words, the Wizards sighed with relief and quickly walked into the room.


    "I shall leave now." Becky carefully put away the record crystal ball in his hand, then paused and added, "Finish the exam as quickly as possible."


    "Understood," Allyn nodded, watching Becky leave.


    By now, all the Wizard Apprentices had mostly returned to their original spots, and Allyn continued:


    "Advanced Wizard Apprentices, activate the crystal in front of you and reselect the Advanced knowledge test."


    Among the Wizards taking the exam, there were certainly those who had bribed Matthew voluntarily, but there were probably also those who had been forced to offer bribes...


    Moreover, internal struggles aside, the School''s examination could not just be cancelled.


    After all, such a large-scale entry exam into the School only happened once every two years; if it were ruined due to internal conflicts, it would undoubtedly mar what would have been a flawless operation.


    No sooner had Allyn''s voice ceased than most of the Apprentices in the hall suddenly changed their expressions.


    But not a single one dared to make a sound.


    Such an act was undoubtedly cheating, and from the perspective of the School, their examination eligibility could be completely revoked. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still having the chance to take the exam was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.


    Colin also sighed softly.


    Those thousands of Magic Stones, it seemed, had gone to waste...


    Pulling himself together, he reached out to touch the crystal.


    After seeing the content on the interface, his heart sank.


    Unlike the registry sheet that Matthew had brought out for him at that time, it was densely packed with various Advanced knowledge.


    At this moment, the Crystal Ball interface scrolled past, revealing only twenty or thirty Advanced knowledge contents.


    "Perhaps¡­ it is due to the last-minute reselection, not enough time to update the question bank," Colin speculated darkly, feeling as if a stone was sinking to the bottom of the sea within his heart.


    It must be noted that Lap School, after all, was but a small School on a remote island, and the quality of knowledge taught was naturally inferior to that of the Wizard Alliance.


    Moreover, he had only learned Basic Level knowledge there, and before he could study the Advanced knowledge appropriate for an Advanced Apprentice, he was forced to leave and became a Wandering Wizard.


    Nevertheless, he was not entirely ignorant of Advanced knowledge.


    Spells such as Fireball Technique, which he had already mastered with the help of Golden Paper, had been Advanced several times and were no longer the Zeroth-Rank Basic Level witchcraft that did not require Advanced knowledge.


    Their enhancements had also brought him some understandings of Advanced knowledge.


    However, because he had not learned the related knowledge before mastering the spells, but instead learned the knowledge by deducing from the spells with the help of Golden Paper, his depth of understanding was sufficient, but the breadth was far from ideal.


    "At this point¡­ I can only hope for Advanced knowledge that I am familiar with," sighed Colin, as he quickly perused the contents.


    In a short while, he had successfully and carefully reviewed the options, allowing him to relax a bit.


    Although there was not much Advanced knowledge to choose from on the Crystal Ball interface, perhaps because spells like Fireball and Defensive Field were quite common,


    after careful search, he was still able to find two items of corresponding Advanced knowledge.


    However¡­ it was uncertain whether these two items would be sufficient.


    After selecting the Advanced knowledge, Colin began to answer the questions.


    Unlike his calm, many Wizards around him had horrid expressions upon seeing the options in the Crystal Ball, and some even had large beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.


    Unfortunately, there was no way to cheat through the Crystal Ball exam.


    Still, some were foolishly hopeful¡­


    Buzz¡ª


    The Magic Prohibition Ring on the front table flickered faintly, and Allyn furrowed his brow as he turned to look.


    A brown-haired Apprentice was pretending to be calm as he stuffed something back into his chest¡­ it looked to be some type of Witch Tool.


    The large beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his inner tension.


    Allyn''s gaze lingered on him, flickering thoughtfully.


    Just as the brown-haired Apprentice thought he might have slipped through unnoticed, he heard Allyn''s voice ring out firmly:


    "Brown-haired Apprentice in the second row, third column, stop your exam, hand over your credentials to me, and leave on your own."


    The face of the brown-haired Apprentice went deathly pale in an instant!


    He stood in shock for several seconds, then began to speak with a shaky voice, "Sir, I¡­"


    "I will say this only once," Allyn said coldly.


    Despite the likelihood that under the effect of the Magic Prohibition Ring, the brown-haired Apprentice probably did not succeed in using the Witch Tool¡­ as an example needed to be set, it was just his bad luck.


    The words of excuse the brown-haired Apprentice was about to blurt out were forced back down by Allyn''s cold words.


    He moved his lips feebly but eventually didn''t dare to say anything else, quietly taking his credentials from the table and walking towards Allyn with a look of utter defeat.


    Seeing this, other Apprentices felt a heavy weight in their hearts and abandoned any tricks they might have been contemplating, some breaking out in a cold sweat and quickly putting away their own little gadgets.


    Seeing this, Allyn nodded in satisfaction.


    Thus, after about more than two hours, all the Wizards present had gradually finished the exam.


    Those who could finish had done so, and those who could not, no amount of extra time would have helped them complete it.


    In a timely manner, Allyn declared the exam over and asked them to wait inside for a while.


    After a short wait, the Crystal Balls on the tables lit up.


    "The results of the exam are in, red represents failure, gold and silver represent passing, with gold indicating excellence."


    Allyn explained, pausing before adding:


    "Those Wizards who did not pass, please leave the School promptly. Those who passed, including Advanced Apprentices and below, take your credentials and come here to register."


    "The rest of the successful Advanced Wizard Apprentices, please wait for a moment, as there will be a practical application assessment to follow."


    Below, Colin watched the silver light flicker in front of him and let out a sigh of relief.


    ''Thank goodness I passed.''


    Although two of the items of Advanced knowledge were known to him, there was still one that he had to guess at random.


    He chose something related to life transformation, specifically fusion of Demon Beast bloodlines¡­ something he had very limited knowledge of, forcing him to bravely face the challenge with the limited knowledge he had.


    Fortunately, he had narrowly managed to pass without incident.

 Chapter 191 - 155: Revealing

    Colin turned his head to look around.


    Pale red, silver, gold¡ªthree colors shone brilliantly inside the room.


    Mostly pale red dominated the scene, with just a few silver and precisely two golden hues.


    Colin looked toward the two wizards representing the gold colors.


    One male and one female were there.


    The male had a calm complexion, standing with a natural dignity¡ªit seemed he came from a notable background. Colin only wondered what might have led him to this situation.


    The female seemed quite ordinary, perhaps only her dark skin and exotic features, which suggested she might be mixed-race, were of note.


    Withdrawing his gaze, Colin silently noted these two.


    The theoretical test was passed, and next was the practical application¡ªit was his strong suit.


    If there were no surprises, joining the Tin Saint School was a done deal.


    And while joining the school came with many benefits, it naturally had its downsides too¡ªfor him, perhaps the biggest downside¡ª


    was handling these social niceties, or rather, factional skirmishes.


    Recalling the conversation he had eavesdropped on between Allyn and Becky earlier, the internal environment of the Tin Saint School might be much more complicated than he had imagined.


    But this was normal.


    Where there were people, there would be factions; where there were interests, there would be conflict.


    Even back in the Lap School, a small school on a remote island, it was no different. Now, in the Tin Saint School, with more people and more at stake, naturally, there were more factions and fiercer conflicts.


    Colin gently exhaled.


    If it weren''t for his future, for the advancement to becoming an Official Wizard... he would have never wanted to step into this whirlpool.


    But there was no choice, since he was here, he would have to stay¡ªat least he had Golden Paper to rely on.


    Perhaps it was working, Becky''s earlier intimidation and Allyn''s move to make an example of someone.


    The apprentices present, although looking dispirited and even some collapsing on the spot, didn''t raise any objections, and gradually, they all left. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the end, only those who passed remained.


    At a rough count, there were less than ten, only nine.


    Four of them were below Advanced Apprentices, currently registering at the front. It''s worth mentioning that both of the apprentices tested in gold were Advanced Wizard Apprentices.


    The assessment criteria for Wizard Apprentices below Advanced were different from theirs, involving only a basic knowledge test.


    They also had a basic knowledge test, but it seemed not to account for much of their total score, and the content was also less.


    After a while, Allyn finally finished registering, and those who passed the test as Intermediate Wizard Apprentices switched to a feather badge.


    The badge was completely white, with a total of seven feathers on either side. The foremost two feathers on the Intermediate Apprentices were silver, and the rest were white.


    It was also because they needed to bind these school badges that Allyn had to register for so long.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you to the training ground... Intermediate Apprentices, follow along too, wait until they finish testing, and we''ll assign you places," Allyn rose and led the way out.


    Under his guidance, a group of them passed through the corridor and arrived at an indoor training ground of roughly four to five hundred square meters.


    At this time, many Wizard Apprentices were already present on the training ground.


    Colin, who was keenly observant, noticed that these Wizard Apprentices were just like the ones they had been queuing up outside with, from the smaller schools.


    At a rough glance, there were at least two hundred.


    The passing rate... was probably at least seventy-five percent.


    Colin silently marveled; these wandering wizards with tokens were indeed just extras.


    Allyn led them to a testing area in the corner.


    Clad wooden targets for testing defenses, standardized Crossbow Arrows, etc., as well as a space for testing other witchcraft techniques¡ªit was a very standard testing area.


    Though it was in a corner, due to the number of testing wizards, there was still a long queue.


    As they arrived, many smaller school wizards turned back to look, but upon seeing a group of Wandering Wizards, they lost interest and turned back.


    The advanced Wizard Apprentice from a smaller school in front was undergoing testing, his face full of freckles quite serious at the time.


    Beside him, an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice from the same school, who did not need to test, watched intently.


    "Based on your theoretical exam, perform at least two kinds of witchcraft that correspond," a silver-feathered grey-robed Wizard instructed.


    "Alright, sir," nodded the freckled apprentice.


    He exhaled softly and raised his arm.


    Swoosh!


    A beam of orange-yellow light shot from his fingertips, hitting the clad wooden target not far ahead.


    A burnt hole approximately the thickness of a thumb and about two or three centimeters deep appeared on the surface of the clad wooden target.


    "Zeroth Rank Upper Witchcraft¡ªSearing Ray," Colin thought grimly.


    He had seen the same witchcraft performed by Berkeley when he was still a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice on Blackstone Island.


    But the power... Colin frowned.


    Evidently, the iron-clad wooden target used for the test was no ordinary one.


    "Qualified," said the silver-feather gray-robed wizard after careful observation.


    Following that, the freckled wizard demonstrated two more witchcrafts, one qualified and one excellent, successfully passing the assessment.


    Seeing this, Colin grew more confident.


    The practical application assessment wasn''t difficult; as long as the witchcraft displayed could show the advanced knowledge assessed in the written test and the effects reached a certain standard, it would pass.


    After all the small school wizard apprentices had completed their assessments, it was their turn.


    Allyn stepped forward, signaling for them to begin the assessment.


    A noble-looking male apprentice stepped forward first.


    Perhaps it was his unusual demeanor, the surrounding small school wizards who hadn''t left yet seemed to be interested, stopping to watch.


    The male apprentice began his test, and quickly, unsurprisingly, passed.


    However... the results were only qualified, employing three witchcrafts¡ª one qualified, one good, and the other not qualified.


    A light laugh echoed from the small school wizards.


    Colin exhaled softly, no longer hesitating nor caring about the small school wizards watching on the side.


    He began his assessment next.


    He chose the advanced Fireball Technique and Steel Defense Field.


    Boom!


    The Fireball Technique, augmented by Limit Breaking for the second time, ferociously flew towards the iron-clad wooden target!


    Heat spread in all directions, its momentum stunning.


    Colin didn''t use his full power, holding back slightly, but not too much.


    This strike had already reached 90% of his full power without using the Foolishness Scepter!


    Bang!


    The fireball slammed into the iron-clad wooden target, creating a huge impact; even Allyn, the wizard in charge of the assessment, couldn''t help but change his expression.


    Such power, although not the strongest among the advanced apprentices he had seen, could at least rank in the upper tier!


    The surrounding small school wizards issued a burst of exclamations; among the more than two hundred wizards who passed the written test, those who could wield such powerful witchcraft... were probably countable on two hands.


    People''s gazes were drawn towards him, but Colin''s expression remained unchanged.


    The results of the current test not only pertained to subsequent assignments but also related to the first impression he gave to everyone...


    Displaying strength as much as possible while keeping some necessary trump cards and remaining reasonable had no downside.


    Following that, he continued with his next witchcraft, Limit Breaking the golden Steel Armor.


    Since his own Defensive Witchcraft had now upgraded to Steel Temperature Resistance Field... the golden Steel Armor was just a previous version, so he didn''t hold back as much as he did with the Fireball Technique but went all out.


    This naturally shocked the surrounding people again.


    From the perspective of physical defense alone, the Steel Armor Colin used could possibly rank in their top five.


    "Sir, I have completed my demonstrations," Colin said to Allyn after completing the Steel Armor.


    The practical application assessment only required at least two witchcrafts to be demonstrated, and having achieved its purpose of showcasing his strength, he didn''t plan to employ a third one.


    The surrounding small school apprentices breathed a sigh of relief at this, and murmuring conversations followed.


    "This wandering wizard is strong!"


    "Was that the Fireball Technique? The power was indeed astonishing..."


    "Glad he didn''t use any other witchcraft... it would have been too exaggerated."


    "Maybe he only knows these two witchcrafts, which is why he is so powerful..."


    "That makes sense..."


    Colin listened to the whispers around him, his face unchanged.


    Allyn first looked for Colin''s name on the list.


    Then he raised his head and said to Colin, "Colin, congratulations, your witchcraft application assessment result is extremely excellent."


    He smiled warmly, his tone gentle, a stark contrast to how he had treated the previous male apprentice, hardly even bothering to call by name.


    "Thank you," Colin smiled and then walked over to the side to wait quietly.


    The first male wizard who had passed the assessment was also standing quietly nearby; seeing Colin approaching, his expression was cold, giving off a highly standoffish air.


    Seeing his demeanor, Colin also extinguished any desire for conversation.

 Chapter 192 - 156 Negative Impact

    It wasn''t long before the remaining three Advanced Apprentices had completed their testing.


    Unfortunately, one young Male Wizard failed to pass... and could only leave the scene disheartened.


    "Let''s go, come with me to register your details, and we''ll assign you your placements as well."


    After the assessment had concluded, Allyn put away the recording crystal and spoke.


    Colin nodded and, under the astonished and admiring gazes of the nearby School Wizards, followed Allyn out of the indoor training ground with the other Apprentices who had passed the assessment.


    Walking along the spacious corridor, it wasn''t long before Allyn led them to an office.


    "Colin, come and register," Allyn said with a smile as he sat behind the desk, then turned to the rest of the Wizards, "All of you come and register as well."


    It''s no wonder he favored Colin, after all, this was a world where naked power reigned supreme.


    In terms of Magic Power alone, Colin''s Magic Power was almost on par with his.


    But he was nearly 60 years old now, no longer young... He could only say that he was relying on his credentials and accumulation of experience to surpass Colin.


    Thinking of this, Allyn couldn''t help but sigh softly. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although to a Wizard Apprentice, 60 years old was merely middle-aged, and if one didn''t seek to advance and merely did some modifications, with effort, they could live up to around 160.


    But nevertheless, he couldn''t compare to Colin and the other Advanced Wizard Apprentices who were only in their teens.


    Colin and his group approached.


    "Allyn," Allyn composed himself and smiled at them as he introduced himself.


    Meanwhile, he distributed stacks of registration forms to them.


    Colin took the forms and glanced over them.


    The information required for this registration was much more extensive than what had been needed for the examination registration.


    It included not only the Meditation Method studied and the witchcraft skills mastered but also their main areas of knowledge.


    "Colin¡ª" While they were filling out the forms, Allyn initiated a conversation with him, "The witchcraft you used earlier, what was it?"


    He paused and added with some confusion:


    "It seemed similar to the Fireball Technique, but the power probably reached the quality of the good tier of Zeroth Rank Upper witchcraft."


    "...It''s a new witchcraft developed by the Sect Leader of my former School based on the Fireball Technique, named Fireball Skill¡¤Revised," Colin paused before replying.


    "I see," Allyn nodded, understanding it was a unique creation, no wonder it seemed unfamiliar.


    "May I ask... why did you leave your former School?" Something seemed to occur to Allyn as he asked.


    Colin paused at the question.


    "My former School was destroyed due to a Divine intervention."


    "Destroyed¡­" Allyn nodded, then, seemingly catching onto something, he asked in surprise, "Destroyed because of a Divine coming?!"


    The Apprentices around, who were filling out the registration forms, were also momentarily taken aback.


    "Could you possibly be from the Mos Kingdom?"


    "No, that''s not right... there are no Wizard Schools there," Allyn inquired repeatedly, somewhat puzzled.


    "But aside from the Mos Kingdom, there have been no other Divine interventions on the Siya Continent in recent years..."


    Colin shook his head, replying, "I am from the far southern seas."


    "From the sea?" Allyn''s heart sank subtly as he asked without showing outward concern, "On which island? A large island like Bananka Island?"


    "No, just a remote small island," Colin shook his head.


    Allyn''s warm demeanor suddenly cooled a bit, but he still pressed on,


    "Did you also advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice while on that small island?"


    "Yes," Colin nodded, somewhat puzzled by his query.


    "Alright, you go first; I''ll rest for a moment." Allyn nodded his head, said nothing more, and leaned back in his chair to close his eyes and rejuvenate.


    Colin furrowed his brows slightly in his mind, sensing a shift in Allyn''s attitude toward him... as if he had suddenly lost interest in making conversation.


    He subconsciously turned his head to look at the other apprentices around him.


    Most of them had normal expressions and did not seem to find their conversation odd... probably because they, like him, understood very little.


    However... the apprentice with an exam result of gold and a noble demeanor inexplicably glanced at him.


    In his eyes... there seemed to be a flash of disdain and arrogance, but it was fleeting, and the noble apprentice quickly composed himself and lowered his head to continue filling out his form.


    Colin grew suspicious and stopped his pen.


    "The choice of location when advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice affects the purity and quality of one''s personal character and knowledge''s ''Spiritual Light,'' which in turn influences various aspects."


    Just then, a soft voice reached his ears.


    Colin turned to look... it was another apprentice with a gold result on the exam, a woman with dark skin.


    She was now standing beside Colin.


    "Generally speaking, the more tainted babbling the chosen location has, the higher the pollution level of the person''s character and ''Spiritual Light''... And the sea naturally has more tainted babbling than the continent,


    If it''s a populous and bustling large island, it might still be roughly on par with the tainted babbling levels of the coastal areas of the continent, but remote islands..."


    The female apprentice shook her head.


    "Thank you," Colin nodded subtly, unfazed. Regardless of the female apprentice''s intentions in explaining this, it at least cleared up his confusion.


    He paused, then continued to quietly ask the female apprentice:


    "What mainly affects the quality of ''Spiritual Light'' and character...?"


    While filling out her registration form, the female apprentice replied:


    "It affects various aspects, such as making it easier to become corrupt, etc... The greatest impact is on the probability of advancing to an Official Wizard.


    But since not all Wizard Apprentices can choose their advancement location, and the overall impact is not very significant,


    Such knowledge is usually not mentioned in small schools... It''s only in large schools, or among pupils with particularly good talents, that special attention is paid."


    Here, she paused, then hesitatingly added:


    "If you advance in a remote island, the probability of becoming an Official Wizard might drop by at least ten percent... based on the original odds.


    This means if you originally had a 10% chance of becoming an Official Wizard, now it would be just 9%."


    Hearing the female apprentice''s words, Colin was startled... this was knowledge he had never learned at the Lap School.


    ''But a ten percent drop in probability, based on the original, doesn''t sound like much.''


    As if hearing his thoughts, the dark-skinned female apprentice continued:


    "A ten percent drop in advancing probability might not seem like much... But for us Wizards who have rejoined the School, it''s not the same.


    Rejoining the School, already having switched the Meditation Method, causes magic power not to fully convert, lowering the probability of becoming an Official Wizard even more."


    "Moreover, for some reason, when either or both are negatively affected to a certain extent, their negative impacts start stacking up... By then, it wouldn''t be just a twenty or thirty percent drop, but at least ninety percent."


    Ninety percent... Doesn''t this mean that if originally you had a 10% chance, now it could be at most 1%?!


    Colin''s expression grew solemn; the female apprentice did not specify, but his situation, advancing as an Advanced Wizard Apprentice on a remote island, clearly met the conditions for stacking.


    If he had stayed at his original school, a mere ten percent drop in advancement probability wouldn''t have been much, but now a drop of over ninety percent...


    He now also understood why Allyn''s attitude had suddenly cooled and why the male wizard''s eyeshadow was filled with mockery.


    Unexpectedly, one was a negative spiritual influence, and the other a negative magical influence.


    Together, they somehow miraculously produced an effect greater than the sum of their parts...

 Chapter 193 - 157 Mentor

    Seeing Colin''s somewhat somber expression, the female apprentice changed tacks and spoke again to comfort him:


    "But for the vast majority of Wizard Apprentices, they never manage to become Official Wizards in their lifetimes¡­ At least with your current strength, you''re considered powerful among apprentices."


    Her voice grew softer as she spoke, as though she realized her attempt at consolation was ineffective and simply chose to close her mouth.


    After all, if not for the aspiration to become an Official Wizard, to attain greater power, who would go through such effort to join a School¡­


    "It''s fine, thank you for letting me know," Colin nodded, not taking the female apprentice''s words as mockery.


    He simply let out a sigh and gathered his spirit again.


    Regardless of how low the chances of becoming an Official Wizard were, as long as the probability wasn''t zero, he believed that with his own efforts, he would eventually advance.


    Moreover¡­ perhaps because he had made the breakthrough to Advanced Apprentice at the time when his knowledge of the Meditation Method, with the aid of Golden Paper, was at its most profound,


    he always felt that the Tainted babbling should not have much influence on him.


    Indeed, when he was still in a state of heightened sensitivity, he compared the Spiritual Light of humanity and knowledge on the surface of other Advanced Wizard Apprentices of the Lap School.


    Whether it was Berkeley or anyone else... in general, none seemed as thick and pure as his.


    Collecting his emotions, Colin stopped dwelling on it and continued to fill out the registration form.


    Before long, the Apprentices had nearly completed their forms.


    Allyn had them line up to submit their forms one by one, recording each and assigning their destinations based on the information provided.


    This time, Allyn didn''t ask Colin to line up first.


    Thus, Colin went to the end of the line, taking his place at the very back.


    Some apprentices looked back at him in surprise when they saw this.


    Since the room was small, although the conversation he had with the dark-skinned female apprentice was quiet, nearby apprentices could still overhear parts of it.


    This subset of apprentices in the know even cast furtive, schadenfreude-filled glances at him, with the noble male apprentice''s being the most conspicuous.


    He cast a dismissive look at Colin, pushed past the apprentices in front of him, and walked to the front row, eager for Allyn to record his registration form first.


    The apprentices at the front, uncertain of his confidence, subconsciously chose to step aside.


    Seeing this, Colin''s expression remained unchanged.


    When faced with someone more outstanding, especially someone who has overshadowed them, the first reaction of people is often not admiration, but envy.


    In such situations, if that person more outstanding suddenly falls from grace, a twisted sense of pleasure would emerge atop the original envy.


    He was aware of this but didn''t care.


    Just as he would choose to work hard to improve and surpass the individual who stole his limelight, instead of turning green with envy.


    As for whether that more outstanding person would fall to the dust?


    He was unconcerned, and he felt contempt toward rejoicing in others'' misfortunes.


    Because he understood that it was useless for the real enhancement of his strength, it was just a waste of time.


    "You are from the Herbey family?"


    At this moment, Allyn''s surprised voice came from the front.


    "Yes, my name is Mulan Herbey." An elegant voice came from the front, which might have left a better impression if not for the arrogance in the tone.


    "An Advanced Wizard Apprentice who Advanced in Miracle City?" Allyn nodded, addressing the Advanced Wizard Apprentice before him.


    "Yes," Mulan nodded, a shadow fleeting across his eyes.


    He seemed to recall the humiliation when his mother, to secure for him, her illegitimate son, the chance to advance in Miracle City, abandoned her dignity to cater to that man in every possible way.


    He also seemed to recall his indignation at having to join this School despite his natural talent and his inclusion in the Herbey family genealogy because, in the end, he could only come here.


    The family also claimed it was because they didn''t want to waste his talent, for his better development¡­


    But who didn''t know this was to sever the possibility of him inheriting the Herbey family at its root.


    Allyn nodded and didn''t delve any deeper.


    Although the Herbey family wasn''t a minor family, it wasn''t as powerful as the Tin Saint School, either.


    It wasn''t unusual for members of such smaller families to join a School.


    However, Mulan Herbey before him was solid in his knowledge. Although his practical application skills were average, his Magic Power Affinity was First Class¡­ He was indeed a talent.


    Thinking this, he assigned Mulan to serve under Lord Lance.


    "Take good care of the badge, infuse it with Magic Power to bind it, your mentor will be Wizard Lance, and the paper contains specific information, make sure to check it. There''s nothing else, you may leave now, come back to report tomorrow."


    Allyn raised his head to give Mulan a brand-new badge and a piece of white paper printed with the mentor''s information.


    After speaking, he paused for a moment, then beckoned to Mulan, adding in a slightly warmer tone, "If there''s anything unclear, you can come to me."


    "Very well, Sir Allyn," Mulan said politely, nodding appropriately, but couldn''t quite conceal an air of arrogance.


    Allyn couldn''t help but frown inwardly.


    Even though they had both joined the School, even though both were at the realm of Advanced Wizard Apprentice, in terms of seniority, Mulan''s address towards him should have been more respectful... rather than on such equal footing as now.


    Although he thought this, he had long outgrown youthful petulance and simply nodded impassively in response.


    Mulan then walked away, while he withdrew his gaze and continued assigning placements to the next Apprentice.


    "I didn''t expect him to be from the Herbey family." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In front of Colin, the dark-skinned female Apprentice turned back and started the conversation.


    "Yes." Colin nodded without furthering the conversation.


    He wasn''t interested in the Herbey family, his mind was occupied with figuring out how to find the most peaceful spot for himself within the School.


    Seeing this, the female Apprentice hesitated for a moment, and all the prepared words died in her belly.


    She shifted her eyes around, then asked, "We haven''t introduced ourselves. My name is Leva, and you are?"


    "Colin," he replied concisely.


    Sensing that Colin was not interested in small talk, Leva decided to get straight to the point,


    "How familiar are you with the mentors from the Tin Saint School?" she asked directly. "What I mean is, I know which mentor is the best choice. Would you be willing to choose that mentor with me..."


    As she spoke, she lowered her voice, leaned in close, and whispered in Colin''s ear, "You just have to bribe Allyn with some Magic Stones..."


    "Sorry," Colin shook his head, took a small step backward to create some distance.


    He was not comfortable with anyone getting so close to his relatively vulnerable neck.


    Leva paused slightly, instinctively explaining,


    "I didn''t mean anything by it, nor do I need you to do anything for me. I''m just saying it''s not so easy to get by within the School, and I was hoping we could support each other when the time comes."


    "Sorry, Leva," Colin shook his head again, "I appreciate you were willing to share that information with me before, but I''m looking for a more relaxed mentor."


    Although he didn''t know which mentor Leva was talking about, he knew the greater the benefit, the greater the associated troubles and dangers. That much he understood.


    After all, Leva had approached him clearly because she recognized the relatively good abilities he had shown during his Apprentice period.


    But for himself, with the Golden Paper in play, he didn''t need too many resources.


    Joining the School was merely to avoid being choked of knowledge, to obtain a more secure and stable environment, and a relatively reliable backing.


    Seeing Colin''s determination, Leva''s gentle expression vanished in an instant and she turned her head away coldly.


    She must have misjudged Colin... She thought he was an impressive character, but didn''t expect him to be so lacking in ambition.


    Soon, it was his turn to be assigned a mentor.


    "You want to choose a more relaxed mentor?" Allyn asked in surprise.


    His plan had been to continue placing Colin within his own Faction, as Colin''s potential to advance didn''t seem great, but his strength in the Apprentice stage was decent enough to solve some of the Faction''s heavy and tedious work.


    But he didn''t expect Colin to make such a request.


    Leva, who had lingered to eavesdrop, saw Colin making such a choice and showed a hint of disdain on her face, extinguishing the last of her hopes and leaving the office.


    "Yes, Lord Allyn..." Colin looked back at Allyn and answered,


    He then showed a self-mocking smile and explained,


    "You''re well aware, my lord, of my circumstances, it''s practically impossible for me to advance to an Official Wizard... So I don''t intend to vie for any more resources, I just want a more peaceful life."


    ''If you want peace, why bother joining a School, a small nation would be far more comfortable,'' Allyn mused sarcastically in his mind, but looking at the medium-grade Magic Stone flickering with soft light in his hand, he still said,


    "Fine."


    He paused, then continued,


    "This mentor, you''ll definitely be satisfied."

 Chapter 194 - 158 Zuo Ao and Right Ao

    The dawn light was faint, with the unique white mist of the early morning enveloping the gray streets.


    It was still early, the sun had not even risen.


    Only a sparse few pedestrians were walking briskly and silently on the smooth stone pavement, occasionally a horse-drawn carriage or a steam carriage puffing black smoke would rush past.


    Inside the cabin of the public carriage.


    Colin pulled down the deep brown curtain, picked up the white paper with the information of the mentors, and checked it again carefully.


    Two days had passed since the examination at the Tin Saint School.


    Today was the day to report to the true location of the Tin Saint School... the Tin Saint residence that was located in the city center during the examination was actually more like an external agency of the Tin Saint School.


    The true headquarters of the School was in the distant Hua Pei district.


    If it were compared to the divisions of past life cities, it would be roughly at the position to the south of the second ring of Neustadt City.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    As the carriage moved forward, the scenery of the surrounding streets visibly changed. Glancing around, there were no longer shops with signboards; instead, tall door walls... large mansions started to become more common.


    Before long, the coachman pulled the reins, the horse neighed, and the carriage gradually came to a stop.


    Hua Pei district, Tin Saint Street, had arrived.


    With Renee and her sister, Colin stepped down from the carriage, and what met his eyes was a large, dumb white arch. On the thick doors above, two pieces of iconic intertwined gold and silver feathers were clearly engraved.


    On either side of the door were tall grey brick walls that extended far into the distance... The land was clearly extensive.


    Standing at the entrance, staring at the tall door walls, he felt, in a trance, that this place somewhat resembled the university from his previous life.


    There was no one guarding the door.


    As instructed by the paper, Colin walked to the door and took out the feather badge that Allyn had given him.


    The solid door on the left rippled like the surface of water, with the original feather pattern twisting and transforming.


    The next second, a strange face slowly emerged.


    A standard triangle made up its whole, an inverted triangular eye, an inverted triangular mouth, and an inverted triangular face, giving a sense of order and regularity.


    "Oh, a new wizard?" the face yawned vividly and looked up at Colin, "You are the earliest one here today."


    "Cut the act, you don''t need sleep, why the yawn?!"


    Just as Colin was about to respond, another face suddenly emerged on the other side of the door. If the face on one side was made of inverted triangles, then the face on this side was made of upright triangles.


    "Right Ao, you!"


    "What do you mean you, Left Ao, don''t forget our duty. We are only created to be door..."


    "Gatekeepers!" Left Ao interrupted loudly.


    "Door... Golems!" Right Ao paused, continuing his words.


    Seizing the moment before Left Ao had a chance to retort, Right Ao hurriedly continued:


    "New apprentice, the first time you enter, you need to place your badge in the middle of us, and you and your servants need to place your palms on the door."


    It seemed the work was starting, as Left Ao also calmed down and added:


    "The attendant badges for the maids also need to be placed in the middle indentation."


    "Understood," Colin said, his expression unchanging, but inside he was somewhat amazed; such sentient golems were a rare sight.


    He and the Renee sisters together placed their badges in the middle indentation of the door and then pressed their palms against it.


    A wave fluctuated across them.


    "All done," Right Ao spoke.


    "Thank you," Colin took back the badges and expressed his gratitude respectfully.


    Although the two golems looked out of tune, as the guardians of Tin Saint School, they were certainly not simple characters.


    "No need to thank us," Zuo Ao said first.


    Right Ao cast a lively glance at Zuo Ao but remained silent, merely controlling the door to the right to slowly open.


    Colin nodded to them, then quickly walked inside with Renee and her sister.


    Before them lay a wide avenue, flanked by peculiar trees and plants arranged in order, all faintly pulsating with Magic Power''s vibrations. They were obviously not ordinary flora.


    Colin did not linger, and according to the map, he hurried toward the residence of the mentor he had been assigned to.


    Now, while it was still early and there were few people on the road, it was best to meet the mentor as soon as possible to settle everything... As for the School, there would be plenty of opportunities to visit in the future.


    About half an hour later, he arrived at the entrance to a path shaded by green trees.


    Looking down the path, it seemed to lead to a manor.


    Stone brick paths, clear pond water; this place''s style was completely different from elsewhere in Neustadt City.


    If not for the rougher stone bricks, more angular ponds, and the large swathes of flowers among the green trees... this place would remind him of the residence of a reclusive master hidden deep in the mountains in his previous life.


    Unfortunately, the European style made it more akin to an ancient manor.


    Seeing this, Colin couldn''t help nodding... Other things aside, he was quite satisfied just with the environment.


    Without further delay, he was ready to move forward.


    Hum.


    But the next second, a translucent blue light appeared, and a gentle repulsive force pushed him out of the pathway.


    Colin was slightly startled.


    "Master?" Renee asked with confusion.


    Colin shook his head, paused for a moment, took out the School''s feather badge, and tried to enter again.


    Hum¡ª S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the familiar translucent blue light again, and the gentle repulsive force came once more.


    The force was not strong, but Colin did not continue to force his way forward.


    "Let''s wait here," he turned and instructed Renee and her sister.


    Although on the day of the exam, he had learned a bit about the School through Allyn, like the map of the School.


    The information he knew was still scant. Rather than wandering around to find a solution, it was a better choice to wait where he was.


    As he was thinking this, a deep voice suddenly came from behind.


    "You are...?"


    Colin turned back and saw a muscular strong man with golden buzz cut hair, which looked extremely stiff, standing straight up.


    Under such a tough buzz cut, however, was a simple and kind face.


    "Hello, I''m the new apprentice reporting for duty." Colin raised his hand, showing the School''s badge held between his index finger and thumb to the strong man.


    "A new apprentice... Who is your mentor?" the short-haired strong man scratched his head, puzzled.


    As he lifted his arm, his Tin Saint School''s standard Wizard Robe stretched tight, revealing the solid pectorals underneath.


    "Archibald Rudolph," Colin put away the badge and answered.


    "Mentor Rudolph?" The strong apprentice exclaimed in surprise.


    "The mentor has been assigned a new apprentice..."


    "Let me introduce myself, I''m Marjorie Alist," the strong apprentice''s expression suddenly became enthusiastic, and he took the initiative to say, "I''m the second apprentice of Mentor Rudolph, and also your senior apprentice."


    "Marjorie the senior apprentice," Colin nodded, returned the smile, greeted him, and then pointed to himself, "Colin Leonard."


    "Hmm." Marjorie nodded and said, "Come on, I''ll take you inside."

 Chapter 195 - 159 Tin Saint Meditation Method

    "This is a barrier set up by our mentor, mainly to prevent unauthorized personnel from intruding," Marjorie said as she walked to the right side of the path entrance.


    There was a humble pale white flower there, which, aside from being particularly tall, reaching the waist of an ordinary person, looked like a common wildflower.


    "Colin, pay attention to my technique," Marjorie said, turning back to remind Colin before stretching out her arm and pointing her index finger towards the flower.


    Although the movement was simple, with her conscious control, the flow of Magic Power coursed clearly through her.


    This allowed Colin to see her entire complete skill.


    In fact, it was not complicated but rather a small trick of using Magic Power, which was why Marjorie only asked him to take a look.


    Swoosh¡ª


    At the moment Marjorie''s fingertip touched the white flower, it bloomed with a golden color as swift as ink spreading, the entire flower turning a brilliant gold starting from the point of contact.


    "After you do this step, then place your finger on it, it will recognize your fingerprint... which is the pattern of your finger," Marjorie explained. "Once the mentor records your information, the whole process can be done in one go, without taking much time."


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you inside first," Marjorie said, leading the way along the stone path entrance.


    Continuing her enthusiastic introduction, she said: "That white flower is called Nado; its only function is to recognize patterns and scents...


    However, in fact, this ring of trees around us, including the Nado white flower at the entrance, strictly speaking, it''s all the same plant life... called Nado, have you heard of it?"


    Colin shook his head and looked around.


    The dense woods, the vibrant garden, and the neat lawns and bushes... were all the same plant life?


    "Nado is a treasured plant unique to the Nolan Continent in the far west, brought back by the mentor from his travels in his younger years,"


    Marjorie began to introduce, "This plant is very suitable for home decoration, no need for you to take care of it. Whatever plant you want, sprinkle the seeds to the initial Nado plant, and you don''t have to worry about it anymore."


    "It will absorb all of the seeds and incorporate them into part of itself, then with a little guidance, you can create the landscaping decoration you want... The only downside is that you might need to replenish some seeds periodically.


    Some plants, after being absorbed by Nado, can be permanently maintained, but some others will require regular replenishment."


    Colin nodded, Nado seemed like a natural carrier that could graft any plant.


    Seemingly thinking of something, he curiously asked Marjorie, "Senior Marjorie, since Nado was chosen by the mentor as a guard plant,


    it must not only be for its role in landscaping decoration. In terms of strength..."


    Marjorie shook her head and said, "Actually, Nado''s strength is not very great, it''s only roughly equivalent to that of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, and since it is not adept at moving, even an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice could easily deal with it if they have the right methods."


    Upon hearing this, Colin was slightly startled and couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed.


    Seeing his reaction, Marjorie added, "Inside the School, we don''t need very strong guardians, they serve primarily as alerts."


    "I see," Colin nodded.


    Marjorie was relieved to see this.


    In reality, within the Tin Saint School, the Factions fought fiercely; normally, each Faction''s residence would be equipped with at least a guardian golem or plant at the Official Wizard level.


    Their guardian plants were so weak mainly because... they weren''t really considered a Faction.


    Feeling the atmosphere suddenly turned silent, Colin broke the pause and said:


    "I encountered some very special plants before on an island called Rael in the south of here, the jungles on the entire island seemed to have a living consciousness.


    The locals navigated them with ease, moving unobstructed, but outsiders found progress difficult, easily getting lost... If you want to enter the jungle, it''s best to be led by a local."


    "There''s such a marvelous island..." Marjorie exclaimed in surprise.


    And so, their conversation continued.


    After a short while, Marjorie led him through the sheltering trees, through the modest garden, and to a connected villa outside.


    "This will be your place of learning in the future," Marjorie introduced.


    Colin looked up.


    To be honest, this connected villa wasn''t as big as he had imagined; the wings on each side were only two stories high, with the main section in the center being three stories.


    Continuing forward, they entered the main building, where Marjorie led him to the outside of a study.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    Marjorie gently knocked on the wooden door; the gentle motion juxtaposed against his at least two-meters-tall figure was somewhat comically disproportionate.


    "Come in," a sluggish voice came from inside, which, from the sound of it, seemed to be that of an old man.


    Marjorie pushed the door open.


    Colin instructed the sisters, Renee, to wait outside, then followed Marjorie in.


    First to catch his eye were the unusually large French windows, almost spanning an entire wall. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then there was the tall but gaunt silhouette in an armchair and a desk laid out only with tea utensils.


    Nothing else.


    "Mentor," Marjorie greeted, bowing respectfully.


    "Marjorie, you''re here, is it another problem with your practice?" Archibald turned and asked, his slow speech enacting impatience.

 Chapter 196 - 159 Tin Saint Meditation Method_2

    But Marjorie was obviously used to it, and she quietly waited for Archibald to finish speaking.


    "This one here is...?" Archibald asked, looking at Colin with curiosity.


    "Good morning, mentor," Colin said, placing his right hand on his chest and bowing slightly.


    "I am the new apprentice, Colin Leonard." He handed the white paper to Archibald.


    Like his voice, Archibald was an elderly man, his face layered with wrinkles as deep as tree bark.


    "New apprentice?" Archibald asked slowly, taking the white paper with a hand as gnarled as tree roots.


    If he didn''t remember incorrectly, it had been almost ten years since a new apprentice had joined... But, in any case, it was always a good thing to have new apprentices.


    After looking at the white paper, he slowly nodded.


    "Welcome, new apprentice."


    Then it seemed he got stuck, Archibald suddenly fell silent... It had been too long since a new apprentice had arrived, and for a moment, he couldn''t quite remember what to do next.


    "Mentor," Marjorie hastily spoke up to remind him, "You need to help Colin officially activate his badge, and then record Colin''s information on Nado."


    "Oh, right," Archibald nodded in realization, then he paused and added, "Also, since Colin joined the School midway, he needs to be taught the Meditation Method."


    Then, he turned around and extended his hand toward Colin, "Give me your School Badge."


    "Yes, mentor," Colin resisted the urge to make a sarcastic remark and took out his School Badge to give to him.


    Archibald removed his own badge, which was pinned to his chest, and placed it alongside Colin''s.


    Colin keenly noticed that on Archibald''s feather badge, aside from the three silver feathers like his own, there were also two golden ones...


    He had not expected Archibald, who was unremarkable in appearance, to be a Second Rank Wizard!


    He was shaken inside; Allyn had given him little information, and only now did he learn that Archibald was a Second Rank Wizard!


    "All right."


    A moment later Archibald handed the badge back to him and explained slowly, "The badge is now officially activated, and you will be able to use it to record, query, and spend your academic points."


    Patiently waiting for Archibald to finish speaking at his leisurely pace, Colin raised his head and asked, "Mentor, what exactly are these academic points?"


    "You can think of academic points as the School''s Magic Stones; if you wish to learn knowledge later, aside from some basic courses and the ones I teach, the rest will consume academic points."


    "In addition, some of the unique items of the School usually require academic points to exchange."


    "I see, thank you, mentor." Colin nodded.


    Choosing a mentor did not mean that all knowledge would be learned from the mentor thereafter.


    In fact, the real role of a mentor was to provide targeted answers to apprentices'' questions about their practice and to pass on some unique knowledge.


    Most of the other knowledge was mainly learned through free or paid courses offered by other Wizards of the School.


    "Next... Ah, onto the Meditation Method." As Archibald spoke, he leaned over to take a transparent crystal the size of a thumb from a drawer next to his desk.


    "This is the Tin Saint School Apprentice''s Meditation Method." Archibald handed the crystal to Colin and then asked, "Why don''t you take a look at it now, then try to practice it, and I''ll guide you through it?"


    "Yes, mentor, but I haven''t yet dissipated and converted my previous Magic Power..."


    "No matter, let''s first get you familiarized with the Meditation Method."


    "Okay." Colin nodded slowly and began to examine the Meditation Method carefully.


    Meanwhile, Marjorie took this opportunity to present to Archibald the issues she had recently encountered in her own practice.


    Time ticked away, moment by moment, and about two hours later, Colin opened his eyes.


    He was ready.


    But since Archibald was still answering Marjorie''s questions, he did not hurry to speak up and instead began to listen.


    He was a bit curious as to what Marjorie could have asked that required such a long explanation.


    "The role of the Immortal Order Flower is not to neutralize, but to overlay..."


    ''It seems to be a problem related to Magic Potion preparation,'' Colin listened attentively.


    But soon, he lifted his head, somewhat speechlessly.


    Archibald''s speech was not only slow, but he also often paused for a long time between sentences... It seemed that the lengthy duration was perhaps not due to the complexity of Marjorie''s issues, but simply because Archibald spoke at a leisurely pace.


    Another while passed.


    They finally finished explaining.


    "Colin, are you ready?" Archibald turned his head to ask him.


    "Yes, Mentor," Colin nodded.


    "Then come here," Archibald gently waved his right hand, as if speeding up time. In front of him, a sapling went through the stages of rooting, sprouting, branching, and growing in an instant, eventually becoming a natural chair.


    The whole process had not a hint of fireworks, and Colin couldn''t even detect any fluctuations in Magic Power.


    "Sit down," Archibald continued to instruct.


    Colin did as he was told.


    Seemingly remembering something, Archibald waved his hand again, and the giant tree outside the floor-to-ceiling window stirred; a branch quickly extended.


    Under Colin''s astonished gaze, the branch passed through the air and directly through the "floor-to-ceiling window" to reach in front of him.


    Then, an Immortal Order Flower slowly bloomed atop it.


    ''It turns out that it''s not a glass window, but more akin to a kind of Force Field that simulates the properties of other materials, like Steel Armor,'' Colin realized.


    "Choose a finger to place upon it. Nado will record your breath and fingerprint," Archibald said.


    "Okay," Colin complied.


    The touch of the Immortal Order Flower felt cold and soft, just like any other flower at first¡­ but upon closer inspection, he could feel as if countless tiny tendrils were caressing the spot where his finger touched.


    Don''t think too hard... Colin shook his head, not finding the sensation pleasant.


    Fortunately, the Immortal Order Flower retracted quickly.


    "Now, relax, don''t resist, and follow my guidance to circulate the Tin Saint Meditation Method," Archibald continued, placing his palm virtually in front of Colin''s chest.


    The core of Magic Power is located in front of the human chest, while a Knight''s Life Seed is positioned to the left or right of the lower abdomen.


    Colin slowly closed his eyes. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next second, his heart trembled.


    "Focus," Archibald reminded.


    "Yes, Mentor."


    Releasing a breath, Colin gathered his thoughts.


    If dabbling with a new Meditation Method was like fumbling in the dark before, now with Archibald''s assistance, it was as though the environment had transformed to daylight, complete with real-time navigation!


    And so, under the guidance of Archibald, Colin quickly circulated the Tin Saint Meditation Method once through.


    "That''s it, remember this sensation, it will at least save you half of the initiation time," Archibald withdrew his hand.


    "Thank you," Colin stood up, sincerely pressing his hand to his chest in a salute to Archibald.


    A flicker of joy crossed his mind.


    What Archibald didn''t know was that with the help of the Golden Paper and his assistance, Colin had already mastered the basics of the Tin Saint Meditation Method with just this one circulation!


    "Uh-huh," Archibald nodded, "That''s the enrollment process, as for some other trivial matters and things to note..."


    He turned his head to look at Marjorie who was still at the side and said, "Marjorie, that''s up to you."


    "Of course, Mentor," Marjorie responded without hesitation, then turned to look at Colin.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you for a tour of the School," he strode towards the door.


    "Mentor, I''ll be leaving now," Colin bid farewell to Archibald.


    After seeing him nod, Colin turned and quickly followed Marjorie''s pace.


    "Pick up the pace, Colin. After we have toured the School, there are still many important matters to discuss with you..."


    "By the way, do you have a place to stay in Neustadt City?"


    "..."


    "Aren''t we supposed to live at the School?"

 Chapter 197 - 160 Lillian

    Marjorie''s steps hesitated slightly before she spoke with some embarrassment:


    "Usually, the School would allocate some housing for the apprentices to live in, but Mentor Archibald currently has no spare quotas." Marjorie''s voice grew quieter as she spoke,


    "I and the other apprentices of the mentor are living near the School...


    I myself am renting a courtyard, which is the property of the School. There''s a discount for us members of the School; after a successful application, it would only cost about six hundred Magic Stones a month."


    "Six hundred Magic Stones may seem like a lot, but in reality, as long as you''re willing to take on a few more School tasks, it''s quite easy to afford."


    "I understand, Senior Marjorie."


    Colin nodded, his expression unchanged as he replied, but his doubts did not diminish in the slightest.


    ''Mentor Archibald, being a Second Rank Wizard... could he really be lacking apprentice housing quotas?... Perhaps there''s some secrecy.''


    However, he wasn''t inclined to pry into the secrets behind it after all, it was none of his business.


    He had been prepared for a decrease in treatment as well.


    After all, in an environment like the Tin Saint School, tranquility and abundant resources obviously could not be had together. Only by not competing for resources, and thus having fewer resources, could one achieve relative tranquility.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you on a quick tour of the School, and after that, I''ll take you to apply for housing."


    "Okay."


    Colin stepped forward to follow Marjorie.


    Not living at the School had its benefits for him; his secrets were numerous, and living outside the School, he at least had fewer worries about being discovered.


    At this moment, Marjorie, walking ahead, suddenly paused and slapped her forehead in vexation:


    "I forgot something!"


    "I forgot to have the mentor assign you a task."


    As she spoke, she thought about turning back, but then her steps suddenly halted as if she had thought of something.


    "It''s almost twelve o''clock, it''s better to look for the mentor tomorrow morning."


    Marjorie muttered, then turned her head to look at Colin with a stern face and reminded him:


    "There aren''t many rules at the mentor''s place, but there are a few important things to be aware of.


    One of them is that you must not enter the mentor''s study after twelve o''clock noon.


    In addition, you must leave here before midnight and can only return after sunrise."


    Colin''s heart chilled, and he nodded gravely.


    He did not take Marjorie''s words lightly; some rules must be firmly remembered.


    "Let''s go," Marjorie continued to lead him outside.


    "The rest of the things to take note of, I''ll explain as we walk."


    *


    *


    *


    Three o'' clock in the afternoon.


    Huapei District.


    In a courtyard located a distance away from Tin Saint Street, on Liao Saint Street.


    "Sir, what do you think about this set of housing? The price, after the School''s subsidy, is only seven hundred Magic Stones a month."


    A middle-aged Apprentice asked respectfully. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was affiliated with the force of the Tin Saint School and his status was far below that of people like Colin, so his attitude was naturally extremely respectful.


    Colin nodded, looking at the middle-aged Apprentice, feeling again a trace of the sensation he had on Blackstone Island when he was a member of the Lap School.


    In this world, School members and non-School members differed too much in every aspect.


    Not in a hurry to respond, he looked up and surveyed the surroundings once more.


    This was a double-story Western house with a courtyard, and compared to the previous ones he had seen, it was not large, and thus the price was also higher than the previous five hundred or six hundred Magic Stones.


    But this set was his favorite.


    There were no other reasons, mainly its sufficiently secluded location and a distance of about ten meters from the nearest neighbor, providing a high degree of privacy.


    Moreover, the size was sufficient.


    The house was about a hundred square meters, and the courtyard was about twice the size of the house, more than two hundred square meters in all. It was completely enough for him living alone.


    "I''ll take this one," Colin decided and spoke up.


    The rent was paid every three months, and he handed over two thousand one hundred Magic Stones to the middle-aged Apprentice.


    For Neustadt City, if this set of housing were rented to ordinary Wandering Wizards, the price per month would surely be over two thousand one hundred Magic Stones.


    ...The benefits of being a School member were now unmistakably evident.


    "Apprentice Colin, now that you have chosen a house, I suggest you go to the mentor tomorrow to ask for a Nado Seed, oh, and also a Yista flower seed, these are also unique perks we have...


    If cultivated well, in about a month, you will be able to have a simple guardian here... enough to fend off any petty thieves."


    "Thank you for the suggestion, Senior Marjorie," Colin replied, somewhat surprised.


    He hadn''t expected to be able to get a Nado Seed for free from Mentor Archibald!


    Although Nado''s strength wasn''t too strong, that was in comparison to Official Wizards.


    For an Apprentice like him, Nado was undoubtfully an excellent helper around the home, not only aiding in greenery but also serving as a guard.


    Particularly when paired with the Xira White, it formed a special "curfew system," greatly facilitating daily life.


    ...


    The next day.


    Colin arrived early at Archibald''s residence.


    Following Marjorie''s demonstration from yesterday, he summoned the Xira flower, went through verification, and entered.


    Everything here at the mentor''s place remained the same as yesterday, filled with an atmosphere of serenity and peace.


    ''One wonders what it is about midnight that makes staying here prohibited.''


    Walking along the path and observing everything around him, an inexplicable thought occurred to Colin.


    But he quickly dispelled this hint of curiosity.


    He walked into the villa and stopped outside the study.


    Knock knock knock¡ª


    He gently rapped on the door.


    "Come in," came the familiar voice.


    "Good morning, Mentor Archibald," Colin said as he pushed open the door, greeting him instinctively with respect.


    But then he paused slightly.


    There was another person in the study besides Archibald.


    "Hello," the other figure greeted him proactively, her voice firm and steady, a striking contrast to her delicate appearance, "Lillian Rudolph."


    ''Rudolph...'' Colin sharply noted the surname she shared with Archibald.


    "Colin Leonard," he replied promptly.


    Lillian was petite, her features as youthful and pale as her frame.


    If it weren''t for her firm, steady voice and a face so placid it could be described as indifferent, lending her an air of maturity...


    She would have just seemed like an ordinary lovely girl of about twelve or thirteen.


    "Good morning, Colin... this is your senior fellow," Archibald slowly explained, arriving fashionably late with his introduction.


    "Sister Lillian," Colin turned and greeted Lillian respectfully.


    "Junior Brother Colin," Lillian responded to him, her expression cold, yet her tone calm and gentle.


    After greeting Colin, Lillian turned to glance at Archibald and then left the study directly.


    "Do you have something to discuss with me, Colin?" Archibald asked, "Asking for another guide in the Meditation Method won''t do¡­ It''s not that I don''t want to help, but too many times can be counterproductive."


    "No, that''s not it," Colin shook his head, "Mentor, there are two things I''ve come to ask you about."


    "One is to request that you bestow upon me a Nado Seed and a Xira White seed.


    The other is to inquire about the responsibilities I''ll be tasked with from now on."


    A School was different from the educational institutions of his former life.


    Usually, aside from their studies and cultivation, most apprentices had work to do, whether more or less, and only a few with particularly exceptional talents could avoid being tasked with chores.


    "Nado and Xira seeds..." Archibald muttered, gesturing with a wave of his hand as he spoke.


    Like the day before, a branch suddenly stretched in through the large window.


    Archibald plucked two seeds that glowed with an unusual luster off the branch and handed them to Colin.


    "Here, for you."


    "Thank you, Mentor," Colin quickly expressed his gratitude.


    "As for work..." Archibald furrowed his brow, the wrinkles on his already-grooved forehead deepening.


    Colin''s heart likewise raised in anticipation... unsure of what sort of work he might be allocated.


    Soon, Archibald''s forehead smoothed.


    "There''s no need for you to work; you should concentrate on your cultivation and aim to alter your Meditation Method as soon as possible."


    ''No work?!'' Colin was momentarily taken aback.


    "What''s wrong?" Archibald asked, "No need to worry about the lack of work, it doesn''t affect the School''s monthly subsidy of a hundred Magic Stones for Advanced Apprentices."


    "If you''re short of money, you can opt to undertake some assignments."


    "Alright, Mentor," Colin recovered his composure.


    ''No work is undoubtedly good news. Given the situation here at the mentor''s, it''s likely that the work wouldn''t have much to offer... maybe not even as much as School assignments.''


    ''My current savings are sufficient for now, so I might as well take this opportunity to prioritize advancing my own strength and alter the Meditation Method.''


    With this in mind, Colin suddenly hesitated...


    Should he now ask Archibald about the advancement process for becoming an Official Wizard?


    The Tin Saint School was not aware of the specifics of his becoming an Advanced Wizard, and it seemed Archibald didn''t know either... so there was no need to worry about drawing unnecessary attention.


    However, it had only been the second day since he had reported here... It felt too soon.


    After a brief consideration, Colin decided to set it aside for the time being.


    He looked up, said farewell to Archibald, and turned back towards his own residence.


    After all, he hadn''t even managed to successfully alter the Meditation Method yet; even if he learned the advancement process, he''d need to wait until after altering the Meditation Method to use it.


    He would ask after successfully altering the Meditation Method...

 Chapter 198 - 161: Difficult Problem

    Blue sky, white clouds, clear weather.


    At this moment, it was late morning, and Huapei district was bustling with people as always.


    Similarly... the secluded Liye Holy Street in the southern part of the district was as desolate as ever.


    "Sigh¡ª!"


    A brown-black coach slowly stopped in front of a courtyard at some street corner.


    Colin opened the carriage door, stepped down slowly. He had just returned from school.


    It had been ten days since he had moved into this courtyard, Nado had succeeded in cultivation and was beginning to take shape.


    Some ivy had started to entwine around the black wooden door, and unknown small flowers, yellow and white, were blooming. The gentle breeze made them sway lightly, adding a bit of charm to the plain wooden door.


    However, the Xi flowers still needed some more days to grow, so he still needed to use a key to unlock the door when entering his house now.


    He stepped into the courtyard.


    There was a grey slate path in front of him, flanked by carpet-like fresh green lawns, and nothing else.


    The flowers and some shrubs and large trees had not been planted yet.


    Renee was not at home... She must have gone to continue buying plants and trees.


    With a soft sigh, Colin hurried back to the Meditation Room, feeling a bit restless.


    Sitting cross-legged on a plush cushion, Colin''s expression solidified as he called up the Golden Paper.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice (8/100); Ultimate Knight (98/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Apprentice Circulation Meditation Method II¡ü (100/100); Tin Saint Meditation Method (Apprentice) (1/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Method II (96/100); Yili Breathing Method (43/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Brief; Zero Level witchcraft: Steel Temperature Resistance Field (16/100); Golden Arrow Shooting Skill;; Fireball Skill II (15/100); Swift Skill I (87/100); Flying and Diving Skill (68/100); Silent (30/100); Traceless (31/100); Detect Evil I (18/100); Purification Evil Power I (20/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª (Bright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making I (66/100); Blood Pattern Transformation Skill I (36/100)]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    In the past ten days, only the progress of some witchcraft, Knight Level, and Breathing Skills had changed... But there had been no change in progress at the Wizard Level.


    It wasn''t because he had hit a bottleneck... It was simply because he hadn''t practiced any meditation method during these days.


    The reason was none other than what Leva had told him.


    If he wanted to switch to the Tin Saint Meditation, he had to abandon the Circulation Meditation first and change his Magic Power. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Generally speaking, the modification of Magic Power is permanent, and even if the meditation method is discarded, many aspects are irreversible.


    To put it simply, Magic Power cannot be completely transformed; there will always be residuals.


    These residuals will react peculiarly with the humanity and knowledge tainted by the Tainted babbling.


    Ultimately, this could reduce his success rate in advancing to an Official Wizard by about ninety percent.


    Ninety percent... it indeed was too much.


    No wonder the various schools on Bananka Island generally did not recruit Wandering Wizards.


    Swoosh¡ª


    Pale golden particles slowly faded from his view.


    Colin slowly stood up and began to practice the two recently acquired witchcraft skills, Silent and Traceless.


    Starting with Silent.


    Dazzling hand gestures accompanied by the bizarre syllables he uttered began to move.


    The air began to subtly ripple, and Magic Power surged within him.


    Colin deftly cast Silence while continuing to ponder.


    He hadn''t completely believed Leva''s words from the start.


    So, with caution, he had taken the time to consult Mentor Atbolde and visited the school''s library to look up related material.


    But in the end, both the answers from the mentor and the information he found corroborated Leva''s words...


    Moreover, it''s worth mentioning that,


    Throughout these days of research, he developed a deeper understanding of human nature, spiritual light, and the tainted babbling that overwhelmed the world.


    The quality of human nature and spiritual light, aside from individual factors, were also affected by the environment.


    And the quantity of tainted babbling varied depending on the location.


    Regrettably, when he wanted to learn more, he found that he didn''t have the necessary permissions.


    The more specific essence, he feared, could only be known once he became an Official Wizard...


    As he thought, the witchcraft for Silence in Colin''s hands was nearly complete.


    Hum¡ª


    A moment later, as he uttered the last syllable, an invisible ripple flashed by.


    The sounds of his clothes rubbing, his heartbeat, his breathing, and so on¡ªas if hindered by something invisible¡ªwere all contained within his body.


    Colin tried jumping.


    His actions were as clumsy as a wild bear, yet when he landed, there was absolutely no sound, as if tricked by sight; a spirit cat landing, not a wild bear.


    Unfortunately, this sound erasure had its limits; internal noises like the heartbeat, speaking, or even shouting could be almost entirely erased.


    However, sounds made in contact with the external world had a lower limit. For example, running, jumping, walking, and the rustling of clothes were not a big issue.


    But if he were to kick a wall or step on a large pile of dry leaves, the large deformation of objects in these cases essentially couldn''t be erased.


    Thankfully, with Golden Paper Limit Breaking, the future held promise.


    After practicing Silence several times, Colin started practicing another witchcraft¡ªTrace Erasure.


    Since he also hadn''t achieved instant casting, he still needed the aid of lengthy spells and casting gestures.


    The spell was about to take shape; Colin pondered for a moment and directed it toward a burning incense stick by his side.


    This witchcraft, unlike Silence, which only acted upon humans, could essentially act upon any object, even an entire area.


    Swoosh¡ª


    The effect of Trace Erasure was immediate.


    It could erase traces of magic power and scents.


    On the incense stick, its effect was to make its fragrance suddenly disappear.


    But only for a moment before the scent of the incense emanated again... Witchcraft Trace Erasure did not maintain its effect continuously and was unsuitable for items that continuously emit scent or magic fluctuations.


    It was more suited for one-time post-factum trace removal.


    As for its effect on erasing magic power, at least by his abilities to perceive, he couldn''t detect any residual magic power or witchcraft fluctuations after eradication.


    Thus, Colin alternated practicing the two spells in the Meditation Room until noon, having lunch made by Renee, who had returned at some unknown time.


    He hurriedly went out, came to the roadside, and prepared to look for a public coach.


    He didn''t plan to buy a coach like he had on Blackstone Island.


    After all, in Neustadt City, there were plenty of public coaches, and the cost of riding them was much cheaper than maintaining his own coach.


    "Sir, where would you like to go?" the weather-beaten coachman asked on the public coach.


    "Copper Rose Street." Colin replied indifferently, stepping onto the coach.


    Regarding the Meditation Method, he hadn''t given up on finding other techniques...


    Now, his trip to Copper Rose Street was exactly for that purpose!

 Chapter 199 - 162 Half-Elf (4k)

    After nearly half an hour,


    The familiar bustling streetscape of Copper Rose district gradually came into Colin''s view inside the carriage.


    Neat and uniform different shops, wide gray stone roads, ceaseless crowds...


    In the past ten days, he had come here numerous times to solve the problem with meditation methods.


    Once he disembarked from the carriage, Colin made his way to the shops beside the road like he had been there many times before.


    Before long, he browsed through every single shop on this street.


    After finishing this street, Colin didn''t stop but continued to the next street, repeating the same actions.


    Just like that.


    Perhaps because he had been here several times before, though there were many shops in Copper Rose district, he managed to visit the remaining shops in just over two hours...


    But still, he found nothing and didn''t find what he wanted.


    Colin composed himself, not discouraged, and continued walking toward the next location...


    Today''s main event wasn''t these shops.


    Shortly after.


    A magnificent building appeared before him.


    He slowly looked upwards.


    Clearly engraved on the wooden plaque above was "Golden Shell Auction House."


    To the right of the door, another semi-transparent white crystal projected two lines of blue text¡ª


    "Exotic treasures from a thousand nations, rare finds from a thousand seas."


    "The large monthly auction of Golden Shell Auction House will be held on Thursday."


    Actually, today was Thursday. It seemed that the slogans had not yet been updated.


    Colin gently exhaled a breath, filled with some anticipation, and walked towards the entrance with the golden invitation in his hand.


    The invitation was something he received in the past few days when he came to Golden Shell Auction House, showing the nearly ten thousand Magic Stones he still had saved up, also a requisite to participate in the monthly auction of Golden Shell Auction House.


    Entering the auction house, he sat in the separated seats of the auction hall, rubbing the bidding crystal on his right hand, feeling his heartbeat inexplicably quicken.


    In recent days, he had consulted a multitude of documents, wanting to clarify exactly why his aptitude had fallen... hoping to find a solution.


    The logic behind the decline in aptitude was simple.


    The problem was that the changes to the body and spirit imparted by previous meditation practices were mostly irreversible.


    This irreversibility continued to produce Magic Power originally developed through meditation, thus causing the new meditation Magic Power to be polluted.


    The pollution of Magic Power in turn caused irreversible changes, or degradation, of the spirit and body.


    This irreversible degradation was the direct cause of the decline in aptitude among other negative effects.


    Of course, like in his case, it was even more complicated.


    The spirit and body are a finely tuned holistic system, interconnected; his case also involved his own humanity and Spiritual Light.


    Hum¡ª


    The auction stage began to gradually light up with soft White Light, illuminating the stage and casting a circular highlight in his eyes.


    The auction was about to start.


    Colin sat up slightly, his eyes fixed on the main stage of the auction.


    His idea was quite simple.


    Since the changes caused by the original meditation practices were irreversible, he decided not to worry about whether they could be reversed.


    Instead, through the Golden Paper, he planned to integrate the Tin Saint Meditation Method with the original Circulation Meditation, thereby encompassing the original changes, and solving the pollution problem from the root.


    However, this method presented an unavoidable issue.


    Integration required that both the Tin Saint Meditation Method and the Circulation Meditation be broken to a golden level in advance.


    But if he practiced the Tin Saint Meditation Method, it would inevitably lead to pollution of Magic Power, causing changes in the spirit and body...


    Everything seemed to have fallen into a vicious cycle.


    But in fact, predecessors had already tried to find a solution.


    Of course, at least from the information he could access now¡ª


    This remained an unsolved dilemma.


    Nevertheless, after reviewing related documents, he found a glimmer of hope.


    He didn''t need to permanently solve the pollution; he just needed to prevent it from occurring before the Tin Saint Meditation Method reached gold level.


    And indeed, there was a way to temporarily avoid pollution...


    "Let''s move to the first item now, an unnamed Magic Crystal, tested and categorized as Fire Element Magic, its power equivalent to a Middle Level First Rank Element Magic, of excellent quality."


    On the high stage, the kind-faced auctioneer presented the first item.


    Colin quietly waited.


    The majority of the auction goods were listed on the brochure beforehand, but some items were kept secret to maintain a sense of mystery.


    In the promotional list for this auction, the hidden items mentioned a key phrase¡ª"Eliminate Magic Power."


    Yes, eliminate Magic Power.


    If all Magic Power is eliminated, and no new Magic Power is generated, then there will be no risk of mixed Magic Power pollution.


    For other wizards, this wasn''t very useful; on one hand, it''s hard to precisely eliminate only the original Magic Power.


    On the other hand, even if Magic Power is eliminated, it only delays the effects temporarily, and there will always be consequences later.


    After all, eliminating Magic Power only addresses the surface; the real root cause¡ªthe irreversible changes to spirit and body¡ªcannot be reversed.


    But for him, just being able to delay was sufficient. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, it''s worth mentioning that it is indeed possible to completely use up one''s Magic Power on their own, but once meditation begins, Magic Power will be produced again.

 Chapter 200 - 162 Half-Elf (4k)_2

    Due to the irreversibility of the effects caused by the previous Meditation Method, meditation would more or less produce some of the former Magic Power...


    This path was clearly unviable.


    The auction continued.


    The mechanical voices of bidding rose and fell in succession.


    Several times, Colin saw items being auctioned that tempted him.


    But after hesitating for a moment, he still chose to withdraw his hand that was about to touch the Bidding Crystal.


    At the moment, the most important thing was to resolve the issue with the Meditation Method.


    The auction item that could eliminate Magic Power... he still had no idea how much it would cost.


    He really couldn''t afford to spend money recklessly...


    After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, the sound Colin had been waiting for finally rang out in the auction hall.


    "Next is auction item number 32," the auctioneer paused, then deliberately lowered his voice and slowly continued, "the Absolute Demon Fruit!"


    At the mention of this name, a surge of foreboding rushed through Colin''s heart.


    What he needed was something that could temporarily eliminate Magic Power, and ideally without any side effects.


    This "Absolute Demon Fruit"... it did not sound like a gentle Magic Potion.


    As expected, the auctioneer''s next words confirmed his speculation.


    "The Absolute Demon Fruit has only one effect, and that is to sever a Wizard''s abilities and eliminate Magic Power, turning one permanently into a mere mortal.


    Of course, this only applies to those below the level of an Official Wizard, and the scent of the Absolute Demon Fruit is powerful and distinctive..."


    The auctioneer''s voice continued, clearly delivered to every corner of the auction hall through the amplifying Witch Array.


    But for Colin, the voice seemed to grow more distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier, making it difficult to hear clearly.


    "3,000 Magic Stones!"


    Before long, the bidding voices suddenly sounded.


    "Whew¡ª"


    With a gaze sharpened, Colin was pulled back by the bidding voices, and the sounds around him became clear again.


    Glancing around, he exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly rose to his feet to head out of the auction hall. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The feeling of dashed hopes isn''t pleasant, but I can''t just give up.''


    Colin walked along the corridor and out of the auction hall.


    It was evening now, with the rich orange glow of the setting sun bathing the earth.


    He looked at the burning clouds on the distant horizon, leaving behind dazzling orange embers.


    A sudden sense of release washed over him, and he silently added in his mind,


    ''But I also can''t be blind... half a year. If I haven''t found a solution within half a year, I''ll have to change my Meditation Method directly.''


    He hailed a public carriage and headed home.


    The swift wind lifted the heavy curtains of the carriage window, and amidst the shifting light and shadows, he soon arrived at his front door.


    But as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he came upon an unexpected figure.


    "Good afternoon, Senior Marjorie. What brings you here?"


    Marjorie approached him with a smile and said,


    "Hadn''t you asked me before if there was a kind of object or Magic Potion that could temporarily eliminate the Magic Power within one''s body?"


    "I''ve gone through the records and found several, but either they''re extinct and difficult to find,


    Or they would permanently eliminate Magic Power or cause great harm to the body... The effects don''t match what you described."


    Marjorie paused, then a smile spread across his face.


    "But the reason for my visit is to bring you some good news."


    Colin was taken aback, a flutter of uncontainable joy welling up inside him.


    "Senior Marjorie, do you mean you''ve found one?"


    Marjorie shook his head.


    The rising joy in Colin''s heart came to an abrupt halt, yet before the disappointment could show on his face, he heard Marjorie continue,


    "Though I haven''t found one myself, I went to seek help from Senior Lillian."


    ''Senior Lillian?'' Colin frowned slightly.


    ''Could it be Lillian Rudolph that I met before in the tutor''s study?''


    But none of that mattered now, as he gazed at Marjorie, waiting for his next words.


    Marjorie didn''t keep him in suspense, and decisively said:


    "Yes, you guessed right, Lillian... Sister knows of a magic potion that can meet your requirements... and it''s right in Neustadt City."


    Colin was slightly startled, and after confirming Marjorie''s words, a complex mix of joy inexplicably grew in his heart.


    He hadn''t expected to come up empty-handed in both the shops and the auction and had even started to think about giving up, only to suddenly receive such a pleasant surprise.


    It really was like... when one door closes, another opens, and after the dark willows and bright flowers, a new village appears.


    Adjusting his emotions, Colin pondered for a moment and then asked:


    "So, did Lillian... Sister mention what I need to give in return?"


    "Give something in return?" Marjorie shook his head, "I don''t know about that, you''ll have to ask her yourself."


    After saying this, Marjorie paused, then smiled and added: "But as far as I know, we all share the same mentor, Lillian Sister won''t ask for anything from you."


    "Mm." Colin nodded, paused sincerely, and said, "Thank you, Marjorie Senior, this information has been a great help to me."


    "But I''m in a hurry to find Lillian Sister, how about I invite you to have lunch at Moon Viewing Restaurant another day?"


    The Moon Viewing Restaurant was a mid to high-end restaurant nearby, renowned for its demon ingredient cuisine... Of course, it was also not cheap.


    Usually, the two of them would probably spend at least two hundred magic stones.


    "Moon Viewing Restaurant?" Marjorie hesitated and shook his head, "That''s too expensive, Colin Junior.


    If you really want to treat me to a meal, next time have your maid prepare a table full of good dishes, the last time I came here for a meal, that spicy... chicken?"


    "Saut¨¦ed Diced Chicken with Chilies."


    "Yes, yes, exactly, that one... I''ve been thinking about it ever since," Marjorie smacked his lips, then sighed:


    "Too bad my cook doesn''t have your maid''s skill, I described it several times, but what she made didn''t resemble it at all."


    "If Senior wishes, I can ask my maid Renee to teach your cook the specific method of making it."


    Marjorie''s face lit up with joy at the suggestion, his greatest hobby was gourmet food.


    He prided himself on having tasted every delicacy there was.


    However, the day Colin invited him for a meal, he found that the dinner served by his maid was something he had never tasted before!


    "Let''s settle on that, then. I''ll have the cook come over to learn tomorrow," he replied quickly with a smile, then paused and added:


    "Forget about the Moon Viewing Restaurant, it''s just gathering some information, no need to go to such expense."


    "...Then instead of another day, how about tomorrow? But I''m preparing to find Lillian Sister today... tomorrow, then. Tomorrow I''ll have Renee prepare a table full of fine food, waiting for Senior you to come."


    Colin paused, opting not to insist any further, and changed the subject with a smile.


    "That''s fine." Marjorie readily agreed, as if remembering something, he looked at Colin and suddenly added:


    "You probably won''t be able to find Lillian now."


    "Today is Thursday, Lillian Sister is probably still in the mentor''s study and won''t leave the mentor''s residence until twelve o''clock."


    ''Still in the study?''


    Colin glanced at the sun setting in the distance, with a touch of surprise he asked:


    "I remember Senior, you once said that after twelve o''clock noon, one cannot enter the mentor''s study..."


    "Lillian is different from us," Marjorie shook his head, paused, and then said: "In fact, Lillian is the mentor''s granddaughter."


    "I see..." Colin nodded slowly.


    Their shared surname had led him to this speculation...


    Seemingly thinking of something, Colin suddenly asked out of curiosity:


    "Marjorie Senior, I''ve heard you calling Lillian ''Sister'', and I''m curious about her age... "


    "Lillian Sister should be nearly seventy years old by now."


    Apparently anticipating Colin''s question, Marjorie preemptively replied.


    ''Nearly seventy years old?!''


    Considering Lillian''s appearance, which seemed no more than thirteen, Colin was astounded.


    Marjorie looked at Colin''s shocked expression, laughed a few times, and explained:


    "Lillian Sister is mixed blood between a High Level Elf and a human, with a lifespan of at least six hundred years... Seventy years old, in human terms, is just like being twelve or thirteen."


    "Let''s go, since you can''t find Lillian Sister now, maybe you have time to stay for dinner?"


    Marjorie smacked his lips again, adding, "Of course, we''ll still have that meal tomorrow."


    "...No problem." Colin came back to his senses, taking Marjorie with him into the courtyard.

 Chapter 201 - 163: School Foundation and Magic Erasure Potion (4.4k)

    The following day.


    At the break of dawn.


    As the sun had only just begun to rise, Colin arrived at the School.


    According to what Marjorie had said the day before, Wednesday meant that Lillian was supposed to have a class in the central area of the Tin Saint Bishop''s teaching building.


    He made his way to the teaching building as if on familiar terrain. The place was a huge, ancient castle, rustic and solemn, with mottled exterior walls that spoke of its long history.


    The pathways inside were complex and intricate¡ªgetting lost was an easy misstep.


    However, fortunately, this was not his first time here...


    Previously, in order to further make use of the Knowledge Crystal Erica had given him on Blackstone Island, he had signed up for several free public classes.


    Mainly about Magic Potions.


    After a short while, navigating the castle''s complex corridors, he arrived at a huge stairway classroom on the third floor.


    It was worth mentioning that this was the very place where he had attended the free Magic Potion open classes a few days ago.


    Standing at the entrance, Colin glanced inside; although the stairway classroom was large, there were only a sparse twenty or so wizards seated inside at the moment.


    ''Such a turnout implies either that the class is unpopular or it must be some kind of expensive charged course,'' he mused to himself.


    After a careful search, Lillian''s conspicuously petite figure was right in the middle of the first row.


    And classes, apparently, hadn''t started yet... otherwise, given the Wizard World''s protectiveness over knowledge, he wouldn''t have been able to see the classroom inside clearly, nor would he have been able to hear any sound.


    On the other hand... there was no instructor in sight at the podium right now,


    After a moment of contemplation, Colin still stepped forward and walked in.


    If he didn''t approach Lillian now, he might have to wait until the classes ended at noon.


    With few in the classroom, entering made him conspicuously noticeable, and the wizards turned their eyes to watch him.


    Colin maintained a composed expression, but inwardly he tensed abruptly.


    The gazes cast by the wizards seemed tangible, transforming into an invisible pressure that weighed upon his shoulders making him inexplicably feel a heaviness in his body and stirring a sense of urgency in his heart.


    This was not intentional on the part of the wizards in the classroom but rather a unique atmosphere created by the unconsciously radiated aura of authority as they gathered.


    They... were all Official Wizards!!


    "Colin, are you here for me?"


    Lillian''s crisp and soft voice suddenly reached him. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Senior Sister Lillian," Colin quickly greeted her. As Lillian spoke, he felt the pressure around him suddenly lift.


    He continued walking towards Lillian, and looking at her petite figure sitting on the chair with her feet unable to touch the ground, he felt somewhat surprised.


    He had thought that Lillian was just an Advanced Wizard Apprentice like himself... after all, the last time he saw her, she was not wearing a badge, also with Atbolde, a Second Rank Wizard, by her side.


    Not to mention Lillian''s harmless petite figure... it was indeed difficult to discern her actual strength.


    But now, it seemed that Lillian was also a genuine Official Wizard.


    "Yes, I think I know what you want... Is it about that matter Marjorie mentioned?"


    Lillian asked, deliberately vague in her words, not revealing any information about Colin.


    She held a gilt-patterned steel pen in her right hand, sitting upright and serious.


    However, the childish face on her wide gray Wizard Robe, and those slender legs dangling off the chair... made it hard for one to remain solemn.


    "Yes, Senior Sister Lillian," Colin nodded in response.


    "Okay." Lillian glanced at the owl-shaped clock at the front of the classroom, preparing to speak.


    "Lillian, is this the new Apprentice that Wizard Rudolph has taken in?"


    A magnetic male voice came from the side.


    "Lord Silear, please address me as Miss Rudolph,"


    Lillian frowned openly at Colin, speaking coldly without turning her head.


    Colin followed the sound and saw a mature Male Wizard with meticulously styled hair standing, stunned, in place.


    Click.


    "Colin, go tend to your affairs,"


    Lillian said softly, tapping her pen on the table and looking at Colin who had turned his head:


    "After the noon classes end, I will come find you at the mentor''s place and take you there."


    "Alright, Senior Sister Lillian, I have nothing pressing, I''ll just wait outside for you," Colin replied succinctly, sticking to the principle of speaking less to avoid mistakes.


    "That''s fine too." Lillian nodded and looked at the owl-shaped clock again, urging, "Class is about to start, you better leave quickly."


    If Instructor Ebur with his poor temper was to teach and Colin, an Apprentice, kept lingering...


    "Of course." Colin didn''t hesitate; he left straight away.


    And that Wizard Silear who had spoken already scoffed and sat back down in his seat, having embarrassed himself.


    But strangely enough... most of the other wizards were gathered in small groups, yet there was no one around Lillian.


    Colin walked towards the door, his mind swirling with thoughts.


    Just as he reached the entrance, a suffocating pressure suddenly struck him!


    As if suddenly brushed by the cold winds of winter, his initially warm body began feeling bursts of chill.


    He hurriedly took two steps out of the classroom into the hallway before daring to look back for a glance.


    Unbeknownst when, a mass of ice-blue crystal had abruptly appeared above the podium, and was now slowly condensing from the top down into an elegant ice sculpture wearing a Wizard Robe.


    Soft chestnut hair tied back in a ponytail, sensible glasses perched on a delicate yet prominent nose, with a well-formed figure that even a large Wizard Robe couldn''t conceal...


    The ice sculpture''s details were clear, as though it were a living person.


    No, it was a living person!

 Chapter 202 - 163: School Foundation and Magic Erasure Potion (4.4k)_2

    As the icy blue crystals cascaded downward to the floor, sketching out the last of its legs...


    The ice sculpture seemed to transform from a black-and-white image into a colorful, vivid creation.


    A beautiful female instructor with an icy complexion appeared at the podium.


    Colin quickly averted his gaze, walked to one side, and didn''t breathe a sigh of relief until he had moved out of the classroom''s line of sight, until the classroom door closed, shrouded in a dark glow.


    Such might... far surpassed even Atbolde, a Second Rank Wizard he had seen before!


    This had to be a Third Rank Wizard, or at least a Second Rank Advanced close to Third Rank!


    ...


    Time soon arrived at midday.


    The light outside the classroom gradually faded... it seemed that class was over.


    Colin stood quietly in the corridor, waiting as the wizards filed out in twos and threes.


    Lillian''s figure was the last to arrive, leisurely making her appearance.


    She frowned, as if pondering some matter.


    "Let''s go," she said upon seeing Colin, and then took the lead walking forward.


    Colin followed closely behind.


    Still troubled by some difficult problem, Lillian did not speak.


    The two walked in silence.


    It wasn''t long before they had exited the ancient castle that Lillian finally began to speak slowly:


    "Marjorie must have told you, what I know can erase Magic Power is a type of Magic Potion."


    "But to be more precise, what I know of is a merchant named Betty, who can get ahold of a Magic Erasure Potion."


    At this, Lillian paused, looking up and asked, "Do you know what ''Magic-Affluence Disease'' is?"


    Her hair, due to her tilting her head back, slowly slid down to the back of her skull, revealing delicate and exquisite ears... not pointed ears, but the shape of ordinary human ears.


    Colin imperceptibly withdrew his gaze and replied, "I know some."


    So-called ''Magic-Affluence Disease'' is actually a broad category. All illnesses caused by an excess of Energy are included within it.


    Previously, on Blackstone Island... he had heard that ordinary people tasked with mining Magic Stone Mine in the School could contract a peculiar form of Magic-Affluence Disease related to Magic Power.


    "The Magic Erasure Potion is for preventing a certain Magic-Affluence Disease that occurs in Underground Caves," Lillian explained.


    "If taken in large amounts, it can achieve the temporary elimination of one''s own Magic Power you desire, and moreover, it doesn''t have too many side effects."


    Having said this, she paused for a moment before adding:


    "But as for more specific effects, I''m not too clear myself. You will need to inquire on your own when the time comes."


    "Okay," Colin nodded, his heart brimming with anticipation.


    Lillian nodded as well, and by now, they had walked outside of the School. She surveyed the surroundings and waved down a public coach.


    "Let''s go," Lillian motioned Colin to follow. At the same time, she said to the Coachman, "Leia Sacred Road."


    Colin hesitated slightly as he got into the coach.


    ''Leia Sacred Road... Isn''t that where my own house is located?''


    "What''s the matter?" Lillian inquired with confusion.


    "Nothing, senior sister," Colin shook his head and seated himself in the coach.


    Lillian nodded with no further prying... just as she did not ask why Colin needed a Magic Potion to erase his Magic Power.


    Everyone has their own secrets.


    Ten minutes later.


    The coach stopped in front of a black gate.


    They knocked and were greeted by a maid.


    Lillian, with familiar ease, trod the path, winding through a garden filled with exotic plants, and finally settled down in a dome-shaped gazebo surrounded by fresh flowers.


    Soon after, at the maid''s notification.


    A mature woman dressed in an ornate black-and-red Lolita gown approached gracefully.


    Her lips were as red as roses.


    "Lillian, what brings you to me today?" she said, her eyes brimming with surprise as she watched Lillian sitting in the gazebo.


    "Betty, I''ve come to you for a business matter..." Lillian began, ready to get straight to the point.


    "Who is he?!"


    But Betty interrupted with a frown, pointing at Colin in question.


    "I am Rudolph''s newly taken Apprentice, Colin Leonard," Colin quickly replied.


    "He''s my junior brother," Lillian also added.


    "So, a junior brother," Betty''s face cleared as her smile returned.


    "Betty, I''ve come to ask you to sell some Demon Extinguishing Potion to him," Lillian resumed speaking.


    "Demon Extinguishing Potion?" Betty was momentarily taken aback, "That''s not easy to handle... Those shares have been divided up long ago, and carving out some means someone will have less... "


    "A favor," Lillian bluntly supplemented.


    "Are you sure?"


    Betty sat down next to Lillian, glancing at Colin with a mix of frustration and disappointment, "I only owe you two favors left. Are you sure you want to use one of them on this?"


    Lillian didn''t reply, but her stance was clear.


    Betty''s brows furrowed, nearly touching, as her voice rose.


    "Junior brother! Again with the junior brother?!"


    "Lillian! You''ve forgotten the incident with Baldwin..." Before she could continue, it seemed she realized her slip of the tongue and abruptly stopped.


    Observing Lillian, whose expression remained unchanged yet whose eyes briefly flitted with a trace of disappointment, Betty let out a sigh,


    "I can''t argue with you... I agree."


    Appearing somewhat exasperated, Betty added,


    "Lillian, when will you ever change your character...


    Not every Apprentice under the same mentor is worth your tireless help!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You only share a mentor, not a father!"


    "Baldwin was an exception," Lillian pursed her lips firmly.

 Chapter 203 - 163 School Heritage and Magic Erasure Potion (4.4k)_3

    Betty shook her head, knowing Lillian''s personality and no longer trying to persuade her.


    "Although my favor might not mean much to you, if converted into Magic Stones, it would be at least five figures ...


    Moreover, although the Magic Erasure Potions aren''t expensive, they are always in high demand and limited by raw materials. Those madmen heading to the Underground Cave would fight bloody battles for it! Getting it from places other than the Underground Cave..."


    "Betty."


    Betty paused and sighed,


    "Alright, alright... I can''t argue with you."


    Saying this, she reached out to pat Lillian on the head.


    But the next second, she was stopped by Lillian''s piercing gaze as if it were something tangible.


    Seeming to cover up her embarrassment, Betty cleared her throat and turned to Colin,


    "How many Demon Extinguishing Potions do you need?"


    "I''d like to first understand the specific amount of Demon Extinguishing Potion needed to completely erase Magic Power."


    Colin pondered for a moment and then asked,


    "Are you an Advanced Wizard Apprentice?"


    "Yes." Colin nodded.


    "A minimum-quality half-bottle will last about 24 hours," she explained. "During this period, as long as the Magic Power produced inside your body doesn''t exceed... um, about ten times your own Magic Power, it will remain neutralized."


    The target audience for this Demon Extinguishing Potion isn''t Apprentice Wizards, and its design isn''t really meant to completely eradicate Magic Power...


    But when used on Colin, it''s an overkill¡ªhalf a bottle would suffice to eliminate all his Magic Power.


    "I understand," Colin nodded and, after a moment''s thought, said, "I might need forty-five bottles."


    If what Betty said was true, those forty-five bottles should last him about three months.


    Three months ¨C enough time, with his previous rate of practicing Circulation Meditation and the complex practice method he later discovered, to push his progress in Tin Saint Meditation to the golden level.


    "That''s possible," Betty said with a slight frown¡ªforty-five bottles were still within her limits.


    Taking a pause, she continued, "For Lillian''s sake, I''ll give you a discount, nine thousand Magic Stones for forty-five bottles."


    ''Nine thousand Magic Stones?!''


    Although he was somewhat prepared, he was still slightly startled by the price.


    "That would be acceptable," Colin breathed lightly and said, "Thank you, Lady Betty."


    After Colin spoke, it was Betty''s turn to be surprised.


    Nine thousand Magic Stones wasn''t much for an Official Wizard, but for an Apprentice Wizard, it was definitely a substantial amount.


    She hadn''t expected Colin to agree so readily.


    Lillian, standing beside them, was also surprised; she even thought of offering Colin some Magic Stones to borrow.


    Realizing her intention, Betty casually spoke,


    "I''ll need some time to arrange the stock... come here with the Magic Stones three days later to collect them."


    "Alright," Colin responded gravely.


    "Since everything is settled, it''s also time to leave," Lillian said.


    "Lillian¡ª" Betty reluctantly spoke, "You hardly come by, and you''re leaving so soon?"


    "Betty, you know I have other matters," Lillian said, her voice softening slightly in apology.


    "Well, alright." Seeing this, Betty didn''t persist and sighed as she said goodbye to Lillian.


    Stepping out of the gate,


    Lillian stopped and said, "I''m heading back to the School. Are you going to the School too?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin shook his head.


    "Then that''s it, goodbye."


    "Lillian senior," Colin suddenly called out to her.


    "What is it?" Lillian asked, puzzled.


    Colin paused, and placing his right hand on his chest, he bowed slightly as he sincerely said,


    "Thank you, Lillian senior. The Demon Extinguishing Potion will be of great help to me. I will remember this favor."


    Lillian was slightly taken aback, an expression of surprise crossing her delicate features; she clearly hadn''t expected Colin''s gesture.


    "No need to thank me, Colin junior," she responded lightly, "I''ll be going ahead then."


    "Alright, goodbye, Lillian senior."


    Colin watched as she boarded a public carriage.


    A breeze lifted the curtain of the carriage window, and in a fleeting glance, he thought he saw Lillian''s usually stern and cold expression thaw a little.

 Chapter 204 - 164: Closed-Door Training (4.8k)

    Days went by in the blink of an eye.


    Early that morning, just as the day began to break, Colin had already returned from Betty''s place.


    Feeling the emptiness of his Storage Ring, he couldn''t help but let out a soft sigh.


    He had obtained 45 Magic Potions, but at the same time, he had parted with nine thousand Magic Stones, leaving only a little over a thousand on him.


    If he judged by the Limit Breaking Points needed for the Circulation Meditation''s Limit Breaking, a thousand Magic Stones... clearly wasn''t enough.


    Even to say, he now needed a thousand Magic Stones just for the gold-level break of the Circulation Meditation.


    So in fact, he had only a little over a hundred Magic Stones to spend on the Tin Saint Meditation Method.


    ...Obviously, this was not enough, let alone the daily living expenses he still had to bear.


    Returning home, he went into the Meditation Room.


    He took out a bottle of Magic Erasure Potion with a flip of his hand, gazing at the sparkling potion within the glass bottle, Colin sat cross-legged and pondered in silence.


    Tin Saint School provided a subsidy of a hundred Magic Stones per month for Advanced Apprentices... If economized, this was enough to live on for a month.


    But to ensure a sufficient number of Limit Breaking Points to break the limit on the Tin Saint Meditation Method, to be safe, he needed to prepare at least two thousand Magic Stones.


    Two thousand Magic Stones...


    Colin let out a soft sigh; even if he worked at full capacity making Memory Crystals, he would make only two to three hundred Magic Stones a month.


    It was akin to trying to put out a fire with a cup of water... Maybe it was time to take on some School tasks?


    Or should he learn another craft to make money?


    But these options either posed risks or consumed time...


    Earning Magic Stones while changing meditation methods was also not feasible.


    After all... during the time the Magic Erasure Potion was in effect, without Magic Power, he was extremely vulnerable.


    It was only because he was in the stable environment of Neustadt City that he dared to take such risks.


    But what kind of tasks should he take on if he chose to do so?


    What craft should he learn? Magic Crystal Making again?


    He struggled internally for a long time, but could not find the answer.


    Colin shook his head, temporarily setting these thoughts aside.


    He decided to switch to another task.


    With a thought, pale gold particles converged.


    The progress behind his Knight Level had impressively reached 99/100... The progress after the Sunlight Breathing Technique was also at 99/100.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, after today''s practice, both should reach their limits without any issues.


    Stand with legs apart, practicing the familiar second Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Technique, his restless mood gradually softened.


    His muscles moved rhythmically like a python, heat rising gradually, and before long, beads of sweat gathered into meandering tracks that flowed down his chiseled chin and body, slowly accumulating into dark wet patches at his feet.


    Like this, he practiced the second Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Technique over and over.


    The sun rose in the east, leisurely traced across the sky, and then gradually sank toward the horizon.


    The land was painted gold by the dying light of the sun, thick orange light streamed in through the gap in the wooden door of the Meditation Room.


    It was at this moment!


    Colin''s whole body suddenly stilled.


    The next second, he exhaled a long breath, trailing a foggy streak through the air.


    Pale gold particles swirled in front of him.


    [Rank: Ultimate Knight (100/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Method ¢ò¡ü(100/100)]


    As he expected, both his Knight Level and the Sunlight Breathing Method had reached their limit.


    But Colin didn''t feel too much joy.


    After reaching the limit, the progress as an Ultimate Knight wasn''t significant... after all, even the peak of an Ultimate Knight was still an Ultimate Knight without a breakthrough.


    ...And unable to break through.


    On the path of a Knight, unless one underwent life enhancement, adding Alien Bloodline, Mechanical Augmentation, and so on, a Great Knight was already the limit.


    In his case, because of the Limit Breaking of the Sunlight Breathing Technique, he was able to take a small step forward beyond the original limit of a Great Knight¡ª


    yielding a small state called Ultimate Knight.


    But now, limited by the level of the Breathing Skill, even the perfection of the Ultimate Knight had reached its peak, with no further advancement possible...


    It was a dead end with no way to further increase his abilities.


    Perhaps another Limit Breaking of the Sunlight Breathing Technique might yield a breakthrough.


    But for the Sunlight Breathing Technique... he currently didn''t have extra Magic Stones to break its limit.


    ''After going around in a circle... in the end, it all comes back to Magic Stones.''


    Colin wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighing inwardly as he deployed a Golden Cleaning Technique around him.


    The dirt and sweat stains on the ground were cleaned in an instant.


    After a moment of contemplation, he stopped hesitating, changed into a formal Wizard Robe, and hurried outside.


    Neither taking on School tasks nor learning a new craft for money was a good option.


    He decided to find a different path.


    The public coach raced through the streets, the wind lifting the old Coachman''s broad linen coat.


    Before long, the coach stopped in front of a small courtyard.


    A white gate, white walls surrounding it, and the standalone villa inside was wholly white as well.


    Vivid greenery crawled all over the walls, the gate, and the villa''s exterior. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking through the gate''s ironwork and with the glow of the sunset, one could see a sea.


    A sea of flowers.


    Numerous diverse flowers of differing forms and colors surrounded the central white villa.


    They were arranged haphazardly, one might even say in disarray; the few large trees in the yard grew untamed, their branches chaotic, far from the orderly groomed ornamental trees of his past life.


    Yet, these disordered flowers and untamed trees together seemed naturally perfect, exuding an indescribable natural beauty.

 Chapter 205 - 164 Retreating for Cultivation (4.8k)_2

    Here¡ªwas the residence of his senior student, the Half-Elf Lillian. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Taking a light breath, Colin stepped forward, and pressed the doorbell entwined with vines.


    Ding¡ª


    A clear sound echoed.


    Colin''s expression was serene as he stood patiently at the door, while a breeze stirred the flowers in the yard, fluttering the stray hairs on his forehead.


    Shortly after.


    The villa''s main door suddenly opened.


    A petite figure stepped out.


    "Colin, my junior... why have you come to find me so late?"


    Lillian walked towards the door, her voice tinged with curiosity.


    She was not dressed in the School''s standard Wizard Robe like usual, but instead wore a plain, white dress, her mid-length golden hair not tied up, cascading down like a waterfall.


    On Renee or other girls, this style of dress would undoubtedly be pure and cute...


    But on Lillian, it was only childlike cuteness... and fantasy.


    Colin''s eyes moved slightly.


    Where Lillian walked, the originally vibrant flowers seemed to bloom even more brightly, and the next moment, gleaming halos began to light up.


    By then, the wind had stopped, and under the gradually darkening Sky, the flowers did not cease to sway. The dreamlike glowing halos slowly lit up, forming a distinct path of light as Lillian moved forward.


    Then, like a domino effect starting from the path of light, each flower lit up one after another until the whole sea of flowers was aglow.


    "Is there a problem with Betty?"


    Amid the glowing sea of flowers, Lillian looked up and asked softly.


    "Good evening, Senior Lillian," Colin came back to his senses, shook his head, and responded:


    "Everything is smooth at Lady Betty''s end."


    After saying this, Colin hesitated for a moment, made up his mind, and said:


    "Senior Lillian, I''ve come to ask if I could borrow some Magic Stones from you... um, I''ll repay them within half a year, with an interest rate of five percent per month, how about that?"


    Indeed, rather than waste time and still take risks in earning money, it was better to borrow some Magic Stones directly from Lillian.


    To improve one''s strength first and then earn Magic Stones was the most cost-effective choice.


    When Lillian heard Colin''s words, she clearly paused for a moment.


    Brushing a strand of hair from her ear, she asked:


    "How many Magic Stones do you need?"


    "Three thousand Magic Stones," Colin blurted out.


    Since he was borrowing anyway, he might as well borrow a bit more, to have extra just in case.


    "Okay," Lillian nodded her head.


    Colin was slightly surprised; he did not expect Lillian to agree so readily.


    Looking at Lillian''s calm face, he felt somewhat embarrassed. Hesitating again, he spoke up:


    "Make it ten percent per month for the interest."


    Actually, for a loan, a monthly interest rate of five percent was already quite high.


    But the favor of lending Magic Stones could not be measured by the Magic Stones themselves.


    "No need," Lillian shook her head, "there''s no need for interest."


    Her voice was soft yet determined, dissipating any thought of objection.


    "Okay," Colin pursed his lips, didn''t make a fuss, and simply replied.


    "Thank you, Senior Lillian," he paused before saying again.


    Lillian waved her hand nonchalantly and turned to walk back to the villa.


    "Just wait for me a moment."


    Her voice carried on the wind, and with her departure, the blooming flowers seemed to sense their owner''s absence and began to extinguish their glow step by step.


    By the time Lillian had reentered the villa, the garden in front of Colin had returned to darkness.


    Coincidentally, the last ray of sunlight at the edge of the Sky also slowly sank into the earth.


    Darkness fell.


    But Colin''s heart was filled with hope, like the dawn''s early light.


    "Whew¡ª"


    He let out a gentle breath, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.


    But quickly, he reined in his emotions, returning to his composed state.


    Magic Stones, the biggest problem for the moment, had been resolved.


    But as the saying goes, "The journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step"... As long as he hadn''t successfully switched his Meditation Method, he couldn''t let down his guard for a day.


    What''s more, for several months after taking the Magic Erasure Potion, he would be without Magic Power... Getting through this would be no simple matter.


    Before long, Lillian returned with the Magic Stones.


    After receiving them and thanking her again, Colin said his farewells and left.


    There was much to be done next; he had to make the most of his time.


    ...


    The next day, inside the School, at Atbolde''s residence.


    Inside the study.


    "You mean to say that you plan to start a three-month seclusion for training from today?" Atbolde spoke slowly.


    "Yes, Instructor," Colin answered, pausing before adding:


    "So, I came to ask for your help in applying for an exemption from the School''s assigned tasks for these few months."


    It was true that Atbolde had no tasks assigned to him.


    But at the Tin Saint School, for each Apprentice, one or two simple tasks aligned with their level of ability were distributed every month.


    Usually, unless there was an exceptional case, these tasks were mandatory.


    "I see," Atbolde nodded, stating slowly: "I will apply on your behalf ¨C you focus on your training."


    His expression was gentle as if he had no doubts that Colin was trying to skive.


    Seeing this, Colin felt somewhat relieved. This was a tricky issue, but Atbolde was much more accommodating than he had imagined.


    "Then I won''t bother you any longer."


    He bid Atbolde farewell and hurriedly left.


    He then took the public carriage, heading straight back to his guardian''s home.


    When the public carriage arrived at the door.


    Renee was directing a freight carriage unloading an exotic and large tree.

 Chapter 206 - 164: Closed Door Meditation (4.8k)_3

    A group of Knight Movers stood in two rows, lifting the large tree and transporting it to a spot on the left side of the courtyard, near the middle.


    There, a large pit had already been dug in advance.


    Colin dismounted from his carriage, watching them replant the mighty tree.


    This was the Weeping Pipe Willow he had purchased for two-hundred Magic Stones.


    True to its name, its appearance resembled a willow, except that its leaves were composed of numerous slender ducts.


    These ducts could detect scents and vibrations.


    In terms of sensitivity to smell, they were even far superior to ordinary dogs.


    Of course, if used for vigilance, animals would actually be more suitable... There were many animals with better detection capabilities.


    Colin bought it mainly because it was a plant.


    As long as it was a plant, Nado could mostly integrate it.


    Nado''s own detection ability was weak, and buying this Weeping Pipe Willow was precisely to compensate for this shortcoming.


    Strengthening the defense of his small courtyard.


    Ahead, Knight Labourers were energetically shoveling soil.


    Shovel after shovel.


    The soil gradually buried the Weeping Pipe Willow''s developed, thick, brown root system.


    At the same time, within Colin''s perception, an invisible breath was slowly rising from the depths of the earth along the roots, gradually engulfing the Weeping Pipe Willow.


    During this process, a hint of cyan-golden veins emerged on the surface of the Weeping Pipe Willow, the trunk, branches, and even the leaves, were all adorned with cyan-golden veins.


    Everything was proceeding smoothly, and the Weeping Pipe Willow, with its not insignificant life force, had no power to resist under Nado''s assimilation.


    Seeing this, Colin inwardly raised his estimation of Nado.


    Perhaps, purely in terms of offensive power, Nado was at best comparable to an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, not very strong.


    But in terms of the essence of life, it was more than just that level.


    Thinking this, he couldn''t help but sigh again.


    He never expected to receive such a practical plant for free... thanks to the generous Instructor Atbolde.


    Withdrawing his gaze, Colin walked towards the tree, gently caressing its bark.


    Nado''s main body was actually a strange gel substance, and if it weren''t for its ability to survive on just water, sunlight, and soil... it really didn''t seem like a plant.


    But regardless, with the Weeping Pipe Willow''s ability to sense scents and vibrations, Nado could better utilize its special ability¡ªthe Resistance Force Field.


    This was a force field that Nado would produce after imbuing a sufficient number of plants, its power potentially reaching the level of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    Most suitable for home defense.


    Even so, he still had some concerns in his heart.


    Once he consumed the Demon Extinguishing Potion, he would lose his Magic Power, and without Magic Power... he would lose most of a wizard''s might.


    If witchcraft knowledge was the engine, then Magic Power was the fuel driving it.


    But compared to such risks, he could not accept a significant decline in his aptitude.


    His current environment was already a rare stability.


    Exhaling gently, Colin instructed Renee,


    "Renee, starting today, except for the bi-monthly food purchases, you and Demi should no longer go out."


    "Yes, Master," Renee nodded.


    Colin had already briefed her on the matter long ago; now, he was merely emphasizing it.


    "Hmm," Colin nodded, no longer hesitating, and walked toward the basement.


    He was going to complete the last task before seclusion¡ª


    That was to break the limit for the Sunlight Breathing Technique!


    Without Magic Power, Knight Power would become his sole reliance.


    The timing was just right, as both the Sunlight Breathing Technique and the Knight Rank had reached their limits. Yesterday''s test revealed that breaking the limit for the Sunlight Breathing Technique would only require 500 Magic Stones...


    With the Magic Stones in hand being exactly enough, he had no reason not to break the limit!


    ''Just unsure if breaking the limit can take the path of the Knight further and break through the Ultimate Knight.''


    He exhaled softly, no longer hesitating, and started the Limit Breaking.


    The Limit Breaking Point had already been converted to two-thousand-five the night before, there was no need to convert more points, he pressed heavily on the ¡ü symbol behind the second Limit Breaking Sunlight Breathing Technique!


    Boom!


    Pale golden radiance intertwined and transformed, a new line of characters appeared on the Golden Paper.


    [Sunlight Breathing Technique (Golden)].


    Colin closed his eyes, digesting the information coming to his brain.


    A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, disappointment clearly etched on his face. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The golden Sunlight Breathing Technique after breaking the limit did not bring the substantial enhancement he hoped for, which would have allowed him to further progress on the path of the Knight.


    However, it couldn''t be said that there was no improvement at all¡ªan increase of about ten to twenty percent in Knight Power.


    But such an improvement was not a qualitative enhancement. In his view, it still belonged to the category of an Ultimate Knight.


    ''Advancement as a Knight... perhaps requires the integration of several more Breathing Skills.''


    Glancing at the Yili Breathing Method next to the Sunlight Breathing Technique, Colin mused quietly.


    But he didn''t have the time, energy, or Magic Stones to try now... It could only be left for later.


    ''But no matter what... there is some improvement.''


    Adjusting his mood, Colin began to break the limit of the Circulation Meditation Method.


    In fact, the Circulation Meditation Method could have been broken months ago, but to avoid wasting Magic Stones, he had not done it.


    Soon, with the count in the Limit Breaking Point column suddenly dropping from 2000 to 1000, the Circulation Meditation Method also successfully broke through to the golden level.


    With everything ready, the next step was to officially go into seclusion!


    Taking a deep breath, Colin pulled out a Magic Erasure Potion and drank half a bottle in one gulp!

 Chapter 207 - 165: Leaving the Pass

    The crystalline liquid flowed down the throat and dispersed in front of the chest where the Magic Sea lay, like a mist, bringing a refreshing sensation.


    The abundant Magic Power, upon contact with the mist of the Magic Potion, melted slowly but unstoppably like a flame licking paper.


    As the Magic Power vanished, an inexplicable sense of emptiness gradually surfaced and Colin''s face turned pale.


    From ingesting the Magic Erasure Potion to the complete dissolution of Magic Power, the entire process lasted about half an hour.


    Half an hour later.


    Colin focused and carefully sensed.


    Indeed, the Magic Sea in front of his chest was now completely empty.


    Rubbing the smooth glass bottle of Magic Erasure Potion in his hand, Colin took a deep breath, put it away, and resolutely began to practice the Tin Saint Meditation.


    Once the Tin Saint Meditation was initiated, there was no turning back¡ªno opportunity for regret. In the next phase, he would lose his Magic Power and become a mortale.


    But where in the world was there a perfect choice? The Tin Saint, Nado, Knight Level... he had done everything he could.


    Now it was time to leave it to time!


    As the Tin Saint Meditation operated, the surrounding Magic Power was gradually drawn by spiritual power, purified, and transformed into pure energy.


    Then, like birds flying into a forest, it slowly entered Colin''s body and under the guidance of the meditation, underwent a series of complex transformations, and finally, at the center of the Magic Sea in his chest, became pure Magic Power.


    This was the usual process of cultivation.


    However, this time, the Magic Power, the moment it entered Colin''s body, seemed to encounter a barrier and dissipated instantly like snowflakes near a fire.


    Without the influx of Magic Power, there would naturally be no advancement in Wizard Level, and the increase in spiritual power was also minimal.


    But there was one exception¡ªthe Tin Saint Meditation.


    Under the influence of the Golden Paper, every complete cycle of cultivation could advance the progression of the Tin Saint Meditation a fraction further!


    And so, time flew like an arrow.


    In the yard, a variety of flowers bloomed radiantly, then withered and died, and the color of the grass gradually shifted from tender green to dark green... The scent of spring had vanished, replaced by the hot atmosphere of summer.


    That morning, Renee was sitting under a willow tree, enjoying the cool shade.


    She sat on a pale yellow bamboo lounge chair, holding a yellow-covered novel in her hand.


    No fan was needed, nor present.


    Under the willow tree, for some reason, it always seemed cooler and the air fresher than elsewhere.


    Rustle¡ª


    Accompanied by the scent of fresh grass, a gentle breeze fluttered by, rustling the pages of the book in her hands. Tired from playing, Demi was lying on a small lounge chair beside her, sleeping...


    Everything was quiet and leisurely, and although she couldn''t go outside, she was quite content with this way of life.


    However...


    Renee looked toward the villa not far away, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    It seemed to have been about three months now... In these three months, aside from when she delivered meals, she hardly saw Colin.


    Only on very rare occasions could she see him standing on the second-floor balcony, quietly gazing into the distance...


    Creak¡ª


    Just then, the door on the first floor suddenly opened.


    Colin came out with a smile on his face.


    "Good morning, Master," said Renee as she stood up and approached him, a look of surprise on her face.


    "Good morning," Colin smiled and commanded, "Make lunch a bit more lavish today, I''m going out for a bit."


    "Of course, Master," Renee instinctively responded. A second later, realizing what he said, she looked at Colin''s retreating figure with some surprise.


    Going out... If she remembered correctly, this was the first time in three months that Colin had mentioned leaving the house.


    "By the way," it seemed he remembered something, Colin paused, then turned back and said, "From today onwards, everything goes back to normal, no need to avoid going out anymore."


    Yes, just today... or rather just now.


    He had successfully fused the Tin Saint Meditation with the Circulation Meditation, successfully switching his meditation method! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The new meditation method was named by him, taking one character from the name of each original meditation method, calling it the Tin Ring Meditation Method.


    Feeling the magic power refilling his body, Colin''s sense of security also replenished, and he continued to walk briskly towards the outside.


    Changing his meditation method was just the first step. To advance to an Official Wizard, he still needed to obtain the follow-up meditation methods after becoming an Official Wizard.


    This was also why he chose to join a School, since his Circulation Meditation had no follow-up.


    To rely on Golden Paper Limit Breaking to find the follow-up parts needed to advance to Official Wizard... was probably a far stretch, not knowing when a way out would be found.


    Putting other things aside, just taking his current situation as an example, both the Circulation Meditation and Tin Saint Meditation had already broken limits to gold, and had even merged.


    But the new meditation method was still just an Apprentice''s meditation method.


    There was no advanced content.


    On the other hand, in terms of Knight, although the Sunlight Breathing Skill did not offer much new enhancement when it broke limits to gold, it included content above Great Knight during the second limit breaking.


    The reason behind this was still unknown.


    "Perhaps the merged meditations aren''t enough?"


    Colin shook his head.


    Regardless, he was no longer a Wild Wizard.


    If it had been before, he might still be troubled by the lack of follow-up for his meditation method.


    But now, all he needed to do was to go to the residence of the School''s mentor and ask Atbolde.


    That was the advantage of being in a School.


    If he were to advance to a Second Rank Wizard later, he would not have to worry about follow-up meditation methods again.


    After all, from what he had seen, there was at least a Third Rank Wizard present in the Tin Saint School...


    As for beyond the third rank... it was too far off to consider at the moment.


    Thinking of this, he suddenly had a thought.


    ''If I need to change schools later, won''t I need to change meditation methods again... Would that mean reducing my aptitude?''


    Speaking of this, a long-standing problem in his heart resurfaced.


    Why did... no, why did wizards on remote islands, when changing meditation methods upon advancing to Advanced Wizard Apprentices, experience such great impact?


    Changing meditation methods reducing aptitude, he understood; it was a normal occurrence.


    After all, if you were a blank slate before practicing a meditation method, then after practicing, it was as though there had been doodling on it.


    Naturally, painting on a blank slate and painting on a paper already filled with doodles offered different levels of freedom.


    But simply changing meditation methods, the impact wasn''t that significant, at most ten or fifteen percent... perhaps even less than the effect of a bad mood.


    Why would the impact be so significant for those who advanced to Advanced Wizard Apprentices on remote islands...


    Was it due to the quality of human nature and knowledge''s spiritual light?


    Suppressing his scattered thoughts, Colin said to the coachman in front of the public carriage:


    "Huapei District, Tin Saint Street."


    Such seemingly irrational facts were often the reality.


    Those wizards from remote islands, especially those who joined small Schools and advanced on remote islands as Advanced Apprentices, were destined from the start to face more hardships than other wizards and also had a lower upper limit.


    If changing Schools, it often meant that there was no way forward.


    It was only he, with the Golden Paper, who could escape such a fate.


    There has never been fairness between people... and Wizards were no exception.


    The center of wizards always lay in the continent... Blackstone Island was just a small island so remote it couldn''t be more remote.


    Those who climbed from obscurity to the summit were heroes, winners, protagonists... not ordinary people.


    Trot-trot-trot¡ª


    The carriage sped, and the wind lifted the curtain of the carriage window.


    In no time, he arrived at the residence of the Tin Saint School.

 Chapter 208 - 166 Gathering

    He walked into the School and marched quickly down the path.


    Soon, he arrived outside the dwelling of his mentor, Atbolde.


    After passing the verification of the Xi flowers, he stepped onto the stone path.


    The place was as tranquil as ever.


    But perhaps because he had been raising a Nado himself, this time, he distinctly felt that the plants around were somewhat different.


    In fact, if one was familiar enough, they could indeed perceive some differences between plants taken over by Nado and ordinary ones.


    Such as the faint golden green veins, as well as the more orderly growth¡­


    "Colin."


    Suddenly, just as he was carefully observing the surrounding plants, a familiar voice came slowly from the side.


    He looked in the direction of the voice, and saw a green branch hanging from a large tree beside the path.


    At the tip of the branch blossomed a trumpet-shaped white flower.


    The voice was coming from within the white flower.


    It seemed¡­ to be Atbolde''s voice.


    "Have you finished your closed-door training?" the white flower continued to transmit the mentor''s voice.


    The white flower perfectly mimicked Atbolde''s slow speech rate and his gentle, calm tone.


    "Yes, Mentor Atbolde."


    Although it was not face-to-face, Colin still bowed slightly, respectfully replying.


    In this manor-style residence belonging to Atbolde, nothing could escape the mentor''s eyes.


    His arrival was naturally included¡­ he had known that long ago.


    He just didn''t know why he was being called all of a sudden.


    "Hmm, in the blink of an eye, another three months have gone by... Have you finished your training then?" Atbolde sighed, then spoke up:


    "If you are looking for me, do not go to the study, I am not there.


    Come to the top floor of the villa, we are hosting our monthly gathering, hmm, there are delicious roast pigeon."


    Gathering?


    "Alright, Mentor." Colin promptly replied.


    Although he had been Atbolde''s student for more than three months, he had only met two of the other students so far ¡ª Marjorie and Lillian.


    But one couldn''t blame him for that, apart from the reason of his closed-door training.


    It was also because Atbolde hardly interfered with him and didn''t assign him any tasks.


    Moreover, Atbolde didn''t seem to give lessons in general.


    So he also had no chance to interact with more classmates.


    Thinking of this, Colin couldn''t help but sigh in his heart.


    Atbolde''s place was indeed free and leisurely, he could hardly find any fault with it... and he didn''t know why there were no new apprentices joining.


    Following Atbolde''s instructions, he walked straight into the main building of the villa and stepped towards the top floor.


    As soon as he stepped onto the top floor, the pleasing sound of a violin vaguely reached his ears, mixed with some conversation and the aroma of food.


    Following the sound and fragrance, Colin walked to the room in the center.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    He knocked lightly on the door.


    "Come in, Colin." Atbolde''s voice came slowly from inside.


    He pushed the door and entered.


    Here was a spacious hall.


    At the moment, a simple banquet was being held, and the long square table was laden with an array of food.


    There were not many people, not even ten including Atbolde.


    Hmm, counting carefully, besides the maids and Atbolde, there were only four wizards.


    Two female witches and two male wizards.


    ...It was pitifully few if these were all the students Atbolde had taken.


    At the moment, the apprentices were standing around Atbolde, holding glasses of wine or plates of food in their hands.


    Beside Atbolde, Lillian was holding a light-brown violin.


    "Good morning, Mentor Atbolde." Colin greeted him respectfully.


    Actually, gatherings like this were usually held in the afternoon or evening.


    But here, it was in the morning... needless to say, it was certainly because of Atbolde.


    "Good morning, Colin." Atbolde raised the silver fork in his hand in response, onto which a pigeon leg was speared.


    Come to think of it, this was the first time he had seen Atbolde standing up.


    And it was when Atbolde stood, he realized that the mentor, though thin and stooped, was still tall.


    Even now somewhat old and bent, he was at least one meter ninety in height.


    "Hmm... relax, no need to stand there, come and choose something you like to eat," Atbolde added.


    "Alright." Colin nodded and walked toward the dining table.


    A maid had already prepared a plate and silver fork for him.


    "This is Colin Leonard, the apprentice who has recently joined us."


    As he casually selected a few items and walked over with his plate of food, Atbolde took the opportunity to introduce him to the others.


    "Nehemiah."


    "Fanny."


    Marjorie and Lillian had known him for a while, so they merely greeted him. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other two Wizards simply introduced themselves by name.


    Fanny was a Witch, of plain appearance and visibly not young, a rare corpulent figure among her kind, with a gentle demeanor.


    Nehemiah looked like a young man with pale skin, but the fine lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed his age as well.


    "Colin, this is your first time at the gathering, so you might be a bit puzzled. Let me explain a few things," Atbolde took the initiative to say,


    "This meeting is a tradition I''ve always insisted on. Over two hundred years ago, I set this rule¡ª"


    "Every Apprentice of mine needs to try to attend this monthly dinner."


    "I haven''t made it mandatory to come every time, nor have I specified what the meeting should entail... You can simply come to eat, chat with the other Apprentices, or, you could ask me some questions."


    "Alright, Mentor Atbolde, I understand," Colin nodded.


    "Mhm." Atbolde nodded slowly and turned with a smile, "Please continue, Lillian."


    Lillian nodded, put the violin back on her shoulder, and resumed playing.


    As the music began, the awkward silence that had settled due to Colin''s arrival started to dissipate once again.


    Colin''s gaze flickered as he moved close to Atbolde, and he whispered,


    "Mentor, I would like to ask you something."


    "Of course, ask away," Atbolde, now seated, placed his dish of roasted pigeon on the wooden table and responded warmly.


    Colin hesitated, unsure whether he should ask his question in front of everyone else.


    There were only a few people in the hall, all close enough that the content of their conversations could be heard.


    Atbolde saw his hesitant expression and waved his hand gently.


    "Go ahead, they can''t hear us now."


    "Don''t worry about it being awkward for them; in fact, it''s quite common, well, at least it was when we had more people.


    Back then, if someone had a question they did not want overheard, I would temporarily seal off the sound."


    "Thank you, Mentor Atbolde," Colin hesitated no more and got straight to the point:


    "I would like to ask how to obtain the continuation of the Tin Saint Meditation Method, such as the part for advancing to an Official Wizard."


    "After meeting the requirements, just apply to the Mentor," Atbolde replied.


    "In that case, I would like to apply to get the part of the Tin Saint Meditation Method for advancing to an Official Wizard," said Colin.


    "Very well," Atbolde said, paused, and then asked, "Have you completed the switch to the Tin Saint Meditation?"


    "I have."


    "And have you fully recovered your Magic Power?"


    "...It will take a bit more time," Colin replied after a pause.


    After successfully switching Meditation Methods, the level of Magic Power inside one''s body would usually fall to the Basic Level Wizard Apprentice.


    For an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, it typically takes about a month to return to their original level...


    But he was different. If nothing unexpected happened, he would recover his Magic Power by tomorrow.


    This was mainly because he didn''t truly switch Meditation Methods.


    Additionally, it''s worth mentioning that the new Tin Ring Meditation Method, perhaps because it was fused from two golden Meditation Methods,


    had an excellent cultivation effect, reaching almost inconceivable heights.


    Just this morning after the fusion and first meditation, his Rank as a Wizard had jumped a whole 3 points in progress.


    "It will take a bit more time... When exactly did you successfully change your Meditation Method?" Atbolde asked.


    Hesitantly and vaguely, Colin responded, "Just in the last couple of days."


    "Mhm." Atbolde nodded, his expression calm, but he sighed softly to himself.


    He knew that Colin came from a remote island and was an Advanced Wizard Apprentice who had progressed there... And now, having switched Meditation Methods, the chance to advance to Official Wizard must have become slim to none.


    Although Colin seemed calm and still hopeful, even eager to obtain the continuation right after switching his Meditation Method, filled with passion...


    But some things can''t be achieved with passion and effort alone.


    ''Damned Tainted babblings!''


    Thinking this, he couldn''t help but curse silently.


    Yet outwardly, he maintained a warm demeanor toward Colin, smiling and saying,


    "Focus on recovering your Magic Power recently... After the gathering, I''ll give you the part of the Meditation Method to advance to Official Wizard."


    Actually, obtaining the content for advancing to Official Wizard was not so straightforward, entailing more rigorous evaluation and requirements, and sometimes even the completion of certain tasks or earning enough academic points.


    But... he couldn''t be bothered anymore; after all, it was just the part for advancing to Official Wizard, a matter of signing a good contract.


    How many years had it been since he had an Apprentice willing to come to him?


    And this one had specifically requested to study under him... Why be so strict?


    "Thank you, Mentor!" Colin bowed deeply, his joy palpable as he expressed his gratitude.


    He hadn''t expected things to go so smoothly; he had thought there would be some sort of assessment or tasks to earn the continuation of the Tin Saint Meditation Method for an Official Wizard.


    To think it was as simple as asking the Mentor!


    However, the ease of the situation made Colin worry anew. The questions he had harboured before resurfaced.


    With things so favorable at Mentor Atbolde''s, why had no Apprentices joined for so long?


    On the other side, after Atbolde heard his thanks, he smiled and waved his hand, dispelling the invisible Silence Barrier.


    It was a two-way Silence Barrier, so when it was removed, the chatter of Marjorie and the others outside suddenly came through.


    It seemed he heard something interesting, and Atbolde spoke up:


    "It sounds like you''re discussing something quite intriguing over there."

 Chapter 209 - 167: Taking and Asking

    Atbolde''s words resonated, causing a momentary pause in the conversation.


    Then Marjorie hesitated and opened her mouth,


    "Mentor, I heard that the school is going to reduce the subsidies for the apprentices, is that true?"


    "Reduce the subsidies?!" Nehemiah exclaimed in amazement from the side.


    "Yes," Atbolde said, then softly added,


    "However, it''s not all apprentices whose subsidies will be reduced, only certain mentors'' apprentices will have their subsidies cut¡­ unfortunately, I am indeed one of them."


    Atbolde''s voice remained calm, as always slow-paced.


    Yet it was also tinged with a hint of a different emotion, like a sigh mixed with self-mockery.


    The hall fell silent for a moment, then the cheerful, vibrant sound of a violin suddenly started.


    Lillian, who had stopped playing and been eating at the side, now raised her violin to her shoulder again and resumed playing.


    As the music began, Colin felt an inexplicable boost in spirit.


    Elves in this world were all born artists¡­ Lillian, being a Half-Elf, seemed no less skilled.


    This piece of music, it must be something more than just ordinary¡­ Colin thought to himself.


    When the music ended, the somber atmosphere was swept away.


    The group restarted their conversation, but tacitly avoided mentioning the previous topic.


    "Recently, the situation on the southern islands is reportedly not good," Nehemiah said, his face showing deep concern.


    "Yes, it''s said that south of Lina Island, nine out of ten islands have fallen into Divine hands," Marjorie added.


    "That severe?" Colin asked, joining the conversation.


    "It''s not such a big issue, just some remote islands," Fanny interjected,


    "In recent times, wizards from all continents, especially from our Siya Continent, have been continuously heading to the front lines, there''s no need to worry."


    "That''s true, the number of wizards we''ve seen in the school lately seems to have decreased¡­ probably because many have gone to Lina to take their chance,"


    Nehemiah said, a hint of envy on his face as he added,


    "The reward rules this time from the school are really attractive, it''s just a pity¡­"


    A pity that other factions were led by their mentors¡­ even if the apprentices ultimately received few benefits, it was still better than staying in the school.


    And they could only stay on the continent, watching enviously as wizards from other factions reaped their rewards.


    Even a single hair from a Divine being, for a Wizard Apprentice, was immensely valuable.


    Whether exchanging it for Magic Stones or using it for personal research, either way, it was quite beneficial...


    Marjorie speculated aloud, interrupting Nehemiah''s thoughts.


    "That''s probably also why the schools are cutting other apprentices'' subsidies¡­"


    "Perhaps¡­" Fanny responded softly.


    Nehemiah remained silent, his gaze flickering.


    The topic once again lapsed into silence.


    "By the way, Colin," Marjorie suddenly asked, "how is your change in Meditation Method going?"


    "Changed Meditation Method?" Nehemiah looked surprised.


    Typically, for affiliated schools under the Tin Saint School, their Meditation Methods, being designed, generally accommodate the Tin Saint Meditation during an apprentice period.


    Like a pot can hold a bowl, though not a perfect analogy, an apprentice''s Tin Saint Meditation can hold a designed, changed affiliated school Meditation Method.


    So apprentices transferring from affiliated schools normally wouldn''t have trouble changing, Marjorie asking like this¡­


    "I just successfully changed it these past two days," Colin responded to Marjorie. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Colin, weren''t you promoted from our affiliated school?" Nehemiah asked, "...Which school or family within the city are you from?"


    "I am just a Wandering Wizard," Colin shook his head, "I come from a small island in the southern seas."


    Regarding where he was from, it had been recorded when he joined the school, and he assumed Nehemiah and the others knew this.


    "A small island¡­" Nehemiah mumbled almost imperceptibly, a realization dawning in his mind,


    ''No wonder he chose Atbolde as his mentor¡­ perhaps he had no extra Magic Stones to offer, or had offended someone.''


    "Just changed Meditation Methods?" Marjorie said in surprise, seemingly realizing his words might have been inappropriate,


    he coughed twice, then quickly added, "A bit slow, but keep it up, recover your Magic Power level soon!"


    "Thank you, senior Marjorie," Colin expressed his gratitude.


    "Keep it up," Fanny encouraged as well.


    "Thank you."


    But Nehemiah only glanced at him.


    Colin didn''t mind and turned to walk towards Lillian, who had been eating silently at the table, and started speaking,


    "Senior Lillian, I''ve been in seclusion practicing¡­"


    "What are you talking about?"


    For some reason, Nehemiah suddenly stepped forward, interrupting the conversation.


    Without waiting for an answer from Colin and Lillian, he continued,


    "Senior Lillian, are you free this weekend? I''ve changed to a chef who is a culinary expert¡­"


    "Sorry, Nehemiah," Lillian put down her fork and knife and spoke indifferently.


    "¡­" Nehemiah paused, then smiled, "Okay, senior."


    Lillian nodded, then turned to Colin, "Did you need something?"


    Colin glanced at Nehemiah, hesitated, but continued, "Senior Lillian, I''ve finished my seclusion practice and will gradually start repaying the Magic Stones I borrowed from you."


    In these three months, Lillian had never once rushed him for a repayment, almost as if she had forgotten about it.

 Chapter 210 - 167 Demanding and Taking_2

    But regardless of what Lillian thought,


    according to his own plans, now that the closed training had ended, it was time to repay the Magic Stone.


    "Um," Lillian responded without much expression, simply murmuring an acknowledgment.


    "Alright." Colin nodded, carried his plate, and walked to the side.


    Thus, everyone chatted intermittently while eating.


    Through such conversations, he learned many interesting pieces of information,


    like the recent world situation and amusing tales from the Schools.


    However, Lillian was always silent, hardly participating in the conversation.


    After a while, Atbolde announced the end of the gathering.


    Click.


    Colin pulled out his pocket watch to take a look.


    It was only just now half-past ten in the morning... He had left home around nine o''clock, by which time the gathering had probably already started.


    An early gathering like this, with solid dishes on the table such as roast squab and lamb legs plentiful...


    Probably only beings with extraordinary power like Wizard Knights didn''t have to worry about stomach issues.


    "Come with me."


    After everyone had left, Atbolde spoke slowly to Colin.


    His tall figure was stooped as he moved silently forward, his wide grey Wizard Robe covering his legs and making him seem like a ghost floating along.


    Soon, Colin followed Atbolde downstairs to the study.


    Reclining in an ancient wicker chair that sprouted little green leaves, Atbolde beckoned, and a gnarled branch handed a crystal the size of a quail egg to Colin.


    "Inside this is the part of the Tin Saint Meditation Method for advancing to Official Wizard," he said, watching Colin carefully.


    Colin took the crystal, caressed its smooth surface, and listened intently to Atbolde''s narration.


    "Speaking of which, Colin, have you previously acquired some knowledge about advancing to Official Wizard, or rather, do you know what the most obvious difference is between a Wizard Apprentice and an Official Wizard on the surface?"


    "I have learned a bit about it, and as for the biggest difference between Wizard Apprentices and Official Wizards¡ª" Colin furrowed his brow in thought and slowly replied, "Could it be... Talent?"


    "Yes," Atbolde nodded, "That is the most noticeable difference after a Wizard Apprentice advances to an Official Wizard."


    He paused, then continued, "But in fact, the most fundamental difference between a Wizard Apprentice and an Official Wizard is in the Spirit."


    "If the spirit of a Wizard Apprentice is a lake, then the spirit of an Official Wizard is a world."


    "And this kind of world is also what we call the Spirit Sea!"


    "Advancing to Official Wizard is the process of opening up the Spirit Sea!"


    Colin nodded slowly, echoing:


    "My instructors from the School I used to attend taught us¡ª


    ''The essence of a Wizard''s cultivation is the process of continuous growth and elevation of the Spirit.''"


    "To my understanding as a student, those so-called acts of witchcraft or even Talent should all be outward expressions and applications of the Spirit."


    "That''s the correct conclusion," Atbolde praised, then added after a pause,


    "Apart from being an external expression of the Spirit, Talent is actually a tool for advancing to Official Wizard."


    "The spirit of a Wizard Apprentice is a solid and stable nucleus."


    "If you rely solely on meditation to absorb Magic Power, you will hit a plateau, hardly advancing... let alone a qualitative leap."


    "While Talent is like a seed."


    "Just as a plant sprouts and breaks through the ground, when the Talent Seed sprouts, it can stretch the nucleus and open up the Spirit Sea!"


    "So, the method for an Apprentice to advance to First Rank Wizard during the apprentice phase is to cultivate Talent. The purpose of all the preparations done in the Meditation Method at this stage is to ensure the Talent can successfully break through the ground."


    Like receiving enlightenment, Colin exhaled a breath of relief, suddenly understanding.


    He had previously bought books related to advancing to Official Wizard on Bananka Island and had read them many times over.


    He knew that the key to advancing to Official Wizard was Talent, but what Talent was, why it needed to be cultivated, and the essence of advancement, these were all glossed over in those books.


    But here with Atbolde, just a few sentences had led him to an instant understanding.


    This was the advantage of having a mentor.


    "Thank you, Mentor Atbolde."


    Atbolde nodded slowly and then reminded him,


    "The part of the Meditation Method for advancing to Official Wizard has been given to you ahead of time, but you have just changed your Meditation Method and haven''t even recovered your Magic Power..."


    "Remember not to be overly ambitious; only a solid foundation can support a tall building. Otherwise, failing to build a high-rise is a minor issue, but if one day the high-rise suddenly collapses... that would be irreparable."


    Atbolde''s words were unusually serious as he said this, and he even took special care to add a few more cautions:


    "You must remember today''s warning; only when you have reached the Peak of the Apprentice phase and can go no further is it time to start fulfilling the corresponding prerequisites for cultivating Talent and prepare for breakthrough."


    "I understand, Mentor Atbolde," Colin said somberly. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A shaky foundation meant collapse on a high-rise, and for them Wizards, it meant mutation or corruption...


    Although Golden Paper was valuable, if he became blindly overconfident because of it and lost caution... the consequences would probably be dire.

 Chapter 211 - 167: Taking and Asking_3

    "There''s still some time left," Atbolde said, glancing at the tree ring-style clock hanging on the study wall. "Is there anything else you want to ask me?"


    "No, not for now," Colin shook his head, touching his chest and bowing.


    "Thank you, Mentor Atbolde."


    "Mm," Atbolde softly acknowledged, a rare flicker of hesitation in his eyes, followed by a sigh, "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself, Colin."


    "Life is a brief and hurried journey, unable to carry too much."


    "The path of a wizard is long and far-reaching. Being a First Rank Wizard isn''t the end, nor is Second Rank, Third Rank, or Fourth Rank... But for most people, reaching Advanced Apprentice is already their endpoint.


    Among the remaining few, reaching First Rank Wizard is also their endpoint, and so forth. Very few ever reach the true endpoint of a wizard."


    Colin remained silent for a moment before slowly responding,


    "I understand, Wizard Atbolde."


    He grasped the underlying meaning in Atbolde''s words.


    Nothing more... It was simply advice to measure his own capabilities.


    Life is short, and if one were to devote all their energy chasing an unreachable goal, it would likely be unwise.


    "Good, as long as you understand," Atbolde nodded.


    Colin quietly nodded, bid farewell to Atbolde, and started walking toward the door.


    But quickly, he paused, turned his head, and asked Atbolde:


    "Mentor Atbolde, I have one more question." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go ahead," Atbolde nodded.


    "If I wanted to start learning how to make Magic Potions from scratch, which classes should I choose?"


    "You''ll need to do a few School tasks first to earn some academic points, take some paid courses, or would regular public classes suffice?"


    "At the beginning, the regular public classes in the School should be sufficient. Those courses that require academic points are usually Advanced, or they are specifically for the teaching of certain Magic Potions."


    "I''ll recommend some courses for you." While speaking, Atbolde pulled out a piece of white paper and picked up a fountain pen from the pen holder on the desk and began to write.


    "Foundations of Magic Potions... Encyclopedia of Magic Plants... The Essence of Magic Potions..."


    Soon, he handed the written paper to Colin.


    "Thank you, Mentor," Colin accepted the paper, deeply bowing with his hand on his chest.


    Atbolde''s generosity made his own gratitude seem somewhat pale and feeble.


    "No need to thank me," Atbolde responded, his face smiling, "Magic Potions is indeed a good choice... It seems you really took my words to heart."


    "Accepting one''s ordinariness is also a form of wisdom."


    Colin remained silent, offering no rebuttal.


    He simply bid farewell and left.


    Atbolde clearly thought of him as a Wandering Wizard from a remote island who had switched to practicing the Meditation Method... It seemed unrealistic for him to aspire to become an Official Wizard.


    He supposed Colin no longer planned to exert too much effort climbing the wizard''s path but to learn a skill and enjoy life.


    But...


    Colin stepped out of the villa, looking at the towering trees around him.


    Sunlight dappled across him.


    In the distance, a garden swayed continuously, some Magic Plants emitting strange lights, and small elves flitting about amongst them.


    This was a scene that had only existed in his imagination in a previous life.


    He gently exhaled, clenching his fist tightly.


    If there were a stone in his palm, it would have likely turned to dust by now.


    The power filling his body was also something that had only existed in his imagination in his former life.


    Maybe... Initially, he embarked on the wizard''s path merely for self-preservation.


    But now... With the opportunity and the capability,


    He had no reason not to go see the view from the highest peak!

 Chapter 212 - 168 Blue Jindin

    As soon as Colin returned home, he headed straight for the Meditation Room.


    Although, just like Atbolde had said, he was not yet at the point where he needed to advance.


    But taking a look at the Meditation Method in advance was always possible.


    As long as he didn''t start practicing too soon, there wouldn''t be any problems.


    Moreover, with his current training speed under the enhancement of the Tin Ring Meditation Method, he would probably need at most one month to push his Wizard Level to a hundred percent of the Apprentice phase!


    He couldn''t wait much longer.


    Unfortunately, the Tin Ring Meditation Method was, after all, a fusion of two Meditation Methods that had reached the Golden Paper level.


    Now, even though progress had appeared again, indicating that he could break limits once more, it probably wasn''t something that could be done in a short period of time.


    Otherwise, if he could break limits with the Tin Ring Meditation Method again soon, perhaps he wouldn''t even need a month, and maybe half a month would be enough to reach the peak of the Wizard Apprentice phase!


    ''Don''t be greedy, one month is already fast¡­''


    Shaking his head, Colin suppressed his scattered thoughts, took out the crystal, and concentrated his mind into it, starting to examine it carefully.


    The crystal given to him by Atbolde contained only the knowledge of the Meditation Methods for advancing to an Official Wizard, with no content on the Meditation Methods for a First Rank Wizard.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, the subsequent knowledge would probably only be accessible after he had advanced to an Official Wizard.


    Before long.


    He quickly skimmed through the content in the crystal in his hand.


    Atbolde had perfectly summarized the process of an Apprentice advancing to an Official Wizard.


    Just as he had said, the key to advancing as an Official Wizard lay in the Talent.


    And when he had reached the peak of the Apprentice phase, what he would need to do was plant the Talent Seed according to the Meditation Method and with the aid of some Magic Potions!


    After that, once everything was ready, it would be time to bring it all together¡ª


    To stimulate the Talent Seed!!


    This step required the Wizard Apprentice to fuel the process with Magic Power as firewood and Spirit as the kiln, offering their body and soul to nourish the Talent Seed!


    At that moment, it would either be the end of firewood and kiln or the success of advancing, creating the Spirit Sea!


    Talent¡­


    Colin stroked the crystal in his hand, slowly calling forth the Golden Paper.


    Faint golden particles converged to form an ancient paper that was somewhere between illusion and reality.


    He quickly scanned downwards.


    A line of characters leapt before his eyes¡ª


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    ''I wonder if there is any difference between the Talent on the Golden Paper and what the Meditation Method refers to as Talent.''


    Colin mused to himself in silence.


    It''s worth mentioning that even if the same Tin Saint Meditation is used to advance, the Talents acquired afterward may not necessarily be the same.


    The Talent Seed is just a seed, what kind of fruit it bears, or what flowers it blooms, varies for everyone.


    The type of Meditation Method used for advancement is one of the factors influencing the Talent, after all, different Meditation Methods have different tendencies.


    But more importantly, it''s actually oneself.


    The Wizard''s own self is the primary determinant of Talent.


    He put away the crystal and the Golden Paper.


    After musing for a moment, Colin began his daily meditation.


    Meditation has an upper limit, and missing a day meant missing out¡ªno amount of meditation the next day could make up for it.


    Therefore, ensuring daily meditation was very important for a Wizard.


    The sun was gradually tilting westward, it was probably around three in the afternoon when he slowly got up and ended his meditation.


    Thanks to the new Tin Ring Meditation Method, the time he needed for daily meditation had been reduced to 4 hours.


    As for the effect of this meditation, the progress of the Tin Ring Meditation Method remained completely unchanged, while his Wizard Level progress had steadily increased by three points.


    He stepped out of the Meditation Room.


    Colin glanced at the sky, the sun was still high up... judging by the usual pattern, there were about four more hours till nightfall.


    With a thought, he spoke a word to Renee and then walked toward the door.


    The time was still early, and his daily routine of meditation was over.


    Now was a good time to take another trip back to the School to check out the courses Atbolde had mentioned.


    If possible, he hoped to confirm them today so that he could start classes early and begin producing Magic Potions as soon as possible.


    This would allow him to earn enough Magic Stones to pay off his debts sooner.


    After all, whether in his past life or now, he didn''t like owing debts.


    Being in debt always left him feeling uncomfortable¡­ It was best to repay them as soon as possible.


    Moreover, cultivating the Talent Seed would require a lot of assistance¡­ and would likely cost quite a few Magic Stones.


    Besides, the Golden Paper also needed Magic Stones for limit breaking¡­ In short, it was never wrong to earn more Magic Stones without affecting the progress of meditation.


    The public carriage sped along, quickly arriving at the familiar grounds of the Tin Saint School. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He walked briskly to the instructional area.


    "You want to select these courses now? Let me see which ones are about to start."


    In the room, a bearded old Wizard frowned as he took the white paper Colin handed over.


    On it were the names of the courses that Atbolde had recommended.


    He had already filtered them once according to his own situation.


    He retained the basic courses but postponed some that he didn''t need at the moment.


    The reason for this choice was to be able to quickly produce a certain Magic Potion.


    A Magic Potion from McIntosh.


    Of course, not that Divine trap.


    But a Magic Potion known as Blue Jindin.


    Its sole effect was to improve the efficiency of meditation.


    It had an effect of approximately ten to fifteen percent, lasting for half a month.


    The market price was ten Magic Stones per bottle.


    The reason for choosing it was simple, on one hand, it was one of the few Magic Potions with complete records in the Knowledge Crystal.

 Chapter 213 - 168 Blue Jindin_2

    Choosing it meant there was no need to spend Magic Stones on purchasing Magic Potion recipes.


    You see, even within the School, being a member afforded him some discounts, but even the cheapest Magic Potion recipe required at least two thousand Magic Stones to start with.


    And those recipes one could get for two thousand were mostly for practice; it was simply unrealistic to rely on them to make money.


    Even with a success rate of one hundred percent, the profit was extremely modest.


    On the other hand, according to the records in the Knowledge Crystal.


    McIntosh''s Blue Jindin differed from the ordinary Blue Jindin he inquired about on the market.


    This difference was not in potency but in production efficiency.


    In his early years, McIntosh also primarily earned Magic Stones by producing Blue Jindin.


    Initially, like other Magic Pharmacists, he could only make five bottles of Blue Jindin a day.


    Even if at the end of the month all the Blue Jindin he produced sold, the total sales would only be around fifteen hundred Magic Stones.


    It seemed like a significant amount, but this was the result of spending almost all his time creating Magic Potions.


    And that didn''t include the cost of materials.


    But the McIntosh version of Blue Jindin greatly increased the efficiency.


    With full effort, he could make at least fifteen bottles a day.


    "The classes starting recently are these ones I''ve circled," the long-bearded wizard handed the paper back to Colin.


    "Thank you," Colin took the paper and looked it over carefully.


    Fortunately, most of the essential courses were being offered soon.


    These types of courses were not one-on-one and could not be joined midway.


    So if there were no courses being offered soon, then all he could do was wait until they started.


    Luckily, the courses were scheduled to start anywhere from two days to half a month later, which spared him some troubles.


    Next, he followed the instructions of the long-bearded wizard and completed the procedures, then returned home.


    Now, all he had to do was wait for the classes to begin.


    *


    *


    *


    Half a month later.


    At noon.


    Third floor on the eastern side of the Teaching Castle.


    Outside a classroom, the pale spiritual light suddenly vanished.


    The scene inside the classroom gradually became clear.


    Apprentices walked out, one after another, most of them carefully examining notes in their hands.


    Colin was among them, his head down as he looked over other notes he had taken in class, his brows knitting and relaxing intermittently.


    He had benefited immensely over the past half month.


    By now, he even felt he might be ready to start making the Blue Jindin potion.


    After all, the only reason he needed these Magic Potion classes was to master some basic knowledge.


    Golden Paper could help him, ensuring that he made progress with every practice.


    But it was like cooking; if you don''t even recognize pots, pans, and spoons, and can''t even turn on the stove,


    then there''s no way to practice, and the Golden Paper would not be of much use.


    But conversely, once he had the basic knowledge, once he started "cooking," his "culinary skills" would improve at an unimaginably rapid pace!


    He walked briskly down the corridor, today''s classes were over.


    It was also noon, time to go back for lunch... maybe, after lunch, he could start working on the Blue Jindin.


    Moreover, it''s worth mentioning that his Wizard Level had reached that of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice (60/100).


    In about two weeks, he would be able to begin cultivating a Talent Seed.


    At noon, the sun hung directly overhead, and its soft light filtered through the stone windows, casting mottled shadows on the ancient corridor floor.


    "Colin?"


    As he was about to reach the staircase, a familiar female voice suddenly called out from behind him.


    Colin turned his head.


    A female apprentice with somewhat tannish skin, an ordinary appearance, but with a hint of exotic charm, was smiling at him.


    The female Apprentice was Leva.


    The same one who had told him, when he first started school, the impact of changing his Meditation Method.


    Three months had passed, and Leva seemed more spirited and... prettier than before?


    Colin furrowed his brow slightly... her nose seemed straighter, the nostrils smaller, and her jawbone seemed less prominent...


    Had she made slight modifications to her own appearance?


    He silently speculated in his mind.


    Most wizards'' appearances, aside from those with distinctive features, were usually not too unattractive.


    And as the spirit grew, even if the facial features and face shape did not change at all, the overall temperament would be greatly enhanced, making one look more handsome or beautiful.


    Wizards don''t often "take care of their appearance."


    However, the desire for beauty is universal.


    It wasn''t anything shocking that Leva was doing it.


    "Long time no see, Leva," Colin responded, his tone calm.


    Although their previous parting had been less than pleasant, it wasn''t a big deal.


    Now that Leva was willing to greet him first, he saw no need to be cold and distant.


    "Long time no see..." Leva said to Colin, her tone polite yet distant.


    She somewhat regretted calling out to Colin.


    After speaking, she didn''t know what else to say.


    She also didn''t know which mentor of the School Colin ended up with¡­but having not seen him for so many months, he was probably under a lesser-known mentor, or perhaps just an Official Wizard who had recently Advanced.


    After all, she was nearly completely familiar with the main members of the Tin Saint School''s factions.


    Colin''s name was not among them.


    After Leva spoke, the two fell into an awkward silence.


    Just as Colin was about to say goodbye,


    "What''s the matter?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A similarly familiar male voice suddenly came from the side.


    Looking in the direction of the voice, it was another acquaintance¡ªMulan,


    the Apprentice rumored to be from the Herbey family.


    Mulan glanced at the handsome Colin, then at Leva, a shadow of darkness flashing in his eyes inexplicably.


    He quickly stepped forward, comfortably wrapping his arm around Leva''s waist as if declaring his territory.


    Leva was visibly taken aback, instinctively struggling a bit.


    But Mulan did not let go, instead holding Leva even more firmly.


    "Long time no see, Colin," he said with a smile, as graceful as ever.


    But this time, perhaps after having seen Lily''s innate nobility,


    Colin always felt Mulan''s smile was somewhat forced, somewhat fake¡­


    "It''s been a while, I have some things to attend to, so I''ll be going."


    Not wishing to waste time here, Colin put on a polite smile and said.


    After speaking, he turned to leave.


    "Don''t rush to leave," Mulan called out to him, then feigned puzzlement and asked, "Don''t we know yet which mentor you were assigned to?"


    "With your strength, your assigned mentor shouldn''t be too bad, right?" he specifically added.


    Then he turned to Leva and asked, "Do you know which mentor Colin was assigned to?"


    His expression seemed genuinely curious.


    Leva kept silent, understanding Mulan''s intentions¡ªhe wanted to imply that Colin had no future... Mulan, perhaps because of his background, lacked confidence.


    He didn''t consider why she would be interested in Colin, even if Colin was more handsome.


    But handsomeness doesn''t feed you; strength does.


    Mulan, backed by the Herbey family...other than looks, in what way could he not compare to Colin?


    With an inward sigh, however much it may be the case, from her standpoint, she naturally couldn''t fail to give Mulan face¡­


    Just as she raised her head, preparing to echo Mulan''s sentiment¡ª


    The next second, her expression faltered, and she blinked in disbelief.


    When did Colin turn and walk away?!


    "What''s the matter?" Mulan asked Leva, puzzled.


    He was waiting for Leva''s response.


    Following Leva''s gaze, Mulan''s confusion slowly turned to surprise, and then suddenly, to angry humiliation!


    Did Colin just walk away like that?!


    He was just asking who the mentor was!


    Meanwhile.


    Colin walked briskly, shaking his head.


    Mulan''s manners and poise were not bad, but sadly, they were excessively childish...


    Or rather, at heart, he was too insecure, always trying to show off himself, emphasize himself.


    He certainly could have given a perfunctory response, giving Mulan some face, instead of causing a scene.


    But with people like Mulan, perhaps the more you yield, the more they''ll feel you haven''t given them enough face... unless you grovel in the mud, otherwise, they''d never be satisfied.


    Since that was the case, he rather not bother, and better to hurry back and try to craft Blue Jindin!


    Thinking thus, he soon reached Copper Rose District.


    He had yet to purchase the materials for crafting Blue Jindin.


    Blue apricots, Hulan flowers...


    Colin carefully searched the market, comparing meticulously.


    He eventually spent a hundred Magic Stones to buy ingredients for forty batches of Blue Jindin.


    Having done this, he took a public carriage and sped home, ready to begin crafting!

 Chapter 214 - 169: Talents

    "Blue Apricot, Hulan Flower¡­"


    Bubbles densely popped from the glass vessel in front of him, a pale blue liquid glowing enchantingly under the Bright Crystal''s illumination.


    Colin methodically added Magic Materials one by one; this was already his third attempt.


    While doing this, he also had to finely control the Magic Power to blend different Magic Potions, guiding them to react the way he desired¡­


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when suddenly, a pungent smell wafted through the air.


    The originally clear, pale blue liquid in the glass vessel had now turned murky.


    Blub blub¡ª


    Bubbles the size of quail eggs continuously surged to the surface.


    ''Failed again.'' Colin sighed softly and stopped the input of Magic Power.


    Even with the aid of Golden Paper, making Blue Jiding was not smooth sailing.


    Although Magic Potions were profitable, before the success rate increased, they were also very costly.


    After resting for a moment, he adjusted his state and started a new round of potion making.


    Three attempts had passed, and although the characters for Blue Jinding Making did not appear on the Golden Paper, each attempt had failed.


    But he had a hunch that it wouldn''t be long before he could successfully master the making of the Blue Jiding Magic Potion.


    Just like that, five days had passed.


    That morning, in the newly arranged Magic Potion Making room on the second floor of his residence,


    Colin was intently watching the glass vessel in front of him filled with blue liquid.


    Unlike the initial liquid, the liquid in the glass bottle this time was noticeably deeper in color, like the azure sea.


    At that moment, tiny bubbles continuously popped densely on the surface.


    Colin steadied his mind, continuing to add the carefully processed Magic Potion.


    Soon after, accompanied by a sigh that sounded almost human, the bubbling in the blue liquid inside the glass vessel abruptly stopped.


    The color of the liquid also seemed to instantly become deeper and purer.


    A unique fragrance slowly wafted out.


    Similar to the scent of flowers.


    Moreover¡­


    Colin''s eyes flickered, and he picked up the glass bottle to begin gently shaking it.


    It was as if he was shaking gel.


    The Magic Potion, originally liquid, now jiggled along with the movement of the glass bottle as if it were frozen.


    ''Successful!!''


    Colin took a deep breath of relief, his expression exhilarated.


    He took out a glass tube, which had been prepared earlier, tipped the glass bottle, and divided the Blue Jiding into it.


    Although Blue Jiding had a jelly-like texture when stationary, it was not a solid but rather a unique type of gel.


    Thus, it could be divided simply by pouring.


    After storing the portioned Blue Jiding, Colin continued to start the next round of production.


    For him, succeeding once meant that continuous success was not far away.


    *


    *


    *


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª


    A rare torrential rain had come to Neustadt City, raindrops falling in lines, continuously and densely hitting the earth, layering line upon line, placing a hazy curtain between heaven and earth. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking around, all one could see was a blur.


    On the eastern side of the Teaching Castle, as the fog lifted, Apprentices streamed out one after another, their noisy conversations echoing in the castle''s spacious corridors.


    Colin mingled with the crowd, walking out of the classroom and pausing by the windows in the corridor.


    ''The rainy summer is here¡­''


    Feeling the cool mist hit his face, he squinted slightly.


    It had been ten days since he successfully made the Blue Jiding Magic Potion.


    With a thought, he summoned the Golden Paper.


    Pale golden particles converged.


    Looking up, in the Wizard Level section, the progress after Advanced Wizard Apprentice had reached one hundred percent.


    He had just achieved this after completing his meditation this morning¡­ This meant he could finally start cultivating the Talent Seed.


    Retracting his gaze from the view, Colin walked along the corridor, his steps light.


    Before long, he reached a corner and paused slightly.


    "Lillian," he greeted in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected to bump into Lillian here.


    He glanced around, and this was precisely the classroom he had first come to when looking for Lillian.


    "Apprentice Colin."


    Lillian, upon hearing his voice, paused briefly then turned around to reply.


    Colin nodded, continued walking, and subconsciously peered into the classroom beside him.


    Class had just ended here; many Apprentices were yet to leave.


    Lillian was among the quickest to leave¡­ aside from the instructor who had already disappeared from the podium.


    Since they were both about to leave the castle, Colin and Lillian shared the same path.


    Following behind for a moment, Colin pondered then quickly walked up to Lillian''s side and asked:


    "Lillian, do you know where the best place to buy the materials needed to cultivate the Talent Seed is?"


    These materials included some Magic Potions required by the Meditation Method and materials needed for the auxiliary Witch Array.


    He had planned on going to the School to inquire from Atbolde.


    But since it was already noon, finding Atbolde to inquire would have to wait until tomorrow, and since he had just met Lillian on the road¡­ As a First Rank Wizard, Lillian must surely know the relevant information.


    "Materials for cultivating the Talent Seed?"


    Lillian stopped, turning to look at Colin with a hint of confusion in her eyes, tentatively asking:


    "Have you reached the peak of your Apprenticeship?"


    "Yes," Colin replied decisively.


    He did not want to hide his progress. After all, the School did not know the specifics of his training progress before joining them; they only broadly distinguished between three different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

 Chapter 215 - 169 Aptitude_2

    So now that four months had passed, reaching the peak of apprenticeship wasn''t something conspicuous.


    And as long as it wasn''t conspicuous, displaying one''s talent appropriately was harmless.


    "I remember at last month''s gathering, you said you had just changed your Meditation Method? It seems your Magic Power level hadn''t even recovered yet?" Lillian continued to ask.


    "Yes." Colin nodded, already prepared for such questions.


    He slightly furrowed his brows, hesitating before he spoke:


    "The Meditation Method I originally practiced seemed to be more compatible with the Tin Saint Meditation Method. After switching, I quickly recovered my Magic Power level..."


    He wasn''t worried that saying this would expose him.


    As someone who had broken the limits of both the Circulation Meditation and the Tin Saint Meditation to the golden color, creating a Meditation Method compatible with the Tin Saint Meditation Method...


    Though it was somewhat difficult, if one didn''t care about efficiency in practice, nor about universality, it was still entirely possible.


    And even if it weren''t possible, if asked, he could simply hand over the Tin Ring Meditation Method.


    The limit breaking of the Golden Paper was tailor-made for him.


    This customization also took into account the factor that one must make progress when practicing with the Golden Paper.


    Moreover, the reason for his rapid progress in cultivation was at least half because of the special effects of progressing with the Golden Paper.


    So if someone else got the Tin Ring Meditation Method, at most, it would be a Meditation Method of excellent quality but lacking in universality.


    "Well, before this, I was just a whisker away from the peak of apprenticeship. After changing the Meditation Method, it didn''t take me long to reach the peak of an Apprentice."


    He paused, then added.


    The peak of apprenticeship is different from a peak apprentice.


    The peak of apprenticeship is the culmination of the apprenticeship, the apex of the apprentice phase.


    Whereas a peak apprentice, as long as an Advanced Wizard Apprentice has mostly eliminated their anomalies, can be called a peak apprentice.


    Without the impact of anomalies, a peak apprentice''s strength is generally stronger than that of an Advanced Apprentice.


    And these so-called anomalies are caused by an Apprentice''s incomplete mastery of the Meditation Method knowledge during advancement.


    In other words, having completely mastered the Meditation Method with the Golden Paper and perfectly advanced, he could, in fact, already be called a peak apprentice after advancement!


    Lillian nodded her head, then suddenly asked:


    "How old are you this year?"


    "Eighteen, almost nineteen," Colin paused before replying.


    Upon hearing his age, Lillian''s usually stern and calm expression finally showed a fluctuation.


    "Follow me." She didn''t explain much, just gave a command and then started walking ahead.


    They hadn''t walked far when her pace paused slightly. She turned back and added,


    "Try not to mention to others that you''ve reached the peak of apprenticeship during this period."


    "I understand," Colin said with a slight start, then responded in a lowered voice.


    Perhaps it was because Lillian always spoke little, he found her impressively reliable.


    Now that Lillian had instructed him so pointedly, he became extra cautious, engraving her words in his heart.


    The two hurried along the School''s neatly paved gray stone pathways.


    Glancing around, Colin recognized that this was the road to Instructor Atbolde''s residence.


    ''Could it be she''s taking me to see Instructor Atbolde?'' he thought.


    After a few moments, as if a thought struck him, Colin suddenly said:


    "Senior Lillian, concerning the Magic Stone I borrowed from you, I should be able to return part of it in about a week."


    In this time, he had already amassed approximately 50 bottles of Blue Jiding Potion, and his success rate had almost reached fifty percent; it was no longer a losing proposition.


    "Hmm." Lillian didn''t turn her head, simply responding in a soft tone.


    Her expression remained calm, but her mind was the complete opposite of her facial expression.


    It seemed Colin still didn''t realize his own talent...


    Previously, she had thought that Colin''s arrival here was because he was a rare Apprentice from a remote island, one who had advanced to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice in that remote place. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These conditions, combined with changing his Meditation Method, virtually sealed his fate as a prospect without the possibility of advancing to Official Wizard.


    So she had always thought that it was because no mentor had taken Colin under their wing that he eventually had no choice but to come here.


    But now it seemed that the Meditation Method that Colin had been practicing was actually compatible and harmonious with the Tin Saint Meditation Method!


    As such, the impact of changing the meditation method was not significant, and the effect on his talent was naturally greatly diminished, now at most about ten to twenty percent!


    Eighteen years old...


    And at such a young age...


    Colin, although not top-notch, could still be considered to have excellent talent!


    How many years had it been since an apprentice with such talent came their way?


    With Colin''s talent, perhaps he could...


    "Lillian Senior."


    Colin''s voice came again.


    "What is it?" Lillian stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, puzzled.


    Colin extended his arm towards her, in his palm was a deep blue Magic Potion emitting a mesmerizing, hazy glow.


    "What is this?" Lillian took the Magic Potion and asked, confused.


    There were too many deep blue Magic Potions, and without a label on the glass tube, and without testing or being a Magic Pharmacist, she naturally didn''t know what kind of Magic Potion it was.


    "This is Blue Jiding," Colin replied, pausing before adding, "I made it myself."


    At the last School gathering, he had told Lillian that he had finished his seclusion and would start gradually repaying the Magic Stone he had borrowed.


    But another month had passed since then...


    Even though Lillian had not urged him at all, the more she refrained, the more embarrassed he felt.


    He didn''t know whether Lillian believed in him or had given up hope of him repaying the Magic Stone.


    "You made it yourself?" Lillian exclaimed in surprise.


    "Yes, I''ve only been learning for about a month... The success rate isn''t high yet, this is the only bottle that turned out successful," said Colin.


    Compared to having a sixty percent success rate after learning for a month... Or barely succeeding once after a month of trying, the latter was somewhat more normal.


    "Yes, I feel like I''m improving quickly. Perhaps in another month, I might be able to increase the success rate to thirty percent and start making a profit... Then I''ll start paying back the Magic Stones I owe you slowly."


    "Mm," Lillian suppressed the surprise in her heart... Colin had given her another pleasant surprise.


    To successfully create a bottle of Blue Jiding from scratch in a month, and to be confident of boosting the success rate to thirty percent in another month...


    Colin''s talent in potion-making seemed not inferior to his talent in wizardry training¡ªperhaps even slightly better!


    "Have you found a way to sell the Blue Jiding?" Lillian asked.


    "Not yet..." Colin shook his head, "I''m planning to inquire at the potion shops later."


    Lillian paused and then said, "I''ll go and ask Betty for you¡ªshe''s the Witch from whom you bought the Magic Erasure Potion last time."


    "If you sell directly to potion shops, you''ll only get sixty percent of the retail price."


    "But through her, you might get eighty or ninety percent."


    "I see." Colin was slightly startled, "Then I''ll be in your debt, Lillian Senior."


    "Mm." Having said this, Lillian continued to walk briskly forward with him.


    They soon arrived at Atbolde''s residence.


    It was only at the moment they stepped onto the small path leading to the residence that Colin realized.


    It was already past twelve noon, and he could no longer enter the mentor''s study...


    If she had indeed brought him to meet Mentor Atbolde, how could they see the mentor?


    He had some doubts in his heart, but, looking at Lillian''s retreating figure, he felt at ease.


    As Atbolde''s granddaughter and a First Rank Wizard, Lillian was unlikely to encounter any problems.


    They walked a bit further, and to his surprise, Lillian didn''t lead him into the villa.


    Instead, she walked around to the back of the villa and brought him to a huge tree that almost required ten people to encircle.


    The dense branches spread out like an umbrella, extending in all directions, casting a large shadow under the sunlight.


    "This is Nado''s main body," Lillian briefly explained.


    She then stepped forward, placed her hand against the ancient tree, closed her eyes, and assumed a solemn expression.

 Chapter 216 - 170 Alus Association

    As Lillian''s palm made contact with the ancient tree''s bark,


    the next second, something invisible descended, a powerful presence enveloping the area, causing Colin to feel waves of palpitations.


    It was as if the ancient tree had come to life, its lush branches and leaves rustling and rubbing against each other, making a soft, whispering sound.


    "What is it, Lillian?"


    A voice, indifferent and majestic, emanated from the tree, as if a crowned king was inquiring.


    For some reason, that voice... Colin always felt it was somewhat familiar.


    Could it be...?


    The next second, Lillian''s words confirmed his guess.


    "Master," Lillian began with a greeting and then briskly added,


    "Colin might be a gifted seed."


    "Oh?"


    The ancient tree''s coarse and aged bark rippled like a tranquil water surface disturbed by a thrown pebble.


    A lifelike, vast human face surfaced on it.


    It was the likeness of Atbolde... only younger and more majestic.


    Colin''s pupils suddenly constricted.


    Not just because of Atbolde''s strange appearance, but because of the overwhelming might Atbolde displayed, far beyond his usual demeanor.


    The moment the face appeared, Colin felt a tightening in his heart, as if gripped by an invisible claw, ready to forfeit his life at any moment, making him involuntarily shudder.


    Such a sensation of threat... he had previously only felt it with the icy crystal female instructor when he had gone to the ancient castle classroom to seek Lillian.


    And that female instructor... was a Third Rank Wizard.


    "Tell me in detail," the tree-borne Atbolde murmured, his lips barely moving, asking.


    The voice was cold... In Colin''s view, it seemed to lack a human touch, as if produced mechanically.


    "Yes, Master," Lillian responded.


    Then she proceeded to recount Colin''s situation, informing Atbolde.


    ...


    "The Meditation Method being compatible with the Tin Saint Meditation Method..."


    Atbolde spoke, "What a coincidence."


    Despite his words, he was surprised but not skeptical.


    After all, such situations were rare but not impossible.


    It might very well be that the founder wizard of the School Colin initially joined was once a member of an affiliate School of the Tin Saint School.


    The cool summer breeze gently blew, rustling the leaves above Atbolde.


    "Colin."


    Atbolde pulled himself from his thoughts, slowly calling out.


    "Master, I am here," replied Colin, respectfully, his complexion slightly pale.


    "Relax your body and spirit," Atbolde continued, "Let me take a closer look at you."


    Colin''s expression changed slightly, not out of fear of being discovered but due to a natural resistance to such scrutiny.


    But he had no choice, nor room to resist.


    Before he could react, a glint of gold suddenly spread across Atbolde''s originally woody, massive eyes.


    Then, a gaze that seemed to penetrate everything landed on Colin, causing him a moment of disquiet.


    But quickly, Colin breathed a sigh of relief.


    He could clearly feel that Atbolde''s gaze was only lingering on his surface, not penetrating deeper, nor inspecting key areas like the Spirit Sea or the Magic Sea.


    "Ah..."


    Atbolde let out a surprised murmur.


    "Colin, are you sure you''re an Advanced Wizard Apprentice who advanced in a remote sea island?"


    "Not on the mainland, or rather, in the populous center of the Kingdom?"


    Atbolde''s questioning tone suddenly relaxed slightly, gaining a bit more warmth.


    "..." Colin hesitated, "I''m sure, Master Atbolde."


    "Hm." Atbolde hummed lightly, commending,


    "It seems you have mastered the knowledge of your original Meditation Method thoroughly... Otherwise, advancing on a remote island, neither your humanity nor your knowledge of Spiritual Light would be so pure."


    "In fact, with such purity of humanity and knowledge of Spiritual Light, even if you changed your Meditation Method, you would most likely not need to worry about Akent Deterioration... it would merely slightly affect the quality of your Magic Power."


    Colin remained silent, just respectfully listening.


    Akent Deterioration... obviously, this was what he had always wanted to know, why low quality of humanity and knowledge of Spiritual Light combined with poor compatibility with a changed Meditation Method would have such a significant impact.


    Deterioration, indeed...


    As for his humanity and knowledge of Spiritual Light being relatively pure.


    He had somewhat anticipated this from the beginning. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He also predicted that directly changing his Meditation Method might not have such a significant negative impact on himself.


    But he dared not gamble...


    Moreover, changing the Meditation Method would affect his aptitude, although not substantially, there was still an impact.


    Spending three months to completely eliminate such an effect was always worthwhile.


    "Master, based on Colin''s talents... perhaps at this year''s Alus Association, we could secure a spot for him,"


    Lillian suddenly suggested from nearby.


    ''Alus Association?''


    Another thing he hadn''t heard of...


    Colin maintained his silence, focusing intently on the continuing conversation.


    But this time, Atbolde''s silence before speaking was notably longer.


    The summer wind kept blowing, the vast green meadow surged like waves, and the leaves rustled.


    Lillian did not hurry, she merely kept a solemn expression and silently waited.


    After what seemed an eternity, Atbolde''s voice slowly reached them.


    "Lillian, are you certain?"


    "I am certain!" Lillian declared without hesitation, her voice firm.

 Chapter 217 - 170 Alus Association_2

    Atbolde sighed softly and finally responded,


    "Fine."


    " There are three months until the Alus Association," he continued. "During this time, train Colin thoroughly."


    As soon as he finished speaking, his massive visage closed its eyes and slowly sank into the ancient tree.


    "Yes¡­ Grandfather," Lillian whispered.


    Although Atbolde had agreed, Lillian''s heart did not feel the joy she had imagined as she watched his face gradually disappear.


    "Let''s go."


    She composed herself and took Colin away from Atbolde''s residence.


    Leaving the residence, they walked along the School road.


    Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Colin turned to Lillian and asked,


    "Lillian, what exactly is the Alus Association?"


    Lillian paused slightly and, after a moment''s reflection, answered,


    "Do you know about the Talent Seed? The one needed to become an Official Wizard."


    "I do," Colin nodded. "I just inquired about it from Mentor Atbolde a few days ago."


    "Do you know that Talent Seeds also come in different qualities?"


    Lillian nodded, and as she kept walking, she continued to query.


    Colin shook his head, caught up with Lillian''s steps, and responded, "I haven''t heard about that."


    Atbolde had only mentioned that advancing to an Official Wizard required planting a Talent Seed.


    But he didn''t mention that Talent Seeds varied in quality¡­ The Meditation Method only provides one method and set of materials.


    Would the same method and materials yield Talent Seeds of varying quality?


    Could it be similar to the talent that hatched afterward, mainly depending on the Wizard himself¡­


    Thinking this, Colin turned his head again and asked Lillian,


    "Isn''t the type and effect of talent after becoming an Official Wizard mainly dependent on the Wizard himself?"


    "Indeed, it primarily depends on the Wizard himself," Lillian confirmed.


    "When there''s little difference in the Meditation Method and breakthrough materials used, the only thing that affects the strength of the talent and Talent Seeds is the Wizard himself."


    However, she shifted the tone of her conversation and added,


    "But in fact, the choice of materials for advancing to an Official Wizard can also affect the talent later on.


    Moreover, the Wizard himself can also change."


    "Both these changes can indirectly affect the strength of the Talent Seeds, and thus the talent."


    Lillian turned her head to look at Colin and said,


    "Didn''t you just ask me where to find the best materials for cultivating Talent Seeds?"


    Colin was slightly taken aback.


    He clearly asked where it would be better to purchase the materials for cultivating talent¡­


    But that wasn''t the point; he didn''t argue but listened as Lillian continued.


    "If you want to obtain better materials for cultivating talent, the Alus Association is one of the places."


    "But¡­ The materials for cultivating Talent Seeds with different Meditation Methods should be different, right? Has the Alus Association prepared the best materials for all Meditation Methods?"


    Colin inquired, puzzled.


    "Of course not," Lillian shook her head. "Only the materials for cultivating Talent Seeds of our School''s Tin Saint Meditation Method¡­ or rather those ranked in Wizard City, can be found at the Alus Association."


    "Moreover, the quality of materials at the Alus Association is significantly better than usual."


    "I see," Colin nodded, then asked,


    "So the purpose of the Alus Association is to compete for the best cultivation materials, benefiting us to acquire better talents after advancing to Official Wizards?"


    Lillian shook her head, slowly stopping as they had now walked beyond the School.


    "The best materials for cultivating Talent Seeds are just a trivial part of the Alus Association," Lillian declared, her gaze fixed on Colin.


    "But you''re right, the main goal of the Alus Association is indeed to help the top tier of Wizard Apprentices under the Supreme Council to obtain better talents after becoming Official Wizards."


    "This assistance isn''t through better cultivation materials but through enhancing the Wizards themselves."


    "As for how exactly this enhancement is done... you''ll know when the time comes."


    At this point, Lillian paused, then added,


    "But don''t hold too high expectations¡­ our Faction''s Apprentices haven''t had the qualifications to participate in the Alus Association for a long time."


    Her tone remained as calm as ever, but the undertone of resentment was as conspicuous as a patch of green in the desert.


    Colin was slightly taken aback and asked,


    "Is it difficult to qualify for participation in the Alus Association?"


    Lillian shook her head, her expression momentarily hesitant, but the next second, she was candid,


    "In the Tin Saint School, the majority of factions, each year, have at least one or two qualifications to participate in the Alus Association."


    "Hmm, in fact, most apprentices in the School, by the time they are ready to advance to Official Wizard, can obtain a chance to participate in the Alus Association."


    "It''s just that our faction is somewhat special... Generally speaking, we are not assigned the qualifications to participate in the Alus Association."


    With that, Lillian ended her explanation.


    As for why it was special, she did not elaborate... and Colin wisely did not inquire further.


    The two of them fell into silence.


    Colin pondered in his heart.


    ''This so-called Alus Association, actually seems more like a mandatory process, or resource, that every Advanced Wizard Apprentice within the School must go through...'' Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''The benefits are also quite straightforward, already laid out clearly.''


    ''Participating in the Alus Association provides an opportunity, after advancing, to acquire better Talent.


    Without participating, one naturally misses out on the materials needed to nurture a Talent Seed, as well as personal enhancement.''


    Thinking this, Colin sighed inwardly.


    He finally understood the inconvenience of Atbolde''s faction.


    It was an opportunity that every apprentice might normally have, yet here it seemed not so readily available.


    Could it even be possible to lack the qualifications to participate...


    As for whether he wanted to participate in the Alus Association... Of course he did!


    The original host''s aptitude was not great, and his own Talent would probably not be considered genius without Golden Paper.


    If he could ensure that the Talent he acquired after advancing to Official Wizard was better, there would naturally be no reason not to go.


    Unless...


    His gaze flickered, and he suddenly turned to ask Lillian beside him,


    "Sister Lillian, is there any risk to life by participating in the Alus Association? Do all apprentices fight each other to determine the winner?"


    This time, it was Lillian''s turn to be stunned; she responded in confusion,


    "Of course not!"


    "All Wizard Apprentices are important fresh blood for the Wizard Alliance; why would we let you kill each other?!"


    Colin paused, slightly embarrassed, and rubbed his nose.


    "It seems so."


    Although this world is fraught with dangers and filled with anomalies,


    fighting is generally not permitted within Wizard Schools, let alone a battle that endangers lives.


    Previously in Lap School, it was the same; if one wished to fight, the only option was a duel, and that too, with heavy restrictions.


    ''...I wonder why such rules are stipulated?''


    Colin suddenly harbored this doubt in his heart.


    "But there is indeed a risk to life," Lillian added.


    "According to the situation in previous years, the casualty rate among Advanced Wizard Apprentices is around one percent."


    Lillian glanced at Colin, then continued,


    "You came all the way here from the far seas to the south, facing many dangers along the way... You should understand the perils of this world."


    "Although we wizards possess more power than mortals, we are not invincible... Even normal cultivation can lead to corruption and fall. It is quite normal for there to be risks to life in the Alus Association."


    Colin nodded in agreement.


    "Let''s stop here for today. Tomorrow, once my mentor has confirmed, if I can obtain a participation qualification for you, I''ll come to find you,"


    Lillian said.


    "Alright." Colin responded, bid her farewell, flagged down a public carriage, and returned home with mixed feelings.


    *


    *


    *


    *


    *


    *


    I''ll also mention this in the body text: these past two days, I''ve been house-hunting and moving, causing updates to be less frequent. Please excuse this; once I am settled at the end of the month, I promise to provide more stable and frequent updates.


    ¡ª Shi Yuan

 Chapter 218 - 171: The Pure Talent Seed

    Deep within the Tin Saint School.


    Here lay an old-fashioned ancient castle complex.


    Gazing at the familiar mottled walls of the castle, Atbolde felt as if he had returned to the era of hundreds of years past.


    Back then, Neustadt City''s broad roads were not yet filled with steam locomotives billowing black smoke, nor were there serpentine railways stretching out like long snakes...and back then, he was still young.


    Collecting his thoughts, Atbolde continued to advance toward the castle.


    He had not forgotten the reason he had come here today... Lillian was still waiting for his good news.


    Step by step, as he entered the castle, Atbolde''s originally hunched back gradually straightened.


    His already tall stature, bent over by age, grew even taller now!


    The sunlight streaming in from the door behind him cast a giant black shadow on the grey marble floor.


    With each step he took, the deep lines on Atbolde''s face, as if carved by knife and axe, seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible hand, gradually becoming sleek and smooth.


    He had restored his appearance to that of a middle-aged man.


    A middle-aged Official Wizard approached him in the hallway, the golden point in the feather badge on his chest denoting his status as a First Rank Wizard.


    "Are you..." the middle-aged Wizard began, his expression first one of confusion, then immediately, his brow furrowed in shocked murmur, "Lord Rudolph?"


    "It''s been a long time, young Tota."


    Atbolde smiled faintly in response, continuing to walk past Tota without pause.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    The crisp sound of his footsteps echoed down the marble corridor.


    Watching Atbolde''s retreating figure, Tota''s expression gradually turned to one of sorrow.


    After a moment of contemplation, he cast an assisting spell on himself, a flash of light passed, and his robe fluttered without wind.


    Then, with a light leap, his body floated up and he swiftly flew forward along the left corridor.


    *


    *


    *


    Elsewhere.


    Atbolde walked silently through the corridor, each step measured with precise accuracy.


    Frankly, he did not hold much hope for achieving his goal today...


    Even if it was just a modest request for a qualification to attend the Alus Association.


    After a while.


    Just as he was about to reach his destination, a group of grey-robed Wizards headed towards him.


    "Rudolph." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The white-bearded Wizard at the lead greeted him.


    "Robb." Atbolde stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping across the Wizards before him.


    As expected, he soon found Tota, whom he had just encountered.


    "What brings you here this time?" Robb asked bluntly.


    "I have a student who wishes to join the Alus Association."


    Atbolde, expressionless, withdrew his gaze from Tota, who had been looking down, and turned to Robb with his response.


    "The Alus Association..." Robb paused slightly, then put on a smile and said, "Old friend, as you know, your Faction doesn''t have the qualifications to access such resources... This has been determined decades ago."


    "It cannot be changed now, I can''t change it... and neither can Lord Larrel!"


    "I want to see Larrel," Atbolde interrupted.


    "Lord Larrel is busy with experiments..." Robb said with some difficulty, "It''s better not to disturb him."


    "Robb." Atbolde''s tone chilled, but a faint smile appeared on his face, "I think I still deserve an audience with Larrel."


    "..." Robb''s face paled, unable to maintain his smile any longer.


    At that moment, a voice came from behind Robb.


    "Lord Rudolph, considering that Larrel is the mainstay of the Tin Saint School, you should be more understanding. How can we waste Lord Larrel''s precious time on such a minor issue that was agreed upon long ago?"


    Atbolde''s expression remained unchanged as he looked in the direction of the voice; the speaker was a young, unfamiliar Wizard.


    Judging from the feather badge on his chest, he should be a First Rank Wizard...


    Atbolde couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    When had a mere First Rank Wizard begun to speak to him with such a tone?!


    What complicated his feelings even more was the fact that... he didn''t feel much anger at all.


    It seemed as if his emotions had become like flowers in the summer heat, wilted and desiccated by the scorching sun, their petals curled up, lacking the strength to bloom once more...


    However, if one looked closely, it was noticeable that Atbolde''s arms, hanging by his sides, were slightly tensed, the contours of his muscular and knotted muscles like tree roots subtly emerging.


    "Herard!"


    Robb reprimanded the young Wizard behind him in a nonchalant manner, then turned to observe Atbolde''s expression.


    Atbolde took a deep breath inside and maintained the same faint smile, emphasizing once more,


    "Robb, there are some things I do not wish to repeat."


    As he spoke, wooden-like lines began to spread from the chest toward different parts of his body.


    The lines quickly reached Atbolde''s exposed neck and chin.


    An intangible, terrifying presence surged toward Robb and the others like a tsunami!


    "Stop stop stop!" Robb, seeing this, promptly called out, "I''ll take you to see Lord Larrel right away!"


    Atbolde glanced faintly at Robb, the leaf-like network of green lines instantly vanished from his neck and retracted back into his chest.

 Chapter 219 - 171: Pure Talent Seed\\_2

    "Lead the way," Atbolde said indifferently.


    Robb''s eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, but he didn''t say anything more, just pursed his lips and turned around.


    He took a few steps forward and gave a low command to an Official Wizard.


    It was only after he saw the Wizard use witchcraft to speed away that he slowly began to lead the way.


    "The old fart is putting on airs... as if anyone doesn''t know he''s just for show."


    It was at this moment that an almost imperceptible voice came from the ranks of the Wizards.


    Atbolde''s stride paused slightly, his gaze swept imperceptibly, and he spotted the speaker... it was Herard, who had just spoken out in the group.


    But he did not say anything, instead pretending not to hear, and continued to walk forward following Robb.


    He certainly could have lashed out.


    But to lash out would mean that Lillian''s request would definitely be hopeless, that he would not possibly be able to secure a chance for Colin to attend the Alus Association.


    The group walked in silence.


    Robb, as the only Second Rank Wizard, walked at the front.


    Atbolde followed close behind.


    The remaining First Rank Wizards spread out and enclosed Atbolde in the middle.


    They walked on like this for a while longer.


    A familiar grassland came into view for Atbolde.


    An isolated, pointed grey castle stood alone in the center of the grassland.


    Robb led him into it, to a meeting hall on the second floor.


    Distinctive rough stone walls surrounded them, and the floor was covered with neat brown boards.


    Atop the board floor was a brown long wooden table that could seat at least twenty people, with a circle of cushioned chairs placed around it.


    At the main seat at the far end of the long table sat a middle-aged Wizard with rare white hair, his expression stern and serious, the deep wrinkles between his brows seeming as if they could never be smoothed out.


    "Lord Larrel," Robb greeted respectfully, and then led the other Wizards to take their seats on either side of the long wooden table.


    "Larrel," Atbolde greeted as well, pulling out the chair at the other end of the long table, directly opposite Larrel, and sat down.


    "I''m already aware of your purpose here, Lord Rudolph," Larrel said, his gaze heavy on Atbolde.


    "Then, what is the result?" Atbolde asked.


    "I''m sorry," Larrel shook his head, "The contract cannot be changed, the agreement set in those days cannot be altered, Lord Rudolph."


    "Is there no room for negotiation?" Atbolde asked expressionlessly.


    "There is no room for negotiation," Larrel raised his hand to the table and shook his head again.


    "It''s been nearly sixty years... Has the School truly no leniency?"


    The stern expression on Larrel''s face softened slightly as he sighed,


    "Lord Rudolph, the School has always shown goodwill. The Apprentices you''ve taken, aside from not being able to enjoy certain resources, have otherwise received treatment equal to other Factions...


    That Apprentice... Colin, if he really can Advance to be an Official Wizard, the position and work allotted to him will not be downgraded one bit... apart from not being able to obtain certain resources, there is no difference from other Factions..." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Atbolde remained silent.


    Seeing this, Larrel slowly stood up.


    "Lord Rudolph, you are advanced in years and have been injured, why still concern yourself with these struggles?"


    After saying this, as if something had occurred to him, Larrel sighed,


    "Sometimes... perhaps it is ordinariness that is the greatest happiness."


    With that, he turned and left the room.


    Creak¡ª


    The wooden door shook and emitted a grating noise, while Atbolde sat silently in his original seat.


    The conversation was brief, but there really wasn''t much to be said.


    It''s either possible or it''s not... He hadn''t been without forethought on this outcome, but he had inevitably still clung to a sliver of hope.


    Who would have thought, even after sixty years, the stance of the School had not loosened in the slightest...


    ''That incident from years ago...''


    Atbolde''s expression grew somber as he sighed deeply in his heart.


    "Lord Rudolph, please go back,"


    Robb, who was beside him, also stood up and spoke to him slowly.


    Atbolde glanced at him indifferently, did not speak, and slowly rose to his feet.


    Then he walked slowly towards the outside.


    "I told you Lord Larrel couldn''t change anything, coming here was just a waste of time... Ahhh!!!"


    Swish swish.


    Numerous green specks appeared beneath the skin of the speaking Herard, moving about like living insects, causing him to feel an excruciating pain as if ants were biting his flesh.


    The other Wizards'' expressions changed dramatically.


    "Lord Rudolph!" Robb called out in a deep voice while simultaneously waving his hands and casting witchcraft.


    Streams of witchcraft light continuously sprinkled onto Herard''s body... but to little effect.


    The anomaly continued.


    The green specks gradually spread across Herard''s skin, forming vein-like patterns, followed by the sound of poppoping resonating one after another.


    Bright red flowers emerged from beneath Herard''s skin at the intersections of those vein-like patterns and bloomed.


    The process seemed exceedingly painful; Herard couldn''t even groan and just collapsed to the ground, scratching at himself to no avail.


    But he didn''t dare touch those bizarre red flowers, scratching elsewhere instead.


    With force, claw marks quickly appeared, followed by beads of fresh blood...


    "Rudolph!!" Robb''s expression grew more anxious as he shouted again!


    Atbolde''s footsteps paused slightly.

 Chapter 220 - 171 Pure Talent Seed_3

    "Rest assured, I have measure, and the flower will naturally wither after a month. At that time, he will return to his original state... but perhaps the process will be somewhat agonizing."


    "How dare you do such a thing as a member of the same School!" Robb fiercely questioned.


    Atbolde chuckled:


    "As a First Rank Wizard, how dare you offend me time and again?"


    "He doesn''t understand the hierarchy within the School... Or is this, perhaps, your doing?"


    Robb''s face froze.


    Although it wasn''t his doing that Herard acted, he had indeed intentionally let it happen...


    He could have rebuked Herard loudly right from the start, instead of merely making a half-hearted comment...


    Atbolde withdrew his gaze, subdued his expression, and slowly walked away from the castle, leaving behind Robb and his group with unsightly faces.


    *


    *


    *


    In the afternoon.


    At Colin''s residence.


    A public horse-drawn carriage rushed and slowly stopped in front of his door.


    Lillian, with an ugly expression, stepped down.


    Thinking of the outcome Atbolde had described¡­ she was somewhat unsure how to explain it to Colin.


    Moreover, what she feared most was¡ª S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Colin learned that he couldn''t participate in the Alus Association and discovered the true drawbacks of their faction...


    Perhaps, like former Apprentices, he would choose to leave and to switch to another mentor.


    Especially considering Colin''s current Talent, most factions would be willing to accept him.


    Sighing gently, Lillian knocked on the front door.


    Shortly after, the door slowly opened.


    "Lady Lillian," Renee greeted respectfully.


    Following the instructions of the master, she led Lillian to the living room, then headed towards the second floor.


    "I''ll go inform the master."


    Lillian nodded.


    Shortly after.


    Colin came down slowly from the spiral staircase.


    "Lady Lillian, did you come to see me today because the Alus Association matter has been settled?"


    He watched Lillian and asked with a smile.


    Lillian paused for a moment, her usually fair face showing an uncommon hint of embarrassment.


    "Junior Brother Colin, the Alus Association... you might not be able to participate."


    Colin was slightly startled.


    Then Lillian told him most of the facts, explaining the particular problem of their faction''s Apprentices lacking resources¡­ but she did not unveil the underlying reason.


    "I see..." Colin nodded, his heart unavoidably sinking.


    Seeing Colin''s disheartened expression, Lillian fiddled with her hair at her ear and hesitated before speaking:


    "So, Junior Brother Colin, if you still want to participate in the Alus Association..."


    "You might only be able to consider changing mentors¡­"


    After finishing, she couldn''t help but sigh, already anticipating Colin''s decision.


    ''Change the mentor?''


    Colin was startled; it appeared to be an enticing option.


    But soon, he shook his head. Although he had lived quite peacefully since joining the School a few months ago,


    he was fully aware of the intense Faction politics within the Tin Saint School, learning related gossip intermittently from Marjorie and others over the months...


    Moreover, after changing mentors, he might never again enjoy the same freedom without obligations.


    After pondering for a moment, he continued to inquire:


    "Lady Lillian, what exactly is the Alus Association?"


    "Well, as I''ve said, the role of the Alus Association is to help the most outstanding Wizards Apprentices from under the Supreme Council to gain better Talent when they Advance to Official Wizard."


    "Okay." Colin nodded, then suddenly asked:


    "Why exactly can the Alus Association enhance Talent?"


    Lillian organized her words briefly before explaining:


    "Saint Peter the Wizard once said, ''The purity of a Wizard''s Talent Seed depends on the extent of knowledge one has mastered.''"


    "Do you remember the requirement when you broke through to become an Advanced Wizard Apprentice?"


    Colin furrowed his brows, somewhat uncertainly:


    "To master the Meditation Method knowledge thoroughly."


    Lillian nodded.


    "There''s a similar requirement when Advancing to Official Wizard."


    "If one could thoroughly master all the knowledge of witchcraft, meditation methods, etc., before advancing, then a purer Talent Seed can be nurtured."


    "But in fact, most Apprentices cannot fully master every piece of knowledge they''ve learned, thus the purity of the Talent Seed is affected, and so is the Talent."


    "The Alus Association possesses a unique magical artifact called ''Alus,'' whose sole purpose is to allow you to temporarily forget the knowledge that is not well mastered."


    "I see..." Colin responded calmly, yet he felt extremely relieved inside.


    Good thing he hadn''t managed to participate in the so-called Alus Association!


    With the assistance of Golden Paper, he didn''t need to worry about not thoroughly mastering the knowledge he had learned!


    He just needed a bit more time.

 Chapter 221 - 172: Influence

    "What is your decision, Junior Apprentice Colin?" Lillian asked.


    Her expression was calm, ready to accept Colin''s decision to change mentors.


    Colin had joined under Atbolde''s guidance only four months ago... If he chose to stay, that would be the oddity.


    After all, to put oneself in his shoes, staying would mean losing the possibility of enhancing the quality of his Talent, as well as future resources... Who would want to take such a risk that could affect their future?


    Watching Colin''s silent demeanor, Lillian sighed inwardly and added,


    "Junior Apprentice Colin, don''t feel pressured. Water flows downhill; people climb to higher places. It''s the most common thing in the world."


    Colin was slightly startled; he was just grateful that he hadn''t joined the Alus Association and was a bit distracted.


    "Sister Apprentice Lillian," he hurriedly said, "I don''t plan to change my mentor. I will continue to stay."


    This time, it was Lillian who was taken aback, her gem-like blue eyes widening slightly.


    After a moment, she smiled in relief and continued to comfort him,


    "Junior Apprentice Colin, don''t force yourself... The mentor will understand your choice."


    "Sister Apprentice Lillian, you misunderstand. I just don''t like to fight," Colin shook his head and continued, "That Alus Association, even if I had participated, in the end, it''s not guaranteed that I could make use of Alus... As for resources, other places don''t have the peace that I have here with my mentor."


    "Junior Apprentice Colin, are you serious?" Lillian asked, somewhat incredulously.


    "It''s true, I really have no intention of changing mentors," Colin nodded and said solemnly.


    Lillian was taken aback for a second and tried persuading him a few more times.


    Seeing that Colin was serious about not changing mentors, she finally stopped.


    "I will try to obtain the best Magic Potion for cultivating Talent Seeds for you." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After pondering for a moment, Lillian looked at Colin and spoke solemnly,


    "Although I can''t get you the qualification to participate in the Alus Association, getting you the best Magic Potion for cultivating Talent Seeds... I think that shouldn''t be a problem."


    Since Colin had chosen to stay, no matter his reasons, his value in her heart had increased.


    Colin felt pleased and quickly expressed his thanks,


    "Thank you, Sister Apprentice Lillian."


    Although the Golden Paper could give him an effect similar to Alus, he still lacked the best Magic Potion for cultivating Talent Seeds compared to the apprentices who attended the Alus Association.


    If Lillian could find him the best Magic Potion for cultivating Talent Seeds, then there really wouldn''t be much difference between that and having participated in the Alus Association and coming out on top.


    "Mhm," Lillian nodded and then instructed, "During this time, try to thoroughly study the knowledge you''ve already mastered... Don''t learn anything new for now, and when you''ve reached the limit of what you can learn, you can start to cultivate your Talent Seeds."


    "I understand," Colin nodded.


    Afterwards, Lillian chatted with him a bit more and then stood up to leave.


    After bidding farewell to Lillian, Colin stood in the courtyard, quietly contemplating.


    The grass was vibrant green, the flowers and fruits abundant.


    Under Nado''s management, the garden in front of him was ordered and exquisitely maintained.


    A gentle breeze blew, causing it to sway gracefully.


    "Phew¡ª"


    Colin exhaled a breath of stale air and stepped into the Meditation Room.


    Pushing open the thick, grey ironwood door, he sat down on the soft cushion in the middle of the room, and with a thought, summoned the Golden Paper.


    Golden particles slowly congregated.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice (100/100), Ultimate Knight (100/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Tin Ring Meditation Method (1/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Technique Golden; Yili Breathing Method (46/100)]


    [Magic: Zero Level Tricks: Slight; Zero Level Magic: Steel Temperature Resistance Field (16/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (Golden); Fireball Skill II (15/100); Swift Skill I (87/100); Flying and Diving Skill (68/100); Silent (30/100); Traceless (31/100); Detect Evil I (18/100); Purification Evil Power I (20/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Magic Crystal Making¡ªBright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making I (66/100); Blood Pattern Transformation Skill I (36/100); Magic Potion Making: Blue Gelatin Making (62/100)]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    Carefully scanning from top to bottom, Colin closed his eyes gently.


    In the recent months, because he had spent all his time on practices such as the Meditation Method, his proficiency in magic had not improved much.


    As Lillian had said, what he needed most to do right now was to practice his unperfected Meditation Method and Magic to their limits.


    Opening his eyes, Colin prepared to start practicing Magic immediately.


    But the next second, the surging Magic Power gradually subsided.


    His gaze flickered as if he thought of something. He didn''t continue practicing Magic, but instead slowly stood up and walked towards the door.


    Perfecting his Magic Practice was important, but before that, he might need to understand more about the Talent Seed.


    Since whether his knowledge of Magic is thoroughly mastered would affect the quality of the Talent Seed, then¡ª


    Would the amount and types of Magic knowledge he possessed also affect the quality of the Talent Seed he would cultivate?


    With such questions on his mind, Colin called for a public carriage and headed to the School.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    The large horses, with traces of Demon Beast bloodlines, pulled the grey carriage swiftly along the broad road; soon enough, they reached the Tin Saint School.

 Chapter 222 - 172 Influence_2

    After alighting from the carriage, Colin followed the main thoroughfare of the School and made his way forward until he reached the outer perimeter of a round, spired, gray-white ancient castle at its very center.


    Here was one of the most closely guarded places in the entire School¡ª


    the Tin Saint Library!


    After his conversation with Lillian, it was already nearly afternoon.


    Without Lillian''s guidance, he couldn''t go to inquire about information relevant to Atbolde Talent Seeds.


    Hence, he planned to head to the School''s ancient castle library on his own to search in advance and would go to Atbolde for a detailed inquiry early the next morning.


    Of course, with his current status, he didn''t hold out hope that he would find particularly useful information... but it was always beneficial to learn more, if only to increase his knowledge.


    Continuing forward, Colin, well-acquainted with the route, passed through several checks and finally entered the library''s first-floor area... the only area he could access.


    Above, on the high pale yellow ceiling, myriad Bright Crystals the size of ping-pong balls cast a soft white light.


    Under the glow of the white light stood rows of neatly arranged thick, maroon bookshelves that stretched to the end of the line of sight, each covered with semi-transparent protective Witch Arrays emitting a faint white gleam.


    Among the bookshelves, numerous Apprentices moved slowly, perusing the books with great care¡­


    ''The first floor of this library castle is much larger than it appears from the outside,'' Colin mused to himself. ''Perhaps there is some transformation related to space involved.''


    Worth noting is that most of the books on the brown shelves were kept in the form of crystal copies, with only a few original magic books still placed on the shelves.


    Stepping up to several square columns near the front desk, Colin stretched out his arm and reached for the transparent Crystal Ball, the size of a baby''s head, affixed atop the column.


    Inside the Crystal Ball was stored all the information of every book on the first floor of the ancient castle library, including whether they had been borrowed and where they were located, all of which could be queried.


    Talent Seeds... Talent quality... Cultivating Talent Seeds... Mastery of witchcraft knowledge...


    Colin filtered through the keywords one by one.


    Before long, he took a wooden tray designed to hold crystals and books from the front desk and walked toward the bookshelves.


    Following the information he had just queried, he spent about fifteen minutes wandering among the various bookshelves, retrieving a dozen crystals and four or five thick physical magic books. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These were all the books that could potentially contain information about the influence of witchcraft on the cultivation of Talent Seeds, available on the whole first floor of the castle library.


    Holding the tray filled with books, Colin found a corner to sit down and began to read.


    Like the libraries on Earth, the Tin Saint School''s castle library was also very quiet; there wasn''t any sound of talking, nor could one hear the clicking of Wizard''s footsteps...


    Such quietness was mainly due to the constant sound-dampening Witch Array throughout the entire castle library.


    Unlike a Silent Enchantment, or a soundproofing Witch Array.


    The sound-dampening Witch Array did not completely eliminate sound but suppressed the distance across which it could travel.


    Thanks to learning Silent... Colin had some understanding of the underlying principle.


    Simply put, it increased the rate of decay of sound wave energy, causing it to dissipate more quickly... the faintest sounds might not be heard even a meter away.


    Seated, he quickly flipped through the books he had collected.


    With his current reading speed as an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, he soon browsed through the first book.


    The first book had a thick brown leather cover and was several inches thick, but the content about Talent Seeds was only briefly mentioned on a few pages in the middle, and it was vague at that...


    With a sigh, Colin started reading the next book.


    The rustling of pages being turned continued without pause...


    After a long time, the noise turned into the clacking of crystals.


    And so, time passed without his knowing how long it had been.


    Again, Colin reached toward the wooden tray, only to suddenly realize there were no more unread book crystals inside.


    He let out a long sigh and pressed a hand against his temple.


    Although there wasn''t much useful content in these books, a detailed reading had nonetheless broadened his perspective.


    Particularly regarding the precautions for consuming Magic Potions when cultivating Talent Seeds and the choice of some small details, he found it immensely beneficial.


    This knowledge wasn''t something that could be bought in the outside world.


    When he had bought knowledge about Advancing to an Official Wizard back on Bananka Island, looking back on it now, the content was vague,


    As if describing a person by only saying they had facial features, a head, two arms, and two legs... not incorrect, but indeed not very useful.


    Standing up, Colin returned the borrowed physical books and the book crystals and left the castle library.


    Stepping outside, night had fallen, the sky was pitch black with only a bright moon hanging high above.


    ''Unfortunately, I still couldn''t find much information about whether the type and amount of knowledge mastered could also impact the quality of the Talent Seeds,'' he sighed softly in his heart.


    *


    *


    *


    The next day.


    Atbolde''s residence.


    The study on the second floor of the villa.


    "Does the type or amount of knowledge mastered impact the quality of the cultivated Talent Seeds, or affect the type and quality of the Talent later on?" Atbolde, seated in an armchair by the familiar force field window, repeated Colin''s question.


    "Yes," Colin nodded, adding with some puzzlement,

 Chapter 223 - 172: Influence_3

    "Mentor Atbolde, if whether the knowledge learned is completely mastered can affect the quality of Talent, doesn''t that mean the more knowledge learned, the poorer the quality of Talent cultivated when one advances to be an Official Wizard?"


    "That''s not the case," Atbolde shook his head, denying his guess.


    "To answer this question, first, you need to understand a concept¡ªpurity."


    "Purity?" Colin asked in confusion, seeking answers from Atbolde.


    "Yes, purity. If we regard the part of the knowledge learned that is not completely mastered as the impure part, then the concept of purity arises."


    "The more knowledge that is not completely mastered, the more impurities there are, which means a lower level of purity."


    Thoughts flashing like lightning, Colin suddenly realized and hurriedly speculated:


    "I understand, Mentor. The lower the purity, the more it affects the quality of Talent.


    But in fact, purity doesn''t have much to do with how much knowledge is learned."


    "The more knowledge learned doesn''t mean lower purity... Purity only relates to the degree of complete mastery. No matter how much knowledge is learned, as long as it is mastered thoroughly, the purity will be high, and it will not overly affect the quality of Talent."


    Atbolde nodded in agreement:


    "You''ve understood correctly; it is indeed so."


    "What affects the quality of Talent is not how much of the knowledge learned is not completely mastered, but the ratio."


    "No matter how much knowledge is learned, as long as the ratio of the unmastered part remains unchanged, the impact on Talent will also stay the same."


    Colin nodded repeatedly, feeling fortunate countless times for having joined the School.


    Every time he came to ask Atbolde questions, he felt as though hearing the Mentor''s words was better than reading books for ten years...


    "Then, Mentor Atbolde, will the types of knowledge one masters affect the types of Talent obtained after advancing?"


    He gathered his thoughts and continued to ask.


    "That will not be the case either," Atbolde shook his head, briefly explaining:


    "Talent refers to innate abilities."


    "The quality of Talent may weaken due to later influences, but in terms of type and effect, it won''t be too affected by later influences."


    Saying this, Atbolde paused and then added:


    "The only thing that might slightly affect the type and effect of Talent is the Meditation Method used at the breakthrough... The Advanced Meditation Method opens the Spirit Sea and strengthens the soul."


    "And if the soul changes, then nature Talent will also change... Other things like witchcraft, as long as they don''t involve the soul, generally won''t have much impact on the types of Talent later on."


    "However, it''s worth noting that the soul is a very difficult thing to change, even the Advanced Meditation Method only slightly changes the surface."


    After finishing, Atbolde gave a vivid analogy.


    "You can understand it like this, if Talent is a fruit, then there are countless reasons it could become rotten, but it''s very hard to change it from an apple to a pear... So, affecting the quality of Talent is possible, but influencing its type and effect is extremely difficult."


    "I understand," Colin nodded, clearing the doubts in his mind.


    "Thank you, Mentor Atbolde."


    He looked at Atbolde''s aged visage with increasing respect in his heart. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 224 - 173 Litte Street

    "Is there anything else?" Atbolde gazed at him and asked once more.


    Perhaps it was because it was nearing noon, or answering questions had become exhausting.


    Colin always felt that Atbolde''s tone of voice had slowed down even more, and that tired-looking, creased old face seemed to show a hint of weariness.


    "No, Mentor Atbolde."


    Colin bowed slightly, pondered seriously for a moment, and then replied.


    "Um."


    On the lounge chair, Atbolde barely audibly uttered a syllable from his nostrils, then closed his eyes and leaned back, continuing,


    "If there are other questions, you can come to me in the early morning."


    "Now, if there''s nothing else, you may leave first."


    His tone was calm, but the urge was unmistakable.


    "Yes, Mentor Atelbolde!"


    Colin felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly bid Atbolde farewell, "Then I''ll go now."


    Before turning around, he glanced slightly upward at the wooden clock on the wall nearby.


    On the round clock face, the slender hand had just pointed to 11 o''clock.


    ''It''s only just 11 o''clock now... There''s still an hour until noon.


    Strictly speaking, it''s not very early, but it''s not late either.''


    Colin slightly furrowed his brow in confusion.


    He didn''t know if he was being overly sensitive, but he always felt that Atbolde seemed to be urging him to leave...


    Walking out of the study, he subconsciously looked back. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Using the time the study door was closing, he peeked through the gap in the door and saw Atbolde slowly rising from the lounge chair and walking toward the large Force Field window in front.


    Golden sunlight from outside the window shone on his tall frame, casting a deep shadow on the floor that stretched to the door.


    As Atbolde approached, the green trees by the window rustled spontaneously, beginning to sway and making rustling sounds.


    It was then that Colin suddenly realized that the window of this study where Atbolde often stayed faced directly the villa''s rear, where the huge ancient tree, nearly as wide as ten people embracing, stood.


    It was only because the lush leaves had blocked it that he had not noticed it until now... It was only when the trees swayed, revealing small gaps, that the ancient tree was exposed to his view...


    ''The main body of Nado...'' Colin suddenly thought, recalling the brief introduction by Lillian when she had taken him to the ancient tree...


    Snap.


    Although there were many thoughts in his heart, reality was but a moment.


    Just then, the study door snapped shut completely, cutting off Colin''s view and any sound.


    Standing at the door for a moment, Colin gathered his scattered thoughts and began walking downstairs.


    Walking on the wide grey stone path of the School, the surrounding Apprentices hustled by, their footsteps as hurried as his.


    Occasionally, a carriage would pass by, pulled by horses infused with the blood of Demon Beasts.


    Under the influence of their lineage, they often showed distinct features, rugged antlers, fierce teeth, some even sprouting several tails.


    These were all the carriages of Official Wizards... In the Tin Saint School, only Official Wizards were allowed to ride in carriages while all other Apprentices had to walk.


    At this thought, Colin paused slightly.


    ''That reminds me, I''ve never seen Sister Lillian with her own carriage...'' he wondered,


    ''As a First Rank Wizard, Lillian should be able to afford a carriage... I wonder why she always opts for public transportation.''


    Colin felt somewhat embarrassed thinking about how he hadn''t yet repaid Lillian for the Magic Stone he had borrowed.


    ''Should I put off advancing for a while, and make a Magic Potion to repay Lillian first?'' Colin hesitated, his steps gradually stopping.


    But after a moment, he shook his head.


    ''The more debt, the less worry¡ªafter all, it''s been over four months, a few more won''t hurt.''


    ''After all, once I advance to an Official Wizard, the quantity of Magic Potions I can make will obviously increase... No, once I''ve become an Official Wizard, maybe a few thousand Magic Stones will no longer be a problem.''


    With that thought, Colin convinced himself and continued walking towards the School''s exit.


    "I''ll talk to Lillian next time I see her..."


    He stepped out of the School and hailed a public carriage.


    Pfft.


    The robust horse snorted loudly.


    "Sir, where are you going?" The coachman asked respectfully, taking off his gray wide-brimmed hat.


    "To Lieyue Holy Street," Colin replied indifferently.


    "Alright, please sit tight."


    Clip-clop, clip-clop¡ª


    The horse galloped along the road.


    After a while, inside the carriage, Colin slightly furrowed his brows.


    He reached out to lift the curtain of the carriage window and glanced outside, but the street was not the familiar one that led to his home...


    "Stop the carriage."


    He wasn''t panicky, merely spoke indifferently.


    The coachman was just an ordinary knight... probably an Advanced Knight, if Colin wasn''t mistaken. Being an Advanced Wizard Apprentice himself, he naturally didn''t need to fear.


    Moreover, the glowing feather badge of the Tin Saint School on his chest allowed him to move freely in this city without too much caution...


    Of course, caution was still necessary, and he had already fortified himself with a Steel Temperature Resistance Field.


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    Upon hearing him, the coachman promptly pulled on the reins.


    The carriage''s strong lead horse reared up slightly and came to a quick stop.


    "What''s wrong, sir?"


    The coachman''s voice came from the front.


    "Why are we taking the long route?" Colin asked indifferently.


    "Sir, didn''t you know?" the voice of the surprised coachman continued, "The shortest road from Tin Saint Street to Lieyue Holy Street¡ªLitte Street¡ªwas sealed off by the Law Enforcement Team this morning."


    "Sealed off?!"


    "Yes, the entire street was sealed off," the coachman added.


    Colin was taken aback. It was just past eleven in the morning, and he had left his home on Lieyue Holy Street for the School around seven in the morning.


    At that time, Litte Street was normal... No!


    Colin shook his head, recalling that Litte Street seemed less crowded than usual at seven...


    It might have been an illusion...


    But now, just four hours had passed... Could it be that Litte Street was entirely sealed off during this short time?


    "Sir?" the coachman''s probing voice came again.


    "Keep going," Colin instructed, pausing for a moment before asking, "Do you know why Litte Street was sealed off?"


    "Not really..." the coachman mumbled while flicking the whip.


    Colin''s brows furrowed... Not really sure?


    "Sir¡ª"


    But moments later, the coachman''s voice came from the front again:


    "Although I don''t know precisely what happened, I heard from a friend who also drives a public carriage¡ª


    Shortly after the blockade this morning, several large carts that usually transport slaves were seen leaving Litte Street... I don''t know exactly what was inside."


    ''Slave carts...?''


    Litte Street was only one street away from his residence on Lieyue Holy Street... This inexplicably unsettled Colin.


    "Change the route, go to Lex Street next to Tin Saint Street."


    After pondering for a moment, he spoke to the coachman in front.

 Chapter 225 - 174 High Level Elf

    "Very well, sir," the carriage driver hastily responded, swiveled the carriage around.


    Ten minutes later, the carriage slowly stopped outside a detached white villa on Lex Street.


    This was the residence of Lillian.


    Colin stepped out of the carriage and pressed the Magic Power doorbell.


    He wasn''t sure if Lillian was at home.


    Shortly after, the villa door gradually opened, and Lillian herself walked out.


    ''Lillian likely does not have a maid¡­ Why have I never seen one?'' Colin thought to himself.


    "Colin, what brings you here?" Lillian asked, with the surrounding flowers emitting a misty glow.


    Although it wasn''t their first meeting, the scene still filled Colin with wonder.


    "Lillian," he gathered his thoughts, with a serious expression on his face, he broached the matter, "I came to inquire about something... something regarding Tate Street."


    "Do you know why the Law Enforcement Team sealed off Tate Street today?"


    Tate Street was uncomfortably close to where he lived.


    Regardless of the danger... not knowing anything was a danger in itself.


    So, out of caution, he turned the carriage around immediately to find Lillian and inquire about Tate Street from her, being an Official Wizard.


    "Tate Street?" Lillian paused, her expression slightly darkening.


    "Come inside."


    But she didn''t answer him, instead inviting Colin to follow her inside.


    Stepping into the small courtyard, following behind Lillian, Colin got a closer look at the peculiar flowers beside him.


    If one ignored the glow emanating from the flowers, they appeared no different from ordinary flowers elsewhere.


    The petals were similarly soft, the branches tenderly green.


    And there was a variety of species, predominantly hybrid roses, red, pink, blue, and purple mixed together, coupled with the faint glow, making Colin feel as if he were in a dreamy haze.


    As they walked further, the glow on the flowers behind them gradually extinguished.


    Entering the villa, what met his eyes was decor as minimalist as outside, predominantly ivory with hints of green from plants as accents.


    But perhaps because the first floor was spacious and lacked any presence, Colin felt it somewhat desolate.


    He glanced around and couldn''t help but ask:


    "Lillian, do you live here alone? Don''t you have a maid or something?"


    "I live alone¡ª" Lillian nodded, then shook her head, "But I do have a maid."


    She did not elaborate further but led Colin to a seating area near the window on the first floor.


    "Bobi."


    After Colin sat down, Lillian turned and called out toward the distance.


    The next second.


    A little figure, glowing, peeked carefully around the corner not far away.


    Following Lillian''s gaze, Colin only caught a fleeting shadow.


    Bobi had shrunk back.


    "It''s very shy," Lillian explained to him, then called out again, "Come out, Bobi, this is my junior, there''s no need to be afraid."


    "Bobi."


    A crisp, tiny voice came from around the corner.


    "Don''t be afraid, little Bobi," Lillian reassured again.


    After a moment, Colin finally saw a miniature and delicate figure appear in his line of sight.


    The body the size of a fist, golden hair, an emerald green plant long dress¡ªthis was a little elf with the face of a young girl.


    At this moment, it was slightly bowing its head, shyly flapping its translucent wings with golden patterns on its back as it flew towards them.


    ''Could this little elf be the maid Sister Lillian mentioned?''


    But the next second, Colin''s pupils slightly contracted as he discovered something special about Bobi.


    The tiny figure lifted its head and glanced at him, saw him looking, then quickly turned its head away, avoiding eye contact.


    As it turned its head, its golden hair floated up, revealing a pointed ear...


    It was actually an elf with High Level Elf ancestry!


    As is well known, High Level Elves use pointed ears as a symbol of noble blood.


    Ordinary elves'' ears look no different from those of humans, but ordinary elves, out of admiration for High Level Elves, would use special means to make their ears pointed after reaching adulthood.


    However, to avoid overstepping boundaries, the pointed ears of ordinary elves still differ significantly from the naturally pointed ears of true High Level Elves.


    Colin had come across this knowledge while looking through materials at the Tin Saint Library.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, the pointed ears of the little elf in front of him were clearly natural...


    Meanwhile, Bobi, due to nervousness, was flying wobbily and finally reached the side of Lillian.


    "Bobi!"


    It let out a crisp cry and then swiftly hid behind Lillian''s hair.


    "Go brew two cups of black tea," Lillian said with a smile, softly speaking to Bobi, then turned her head to ask him, "Apprentice Colin, would you like milk or brown sugar?"


    "No need for either, thank you, Senior Sister," collecting his thoughts, Colin replied.


    Watching the little elf''s figure leaving, Colin couldn''t help but ask: Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Lillian, does Bobi have High Level Elf ancestry?"


    "I remember it was recorded in the books that mixed-bloods with pointed ears, guided by the residual bloodline information, would head to the almost vanished ancestral land of the High Level Elves, wouldn''t they?"


    Lillian smiled and shook her head, "Bobi probably doesn''t have High Level Elf blood. Its pointed ears might just be some kind of mutation."


    "I initially thought Bobi had High Level Elf blood, but in fact, it can''t even speak, and its magic power is only equivalent to that of a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice... It really doesn''t resemble someone with High Level Elf ancestry."


    Saying this, Lillian paused, then concluded, "Bobi is just an ordinary little elf who is close to me but rather shy around others."


    "That makes sense." Colin nodded, showing no doubt about Lillian''s judgment.


    He hadn''t forgotten that Lillian herself was a genuine hybrid of a High Level Elf and a human... Lillian''s judgment was clearly more accurate than his.


    Thinking this, Colin involuntarily glanced at Lillian''s ears... They were not pointed, just the normal human ear shape.


    It seemed¡ªthe High Level Elf part in Lillian''s bloodline wasn''t prominent, not displaying the pointed ear characteristic.


    The episode over, Colin felt a bit amused by his own initial shock.


    But soon, he gathered his thoughts and continued asking Lillian:


    "So Sister Lillian, what exactly is the reason that Litt Street has been sealed off?"


    Back inside the villa, under the protection of the Witch Array, Lillian didn''t beat around the bush but directly said:


    "Because of the Divine."


    "Last night, a follower of the Divine sneaked into Neustadt City, coming to Litt Street... I don''t know the specifics of his purpose."


    "But last night¡ª" Lillian''s expression was serious as she continued in a grave voice, "Litt Street, almost half of the people died."

 Chapter 226 - 175 Shortcut (Extra 1/20)

    "Divine beings?!" Colin''s pupils shrank slightly.


    Since arriving in Neustadt City, life had been very safe and peaceful.


    Although from time to time, he would hear about the wars in the distant southern seas... but the southern seas were indeed too remote, and he did not take them to heart.


    After all, he was just an insignificant Advanced Apprentice, and such matters would naturally be handled by higher-ranked Wizards.


    Even if he knew about them, it wouldn''t be of any use. He could only use them as talking points.


    But now... had followers of the gods appeared even in Neustadt City?


    More than half the people on Litt Street had died silently...


    "Junior Brother Colin, remember to stay safe recently," Lillian warned with a serious expression. "Although most of those who died last night were ordinary people, you still need to be cautious."


    "Alright, Senior Sister Lillian," Colin replied solemnly, then paused before asking, "So the followers of the gods have not been caught by the Law Enforcement Team yet?"


    Lillian shook her head and explained:


    "As far as I know, the follower has been discovered... or rather, his body has been discovered. After doing who knows what, that believer committed suicide on the spot, and his soul has already dissipated."


    "Dissipated?" Colin was puzzled. "Did it not return to the Divine Country?"


    The soul of a believer is a treasure to the Divine, and for a follower who has carried out their tasks with such dedication, to the point of death for their god, it seemed strange that their soul would simply dissipate without even being taken back to the Divine Country...


    "It did not return to the Divine Country," Lillian shook her head again. "If it happened in Neustadt City, the Supreme Council would not have failed to notice if the soul of a believer was taken back to the Divine Country."


    "At that point, it wouldn''t just be a matter of whether the soul of the believer dissipates... even the Divine being might not end up in a favorable situation." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lillian spoke calmly, but it gave Colin a great sense of security.


    The place he could lean on now was no longer the secluded Blackstone Island, but the vast Siya Continent!


    And his location was right at the center of Siya Continent, the place of the Wizard Alliance.


    Ordinary Divine beings would find it impossible to harm him!


    But soon, another thought crossed his mind.


    Just last night, half of the people on Litt Street had died.


    In the bigger picture, he didn''t have to worry about this place falling into the hands of the Divine like Blackstone Island.


    But on a smaller scale, considering his own self, he still couldn''t afford to let his guard down.


    ''If only I had already advanced to an Official Wizard...'' Colin couldn''t help but think.


    Half of the people on Litt Street had died, and although, as Lillian said, most of them were ordinary people, such as Knights,


    he was still just an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, and it was quite nerve-wracking.


    Swoosh, swoosh¡ª


    Bobi, who had gone to prepare the red tea, finally returned. It was flying, flapping its wings, with two porcelain cups filled with red tea floating beside it, both flying along with it.


    The flying porcelain cups were very stable, even more so than the trays held by ordinary Knight servants.


    While Colin was thinking this,


    Bobi, perhaps sensing his gaze, suddenly shook nervously.


    The two porcelain cups immediately started to waver.


    "Bobi!"


    Seeing this, Bobi''s palms emitted a faint luminescence, its little face turned red with effort as it worked hard to stabilize the teacups.


    The porcelain cups shook, but ultimately not a single drop of liquid was spilled.


    "Bobi."


    Bobi withdrew its hands, looking proudly at the teacups that were about the same size as itself.


    But the next second, it snapped back to reality and, glancing at Colin''s gaze, immediately returned to its timid ways, tilting its head as it brought over the tea before quickly hiding behind Lillian''s hair.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and, after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Lillian, stood up to say goodbye and left.


    ...


    Back at home, without any pause, Colin strode into the Meditation Room.


    He slowly exhaled Golden Paper.


    Particles of pale gold began to gather.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: Advanced Wizard Apprentice (100/100); Ultimate Knight (100/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Tin Ring Meditation Method (1/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Technique Golden; Yili Breathing Method (46/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Slight; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Temperature Resistance Field (16/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (Golden); Fireball Skill II (15/100); Swift Skill I (87/100); Flying and Diving Skill (89/100); Silent (65/100); Traceless (78/100); Detect Evil I (18/100); Purification Evil Power I (20/100)]


    [Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making I (89/100); Blood Pattern Transformation Skill I (36/100); Magic Potion Making: Blue Gelatin Making (72/100)]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    Looking at the dense array of characters, Colin silently sighed in his heart.


    "So many skills, mastering each to the limit... is probably not something that can be accomplished in a short period."


    "Even in the most optimistic scenario, at least more than a year is needed."


    More than a year...


    Colin put away the Golden Paper and stood up, pacing slowly in the Meditation Room.


    After inquiring with Atbolde, he had a clearer understanding of cultivating Talent Seeds.


    As Atbolde had said, cultivating Talent Seeds is like planting fruit trees, the fruit they eventually bear is the Talent gained after advancement.


    The type of fruit is hard to change, whether it''s knowledge acquired or Meditation Methods, at most they can only have an insignificant impact.


    But the quality of the fruit is easily affected...


    If one wants to ensure the quality of their cultivated Talent Seeds, one must master to the limit the knowledge of Meditation Methods, witchcraft, etc., to avoid unmastered knowledge contaminating the Talent Seeds and causing their quality to decline.


    Therefore, fully mastering the Meditation Methods, witchcraft, and skills he had learned was an unavoidable process.


    But for some reason, he felt a sense of crisis looming deep within.


    Litet Street...


    Perhaps because of his experience on Blackstone Island, he now wished he could advance to be an Official Wizard today!


    "How can I reduce the time?"


    Colin paced back and forth in the Meditation Room for a while, then suddenly halted, a light of inspiration flashing through his mind!


    He raised his arm and spread his palm, summoning that dark golden wand he hadn''t used in a long time¡ª


    The Foolishness Scepter!


    As he caressed the scepter, it felt like a mix of gold and wood, Colin pondered deeply.


    Since Alus could improve the quality of Apprentice''s Talent Seeds by temporarily making them forget some of the knowledge they hadn''t fully mastered.


    Then the Foolishness Scepter naturally could as well!


    It''s just that the Foolishness Scepter involved permanent forgetting of knowledge... and it wasn''t good at precise control.


    But to him, such a flaw was not unacceptable.


    Based on his experience of using the Foolishness Scepter before, if it was Fireball Skill II (15/100), using the Scepter excessively would regress to Fireball Skill I, and with slight control, he could easily reach numbers like Fireball Skill I (99/100), Fireball Skill I (100/100).


    Fireball Skill I (100/100), inarguably meant that Fireball Skill I was mastered completely, hence it didn''t affect Talent.


    The difference between Fireball Skill I (100/100) and Fireball Skill II (1/100) was just 10 Limit Breaking Points, which was merely 10 Magic Stones.


    But if you wanted to upgrade a second time Limit Broken Fireball Skill to its limit, it''s not as simple as 10 Magic Stones... It requires lots of time.


    Looking at the Golden Paper once more, Colin weighed his options in his heart.


    He wasn''t planning to use the Foolishness Scepter to downgrade all of his witchcraft by one level, just to select some appropriate ones, to reduce some time.


    Reducing by a month meant advancing a month earlier.


    Time is the world''s most precious treasure, and he naturally understood the reasoning behind ''The later it is, the more things can change.''


    Moreover, once he advanced to be an Official Wizard, he could break limits again with some inconsequential Magic Stones.


    Although he would be slightly behind in progress compared to before, practicing these witchcraft from a higher realm later on would be much more effective.


    It likely wouldn''t take long to recover!


    Considering this, Colin grew even more tempted.


    If done correctly, instead of taking more than a year to cultivate the Talent Seed and advance to be an Official Wizard, now it might only take a few months to attempt the advancement!

 Chapter 227 - 176: Dislike Fighting (4k)

    Colin took a long breath and put away the Foolishness Scepter.


    Official Wizard...


    This goal, which had seemed so far away, now appeared to be within reach.


    As long as he was determined, with the help of the Foolishness Scepter, becoming an Official Wizard was just a matter of time!


    However... before doing all this, some preparations were necessary.


    *


    *


    *


    Three days later, at dawn.


    On Lier Holy Street, outside Colin''s residence.


    "Sigh¡ª"


    A gray-black public carriage gradually came to a stop.


    Lillian knocked on the door.


    "Lillian Senior?" Colin opened the door and asked in confusion.


    "Dark Court Flower, Luo Po Potion, Star Moon Grass... all of the best quality, comparable to those in the Alus Association, take them."


    As she spoke, Lillian took them out one by one from the Storage Ring and handed them to Colin.


    "This... Thank you, Lillian Senior." Colin quickly accepted them and was about to invite Lillian inside when he heard her say:


    "Keep these Magic Potions safe, I have some other matters to attend to, so I''ll be leaving now."


    "Wait!" Colin hurriedly called out to Lillian; he had something to ask her.


    In fact, this time when Lillian knocked on the door, it wasn''t Renee who answered, it was him, precisely because he was planning to find Lillian.


    "What is it?" Lillian asked, puzzled.


    Colin hesitated a bit, but eventually spoke:


    "Lillian Senior, I would like to borrow some Magic Stones from you."


    Lillian was slightly startled, smoothed her hair beside her ear, and asked softly, "How many do you need?"


    "One thousand Magic Stones will do," Colin replied, feeling a bit embarrassed even with his thick skin.


    But it couldn''t be helped.


    If he chose to use the Foolishness Scepter to reduce some witchcraft, then after advancing, he would want to immediately break the limits of the reduced witchcraft.


    Breaking limits required Magic Stones... and he didn''t have any.


    Or rather, he didn''t have time to earn them.


    "Yes," Lillian took out the Magic Stones from the Storage Ring and handed them to Colin, showing no signs of anything unusual as usual.


    This eased Colin''s embarrassment.


    Seemingly recalling something, Lillian then instructed:


    "Junior Colin, try to stay indoors as much as possible in the coming days and focus on your cultivation at home to foster your Talent Seed as soon as possible."


    "Alright, Lillian Senior." Colin nodded and tentatively asked, "Has something else happened in the city?"


    Lillian shook her head, explaining, "It''s still about the matter on Liete Street."


    "Didn''t the devotees of the Divine already die?"


    "According to the Law Enforcement Team''s investigation, there are other devotees. That dead Apprentice was merely to divert attention to cover for the others."


    ''Other devotees!'' Colin''s expression turned solemn, deciding in his heart to stay indoors as much as possible until he became an Official Wizard!


    "In any case, be careful in the coming days. The remaining devotees seem to have special, unusually strong abilities to hide."


    Lillian gave her advice again before hurrying away.


    Her figure gradually receded and eventually boarded a public carriage.


    Colin withdrew his gaze and quickly walked toward the basement.


    Now that he had the Magic Potions and the Magic Stones were ready.


    No need to ponder too much, now he had only one goal!


    That was to cultivate the Tin Ring Meditation Method to its limit, then foster the Talent Seed, and achieve a breakthrough all at once!


    Upon reaching the basement,


    With a gentle wave of his hand, Colin summoned the Foolishness Scepter.


    The next second, pale golden particles gathered... and he summoned the Golden Paper as well.


    Scanning from top to bottom, he pondered inwardly.


    Strictly speaking, any witchcraft or skill that had gone through breaking limits could be downgraded by one level using the Foolishness Scepter, achieving complete mastery to avoid impacting the nurturing of the Talent Seed.


    And after advancing to an Official Wizard, he could immediately spend some Magic Stones to break limits again.


    The only exceptions were the Tin Ring Meditation Method and any witchcraft that hadn''t gone through breaking limits.


    The Tin Ring Meditation Method, derived from the Circulation Meditation and the Tin Saint Meditation Method, would clearly make all his effort from the past three months go to waste if downgraded.


    As for the witchcraft that hadn''t been broken through limits, he couldn''t precisely forget just enough of it.


    And if too much was forgotten, considering the characteristics of the Foolishness Scepter, it would be too dangerous...


    After pondering for a moment, Colin put away the scepter.


    Having understood his current situation, what he should do next became naturally clear¡ª


    He needed to cultivate the Tin Ring Meditation Method and those witchcrafts that had never been broken through limits to their limits, then use the Foolishness Scepter to downgrade the rest of the witchcraft, and then foster the Talent Seed.


    Finally, using Magic Power as fuel and Spirit as a furnace, he would nurture the Talent Seed and achieve a breakthrough all at once!


    "Renee, for the next while, just like before, try not to go out."


    Ascending the stairs, Colin found Renee and advised her before entering the Meditation Room to begin his seclusion!


    Leaves rustled.


    In the yard, a large tree with golden veins swayed, and flowers moved without wind.


    Along the wall, the originally lush vines seemed to accelerate in time, visibly growing quickly, almost covering the entire wall.


    A solemn atmosphere quickly permeated the entire residence.


    The seclusion had begun!


    *


    *


    *


    Time flew by.


    One night, in the Meditation Room, Colin abruptly opened his eyes.


    ''There''s a strange noise!''


    He frowned slightly, listening carefully.


    Thud... Hiss... Ah...


    To ensure his meditation wasn''t disturbed, the Meditation Room was typically made of special soundproof materials, providing good sound insulation. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 228 - 176: Dislike Fighting (4k)_2

    At this moment, even with his Ultimate Knight''s acute hearing, he could only catch some fragmented sounds.


    But this was already abnormal enough...


    After pondering for a moment, Colin cast Defensive Witchcraft on himself, then suddenly stood up and walked towards the door of the Meditation Room, pushing it open with one swift move.


    As he opened the door, the sounds suddenly became clear.


    The noise of buildings being destroyed... screams...


    It seemed that a fierce battle was erupting not far away!


    "Master!"


    A voice came from the side. Renee was already waiting outside the door of the Meditation Room.


    "What''s happened?" Colin asked in a deep voice.


    "I don''t know." Renee shook her head, "Not long ago, there was a loud noise nearby, accompanied by dazzling light..."


    Colin felt a chill in his heart and strode towards the top floor.


    The cool night breeze fluttered his hair, fully revealing his stern face.


    Boom!


    A bright light erupted, forcing him to squint his eyes... If he remembered correctly, the light came from the middle of Cromi Street, next to Lit Street.


    By the light, he could see many Wizards with formidable magic power rushing towards Cromi Street!


    One of those figures, a Witch wreathed in ice crystals, seemed familiar¡ªit was the Third Rank Wizard he had seen at the Teaching Castle of his School.


    Moments later, the light began to fade, and only then did the shock wave arrive belatedly, making his Wizard Robe flutter noisily.


    Then, darkness enveloped the world once more.


    After standing on the rooftop for a while longer, the disturbance at Cromi Street gradually ceased, and Colin went downstairs with his confusion.


    The next day.


    Before Colin could leave to inquire about specifics, Lillian took the initiative to visit.


    "Did you hear all the commotion last night?" Lillian asked.


    Colin nodded and asked, "Senior Lillian, what exactly happened last night?"


    "Divine Believers," Lillian answered succinctly, "Remember the tragedy on Lit Street more than two months ago?"


    "Last night, the remaining believers were located and eradicated."


    "I see," Colin nodded.


    "I came to you precisely because of this matter," Lillian added.


    Then, with a serious expression, she looked at Colin and asked:


    "Do you wish to join the Alus Association?"


    "The Supreme Council has issued a new decree today, concerning the counterattack against the Divine. The Tin Saint School has responded to the call, and if you are willing to travel to the far seas in the south, you automatically qualify to participate in the Alus Association... Our faction treats everyone equally."


    Colin was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a turn of events.


    But the next second, he shook his head and looked at the glowing Golden Paper in front of him, declining Lillian''s kindness.


    "Sorry, Senior Lillian, I really don''t like to fight... So I won''t be participating in the Alus Association."


    Attending the Alus Association might seem tempting, but for Colin now, it wasn''t so necessary anymore.


    Time flies, and it''s already been over two months; he was close to pushing the Tin Ring Meditation Method to its limit... According to the progress in this period, in about ten days, he should truly reach the limit.


    Besides, the other witchcrafts that had not been Limit Broken had also been trained to their limits.


    This meant that, in ten days, he could start cultivating the Talent Seed, attempting to advance to an Official Wizard!


    It may seem fast, but it was actually quite normal... After all, two months for Colin was already considered a long period of time.


    Before, he had pushed the Tin Saint Meditation Method to its limit, broke through the limit, trained to the limit again, and then broke through the limit... Such a cycle only took him three months to reach the golden stage.


    Now, he only needed to push the Tin Ring Meditation Method to a single limit... Even with the increase in difficulty, three months was more than enough!


    So, choosing to attend the Alus Association at this point would undoubtedly be a case of missing the forest for the trees.


    Moreover, from what he learned later, the Alus Association didn''t only have benefits. Just the information that recovering the temporarily forgotten witchcraft would need at least half a year was something he found hard to accept...


    Lillian was somewhat surprised.


    She hadn''t expected that Colin would still refuse the Alus Association even though he was now qualified to join.


    The words Colin had said when he didn''t change his mentor back then, now seemed not just empty words to reassure her.


    Junior Colin... perhaps really didn''t like to fight.


    She didn''t feel any contempt for Colin''s decision.


    Everyone has a different personality, their own way of living - why interfere?


    In fact, she even envied Colin a bit... Having grown up amidst constant strife, she had long since grown tired of it.


    The responsibility weighing on her shoulders compelled her to strive...


    Regaining her composure, Lillian nodded at Colin and said,


    "Since you don''t wish to participate in the Alus Association, remember to thoroughly master your own knowledge before attempting to cultivate the Talent Seed."


    "You must remember¡ª" Lillian''s expression was stern, "cultivating the Talent Seed, planting it, catalyzing its growth to open the Spirit Sea, bearing the Talent Fruit, is a complete process!"


    "Once begun, you cannot stop. You either succeed in advancing or suffer great damage to your vitality..."


    "I understand," Colin nodded.


    After learning of Colin''s thoughts, Lillian stood up to say goodbye.


    After bidding farewell to Lillian, Colin returned to the Meditation Room, continuing his practice!


    So it was.


    Time flew, and before long, ten days had passed.


    On this morning.


    In the residence on Li Ye Sacred Street.


    In the Meditation Room on the second floor, Colin opened his eyes and summoned the Golden Paper.


    The next moment, a clear smile appeared on his face.


    He had successfully mastered the Tin Ring Meditation Method to its limit!


    The next step was to use the Foolishness Scepter to downgrade all his other skills!


    But this undoubtedly posed a problem¡ªif he were to cast the Fireball Technique, an Attack Witchcraft, with the power boosted by the Foolishness Scepter.


    How could he find a place to dispel such immense power without causing too much commotion?


    Might he need to go outside?


    After a moment of hesitation, Colin made up his mind and headed down to the basement.


    If he did not seek perfection all at once and took more time, S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    casting the Wizard''s power-enhanced Fireball with the Scepter of Foolishness, just a little bit at a time, his home''s basement should barely be able to withstand it.


    Standing in the center of the basement, Colin stretched out his right hand and summoned the Foolishness Scepter.


    Moments later, the glow of witchcraft illuminated the basement one after another.


    Hiss.


    Dark Cone Bullets streaked through the air.


    Boom!


    An orange-red Fireball was carefully controlled as it scorched an iron target.


    As the witchcraft was cast again and again, Colin keenly felt his understanding of his own witchcraft gradually diminishing.


    And so, five more days passed, and he had finally pushed all the witchcraft he had learned to their limits!


    In fact, by the second morning, he had already downgraded all his witchcraft and skills by one level.


    The reason it took another three days was because he needed to bring the witchcraft that hadn''t simply dropped to 100/100 but to 99/100 or 98/100, back up to 100/100.


    The process was somewhat tedious, but regardless.


    Finally, the day had come, and everything was ready!


    This morning, as dawn faintly broke.


    In the master bedroom, on the wide bed.


    Having enjoyed a comfortable night''s sleep, adjusting his body and mind to the best state, Colin slowly opened his eyes.


    He threw back the warm grey covers and slowly sat up.


    Golden light seeped through the gaps in the deep grey curtains, preventing the room from being completely dark and instead cast it in a dim light.


    Turning his head to the right, Colin''s mind stirred.


    The next second, the thick grey curtains by the wall automatically drew open to both sides.


    Sunlight, carried by the unique morning breeze, poured in, causing Colin to squint slightly as his spirit rallied.


    Having reached the limit of the Tin Ring Meditation Method the previous night,


    he couldn''t remember the last time he had slept in like this...


    "Huuh¡ª"


    Exhaling a breath of stale air, he felt the blood coursing through his limbs, his body gradually awakening with vigorous energy...


    Colin smiled to himself.


    ''Nothing could be better than this.''


    He got out of bed, stepped into the Meditation Room, and prepared to advance!

 Chapter 229 - 177: Luo Po Potion (Additional Update 2/20)

    "Luo Po Potion."


    Clunk.


    Colin took out a bottle of strange potion, as clear as lake water, and placed it on the low wooden table in the Meditation Room.


    "Star Moon Grass."


    A plant of ordinary-looking green grass was placed right next to the Luo Po Potion. With close observation, one could discover a star-and-moon-like shimmer on its surface.


    "Dark Court Flower..."


    In no time at all,


    Colin had laid out all the Magic Potions he needed.


    Looking at the array of Magic Potions before him, he took a deep breath to calm his somewhat agitated heart, and couldn''t help but thank Lillian once again in his mind.


    The Magic Potions that helped cultivate the Talent Seeds were, in fact, available for free to every Advanced Apprentice at the School, something he only learned later on.


    But what Lillian had given him, clearly, was not something that could be compared with those freely available Magic Potions.


    Pushing aside his mixed thoughts, Colin first picked up the Luo Po Potion and drank it all in one gulp.


    The Luo Po Potion was acknowledged as a great potion, it reduced the hurdles of a Wizard Apprentice advancing to an Official Wizard by one!


    The so-called Talent Seed was actually a point of Spirituality, the convergence of all one''s own attributes.


    Long ago, when there was no Luo Po Potion, cultivating a Talent Seed was a very difficult task for a Wizard. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Patience, Talent, strength, luck - missing any one was not an option!


    But now, cultivating a Talent Seed was no longer a challenge.


    As long as a Wizard Apprentice took the Luo Po Potion and then followed up with the Auxiliary Medicine in order, they could cultivate a Talent Seed effortlessly.


    Of course, such shortcuts naturally had their flaws.


    Compared to the point of Spirituality condensed by oneself... that is, the Talent Seed, the Talent Seed cultivated by taking Luo Po Potion had a more stable quality.


    This also meant that the maximum potential would not be too high, and the minimum would not be too low.


    Of course, this is without considering the influence of un-mastered knowledge.


    On the other hand, this was also in reference to ordinary Luo Po Potions and Auxiliary Medicines.


    In fact, with the quality of Luo Po Potion he was currently taking, as long as guided properly, he could achieve a one hundred percent perfect condensation of Spirituality. There was no difference from the best result of condensation by one''s own abilities.


    As his thoughts kept diverging, he had already reached the end of taking the Magic Potions.


    After swallowing the last Star Moon Grass, Colin slowly closed his eyes.


    The Luo Po Potion inside his body began to take effect, coming into contact with the other Auxiliary Medicines and producing a strange transformation.


    This feeling was like an ancient tree suddenly acquiring vision... a peculiar perception emerged in Colin''s mind.


    Under such a perception, a person... seemed no longer to have a human shape but transformed into a glowing, eerie sphere.


    Within the sphere, the lights were white, blue, red... with an uneven distribution.


    ''Is this what is known as Luo Po Spirit Vision?''


    Colin was shocked in his heart, no less than when he first achieved the heightened perception state after advancing to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    Only, the Luo Po Spirit Vision was unlike the heightened perception state; it was gentler and didn''t have that eerie and spine-chilling sensation of heightened perception.


    While Colin was still inwardly shocked, the Luo Po Potion had already begun the next step¡ª


    Under the effect of the potion, from those variously colored lights, small dots of light began to fly out gradually, converging toward the center of the sphere.


    No matter which light they emerged from, they were as brilliant as the sun, golden in color.


    Steadying his mind, Colin began to assist the medicine in exerting its effects.


    He chose one of the lights and focused his attention on it.


    Under the state of Luo Po Spirit Vision, he could clearly see those tiny, sun-like golden dots inside.


    Most of them were, under the influence of the potion, converging towards the center of the sphere.


    His task was to round up all the dots that slipped through the net.


    With such a clear field of vision, this task was not as difficult as he imagined... in fact, whether the vision was clear enough was also the biggest difference between high-quality Luo Po Potion and its Auxiliary Medicines, and those of ordinary quality.


    In this way, approximately an hour and a half passed.


    The effect of the Luo Po Potion gradually weakened and then completely dissipated.


    In truth, half an hour earlier, the dots of light had already completely converged in the center.


    However, since the potency of the Magic Potion had not faded away, to be cautious, he continued to check each light until now, making sure that all the tiny golden dots had converged at the center.


    Gathering his spirit, Colin felt a tiny, faint golden light in the center of his brow, his heartbeat began to quicken.


    With a gentle exhale of stale breath, he suppressed his surging emotions and quietly waited.


    Another ten minutes went by until the residue of the Luo Po Potion in his body had completely dissipated, leaving no trace... It was the most critical step in advancing, the nurturing of the Talent Seed!


    Normally, nurturing the Talent Seed and prompting its emergence are two processes that need to be carried out concurrently.


    Because if one does not prompt the fusion of the Talent Seed in time, it won''t be long before it would disperse on its own, returning to the light.


    Thump, thump!


    Even after several deep breaths, his heart rate still struggled to return to its usual calm.


    There was no more time for hesitation!


    Colin clenched his teeth.


    Boom!!


    Following the instructions of the Meditation Method, he ignited his Magic Power without any hesitation!


    It was as if he could feel real heat emanating, his chest''s Magic Sea burned as if it bore molten rock, an unbearable fiery pain!


    His jaw muscles involuntarily tensed up, and between the grinding teeth, a squeaking sound emerged as if under unbearable strain!


    From the moment the Magic Power ignited, flesh, Blood Energy, Spirit... everything seemed to be burning, melting.


    And then, it transformed into streams of pure Energy, rushing toward the Talent Seed.


    Like drought-stricken earth receiving rain, the Talent Seed between his eyebrows, now thoroughly nourished, began to grow robustly as if the fast-forward button had been pressed.


    As it grew, the Spirit Core between his eyebrows was forced to expand, and soon, an intolerable pain shot through it.


    But Colin did not stop... He couldn''t stop!


    Once the arrow is off the bow, there is no turning back. There was only one outcome to be had: the opening of the Spirit Sea!!


    Crack¡ª


    A sound like something physically breaking echoed...


    The Spirit Core... cracked.


    But the next second, the Talent Seed glowed like the golden sun, casting a hazy light.


    The Spirit Core continued to fragment, yet it did not completely fall apart.


    An unseen radiance kept the fragments connected, maintaining a whole form, all the while continuously expanding...


    Seeing this, Colin breathed a small sigh of relief... The most dangerous moment had passed, now all that was left was to proceed step by step until the Spirit Sea expanded to its limit, after which he would be able to successfully advance to an Official Wizard!!


    The highest quality Luo Po Potion, the Auxiliary Medicine, the total mastery of his own knowledge, the peak of the Wizard Apprentice level...


    All these factors combined to nurture a Talent Seed, making the process of advancement as easy as drinking water.


    Some more time passed.


    Hum¡ª


    A vibration suddenly emanated from the soul level, jolting Colin awake.


    Like warm water flowing over, starting from his brows, Spirit, flesh... every bit of him underwent a transformation!


    This was a sublimation of the essence of life!!


    Time passed, unknown how long.


    The sublimation finally ended.


    Colin opened his eyes.


    But the next second, without taking time to feel the changes in himself after the advancement, he closed his eyes again.


    He focused his attention toward the spot between his eyebrows!


    A vast sensation came through... The Spirit between his brows had completely changed its form!


    From a Core, it had transformed into a Sea.


    The Talent Seed had also completely unfurled into an odd, golden, tree-like structure, the main trunk of the Talent.


    At the top of the golden tree, a fruit-like body, rich in folds like a brain, was his newly acquired Talent following his advancement to First Rank Wizard.


    At this moment, it was emitting a hazy light.


    The shape of the Talent trunk and the Talent itself are different in the eyes of every Wizard Apprentice.


    Some see an ever-extending grid, others see rings of flowers... His own golden tree was nothing to be astonished about.


    ''Just... what kind of Talent have I obtained?'' Colin wondered, a glint of anticipation rising in his heart.


    Boom... crackle...


    But just as he was about to examine his Talent, a subtle noise suddenly came from outside, not even the well-insulated Meditation Room could block it.

 Chapter 230 - 178 Phantom

    Colin opened his eyes and listened carefully.


    Crackling¡­ Boom¡­


    The sounds outside continued, almost as loud as the night when Cromi Street witnessed the eradication of the followers¡­ What had happened again?


    But the next second, his expression suddenly changed.


    Boom!!


    A loud explosion suddenly erupted, so loud that even the Meditation Room''s barriers seemed deafening!


    This undoubtedly meant that the distance was closer or the battle more intense¡­


    Neither of those was good news!


    Colin''s heart chilled; he didn''t hesitate, nor did he afford to!


    With a thought, he quickly summoned the Golden Paper!


    Pale golden particles converged.


    The next second!


    As his thoughts began to concentrate, the characters at the bottom of the Golden Paper representing the Limit Breaking Point rapidly pulsated and continually dropped.


    Meanwhile, the previously lowered magic began to break limits once again!


    [Fireball Skill I¡ü (100/100)] ¡ª¡ª¡ú [Fireball Skill II (1/100)!]


    [Steel Armor I¡ü (100/100) (golden)] + [Hope Force Field I¡ü (100/100) (golden)] + [High Temperature Tolerance I¡ü (100/100) (golden)] ¡ª¡ª¡ú [Steel Temperature Resistance Field (1/100)!]


    ...


    Moments later, after breaking limits on the main magic, Colin felt somewhat more secure.


    After bolstering himself with the Steel Temperature Resistance Field, he grabbed the Foolishness Scepter and stepped out of the Meditation Room.


    "You two, head to the basement and hide," he briefly instructed Renee and Demi, then quickly made his way to the rooftop.


    With each step he ascended, he felt increasingly the mighty power within him that belonged to an Official Wizard!


    Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything seemed transformed.


    It was as if the thick mud shell that had enveloped him was washed away in one go; he felt as light as if shedding half his weight, his movement ethereally light, nearly surreal.


    His senses, too, seemed as though they had been wiped clean of dust, the darkness of the stairs in front of him posing no obstacle at all.


    Inexplicably, an instinct that seemed innate emerged in his mind¡­ he couldn''t help but act upon this thought.


    The next moment, his spiritual power genuinely burst forth from his body, illuminating the surroundings¡­


    If the spiritual power during his apprenticeship was like rotten wood, then now, as an Official Wizard, his spiritual power was like refined steel, no longer confined within the body, freely moving out as he willed¡­ Sensing the surroundings was merely its most rudimentary use.


    Thinking this, Colin quickly reached the rooftop.


    The orange-yellow light flickered, illuminating the fierce fire nearby¡­ Unbeknownst to him, it had reached evening already.


    The world seemed to display two sunsets at that moment: one dim, barely visible, sinking into the earth.


    And the other brighter, located on Lier Saint Street¡­


    To be exact, in a small square courtyard not far to the right of his residence.


    The buildings in that courtyard had now almost completely collapsed, the flames licking the broken walls and making crackling noises.


    With the aid of the firelight, Colin clearly saw three figures in wizard robes floating midair, warily looking down at the ruined courtyard.


    To his surprise, those three floating wizards were all dressed in the garb he was most familiar with¡ª


    The standard wizard robes of the Tin Saint School¡­


    Clearly, this indicated that they were Official Wizards of the School.


    Colin''s eyes flickered as he speculated to himself,


    "Most of the residences on Lias Holy Street are properties of the Tin Saint School... Could it be that these wizards had gathered here for some reason and then something unexpected happened?"


    Just as he was pondering, the situation took a new turn.


    A sacred and bright beam of light, at an incredulous speed, suddenly burst out from a flickering fire below!


    It then shot towards the leftmost wizard with a plump figure like a sharp sword!


    Unfortunately, the male wizard and his companions were prepared,


    The next moment, a pale blue protective shield suddenly appeared around the plump wizard.


    The two other wizards beside him simultaneously launched powerful attacks towards the source of the beam!


    Hiss.


    The pure white beam clashed with the pale blue shield, eroding each other.


    The plump wizard let out a light exclamation... This attack seemed much lighter than he had anticipated, with the pale blue shield merely fluctuating slightly before it held up against the beam.


    The white beam, now diminished under the defense of the pale blue shield, became thinner and thinner, close to extinction.


    Boom!!


    At this moment, the attacks from the other two wizards struck the fire.


    Deliberately targeting, the wizardry carrying a chilling wind mixed with frost began to spread in all directions, gradually extinguishing the burning flames below.


    With the disappearance of the firelight, the previously obscured view below gradually cleared.


    Seeing this, the plump wizard waved his hand, timely casting a Light Brightness Skill to illuminate the area below.


    But the next second, his heartbeat suddenly missed a beat, and he exclaimed with hair-raising awe,


    "No good!!"


    He then saw a golden dot appearing in the almost imperceptible white beam in front of him.


    That golden point, from the moment it appeared, began to expand rapidly like malignant proliferating cells, ballooning up to the size of a basketball in the blink of an eye!!


    At this moment, the two other wizards beside him finally reacted, their expressions drastically changing, hurriedly fortifying themselves with defensive witchcraft!


    Meanwhile, on the top floor of Colin''s residence,


    There was no longer anyone there. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, after going up to the top floor to view the situation clearly, Colin had decisively gone downstairs, preparing to take sisters Renee and Demi to a distant place for refuge.


    In this world, one of the things you must not do is spectate.


    Why wait, if not to quickly distance oneself from the center of danger while those wizards were confronting each other?


    You see, although he had become an Official Wizard, the witchcraft he knew were still of Zeroth Rank.


    Even now, with the rank enhancement of an Official Wizard, those Zeroth Rank spells had undergone qualitative changes.


    For example, Steel Temperature Resistance Field and other Limit Breaking fused witchcraft, when used, already had the level of normal First Level Lower Magic.


    Perhaps even, with the aid of the Foolishness Scepter, they might reach the level of Middle First Rank Wizardry.


    But now, he knew nothing.


    He had no reason to stay and put himself in danger.


    Boom!!!


    The fierce shockwave came, like a tsunami''s surge, causing the iron staircase downstairs to shake, and the black iron chandelier in the hall to sway and fall, crashing to the ground with a thud.


    ''This might is perhaps comparable to the Sun Fireball once cast by Wizard Lap...''


    Colin''s expression changed slightly, but his robust physical condition allowed him to continue swiftly towards the door, unaffected.


    Renee, holding Demi''s hand, followed close behind him.

 Chapter 231 - 179 Talent

    Clang.


    With force, Colin pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard, instinctively glancing at the sky.


    Illuminated by the lingering white light from the nearby battlefield, he clearly saw several figures emitting a powerful aura swiftly approaching from afar.


    "They must be the wizards from the Law Enforcement Team¡­" his heart slightly relaxed as he was about to stretch out his hand to take the Renee sisters and fly away from there.


    The next second, however, he only saw a figure resembling an old farmer whizzing past his courtyard like a phantom.


    In a fleeting glimpse, Colin also noticed that the old farmer seemed to be carrying a slender figure.


    This unexpected sight sent a chill through his heart.


    His motion to fly away slowly halted.


    But the next second, Colin''s expression suddenly changed.


    For some reason, the old farmer''s figure quickly turned back and was about to sweep through his small courtyard again.


    "You can''t escape, filthy Divine Believer!"


    At that moment, a steady voice like rolling thunder came from afar.


    Behind the old farmer, several imposing wizards were quickly flying in¡­ That obviously was the reason the old farmer''s figure had turned back.


    Hearing the words, the old farmer hastened his flight, his aura chaotic and his figure looking extremely wretched. A look of despair distinctly flashed across his aged face.


    Yet even in such a condition, he still did not let go of the slender figure in his hand¡­


    The old farmer''s figure was about to pass by the courtyard, and Colin was preparing to go back inside to temporarily avoid conflict.


    "Colin! Get out of the way!"


    Then he suddenly heard a voice, quite familiar¡­was it, Lillian?


    The voice came from behind him, but Colin no longer had time to look back.


    Because¡­


    Upon hearing those words, the figure resembling the old farmer suddenly cast his gaze upon him.


    The malice contained in his gaze felt tangibly projected.


    "Cackle cackle cackle¡ª!!"


    Immediately following, perhaps because the old farmer was in a dire situation and his mind was nearing collapse, he let out a few strange laughs and, shifting his direction like the Night Owl, swooped towards him!!


    Colin''s heart sank,


    At the critical moment, he could no longer afford to complain.


    Whoosh!


    He extended his right hand, and a black scepter with dark golden patterns swiftly formed in his palm!


    He lightly exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    The next second, without hesitation, Colin unleashed the most powerful attack he currently had!


    As he moved,


    On the Golden Paper.


    The gold characters behind Arrow Shooting Skill slowly faded, transforming into Arrow Shooting Skill I¡ü(100/100), and the progress behind it sharply dropped, soon crashing down to 1/100.


    In reality,


    Between the flickers of electromagnetic brilliance, a cone bullet nearly the size of a palm formed in Colin''s hand, as an invisible force rapidly brewed within.


    The old farmer did not notice anything unusual, still assuming that Colin was struggling in his last throes. After all, in the perception granted to him by his deity, this wizard was not strong, his aura also unstable.


    In fact, being inconspicuous and unimposing was one of the advantages of Arrow Shooting Skill.


    Zap!!


    Before the old farmer could carefully discern the attack Colin was brewing in his hand.


    The next moment, a bright blue and white light suddenly erupted from Colin''s hand.


    Whoosh!!!


    The palm-sized dark cone bullet, carrying an unmatched force, ferociously shot towards him!!


    Boom!!


    As soon as the Cone Bullet flew out, the deafening sound followed, making visible rings of whitish waves in the air.


    "How is this possible¡ª?!"


    It was only then that the old farmer reacted, his face showing terror.


    This wizard was clearly at most a First Rank Junior Wizard, and his aura was not stable, so how could he launch such a powerful attack?!


    This strike could barely reach the peak power of a First Rank Intermediate Wizard!


    Normally, such an attack might only require full effort to deal with.


    But now, if he didn''t exert all his strength, he might not even be able to save his own life...


    He subconsciously loosened his grip, letting the graceful figure in his hand fall, and then raised his hands, preparing to fully defend against Colin''s incoming attack.


    But the speed of the Cone Bullet far exceeded his expectations; it had already reached his face before his arms were even fully raised.


    Bang!!


    "Phuh!!" The immense pressure forced the old farmer to spit out a mouthful of blood.


    He clenched his teeth, his hands desperately grasping at the dark Cone Bullet spinning in front of his chest; his constant Defensive Divine Skill flickered intensely, struggling to resist the penetration of the Cone Bullet.


    Hiss¡ª


    The sour-sounding friction echoed, and due to the friction, the tip of the Cone Bullet had turned thoroughly red...


    It was also because Colin had chosen a solid Cone Bullet that it hadn''t squished down during this confrontation like another type of hollow-point Cone Bullet would have.


    Although the old farmer was still combating the Cone Bullet, the reality was that from the moment he stopped moving due to the Cone Bullet, the situation on the scene had already settled.


    "That''s enough." A robust voice came.


    As his words fell, a bone-chilling wind suddenly swept through the surroundings.


    A blue-white stream, crystal-like, appeared and swirled toward the old farmer, who was stuck in a stalemate with the Cone Bullet.


    "No!!"


    Seeing the blue-white, crystal-like wind, the old farmer''s pupils contracted, desperately screaming.


    But the next second.


    Whoosh¡ª!


    With the whistling sound of a swift wind blowing through a gap suddenly rising, his voice abruptly stopped.


    The blue-white wind slowly dispersed, leaving only a vivid ice sculpture in its place.


    Colin couldn''t help but shiver, but his attention was not on the ice sculpture... but rather on the Golden Paper in front of him.


    Staring at the Golden Paper, Colin couldn''t conceal his shock.


    On the ancient, glowing Golden Paper, he saw the progress of Arrow Shooting Skill I clearly marked as 11/100!


    11/100...


    He remembered that when he used the Foolishness Scepter just before, he had clearly seen that the progress of Arrow Shooting Skill I on the Golden Paper had decreased to 1/100!


    But now it had inexplicably changed to 11/100!


    He subconsciously took out a Cone Bullet and quietly fired it at the ground beneath his feet!


    The instant the Cone Bullet was fired, the black characters behind Arrow Shooting Skill on the Golden Paper quietly jumped, changing to 21/100!!


    Why was this happening...?


    As if struck by divine intuition, his heart suddenly leapt, and he subconsciously thought of the Talent he had yet to explore on his Golden Tree...


    Could it be...


    But before he could think further.


    "Junior Colin..."


    A figure suddenly appeared in front of him, a slender girl looking unfamiliar...perhaps one of the three wizards he had seen earlier on the rooftop?


    But her voice was familiar... Sister Lillian''s voice?


    The girl was also holding a graceful figure...the same figure that the old farmer had been holding.


    It was only now, upon close observation, that Colin realized this graceful figure was also someone he recognized¡ªthe merchant Betty who had sold him the Magic Erasure Potion.


    A combination of factors led Colin to a growing suspicion, and he looked at the unfamiliar girl in front of him and ventured to ask: sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Lillian?"

 Chapter 232 - 180: In the Shadows (Extra 3/20)

    The girl nodded, her face showing a complex expression, a mix of disbelief and joy...


    "Have you already succeeded in advancing to an Official Wizard?"


    As she spoke, she walked toward Colin.


    With each step, her figure gradually shrank, and the Wizard Robe on her body also shrunk until she transformed into the familiar figure of Lillian.


    Indeed, this girl was Lillian... Colin thought to himself, surprised that Lillian had such a form.


    "Yes, Senior Lillian," he replied, "I have successfully advanced to become an Official Wizard."


    While speaking, he summoned the Golden Paper again. He seemed to be looking at Lillian, but his gaze actually fell upon the Golden Paper.


    After completing his advancement, he had checked the Golden Paper several times, but there had been no change in the Talent section.


    There was only the lone Strong Life sitting there.


    However, after using the Foolishness Scepter to cast the Arrow Shooting Skill... there seemed to be a change on the Golden Paper.


    Underneath the Talent section, a row of blurry black characters quietly appeared, constantly twisting and changing, becoming clearer as time passed.


    Though she had some suspicions, Lillian was still unable to hide her shock upon hearing his answer.


    "Your Talent is...?"


    She blurted out, but then quickly realized that it was somewhat inappropriate.


    The specific effects of a Talent are a sensitive topic... and usually, it''s not made public.


    So she raised her hand to stop Colin.


    Just at that moment.


    "Not bad for Electromagnetic System witchcraft."


    A robust voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.


    A middle-aged Wizard with short, blue-white hair and a beard walked over at a slow pace.


    By his side was the figure of the old farmer now frozen into an ice sculpture.


    And behind him followed three Second Rank Wizards.


    "Have you just advanced to become an Official Wizard?" the white-haired Wizard asked, his tone more affirming than questioning.


    "Yes, Lord Mortilan," Lillian answered for him quickly.


    "Lord Mortilan," Colin greeted in turn.


    The Wizard in front of them was undoubtedly a genuine Third Rank Wizard, and naturally, Colin could not afford to be disrespectful.


    "Just after advancing to become an Official Wizard, you managed to cast such a powerful witchcraft," Mortilan continued, "I think... it''s because of that scepter in your hand, right?"


    Colin''s heart tightened involuntarily, but he did not intend to hide anything... The Foolishness Scepter was just an external object, not his true reliance.


    Moreover, hiding something from a Third Rank Wizard was not a wise choice.


    But before he could explain, he saw Mortilan smile warmly, patting his shoulder as he added:


    "Don''t be nervous, I recognize that scepter... A very famous artifact¡ªthe Foolishness Scepter."


    "About five hundred years ago when I was still a First Rank Wizard, I saw it once. Unfortunately, its owner at the time, having killed a powerful enemy with it, mutated and fell in an instant..."


    Mortilan sighed, and then he added a word of advice, "If you can use the Foolishness Scepter less, then do so...


    As far as I know, over time, the price you pay for enhancing witchcraft of the same intensity will become increasingly high."


    "This change is not a slow incremental increase, but rather, it may suddenly surge one day."


    "If at that time you find that you have paid a little too much..."


    Mortilan left his words hanging, but his meaning was very clear.


    If you are used to enhancing a certain witchcraft''s intensity at the cost of 10 progress points.


    One day in the future, when using the Foolishness Scepter to enhance the witchcraft to the same intensity, you might find that the price suddenly spikes, far exceeding ten points.


    Then, when that witchcraft is completely forgotten but the price is still insufficient, other knowledge will be forgotten immediately...


    This was undoubtedly very dangerous.


    Colin shivered inwardly, taking the warning seriously to heart.


    He hadn''t expected the Foolishness Scepter to have such a downside!


    In fact, he had also noticed that at the Official Wizard stage, the enhancing effect of the Foolishness Scepter was not as significant as the difference during the Apprentice phase.


    Using nearly 100 progress points as an Apprentice, he could enhance the Arrow Shooting Skill, at its peak Apprentice power, to match the minimum intensity of a normal First Rank Wizard.


    That was a difference of an entire Rank.


    But now that he had become an Official Wizard, with Rank enhancement, he could barely reach the lowest intensity of First Rank Wizard just by using the golden Arrow Shooting Skill.


    But using the Foolishness Scepter, he could only elevate it to the level of a First Rank Intermediate Wizard, which was only a minor increase in Rank.


    "Are you all members of the Tin Saint School?" Mortilan spoke again.


    "Yes," Lillian answered, with Colin nodding along.


    "Hmm, what is your name?" Mortilan asked him.


    Colin was slightly taken aback and quickly responded, "Colin Leonard."


    "Colin," Mortilan spoke with a serious, stern tone, "I inform you in the name of the Law Enforcement Team."


    "You have contributed to the capture of a Divine Believer and will be rewarded accordingly by the Law Enforcement Team afterward."


    Having said that, he paused and then asked, "Is there anything in particular you want?"


    Colin felt a small rush of joy... He hadn''t expected that being forced to counterattack would bring such a pleasant surprise.


    After pondering for a moment, he replied, "Witchcraft, Lord Mortilan, I''d like a First Rank Witchcraft, preferably of the Elemental type, related to the Fire Element."


    Though it was said that his assistance in the capture was meritorious, in reality, even without him, the downfalls of that believer were merely a matter of time.


    Therefore, his request couldn''t be too high.


    "Hmm," Mortilan nodded, then pointing to Betty, who was being supported by Lillian, he said, "Hand her over to me."


    Lillian nodded and handed over the still unconscious Betty to Mortilan.


    With a similar spell as used on the other side to the ice sculptures, Mortilan levitated Betty. He then ascended into the sky with the other Law Enforcement Team Wizards and vanished into the distance.


    "Senior Lillian," Colin withdrew his gaze and couldn''t help asking with curiosity, "What is all this about?"


    "I don''t know the specifics, I was here just because I was bringing two other School Wizards to visit Betty today to act as a bridge between them... but happened upon this believer making a move on Betty."


    After finishing, she paused to think and then added,


    "However, judging by the Divine Power fluctuations, this believer seems to be under the same Divine entity as the previous believer."


    "So, is he a remnant fleeing from the last purge, or a new believer that we hadn''t yet discovered?" Colin interjected.


    "A new believer,"


    Lillian answered after a moment of silence.


    "Are there other Divine Believers in the city?" Colin sighed softly.


    Although he asked the question, he already knew the answer.


    To use a saying from his past life, when you see one cockroach, it implies that there are at least ten more hidden in the dark corners you can''t see.


    If the old farmer believer had remained undetected, then it''s very likely that more undiscovered believers existed in the city...


    For a moment, he felt worried.


    But... even though he had become a First Rank Wizard, facing the current situation, he was still just a small boat drifting with the waves.


    Overthinking was useless, it was better to quickly learn some First Rank Witchcraft to increase his power.


    "Apprentice Colin," Lillian didn''t answer his last question but instead directed him,


    "Now that you''ve successfully advanced to an Official Wizard, remember to visit the School first thing tomorrow; there are many procedures to be taken care of."


    After speaking, she watched Colin, feeling as though everything was too dreamlike.


    Could it be that this Wizard, who had joined the Tin Saint School less than a year ago, had already advanced to an Official Wizard?


    Such news was too shocking, and even now, she still couldn''t settle her mind.


    And then there was that Electromagnetic System Attack Witchcraft...


    "Senior Lillian, what exactly are the procedures for tomorrow?" Colin asked.


    "Mainly, you''ll need to exchange your School Badge, test for Talent quality..."


    Lillian gathered her thoughts and began explaining to Colin.


    After talking a little more, Lillian said her goodbyes and left.


    As he watched Lillian''s figure disappear in the distance,


    Colin stood in place for a while before returning to the Meditation Room.


    He opened the Golden Paper. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The characters under the Talent section were still blurry... It seemed more time was needed.


    Colin slowly closed his eyes, patiently waiting.


    The sunset had already fallen behind the earth during the battle, and it was now night, with calm restored all around.


    Only the occasional passing of Knight Guards on the road outside of the yard hinted at the difference in this night.


    The moon quietly rose, and when it reached its zenith,


    A profound sense emerged within him, with no need for guidance, Colin subconsciously looked towards the Golden Paper.


    He saw that in the Talent section of the Golden Paper, the blurred characters gradually became clear, and eventually solidified into ¡ª


    [True Talent: Superbrain (0/100)]

 Chapter 233 - 181 Superbrain

    "True Talent?"


    Seeing the characters on the Golden Paper, Colin was slightly taken aback... He did not know what the specific difference was between True Talent and ordinary talent.


    Continuing to read on, he focused his gaze on the Superbrain Talent.


    Just like the Strong Life Talent, the Superbrain Talent also had progress indicators, which clearly could be enhanced.


    However, while the Strong Life Talent was serendipitously improved by practicing the Knight Breathing Method, it was unclear what could enhance the Superbrain Talent.


    As for the effects of the Superbrain Talent... Colin tried to concentrate his spirit on it.


    Unlike the Strong Life Talent, which had no annotations... A brief description slowly emerged in his mind after a moment.


    "Superbrain, Extraordinary Brain. Your brain-related abilities are slightly enhanced."


    After pondering over it, Colin felt a surge of joy.


    He had originally thought the effect of the Superbrain was just a simple enhancement of learning ability, but the actual effect was much stronger than he had imagined!


    Extraordinary Brain, huh... Such effects from just a slight enhancement? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Colin carefully felt his own condition.


    His mind was indeed clearer than ever... He had thought this was just the normal manifestation of advancing to a First Rank Wizard, but now it seemed it might also be related to the Superbrain Talent.


    He continued his exploration.


    He didn''t know if the standards of the Golden Paper were too high or what... but his own feelings were far more pronounced than "slight"!


    His memory became vivid like photos and videos, detailed without omission!


    And it wasn''t just visual memory; he could even recall the smells and textures of past scenes he had experienced!


    It seemed hardly sufficient to describe this performance as photographic memory, as even those memories he thought he had forgotten were now fully recalled.


    Opening his eyes, Colin pondered for a moment, then took out a Cone Bullet and tossed it upward.


    Watching the Cone Bullet slowly ascend in the air, and then fall under the force of gravity, he reached out and caught it.


    "Reaction speed is also slightly improved, but not as pronounced as the enhancement of memory."


    As for abstract thinking, generalization ability, etc., there were currently no ready testing tools to measure them accurately... but unexpectedly, they likely had been greatly enhanced, just like the memory.


    These enhancements seemed unrelated to strength at a glance.


    But in fact, for wizards who believe knowledge is power, this was the greatest enhancement of strength!


    Even for him, it was the same.


    Though the Golden Paper could ensure his training progressed and helped him break limits, whether it was one or the other, ultimately he still needed to understand and master the knowledge himself.


    This was also why Superbrain could improve the efficiency of every practice session with Golden Paper.


    After reviewing the Superbrain Talent, Colin concentrated his spirit and continued with the unfinished plan¡ªto break the limit on every item listed on the Golden Paper!


    As his thoughts settled, the characters representing the number of Limit Breaking Points plummeted!


    He did not know how much time had passed.


    Sitting cross-legged, Colin slowly opened his eyes, his thoughts stirring.


    Countless pale golden particles slowly converged in front of him, finally forming the ancient look of the Golden Paper.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: First Rank Wizard (0/100); Ultimate Knight (100/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Tin Ring Meditation Method¡ü (100/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Technique (Golden); Yili Breathing Method I (0/100)]


    """Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: omitted; Zero Level Witchcraft: Steel Temperature Resistance Field (3/100); Arrow Shooting Skill I (21/100); Fireball Skill II (0/100); Swift Skill I (0/100); Flying and Diving Skill I (0/100); Silent I (0/100); Traceless I (0/100); Detect Evil I (0/100); Purification Evil Power I (0/100)"""


    """Skills: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making¡ª(Bright Crystal Making (Golden); Image Capturing Crystal Making I (0/100); Blood Pattern Transformation Skill I (0/100); Magic Potion Making: Blue Gelatin Making I (0/100)"""


    """Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)"""


    """True Talent: Superbrain (0/100)"""


    """Limit Breaking Point: 0"""


    Besides the Tin Ring Meditation Method, which now required ten thousand Magic Stones for Limit Breaking, other witchcraft had already broken their limits.


    Looking at the neat characters on the Golden Paper, Colin felt a surge of pleasure.


    It was just a pity... most of the witchcraft, no, almost all the witchcraft on it could no longer keep pace with his current realm.


    Even the Fireball Skill, which had broken its limits twice, was now at best comparable to the weakest level among First Rank Wizards.


    However... Colin slowly stood up and went down to the basement.


    Whoosh!


    A dark Cone Bullet shot out!


    On the Golden Paper, the black characters slightly jumped, and in the blink of an eye changed from 21/100 to 31/100!


    Although almost all the witchcraft he currently controlled could no longer keep up with his current realm.


    Yet with the Golden Paper and the enhancement of the Superbrain Talent, all this was merely temporary.


    Moreover, he might even be able to acquire some Basic Level First Rank Witchcraft at the School tomorrow¡­ There was no need to worry about this aspect.


    Perhaps it was because he had just advanced to Official Wizard, feeling exhilarated, or perhaps it was the influence of last night''s Divine believer... Colin spent the rest of the night practicing witchcraft until dawn broke.


    Though he had not slept all night, he still looked refreshingly alert, as though he could go on for several days without rest.


    From the stage of Official Wizard, the differences between a wizard and an ordinary person would become increasingly evident.


    Seeing it was about time, Colin walked upstairs to have breakfast before hurrying to the School.


    As he walked, he looked at the Golden Paper.


    Even though he had looked at it many times, he still found it somewhat unbelievable!


    The power of the Superbrain Talent was even stronger than he had imagined.


    Just one night of hard work, apart from skills like Fireball Skill II, Steel Temperature Resistance Field, and Blood Pattern Transformation Skill, all other witchcraft that he controlled had broken their limits again!


    And the Fireball Skill II was also close to reaching its limit again, with progress reaching 65/100, while the Steel Temperature Resistance Field was slightly behind at 38/100.


    Deep down, he had a premonition that these two witchcraft might once again break limits and reach the level of First Rank Witchcraft!


    Just a pity, on the panel all witchcraft except Fireball and Steel Temperature Resistance Field had reached gold status after breaking limits twice.


    This meant they could temporarily no longer improve, and he would need to find similar witchcraft to merge with in order to continue breaking limits.


    By the time the sun had fully risen, and the stunning morning glow dispersed, Colin had arrived at the Tin Saint School, Atbolde''s residence.


    As soon as he entered the villa, Colin saw Lillian sitting on the leather sofa in the hall, appearing to have been waiting for a long time.


    "Good morning, Lillian," Colin greeted her.


    "Good morning, Colin," Lillian closed the black-covered book in her hands, stood up, and looked at him with an indescribable expression.


    Even though a night had passed, in her heart, it was still somewhat unbelievable that Colin had advanced to a First Rank Wizard...


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you to meet Instructor Atbolde," Lillian looked away, suppressing her mixed thoughts, and said faintly to Colin, "After meeting the instructor, the School will also need to test the quality of your talent. After testing your talent quality, they will assign you your subsequent tasks..."


    "There''s a lot to do, we better hurry."


    Having said that, it seemed she remembered something; Lillian turned her head and added:


    "As a First Rank Wizard, it''s not like being an Apprentice without any responsibilities, you should be mentally prepared."


    "Alright, Lillian," Colin nodded.

 Chapter 234 - 182 The Upcoming Alus Association

    Atbolde''s study seemed to be constantly bathed in bright sunlight.


    It was like this in the morning, near noon... and now just as the sun had just risen, it was the same.


    It seemed that outside the massive force field windows of his study, the sun was always perfectly aligned.


    The orange-yellow brilliance was confined by the frames of the windows, forming a square as it slanted onto the floor, enveloping Atbolde who sat in the lounge chair.


    His white hair was dyed golden by the sunlight, and a hint of surprise flickered across his aged face as he confirmed,


    "Are you saying that Colin has advanced to a First Rank Wizard?"


    "Yes," Lillian nodded and added, "Last night he also encountered a Divine Believer...probably devoted to the same Divine as the previous one."


    "Divine Believer¡­" Atbolde murmured softly.


    Who would have thought that so much had happened in just one night...


    "Guru, since Colin has advanced to a First Rank Wizard, according to the rules of the School, you need to take him to test his Talent and receive subsequent Meditation Methods," Lillian said.


    Atbolde nodded slightly, his furrowed brow smoothing out, and a genuine smile slowly spread across his old face.


    No matter what, as long as Colin had truly succeeded in advancing to an Official Wizard, that was undoubtedly good news!


    Heaven knows how long it had been since their Faction had produced an Official Wizard.


    Alas... he had not managed to secure Colin a place in the Alus Association.


    Atbolde felt a slight sigh within, tinged with a bit of guilt.


    If it weren''t for the reasons related to their Faction... If Colin could have normally participated in the Alus Association and gained access to Alus,


    the quality of Talent he would have acquired would definitely have been better, and his potential after advancing would have been greater.


    But now, although Colin had advanced quickly, this also represented hastiness.


    As everyone knows, mastering witchcraft thoroughly requires no short amount of time.


    Under such circumstances, the highest Talent Colin could receive after advancing was probably only Second Class...


    "Let''s go."


    Despite his many thoughts, Atbolde did not stop; he slowly stood up and said to Colin and the others,


    "I''ll take you to test your Talent."


    Following Atbolde, they made their way.


    Before long, they arrived deep within the School, finally stopping at a huge black semi-circular fortification.


    "Good morning, esteemed sir."


    Upon entering the fortress, the First Rank Wizard on duty greeted respectfully, looking puzzledly at the aged, Second Rank Wizard whom he had never seen before.


    "Register him... he just advanced to a First Rank Wizard yesterday," Atbolde removed his own badge, requested Colin''s badge, stacked them together, and handed them to the duty wizard.


    This place was one of the most important locations of the School, known as Black Castle.


    Only here and a few other locations could afford to have a First Rank Wizard on duty.


    "Very well, sir," the First Rank Wizard on duty was about to respectfully receive the badges handed by Atbolde when


    a voice came from the side.


    "Atbolde, what are you doing here?"


    Larrel walked in with Robb, expressing his confusion.


    Normally, Atbolde always stayed at his residence and seldom ventured deep into the School.


    After Larrel had last rejected Atbolde''s request concerning the Alus Association qualification at the ancient castle, he had never seen Atbolde in the depths of the School again.


    It was unknown what Atbolde intended by coming to Black Castle this time...


    Larrel''s expression was cautious, and many speculations surfaced in his mind.


    It seemed he thought of something when he frowned and said,


    "Atbolde, if you have come to Black Castle so that your student may gain entry into the Alus Association, then I must regretfully tell you again ¡ª that is impossible. Your faction cannot obtain the qualification for the Alus Association.


    Moreover, the Alus Association meeting is about to begin. The list of participating apprentices has been finalized, and there are no spare slots left... We are here for this matter."


    Larrel spoke in one breath, hoping as much as possible to dispel any ideas Atbolde had...


    After he had refused Atbolde the last time, one of Robb''s subordinates, a First Rank Wizard named Herard, had nearly lost his life, his body covered in fresh flowers.


    Although he later learned it was because Herard had provoked Atbolde, if it were claimed that Atbolde had no emotions to vent, Larrel wouldn''t believe it.


    If it had been an ordinary Second Rank Wizard, it wouldn''t have been so troublesome as a Third Rank Wizard himself.


    But it was Atbolde...


    "Lord Larrel, you misunderstand," Atbolde replied without anger, merely explaining with a smile, "I am here to register my student, who has successfully advanced to Official Wizard."


    Larrel''s furrowed brow relaxed, and a trace of astonishment flickered across his stern, old-fashioned face.


    Successfully advanced to First Rank Wizard?


    To know that advancing to First Rank Wizard was never an easy feat, and even in the annual Alus Association where apprentices used Alus''s help, the success rate for advancing to First Rank Wizards was only thirty to fifty percent.


    Atbolde''s student had advanced on his own to Official Wizard?!


    Why was such a talented Wizard Apprentice assigned to Atbolde''s faction?!


    His heart was full of doubts, which then turned into regret.


    "Is this the one who advanced to First Rank Wizard?" Larrel looked closely at Colin as he inquired of Atbolde.


    "Yes," Atbolde responded indifferently.


    "Mm." Larrel nodded and scrutinized Colin carefully, sighing inwardly.


    ''The School has likely lost another exceptionally talented wizard seed...''


    He didn''t say anything more but proceeded with Robb to the counter next door to handle the affairs of the Alus Association. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The path of a wizard was fraught with hardships and dangers; sometimes, one wrong step could have irreversible consequences.


    A while later.


    "Alright, sir."


    After verifying Colin''s real strength and the School Badge, the duty wizard respectfully handed the School Badge back to Atbolde.


    In the badge, which originally had only three silver feathers, an additional brilliant golden feather now appeared.


    After Atbolde received the badge.


    "Sir, this way please. I will take you to test the specific quality of his talent," added the duty wizard.


    Hearing this, Larrel became interested. He handed the list registration to Robb, stood up, and followed Atbolde.


    "Do you mind if I observe from the side, Atbolde?" he asked faintly.

 Chapter 235 - 183 Talent Witchcraft (Extra update 4/23)

    Atbolde paused slightly, then he turned to look at Colin and sought his opinion with a glance.


    Talent quality wasn''t information that needed to be kept very secretive, it was similar in nature to a Wizard''s affinity for Magic Power.


    It was the specific effects of Talent that had to be kept as secret as possible.


    In fact, given Larrel''s status, even if he wasn''t observing from the sidelines now, he could know Colin''s specific Talent quality from the archives later if he wished.


    Despite that, Atbolde didn''t have the habit of making decisions for others, so he directly threw the question to Colin.


    "I have no objection, Lord Larrel," Colin responded after pondering for a moment.


    "Mhm." Larrel nodded and walked with them towards the special Talent testing room deep inside Black Castle.


    Soon, the on-duty Wizard led them to a thick, black door,


    the surface of which was smooth and had a matte texture, making it impossible to discern the material.


    Upon entering through the door, the first thing that caught their eye was the tall white stone platform situated in the very middle.


    The platform was squarely shaped, a perfect rectangular prism. If not for its jade-like white appearance, it would have looked just like an enlarged brick.


    Apart from the stone platform, there was nothing else in the entire room.


    The surrounding walls, floor, and door were made of the same material, all black, and there were no windows either.


    Now, as the door sealed tightly shut, they seemed to be enveloped in the darkness of the night.


    The only light... Colin looked around and didn''t spot any traces of Bright Crystals or other sources of illumination.


    The stone platform didn''t emit any light either.


    Realizing this, he couldn''t hide his surprise.


    Although the room was all black, it was brilliantly lit, as though it was broad daylight.


    "Open your Supersensitive Vision and take another look," Atbolde, noticing his actions, said with a smile.


    Supersensitive Vision?


    Colin nodded, and as Atbolde had suggested, with a quick thought, he activated his Supersensitive Vision.


    White.


    White¡ª


    Contrary to reality, the room''s colors abruptly switched in the Supersensitive Vision.


    What was once black walls, black floor, and black door were now pure white.


    And the whites rectangular stone platform suddenly turned black, an ink-like black.


    If it weren''t for the Tainted babbling that, though sparse, still floated through the air, unseen for ages, the platform would have been the only black in the room.


    "This is a special object called the Blood Pattern Giant Stone," Atbolde explained,


    "There are a known total of 102 Blood Pattern Giant Stones in the Wizard World, and their sole purpose is to test the quality of a Wizard''s Talent."


    While Colin was observing the room, Larrel was observing him.


    Supersensitive Vision, although an essential Skill for every Official Wizard, wasn''t something that every Wizard could master shortly after advancing.


    Moreover, observing the state of Wizards under Supersensitive Vision could offer a glimpse into their resistance to Tainted babbling.


    Such resistance was very important for a Wizard.


    A moment later, Larrel shifted his gaze away, having gauged Colin''s resistance and feeling increasingly regretful.


    Let''s see what his actual Talent is...


    At this moment, Atbolde''s speech also came to a close.


    "There are still many mysteries about the Blood Pattern Giant Stone that remain unsolved... Perhaps, it has other effects as well."


    "But as far as the effects that have been discerned so far, the only effect of the Blood Pattern Giant Stone is to test the Talent quality of Wizards, and it is limited to First Rank Wizards."


    "The cost it requires is minimal, just a wisp of Magic Power."


    After Atbolde finished speaking, the on-duty Wizard timely asked them:


    "Sir, shall we begin the Talent testing now?"


    "Indeed."


    After both Larrel and Atbolde nodded, he turned to Colin and beckoned:


    "Your Grace, come this way."


    He led Colin to the front of the stone platform.


    Lifting his gaze slightly, Colin only then realized the immensity of the platform, and now, as he approached, he could no longer see the top of it.


    "The Talent test is very simple, Your Grace. You only need to place your palm on the Blood Pattern Giant Stone and input Magic Power... There is no specific requirement for the amount of Magic Power, anything from a thread to the full amount is fine, and the result will not be altered."


    "Alright." Colin nodded, took a deep breath, and without further hesitation, placed his hand on the Blood Pattern Giant Stone in front of him.


    A sensation of cool hardness was transmitted to his hand.


    He began to slowly input Magic Power, roughly a thread more than the smallest amount.


    A moment later, before he could even react, the on-duty Wizard said:


    "That''s enough, Your Grace."


    Colin slightly furrowed his brow, looking at the still unchanged Blood Pattern Giant Stone in confusion.


    The next second, as if realizing something, he activated his Supersensitive Vision. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But immediately thereafter, the confusion in his heart did not diminish but grew even greater.


    Through his Supersensitive Vision, there was still no change in the Blood Pattern Giant Stone, just pitch darkness.


    But...


    Larrel and the others nearby could no longer contain the surprise in their hearts, their astonishment was clearly etched on their faces!


    "First Class Talent..." whispered Lillian, who stood at the back.


    "What a pity." Larrel finally couldn''t help but sigh out loud.


    Although the Blood Pattern Giant Stone could test an Apprentice''s Talent, it could only make a rough judgment, with a precision that is approximately divided into nine levels.


    First Class was the best among them... but obviously, there were differences within First Class.


    Without using Alus, Colin''s Talent after Advancement was able to reach First Class; if he were to use Alus...


    Atbolde beside him also realized this point and felt an increasing sense of guilt.


    "You''re Colin, right?" Larrel suddenly spoke, asking him, "Have you considered changing mentors?"


    ''Change mentors...'' Colin was taken aback and looked reflexively at Atbolde.


    To his surprise, there was no sign of anger on Atbolde''s face.


    The very next second, Atbolde took the initiative to say:


    "Larrel Sir is a powerful Third Rank Wizard, think it over carefully, Colin."


    Lillian remained silent.


    With a thought, Colin quickly inferred the reason, and his heart inevitably warmed.


    Having Atbolde as a mentor... was his fortune.


    Exhaling a heavy breath, Colin shook his head and declined Larrel:


    "I''m sorry, Lord Larrel, I have no intention to change mentors."


    Larrel was taken aback, silent for a moment, and said nothing further.


    As a Third Rank Wizard, such a request... Colin deserved only one such offer.


    On the other side, Atbolde''s aged face broke into a smile.


    Even after so much experience, upon hearing Colin''s response, he couldn''t help but feel content.


    "Alright, it''s now time for you to choose your Talent Witchcraft." After a moment, he spoke again.

 Chapter 236 - 184 Exotic Skill

    "Talent Witchcraft?"


    While following Atbolde outside, Colin asked in confusion.


    "Hmm..." Atbolde pondered for a moment and then slowly explained, "In the School, after each Wizard Apprentice advances to become an Official Wizard, they can select a First Rank Witchcraft for free."


    "This has been a tradition from the beginning, initially just a simple selection of witchcraft, without the designation of selecting Talent Witchcraft."


    "However, later on, most wizards at this stage chose witchcraft that complemented their talents, that is, witchcraft that could assist their talents... Over time, this stage came to be known as selecting Talent Witchcraft."


    "I see." Colin nodded.


    Atbolde hadn''t finished speaking; he paused, then added:


    "The varieties of Talent are numerous, and their effects vary. Even though wizards have come a long way on this path and created many witchcrafts specifically to assist talents, their applicability is not strong.


    Therefore, you can choose witchcrafts that assist your talents or other witchcrafts."


    Perhaps worried that Colin might misunderstand, after finishing, Atbolde added another line:


    "But you must understand that Talent, especially the first one obtained when advancing to a First Rank Wizard, is the foundation of a wizard''s path. Selecting witchcrafts revolving around it is never wrong.


    At this stage, you have to start thinking about the main direction you want to take in the future, how the witchcrafts you learn can complement each other... Once you have accumulated enough, you can start trying to create witchcrafts.


    You must know, none of the famous wizards use witchcrafts created by others."


    Perhaps Atbolde''s fondness for him had increased; this explanation seemed more detailed than before.


    "I understand, Mentor Atbolde," Colin nodded.


    Talent¡­ the foundation of a wizard''s path.


    His gaze flickered, pondering deeply.


    Unfortunately... his Talent wasn''t something straightforward like Fire Element Affinity or great strength; choosing appropriate assisting witchcraft would probably not be easy.


    Thinking so, the group reached a deeper part of Black Castle.


    Naturally, Larrel didn''t continue with them and turned to leave after Colin had refused.


    "Go in, you can roughly describe the effects of your Talent to the Chamber Spirit, and it will recommend possibly useful witchcrafts for you... Don''t worry about your Talent being leaked, you don''t need to describe it in detail, and the Chamber Spirit won''t record the information," Atbolde said as they stopped in front of a grey door, substituting for the duty wizard.


    "Okay." Colin nodded, took a deep breath, and walked in.


    Pushing open the grey door, what appeared before him was a device resembling the inquiry crystal on the first floor of an ancient castle library ¨C only, the one here in Black Castle was larger.


    As he entered, the crystal emitted a soft white light, gradually illuminating the surroundings, and rows of shelves engraved with complex defensive runes appeared out of the darkness.


    To the left of the crystal, the right, behind it, and even on the ceiling were endless brown shelves stretching into the dark beyond the crystal''s light.


    At that moment, a semi-transparent orb of light quietly emerged in the crystal; simultaneously, his newly updated School Badge also glowed softly.


    The next second, a mechanical voice came through:


    "Respected First Rank Wizard Colin, please describe the effect of your Talent."


    Colin''s gaze flickered, he pondered for a moment, and finally spoke vaguely, "Enhanced brainpower."


    "Recommending appropriate assisting witchcrafts for you, please wait," continued the Chamber Spirit.


    After a short time.


    A row of pale white projection characters appeared around the crystal.


    "Please review," the Chamber Spirit said.


    Colin carefully looked from left to right.


    "Tatar Memory Palace," "Digital Calculation Enhancement," "Weak Sanity Resistance Enhancement"...


    Perhaps because the effect he described was overly vague, the range too broad.


    The Chamber Spirit''s recommended witchcrafts from left to right, from top to bottom, densely filled his entire view, at least hundreds.


    Touching them with his fingers brought up detailed explanations of the corresponding witchcrafts.


    After spending some time going through the Chamber Spirit''s recommendations twice, Colin couldn''t help but furrow his brows.


    His Talent, Superbrain, was an overall enhancement of the brain.


    And the assisting witchcrafts recommended by the Chamber Spirit, like the Memory Palace, enhanced computing ability, were actually already covered in his existing Talent.


    Using this one-time free opportunity to select witchcraft after advancing, on these, seemed somewhat not worth it.


    Perhaps¡­ should he forgo choosing witchcraft that assists his Talent and instead select some powerful witchcrafts that could increase his strength?


    Colin shook his head; although Atbolde hadn''t explicitly said he must choose witchcraft that assists his Talent, the meaning expressed in his words was clearly more inclined to have him select witchcraft that could assist his Talent.


    "Witchcraft that enhances brainpower."


    He pondered for a moment, then spoke to the spirit in the secret room again.


    A moment later, the character projection appeared again.


    After carefully reviewing it once more, his gaze settled on a piece of witchcraft in the top left corner.


    After pondering for a moment, he gradually found his answer.


    "Mechanical Mind," Colin said to the spirit of the secret room.


    If one had to point out a flaw in his Superbrain Talent,


    the first would be that the enhancement in combat ability was not as significant as in learning ability, and it would be affected by his own condition.


    Although Superbrain made his brain extraordinary, his body lacked the benefit of natural talent.


    And as a whole, every part of a human is closely related to the rest, a single touch could affect the whole body.


    The brain ignores pain when angry, the concentration decreases when tired, and one tends to panic when nervous...


    Even a brain enhanced by Superbrain would do the same, only to a weaker extent... Perhaps after many Limit Breakings, he could ignore this fact, but not now.


    So, to assist his Superbrain Talent, the direction of choosing witchcraft could obviously be aimed at compensating for these shortcomings.


    And Mechanical Mind just so happened to compensate for the Superbrain being influenced by personal conditions.


    As its name suggests, this witchcraft keeps one''s inner mind as calm as a machine, potentially reducing the impact of negative states.


    Combining his strong logical and computational abilities, he might achieve an effect in combat greater than the sum of its parts!


    It''s worth mentioning that although called Extraordinary Brain, Superbrain is indeed closely related to the spiritual domain of the mind and soul, and Superbrain also indirectly strengthens the spirit and soul.


    In this respect, Superbrain is similar to Mechanical Mind.


    Although Mechanical Mind mechanizes the mindset, its actual area of effect also lies within the spiritual domain of the brain and soul.


    He didn''t have to wait too long.


    Moments later, a white crystal quietly emerged from the darkness directly in front of him, then slowly flew towards him¡ªthis was precisely the crystal template of Mechanical Mind.


    Taking the crystal template, Colin was ready to leave.


    But suddenly his brow furrowed, and he raised his right hand... For some reason, there was suddenly a disturbance in the Storage Ring.


    Hesitating for a moment, he lowered his arm and continued forward, planning to find a secluded and safe place to open it and check later.


    But before he had taken two steps, Colin''s expression changed suddenly.


    The disturbance in the Storage Ring grew more intense, and if he did not remove the source of the disturbance soon, the Storage Ring might not last much longer!


    He hastily reached into the Storage Ring and pulled out the source of the disturbance¡ª


    It was another ring.


    Of a crown style, metallic in material, colored like interwoven gold and silver similar to the Tin Saint School Badge, with intricate details.


    This was exactly the relic he had obtained after slaying the Beast-faced Wizard in the Holy Flame Kingdom! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, the Crown Ring trembled faintly, emitting a buzzing sound.


    The next second!


    Colin''s pupils slightly constricted.


    The Crown Ring suddenly emitted white light.


    The white light flashed and spread out like a ring in all directions.


    Colin''s face darkened as he carefully observed the changes around him.


    To his surprise, the surroundings, including the spirit of the secret room, seemed to have no reaction to the anomaly in his hand.


    "Snap."


    Suddenly, a sound came from beside him,


    "Whoosh!"


    Colin, on alert, turned his head to look, but before he could see clearly, he felt the item in his hand suddenly lighten.


    The Crown Ring had slipped from his grasp.


    Looking in the direction the ring had flown, a thick, brown-black covered book had somehow landed at his feet.


    On its unknown material cover was a crown-shaped slot.


    At this moment, the ring was fitting seamlessly into the slot above.


    Then with a burst of light, the book flowed towards him like water, then disappeared like a ray of light.


    "Exotic Skill¡ªAnando''s Dice."


    The next second, a piece of information slowly emerged in his heart.

 Chapter 237 - 185: Anandos Dice

    "Is the selection finished?"


    Atbolde gazed at Colin who emerged from the secret chamber and asked slowly.


    "Yes, Mentor." Colin halted, subtly nodded his head, and extended his palm to reveal the mechanical mind''s crystal replica.


    However, his attention was actually focused on the bizarre and sudden exotic skill¡ªAnando''s Dice.


    "Then let''s go, I will take you to retrieve the meditation method for your subsequent First Rank Wizard stage," Atbolde spoke again.


    Advancing to a First Rank Wizard was no small matter, involving numerous procedures.


    "Okay, Mentor." Colin nodded and continued to follow Atbolde.


    Retrieving the meditation method went smoothly, and shortly, he obtained the imprinted meditation method for the subsequent First Rank Wizard stage.


    As for whether the content of the Tin Saint Meditation Method was compatible with his current practice of the Tin Ring Meditation Method...


    He had never worried about that problem.


    Golden Paper was just a tool; he himself was the true master of the knowledge.


    After integrating the Tin Ring Meditation Method and pushing it to its limits, he had thoroughly mastered it.


    Merging it with the Tin Saint Meditation Method posed no issues.


    A little while later.


    At the Black Castle entrance.


    "Mentor Atbolde, I will be heading back first," Colin bid his mentor goodbye.


    "Hm, focus on solidifying your strength, ponder more on the direction of the witchcraft you want to major in," Atbolde replied, "As for the responsibilities you''ll take on afterward, we must wait until your advancement files are sent up before they can be assigned to you."


    "When the school sends down a notification, I will have Lillian inform you."


    A First Rank Wizard was already considered the backbone of the school; thus, their work and directions were allocated with more caution, and naturally took more time.


    "Okay, thank you, Mentor Atbolde."


    Colin bowed to Atbolde and briskly turned to leave.


    The location of Black Castle was in the deep core of the school; unlike the outside world, the people passing by here were fewer, with more carriages and other vehicles.


    He walked briskly.


    Soon, he arrived at a secluded place.


    Carefully surveying his surroundings and ensuring there was no one around, his thoughts stirred, and his magic power momentarily diminished significantly.


    An imperceptible golden dice suddenly appeared in front of him, spinning rapidly before slowly stopping, finally settling at the number two.


    Undoubtedly, what he had just performed was the exotic skill he had acquired¡ªAnando''s Dice!


    The golden dice slowly dissipated.


    But in Colin''s heart, two vague directions suddenly emerged.


    One pointed towards the place he had just left¡ªBlack Castle, the other, towards a nearby familiar castle¡ªthe Teaching Castle where he usually attended classes.


    Colin felt a slight surprise in his heart.


    The effect of the exotic skill, Anando''s Dice, was unique¡ªit allowed the detection of the nearest location with valuable items every week.


    Its principle was unknown, but its accuracy was extremely high, and it possessed very special characteristics.


    According to the information he knew¡ªthere were limited people in the whole world who could wield Anando''s Dice.


    ...This undoubtedly further highlighted the rarity of Anando''s Dice!


    But beyond that, he was unable to obtain any other information... Whom the Crown Ring belonged to, or how someone had acquired such an exotic skill, remained unknown.


    However... Colin lifted his head, gazing toward the distant Teaching Castle.


    That Black Castle possessed valuable items was, of course, beyond doubt... but could it be that this Teaching Castle, where apprentices frequently came and went, also concealed something valuable?


    After pondering for a moment, he changed direction, heading towards the Teaching Castle.


    Crossing the wide stone road, entering the path, and then following the path for five minutes, a large, ancient castle came into view.


    Colin''s steps slightly faltered as he carefully recalled the location informed by Anando''s Dice.


    But after a moment, he shook his head and continued walking towards the castle.


    Perhaps it was because he had just mastered Anando''s Dice, and its proficiency was not high enough, that the accuracy of the location provided by Anando''s Dice was about fifty meters.


    Fifty meters was clearly not a very small range, and now it seemed to encompass at least half of the Teaching Castle''s main building.


    However, now that he was here, fifty meters was not too large an area to ignore without investigating.


    Following the area designated by Anando, he started from the first floor.


    At this time, it was still morning, and almost all the classrooms were covered with dense fog or seemed as if shrouded by frosted glass shields, obviously indicating ongoing classes.


    "Good day, sir."


    A Wizard Apprentice patrolling the corridors of the Teaching Castle greeted him respectfully, eyes filled with a hint of curiosity.


    Colin nodded impassively but was inwardly on alert.


    For him, walking alone in the hallway was somewhat conspicuous, especially since he was moving up, floor by floor, clearly searching for something.


    This was not the first patrolling Apprentice to greet him.


    Perhaps the location given by Anando made him more cautious,


    Previously, he hadn''t thought much of it, assuming the School was just very strict about protecting its knowledge.


    But now, the constant presence of patrolling Apprentices in the Teaching Castle seemed somewhat odd.


    Just as he was hesitating whether to leave and come back another time for inspection, the fog encapsulating a nearby classroom suddenly dissipated.


    In the next second, noisy sounds spilled out.


    Colin''s eyes flickered, and after a moment''s thought, he removed the badge from his chest.


    As the crowd of Apprentices dispersed after class, he smoothly blended in among them, and soon relaxed as he continued to observe his surroundings.


    In the School, some classes went on straight through till noon, counting as one session for the entire morning, while others had two separate sessions in the morning.


    It was the time for those attending the two-session classes to break after the first, so not all students were heading downstairs to leave the Teaching Castle.


    Many Apprentices were heading to another classroom, so his presence among them did not stand out.


    Some time passed.


    "Mulan, congratulations on earning a spot at the Alus Association."


    A familiar voice came from behind.


    With the enhanced capabilities of the Superbrain, Colin knew without turning that this was the voice of Leva, who had first informed him of the adverse effects when he enrolled.


    "Thank you, Leva," came Mulan''s voice, filled with poorly disguised pride and vanity.


    Although most Advanced Wizard Apprentices could get a chance to participate in the Alus Association at least once,


    Some earned this privilege in their first year of reaching Advanced Apprentice, while others might only achieve it in their second year or even several years later.


    There was a distinct difference between the two.


    Mulan and Leva''s conversation continued; generally trivial, seemingly aimed at feeding Mulan''s vanity, with Leva constantly offering praise, while Mulan responded with feigned modesty, his words and tone betrayingly proud.


    Colin continued his observation while listening to their conversation, using it to pass time.


    In fact, Mulan and Leva seemed to be right behind him, rather close, especially Mulan, who didn''t bother to lower his voice, making it hard for Colin not to overhear.


    But as he listened, Colin frowned slightly.


    "That silhouette ahead seems familiar¡­" said Leva.


    "Familiar¡­" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luckily, just ahead were the stairs leading to the next floor. Colin quickened his pace and went up the stairs before the pair behind him could react.


    "Let''s move," Mulan urged impatiently, a scoff escaping him, "Or is that another Colin, Kemu, or someone you knew before?"


    "I''ve seen the list of participants for this Alus event; he''s not on it¡­"


    "Let''s go," Leva quickly interjected.


    In the past few days, she had come to understand Mulan''s character well.


    Insecure yet arrogant, sensitive and easily jealous, prone to anger...


    But none of that mattered to her.


    For a Wizard, only talent and potential truly mattered.

 Chapter 238 - 186 Holy Ring

    After escaping from Leva and the others, Colin blended in with the apprentices, continuing his careful search along the staircase.


    Thus, he made his way to the topmost floor of the ancient castle.


    At this time, the end of class had passed and the apprentices in the hallway had once again disappeared without a trace.


    Grey fog slowly enveloped the classrooms.


    Colin approached the window, leaning on the square stone window frame, seemingly gazing into the distance, but if one could stand opposite him, they would notice that his eyes were slightly closed.


    Under the effect of the Superbrain, countless clear images flashed through his mind one by one.


    These were the images he had recorded along the way.


    Such records were far clearer than cameras or image-retaining crystals, containing more, richer information.


    Vision, smell, hearing, even touch, the Superbrain faithfully recorded all the information for him to meticulously review now.


    Starting from the first floor.


    Beneath his feet was a gray stone corridor; in some dark, damp corners, bright green plants stubbornly crawled out of crevices. Above him was a ceiling covered with a layer of rustic softwood in deep brown. To the left were classrooms, some shrouded in mist or covered with frosted protective shields, while to the right, stone archways occasionally flashed by, leading to the grassy lawns and gardens in front of the castle.


    A breeze blew, lifting his forelocks and bringing with it the warm scent of the morning; an apprentice passed by him, carrying the aroma of toasted bread.


    "Sir."


    The apprentice greeted him respectfully, dressed in the standard wizard robe, with medium-length golden hair and a face with some freckles beneath.


    He carefully examined his memory.


    His leather boots tapped on the floor with a consistent sound.


    The sounds were all consistent, the sensations almost the same; at least there was nothing unusual about the places he stepped on for now. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His spiritual power, extending about a foot out of his body, also informed him of the same results.


    Next came the gray walls... also without any peculiarity, only some moss and some obscured, uncleaned scratch graffiti.


    The deep brown ceiling... the classrooms on the left... the end of the hallway...


    Colin carefully revisited each layer in his mind like this.


    Until the apprentice patrolling the top floor had walked back and forth three times, his gaze resting on him eleven times.


    Finally, Colin opened his eyes with some disappointment.


    He shook his head, straightened up, and left from the square windowsill, heading downstairs. The disappointment on his face gradually faded, eventually disappearing.


    Before casting Anando''s Dice, he had not hoped to find anything... in the Tin Saint School, if there were any treasures, how could the school not know.


    Although there were still many classrooms he had not explored, he was not planning to come again.


    The main purpose this time was still to try this newly acquired exotic skill...


    Now that his goal was accomplished, and he had also tested the ability of the Superbrain... he was already quite satisfied.


    As for treasures... with Anando''s Dice, treasures were everywhere, but life was only one, so it was best to be cautious.


    The treasures hidden here in the castle''s teaching building, judging from the abnormal patrolling apprentice, the School probably already knew... perhaps he could directly ask Atbolde.


    While he was thinking, time always seemed to pass faster.


    Taking a public coach, it was not long before he had returned to his place of residence.


    After getting off the coach, Colin caught sight of a young wizard in the uniform of the Law Enforcement Team standing at his doorstep.


    "Excuse me, are you Wizard Colin?" the young wizard from the Law Enforcement Team asked.


    Colin nodded.


    After the young wizard scrutinized him carefully once more, he handed him a wooden box.


    "Master Wizard Mortilan asked me to give this to you."


    Colin was startled, quickly catching on.


    This must be the reward that the white-haired bigwig from the Law Enforcement Team had promised him last night.


    He took the wooden box, went back to the Meditation Room, and sat down cross-legged.


    Snap.


    He opened the brass clasp on the brown-red wooden box, and a light red glow spilled out.


    A red crystal lay inside, carefully cushioned by yellow silk fabric below it.


    Colin took it out, held it in his hand, and after signing the included non-disclosure agreement, the content of a wizard spell emerged in his mind.


    "First Rank Lower Magic¡ªSummon Fire Element."


    "Quality¡ªExcellent!"


    Colin was pleased, excellent quality was rare, second only to the best¡ªoutstanding!


    Outside of rank, wizard spells were also divided into five different qualities: inferior, common, good, excellent, outstanding.


    He hadn''t expected the Law Enforcement Team to be so generous.


    He had thought at most he would manage to acquire a common quality, first rank lower magic spell,


    but it turned out to be Summon Fire Element...


    Shush.


    He cast the Cleaning Technique, sweeping clean the Summon Fire Element Witchcraft crystal that had turned into dust.


    Colin began to carefully examine the wizard spell.


    The so-called Summon Fire Element was actually a name inherited from ancient times.


    Ever since the Elemental Realm fell into Tainted Babbling, there had been no Fire Element available for wizards to summon... Hence, this witchcraft was also sealed away.


    However, fortunately, breakthroughs were later made in Puppetry Technique as well as research on the Fire Element, allowing wizards to regain the power to summon the Fire Element.


    It was more akin to instantaneous cultivation than summoning,


    By simply targeting a Fire Source and casting a spell, they were able to transform it into a Fire Element to be commanded by wizards.


    Compared to the previous method of Summon Fire Element, the content of interdimensional transmission arrays was gone but included part of Puppetry Technique which assigns simple intelligence to puppets.


    Such changes were both beneficial and disadvantageous. The advantage lay in not having to worry about the absence of a Fire Element responding, while the disadvantage was that not all the time could a suitable Fire Source be found, and the strength of the Fire Element might fluctuate significantly depending on the quality of the Fire Source.


    However... the solution was simple for him, that is, to cast the Fireball Technique in advance.


    Then use the Fireball Technique as the Fire Source, to perform Summon Fire Element!


    In this way, the drawbacks of the new version of Summon Fire Element could be mitigated.


    In fact, several typical methods of obtaining a Fire Source were detailed in the Summon Fire Element, including this one.


    Such combinations between witchcrafts were quite common, and some powerful witchcrafts were even composed of several basic witchcrafts.


    After briefly reviewing Summon Fire Element, Colin set it aside.


    He had more important things to do, which was to practice the Tin Saint Meditation Method for the First Rank Wizard phase!


    "From an Official Wizard onwards, the Spirit Sea is opened..."


    Merely glancing over it once, with the aid of the Superbrain, Colin memorized all its contents, then slowly closed his eyes.


    The Meditation Method for the First Rank Wizard phase was far more complex than during the Apprentice stage; if compared by content volume, one was a pond, while the other was a lake.


    Therefore, even with the assistance of the Superbrain, he couldn''t master it immediately...


    It wasn''t until the next day that he finally mastered it.


    Golden dawn lit up the earth, awakening the slumbering creatures, and the sunlight seemed to penetrate the walls, shining into the enclosed Meditation Room, casting a similarly pale golden vintage Golden Paper in front of Colin.


    At this moment, Colin was staring intently at the changes on the Golden Paper.


    After he successfully mastered the Tin Saint Meditation Method for the First Rank Wizard phase, he had expected a new line of characters to appear on the Golden Paper.


    But unexpectedly, the characters of the Tin Ring Meditation Method gradually became blurry and kept changing.


    Just then, simultaneously, after running the Meditation Method containing the First Rank Wizard phase for the first time, the Magic Power inside his body had subtly transformed as well, becoming more solid.


    If the previous Magic Power was a thin mist, sporadically visible, now it was like the densest fog of early morning.


    For Colin, this was not a surprise; it was a normal phenomenon.


    After advancing to a First Rank Wizard, aside from unlocking the Spirit Sea, the Magic Sea at his chest also expanded, and the quality of the Magic Power increased as well.


    The only thing was, why did such an anomaly occur on the Golden Paper...


    As he pondered, a familiar ¡ü symbol suddenly appeared behind the blurry characters.


    Colin paused for a moment.


    ''This is the symbol that appears during Limit Breaking...''


    After a moment of thought, he took out the Magic Stone from his body to convert Limit Breaking Points,


    When the characters after Limit Breaking jumped to 1000, the ¡ü symbol behind the blurry characters finally revealed its glowing edges.


    Without hesitation, Colin concentrated his mind on it and pressed it firmly!


    Bang.


    Moments later, the changing black characters gradually became clearer, finally resolving into¡ª


    [Unnamed Meditation Method (10/100)].


    Subconsciously focusing on it,


    A line of smaller, pale black characters immediately appeared below.


    [A new Meditation Method formed by the fusion of the Tin Ring Meditation Method (Apprentice Stage) and the Tin Saint Meditation Method (First Rank Wizard Stage).]


    ''So that''s it.''


    Colin realized, then slightly closed his eyes, feeling the similarities and differences between this new Meditation Method and the previous ones.


    Moments later, he opened his eyes, his face showing surprise.


    This new Meditation Method was not merely a combination of Tin Ring Meditation Method and Tin Saint Meditation Method, but rather they mutually altered and integrated.


    The alterations to the Tin Ring Meditation Method from the Apprentice Stage were minor, it should be the main blueprint.


    The Golden Paper had made many changes to the Tin Saint Meditation Method from the First Rank Wizard stage, making it into a complete whole with the Apprentice stage Tin Ring Meditation Method.


    This undoubtedly resolved a lingering concern for him.


    Reaching the First Rank Wizard stage, it wasn''t that every meditation practice only included parts of the First Rank Wizard in the Meditation Method.


    If comparing meditation practice to building with blocks,


    One would necessarily need to first build the Apprentice stage level before building the First Rank Wizard stage level.


    Thus, although the Tin Ring Meditation Method was compatible with the subsequent Tin Saint Meditation Method, strictly speaking, it was not a complete whole.


    Like a circular box fitting a smaller square box, there would inevitably be wasted space.


    ''Unnamed Meditation Method...''


    Colin pondered for a moment, then with a thought,


    The black characters on the Golden Paper slowly transformed from[Unnamed Meditation Method (10/100)]to[Holy Ring Meditation Method (10/100)]!

 Chapter 239 - 187 Southern Sea Domain

    Time flew by, and another week had passed.


    In the basement of Colin''s residence on Lye Holy Street.


    Whoosh!


    A fireball the size of a washbasin suddenly appeared!


    The orange-yellow glow reflected on Colin''s impassive face, which seemed stripped of any emotion.


    The next moment.


    A misty red light shot out from his hand, striking the intensely burning fireball in front of him in the blink of an eye.


    The brilliance of spirituality twinkled and the fireball swelled with the wind, instantly conjuring a flaming humanoid figure in the basement.


    Raging flames burned, and heat steamed up!


    With his mechanical mind coupled with his superbrain state, Colin keenly captured every detail before him.


    The hard grey floor slightly blackened under the licks of flame, and some exposed sawdust on the nearby humanoid pig iron target turned yellowish-brown under the sweep of heatwaves.


    ''Approximately two meters in height, the temperature of the flames is about the same as the Fireball Technique. Overall humanoid in shape, but without gender characteristics.''


    Colin waved his right hand.


    Boom!


    The next second, a fireball the size of a human head shot out fiercely from the hands of the Fire Element, brutally striking the pig iron target and then exploding violently!


    Under his deliberate control, the attack power of the fireball was not great; it merely shattered the pig iron target and then stopped.


    Typically, fireballs have two ways of inflicting damage, one is the explosive impact, and the other relies on the high temperature of the flames.


    Spells like Fireball Technique are innate to Fire Elements.


    Now, the newly cultivated Fire Elements, although essentially different from the previous Fire Elements.


    Yet through the relentless improvements by successive Wizards, the cultivated Fire Elements in their behavioral logic and mastered skills have virtually no significant difference from the real Fire Elements, and in some aspects, they are even better than the actual Fire Elements.


    After meticulously testing all the aspects of the Fire Element, Colin deactivated his mechanical mind.


    His icy demeanor gradually melted away, and his gaze became more vibrant and humane. He sighed softly and turned to walk up from the basement.


    Swish!


    With his movement, the Fire Element behind him began to shrink from its limbs and eventually dissipated.


    Walking up the dim staircase from the basement, Colin''s thoughts moved and he called up the Golden Paper.


    [Name: Colin Leonard]


    [Rank: First Rank Wizard (1/100); Ultimate Knight (100/100)]


    [Meditation Method: Holy Ring Meditation Method (15/100)]


    [Breathing Skill: Sunlight Breathing Technique (Gold); Yili Breathing Method I (23/100)]


    [Witchcraft: Zero Level Tricks: Various; Zero Level Witchcraft: (Arrow Shooting Skill; Swift Skill; Flying and Diving Skill; Silent; Traceless; Detect Evil; Purification Evil Power) all Gold; Steel Temperature Resistance Field¡ü (100/100); Fireball Skill II¡ü (100/100);


    First Rank Witchcraft: Summon Fire Element (45/100); Mechanical Mind (51/100)]


    [Exotic Skill: Anando''s Dice (0/100)]


    [Skill: Various]


    [Talent: Strong Life I (4/100)]


    [True Talent: Superbrain (0/100)]


    [Limit Breaking Point: 0]


    These past days, he hadn''t wasted any time. He had basically mastered the witchcraft acquired after advancing to the First Rank Wizard and upgraded his original witchcraft to the limit.


    That meant the Steel Temperature Resistance Field and Fireball Skill II were both ready for limit breaking.


    Unfortunately... he didn''t have any extra Magic Stones to break limits.


    It was time to start strategizing for earning Magic Stones.


    He made up his mind.


    As for asking Lillian for another loan... he really couldn''t bring himself to ask.


    Walking up the stairs to the first floor, Renee was already waiting for him.


    "Master, Lady Lillian has come to visit and is waiting for you in the sitting room," Renee said upon seeing Colin ascend.


    "I understand," Colin nodded.


    "I didn''t expect that I had just thought of Lillian, and she would visit... just that I don''t know why she has come."


    He walked briskly to the reception room, with a hint of puzzlement.


    Lillian was sitting by a window.


    At this time, it was morning, and the golden sunlight poured in from outside the window, shining on Lillian''s equally golden hair, making it even more dazzling, as if enveloped in a hazy halo.


    "Lillian," Colin called out as he approached.


    ''Could it be that Lillian is here to collect a debt?'' For some reason, he thought this to himself.


    But soon, he shook his head internally, dispelling such thoughts... it was clearly because he had not returned the Magic Stones to Lillian for too long and felt somewhat guilty.


    "Colin." Lillian looked at him, squeezing out a faint smile on her serious face.


    Before Colin even sat down, she cut to the chase,


    "The School has assigned you a task."


    "Mm," Colin nodded, pulled out a chair, sat down, and waited for Lillian''s next words.


    "Do you know that the Alus Association will start soon?" Lillian continued.


    "I do," Colin nodded again.


    Last time at Black Castle, Wizard Larrel had mentioned the event, and later, he had heard Leva mention it again at the Teaching Castle.


    "This time, the Alus Association is a bit different from the past," Lillian explained,


    "Due to the current situation of the war in the remote Southern Sea Domain and several attacks on the Wizard Alliance followers, the Supreme Council has decided to set the task location of this Alus Association in the remote Southern Sea... It is said they want to test the apprentice wizards'' actual combat abilities and use these abilities as the benchmark for assessment." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Alus Association this year is so dangerous?" Colin exclaimed, surprised.


    As far as he knew, the tasks of the past Alus Associations were much more benign, and although they still involved a significant amount of actual combat, such battles were usually conducted within secret realms that had been explored and controlled.


    Compared to that, the danger was much lower, and the apprentices were less likely to face life-threatening risks.


    Lillian glanced at Colin but didn''t continue that line of conversation. Instead, she said,


    "Your task is to serve as one of the accompanying wizards for this Alus Association."


    "Hm?" Colin was slightly startled.


    Why would such a task fall to him, a newly Advanced First Rank Wizard?


    Sensing his confusion, Lillian explained.


    "You have just advanced to First Rank Wizard and might not be aware, but the situation in the Southern Sea Domain, while not dire, is also not optimistic."


    "In this half year since you joined the School, the Supreme Council has issued several orders, and by now, nearly every School in the city has sent more than half of their Official Wizards to the Southern Sea Domain... There are not many people left in the School, and even I will probably head to the Southern Sea Domain with you."


    Colin nodded, his expression grave.


    ''The situation in the remote Southern Sea Domain has gotten to this point...''


    He had not forgotten the might of the divine beings.


    Even though he was now a First Rank Wizard, if he had to confront that golden god-like being, he still lacked confidence.


    At the same time, he understood why the School assigned the tasks this way.


    In fact, compared to wizards like Lillian who had to face the war directly, leading a group of apprentices in the supposed Alus Association was evidently less dangerous... The School had assigned him a task with less risk.


    "Lillian, as an accompanying wizard for the Alus Association, what kind of reward does the School offer?"


    After a brief silence, Colin asked.


    Now that the task assigned by the School was a settled matter, instead of continuing to worry about what work carried less risk, it was better to focus on further improving his strength.


    And to enhance his strength, there were two witchcrafts on the Golden Paper that could perform Limit Breaking; only Magic Stones were needed, and his strength would be able to increase instantly.


    Furthermore, before heading to the Southern Sea Domain, he intended to purchase another batch of Zero Level witchcraft to seek fusion and enhancement...


    As for why he didn''t look for First Rank witchcraft...


    In reality, First Rank witchcraft was largely in the hands of the School, and although he had this channel as a member, exchange still required academic points.


    And those First Rank witchcraft that were available outside required a large number of Magic Stones he didn''t have...


    "The reward... like for a First Rank Wizard like myself going to the battlefield, the School will give a one-time subsidy of ten thousand Magic Stones before embarking to the Southern Sea Domain, and the Supreme Council will also issue a subsidy of five thousand Magic Stones.


    As for you, I''m not quite sure," Lillian shook her head, but then added,


    "However, since both are heading to the Southern Sea Domain, I think it should be the same as myself... maybe even more because of the Alus Association."


    Hearing this, Colin breathed a slight sigh of relief, at least there would be Magic Stones by his side.

 Chapter 240 - 188: Making Up for Shortcomings

    "Lillian, when exactly am I to depart?" Colin set down his teacup and continued to ask Lillian.


    "In three days," Lillian replied without hesitation.


    "So soon?"


    Lillian glanced out the window at the courtyard and continued to explain,


    "More than a month ago, the School of Neustadt City already began their preparations. The departure in three days was mutually agreed upon by the Nine Major Schools.


    Whether it''s accompanying Wizards from the Alus Association like you or us who will be participating in the war, we all leave in three days."


    Colin nodded, his heart sinking slightly.


    Departing in three days, such a brief time, it seemed rather rushed for him...


    But in the face of the greater situation, personal demands... often seem the most trivial.


    "I understand, Lillian," he sighed inwardly, accepting the reality.


    Then, as if something occurred to him, he once again spoke, "Lillian, about the Magic Stones I owe you... I''ll repay you once I receive my subsidy."


    "Mhm," Lillian responded shortly, her face calm and serious, without any pleasantries or further words.


    After seeing Lillian off, Colin felt an inexplicable restlessness and went to the front courtyard to wander.


    It was nearing noon; the sunlight was like golden arrows piercing straight down to the earth, falling upon him¡­ but it did not bring the same heat as in days past.


    The summer of the Siya Continent was nearing its end...


    To the left, the apple tree planted by Renee was bearing fruit, small and tinged with green.


    Time flies like an arrow... Colin silently lamented.


    He remembered when he first set foot on the Siya Continent, it was still winter...


    Back then, the biting cold winds mingled with snowflakes, and the captain of the Anzokeka City Guard''s black wide-brimmed hat was frosted over...


    The scene was beautiful, a sight he, who had lived in the south in a previous life, had never seen and which remained vivid in his memory.


    Shaking his head, Colin dismissed the distractions and began to think about what needed to be done in the coming three short days.


    Although Superbrain greatly enhanced his memory, this did not mean he had become a cold computer.


    On the contrary, because past memories became clearer, he found it all the more easy to feel sentimental¡­ but his homeland and the past were now out of reach.


    "Renee, I''m going out for a while, make braised fish for dinner; I''ll be back this evening to eat," he instructed as he walked towards the door.


    "Yes, Master," Renee, who had been following by his side, softly responded, watching Colin leave.


    In the time she had been with Colin, on average, she learned to cook five different dishes from him each week and tried making them herself.


    Braised fish was one of them, which she had already mastered.


    ...


    Half an hour later, Copper Rose Street.


    A public carriage slowly stopped, and Colin alighted, entering the colossal bookstore in front of him.


    This was the largest bookstore on Copper Rose Street, simply named Copper Rose Bookstore.


    "Honored First Rank Wizard Sir, what may I assist you with?"


    Perhaps because of his School Badge and the Tin Saint School uniform he wore, as soon as he entered the bookstore, the bookstore manager came out to greet him.


    The manager was an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, a portly middle-aged man, who now regarded him with respect.


    But a closer look would reveal the manager''s surprise.


    Although Copper Rose Bookstore was the largest in Neustadt City, most of the witchcraft sold were at the Apprentice level; the remaining First Rank Witchcraft was either incomplete or commonplace, aimed more at Wandering Wizards.


    To purchase First Rank Witchcraft, most Wizards would prefer an auction... and Wizards like Colin from a School typically exchanged within the School rather than making purchases externally.


    Without explaining much, Colin simply spoke in an indifferent tone,


    "Bring me some witchcraft related to escape, detection, defense, um, and ones similar to ''Silent'' and ''Traceless''."


    "Very well, my lord."


    The portly supervisor nodded in agreement, took a few steps, instructed a nearby clerk to fetch the witchcraft, then came back, leading Colin to the reception room to sit down.


    The supervisor respectfully poured a cup of tea for Colin, secretly wondering. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''No idea whether the noble lord is buying for research or for his descendants.''


    Colin didn''t have to wait long before several clerks each carrying a list entered.


    Without changing his expression, Colin took the list, casting his first glance at the prices.


    Apprentice-level witchcraft wasn''t expensive; like the ''Silent'' and ''Traceless'' he had previously bought, they had only cost him a total of one hundred and twenty Magic Stones.


    The problem now, however, was that he didn''t have many Magic Stones left.


    Perhaps because he was a First Rank Wizard, every list was densely packed with numerous witchcraft¡ªat a cursory glance, each appeared to have at least a hundred varieties.


    As for the prices, most were between twenty and ninety Magic Stones.


    Seeing this, Colin breathed a slight sigh of relief. After setting aside enough to purchase some supplies, he had about three hundred Magic Stones left... That should be enough to shore up his current weaknesses.


    Yes, after a careful contemplation during his walk in the courtyard, he realized the most pressing issue he needed to address was the inadequacy of his witchcraft arsenal.


    He was soon to head to the Southern Sea Domain¡ªa matter related to his very life, demanding his utmost attention.


    Only, First Rank Witchcraft was either too expensive or required academic points he didn''t have for exchange...


    So he had no choice but to take an alternative route, coming here to buy some Apprentice-level witchcraft, intending to use the Golden Paper for Limit Breaking.


    Colin flipped through the list, carefully making his selections.


    As he mentioned to the supervisor, the only two aspects he currently didn''t need to reinforce were attack and defense¡ªwith the Fireball Technique that could continue to be Limit Broken and the ability to Summon Fire Element, he didn''t have to worry for the time being.


    And defense... the Steel Temperature Resistance Field could also continue to be Limit Broken.


    After this Limit Breaking, it should reach the level of First Rank Witchcraft and be of some use.


    However, to avoid reaching its limit after the next Limit Breaking, he still needed to prepare some similar witchcraft for fusion when the time came.


    "For detection aspects, give me all except ''Detect Evil''..." Colin paused, scrutinizing the prices, and then changed his mind, "Not all, just ''Detect Life'' and ''Detect Magic Power''."


    "Very well, my lord, that will be ninety Magic Stones."


    "And for escape at speed, I''ll need the ''Soaring Technique''."


    "One hundred and twenty Magic Stones."


    The supervisor continued to nod.


    "As for defense..." Colin paused and shook his head, "No need for now."


    The defensive witchcraft listed were either too similar in effect to his current Steel Temperature Resistance Field and hence inexpensive, or were priced over one hundred and twenty Magic Stones and thus quite pricey¡ªit wasn''t that overlap was bad, for as long as it was not total redundancy, there was room for improvement.


    But proper use is essential with scarce resources; having already spent two hundred and ten Magic Stones on the first two aspects, his budget was now just over one hundred... not much was left.


    He wanted to allocate this remaining budget to something of greater value.


    "Also bring me the ''Silence Technique'' and the ''Extinguishing Spell of Mississippi''... That will be all; calculate the total for me."


    While he could continue to Limit Break the defense to strengthen it, the ''Silent'' and ''Traceless'' he''d recently purchased had already turned golden and could no longer be Limit Broken.


    Prioritizing this aspect was more cost-effective.


    However... whether ''Silent'' or ''Traceless'', their Rank and quality were higher than the Arrow Shooting Skill and other such witchcraft. Yet like them, they could only be Limit Broken twice before reaching gold.


    Meanwhile, the same Fireball Technique could still be Limit Broken.


    ''It seems that the Rank and quality of witchcraft do not denote its potential for Limit Breaking,'' Colin mused silently.


    "A total of three hundred and twenty Magic Stones, my lord," the supervisor announced, while instructing the other clerks to fetch the corresponding witchcraft.


    After a while, Colin, with his substantial haul, left the bookshop.

 Chapter 241 - 189 Elf Armor

    The next day.


    Hua Pei District, Tin Saint School residence.


    The monthly Faction meeting was held on the top floor of Atbolde''s residence.


    Colin arrived fashionably late by carriage.


    He hadn''t slept the previous night.


    Partly it was because after advancing to a First Rank Wizard, his need for sleep had greatly reduced, and partly it was because of the urgency of departure...


    Luckily, the Superbrain was potent, and he mastered all the newly purchased witchcraft in just one night.


    "Wonder why Atbolde specifically requested my presence," Colin thought as he walked up the stairs of the villa.


    This morning, after finishing his meditation, he was about to take a short rest when Marjorie suddenly came to notify him of Atbolde''s summoned meeting.


    He initially didn''t want to go, since the monthly meetings weren''t mandatory.


    But Marjorie mentioned that Atbolde had specifically instructed him to be there...


    As he pondered, he had already reached his destination.


    Creak¡ª


    Pushing open the door, the aroma of food hit him instantly. As usual, two tables full of delicacies were spread out before him.


    "Look who has arrived¡ª" Atbolde watched him and said with a rare, vivid smile on his face. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then with two snaps, two small Fireworks Skills soared and exploded in mid-air, scattering dazzling trails of colorful light powder in all directions.


    "Congratulations on successfully advancing to a First Rank Wizard, Colin."


    Behind a shower of falling light points, the benevolent-faced Atbolde smiled and congratulated him.


    Colin was slightly startled.


    "Instructor Atbolde," he greeted, slightly bowing.


    "Thank you," he added.


    In his past life as well as now, he was never one for many words...


    Just, as far as his memory went, it seemed no one had ever celebrated for him quite like this.


    "Congratulations," Marjorie was the first to step forward and congratulate.


    Fanny also smiled and congratulated with a tone filled with envy and disbelief. Although friendly, her manner was noticeably more respectful than before.


    After all, even within a Faction, the hierarchy among Wizards was ingrained deep in the bones of everyone in this world.


    It''s worth mentioning that they had performed the Fireworks Skill just now.


    "Thank you." Colin smiled in response.


    "Apprentice Colin, I truly hadn''t seen it before... Didn''t you say you were an Advanced Wizard Apprentice on a remote island?"


    Nehemiah suddenly injected into the conversation, his tone a mix of shock, not entirely shock... and seemingly laced with some other emotions.


    "Nehemiah¡ª"


    Sitting at the dining table, quiet and just observing them, Lillian suddenly spoke up:


    "A Wizard''s respect is based on strength, now you should address Colin as ''Senior''."


    "Right, what Lillian said." Nehemiah paused, changing his tone quickly without altering his expression, "Senior Colin."


    "Colin''s practiced meditation method happens to be compatible with the Tin Saint Meditation Method."


    Atbolde timely interjected, interrupting their conversation.


    "Sit down, Colin, I have something more to say to you all," he added.


    Seeming to know something, Lillian also got up from her seat and sat down on one of the five chairs lined up next to Atbolde.


    Once they had all seated, Atbolde surveyed the room and then slowly began,


    "There are mainly two purposes for this meeting, one is to celebrate Colin advancing to an Official Wizard, and the other is to bid farewell... to say goodbye to Lillian and Colin."


    "They are about to depart for the Southern Sea Domain."


    "Lillian and Colin... heading to the far Southern Sea?" Joe muttered hardly audibly, obviously hearing this news for the first time.


    Surprise was clearly etched on Fanny''s face as well.


    "This trip to the far Southern Sea, Lillian has been preparing for a long time... I have nothing to worry about," Atbolde continued.


    He gazed at Colin, slowly stating, "Just you, Colin..."


    "You''ve just advanced to an Official Wizard, probably not even familiar with the meditation method of a First Rank Wizard, let alone First Rank witchcraft..."


    "Although this time you are only responsible for the Alus Association, and you can return when the meeting ends, I still have some concerns."


    As he spoke, Atbolde mysteriously produced a seed from somewhere.


    A dark golden seed, seemingly crafted of metal.


    "So, I''ve prepared this for you¡ªElf Armor," Atbolde tossed the dark golden seed into the air, and it seemed to float towards Colin as if held by an invisible hand.


    Snap.


    Colin instinctively caught the seed, the sensation in his palm was not as cold as it appeared, but rather warm and comfortable.


    "Go back and refine it with your spirit, nourish it well with Magic Power... With it, ordinary First Rank Junior Wizards won''t be able to harm you."


    Before Colin could open his mouth to express his gratitude, Atbolde continued:


    "And for you, Nehemiah." He tossed a black soft armor toward Nehemiah, which was clearly not as advanced as the golden seed in Colin''s hand by its appearance.


    "Since you''ve chosen to go to the Southern Sea Domain, this black armor is also gifted to you... In terms of power, it can endure the full force of the Fireball Technique cast five times by an Advanced Apprentice."


    "Yes," Nehemiah bowed his head and briefly replied, taking the black armor.


    "Thank you, Atbolde Instructor," Colin finally found a chance to interject, clutching the Elf Armor and sincerely bowed in gratitude.


    Although Colin''s words were brief, Atbolde could clearly feel the sincerity in them.


    But as for Nehemiah...


    The contrast between the two made him inwardly frown.


    Although the black armor was far inferior to the Elf Armor, the Elf Armor''s requirement was at least that of a First Rank Wizard, and Wizard Apprentices who forcibly use it would quickly end up with their Magic Sea exhausted and shattered.


    The black armor was indeed the best among the witch tools he had on hand suitable for Wizard Apprentices.


    Yet, Nehemiah hadn''t even expressed a word of thanks...


    But perhaps it was because he had grown older¡ªhis temperament was no longer what it once was, and his personality was now much milder than before.


    He didn''t want to waste energy dwelling on these matters.


    Thinking back, Nehemiah was once his most valued Apprentice, the only one in their faction who still had some hope of advancing to an Official Wizard.


    But now, more than a dozen years had passed, and Nehemiah remained only an Advanced Apprentice.


    "Since you''ve chosen to go to the Southern Sea Domain this time, if you still hope for a chance to become an Official Wizard, then stop looking back and forth."


    Atbolde sighed internally and watched Nehemiah, speaking earnestly.


    Seemingly not expecting Atbolde to say such a thing, Nehemiah visibly flinched, then silently lowered his head.


    After a long while, he finally spoke slowly:


    "I will."


    "Thank you, Atbolde Instructor."


    Seeing this, Atbolde nodded in satisfaction.


    "That''s all I have to say; don''t gather around me. Go chat, eat."


    "Alright," replied Colin and the others.


    The maid musicians nearby timely started playing music.


    "The day before using the Elf Armor, it''s best not to eat meat."


    As Colin approached the dining table to grab some food, he heard Lillian beside him remind.


    Colin slightly paused, the chicken leg in his hand hanging in mid-air, undecided whether to put it down or not.


    He turned to look at Lillian.


    While picking up a juicy steak, Lillian continued explaining:


    "The Elf Armor, crafted by High Level Elves, is a delicate work of art, and its strong defense is just an added feature."


    "If you eat meat the day before using it for the first time¡ª"


    Lillian forked the steak, then put it down, a clear shadow crossing her face as she spoke two words.


    "You''ll vomit."


    "Believe me, although there are no other effects besides vomiting... You definitely wouldn''t want to experience such agony," Lillian bit into her steak and mumbled with emphasis.


    Colin nodded, without hesitation, put the chicken leg back, and then picked up another utensil to grab some fruit.


    After he had finished doing all this, Lillian finally got to her main point.


    "Tomorrow, the Wizards accompanying at the Alus Association meeting will have a brief meet-and-greet outside the Yista School premises around eight in the morning, don''t forget to go."

 Chapter 242 - 190: Indistinguishable from the Crowd (Supplementary Update 5/23)

    Night had fallen.


    Colin had long since returned home.


    In the Meditation Room, he took out the parting gift he had received from Atbolde that morning¡ªElf Armor, ready to begin inscribing the Spiritual Imprint.


    That very morning, he had skipped breakfast to attend a Faction meeting, and at Lillian''s reminder, he hadn''t eaten any meat.


    Now it was late at night, and with the previous night included, it had been a whole day since he last consumed meat.


    He could now begin using the Elf Armor for the first time.


    He took out a dark gold seed and slowly explored it with his spirit, receiving guiding information in return.


    Colin followed the guidance step by step.


    Everything went smoothly.


    Just like that.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when a streak of golden light flashed across the Meditation Room.


    The next instant!


    An armor filled with Elf aesthetics appeared on Colin, featuring pale gold patterns on a dark black base.


    He briefly used his spiritual power to sense the armor''s contour.


    On his head was a golden openwork crown, which more aptly described as delicate rather than imposing. The delicate crown gathered his medium-length hair, revealing his tidy hairline and smooth forehead, adding to his handsomeness.


    On his body was a streamlined dark black armor, simple in shape yet decorated with many aesthetically pleasing ornaments.


    Although richly decorated, it wasn''t ostentatious...


    "Truly worthy of being an Elf creation, just the appearance alone is eye-catching."


    Colin sighed to himself.


    Afterward, he quickly went upstairs to examine himself carefully in a floor-length mirror, pondered for a moment, and then donned an inconspicuous gray Wizard Robe.


    Thanks to the streamlined design of the Elf Armor, once he put on the Wizard Robe, it was not apparent to the naked eye from the outside, even when he moved.


    It only made him appear a bit more robust.


    Having done all this, the sky was beginning to brighten.


    "Another sleepless night," he exhaled softly, his thoughts stirring.


    With a few clicks,


    The Elf Armor began retracting from his back towards the front of his chest, eventually disappearing under the skin at the location of his Magic Sea.


    He initially meant to head instinctively towards his bedroom for a brief rest.


    After all, he hadn''t slept for three consecutive days, and even as a First Rank Wizard, he was beginning to feel a bit weary.


    But taking a step, he suddenly remembered Lillian''s words from yesterday.


    There was a meeting with Alus Association Wizards at eight o''clock this morning...


    With a soft sigh in his heart, Colin abandoned the thought of catching up on sleep and instead hurried outside.


    It was now just past six o''clock in the morning, not too late.


    But the residence of the Yista School wasn''t close by, and to make sure he arrived by eight, he had to leave now.


    ...


    An hour later.


    The carriage stopped outside the grand entrance of the Yista School.


    Stepping down, Colin immediately saw a conspicuous sign¡ª"Alus Association."


    Following the sign, he walked towards a small courtyard opposite the entrance of the school.


    Soon, an Apprentice greeted him.


    "Sir, are you an accompanying Wizard from the Tin Saint School for the Alus meeting?" the receiving Apprentice recognized the badge on his chest and asked.


    Colin nodded and followed the Apprentice into a conference room.


    Upon entering, two First Rank Wizards were already waiting inside, both males, wearing different styles of Wizard Robes and badges from different schools.


    It''s worth noting that both men''s school badges were quite similar, both circular, one silver and one black.


    If one observed closely, the silver circle was actually in the style of a ring, while the black circle was simply a plain ring.


    These two men were Wizards from the Silver Ring and Magic Ring, just like him, affiliated with the Yista School.


    "Hello, Wizard from the Tin Saint School," the Silver Ring''s First Rank Wizard greeted first.


    His face was young and fair, topped with a head of dazzling silver hair¡­ regretfully, it was not long, but a buzz cut.


    In stark contrast to his hair were his two golden eyes.


    "An unfamiliar face... Have you just advanced to an Official Wizard?" inquired the Magic Ring''s First Rank Wizard.


    If the appearance of the Silver Ring''s Wizard was eye-catching, then the Magic Ring''s Wizard was quite the opposite, merely looking like a common, skinny old man.


    Colin did not respond to the word of Magic Ring''s First Rank Wizard, instead simply introducing himself:


    "Colin, Official Wizard from the Tin Saint School."


    "Sovoc, from Silver Ring." Sovoc smiled, responding crisply.


    "Mayer," the skinny old man quickly followed, then added, "Don''t mind it, your appearance is just unfamiliar to me, just curious..."


    His tone was down-to-earth and sincere, with not a trace of discord.


    But the more he was like this, the more Colin kept his guard up.


    He certainly didn''t think that an old Wizard like Mayer, who had lived so many years, couldn''t control his tongue.


    Asking about strength upon meeting... in this world, that was not considered polite behavior.


    After the three introduced themselves, they fell into silence.


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long as two more Wizards arrived, one after another.


    Both were female Wizards.


    One was also from an affiliated school, Sovoc''s Witch¡ªMilo.


    Plain looking, but with a curvaceous figure.


    The other was their nominal leader for this meeting, a Witch from the Yista School¡ªMargaret.


    "Everyone has arrived, very good."


    Margaret walked into the room and naturally came to the front to start her speech.


    Her tone was cold, her hair neatly arranged, and she wore a simple, oversized gray-black Wizard Robe... she looked like a stern nun.


    "The purpose of this meeting is simple¡ª"


    "One is to distribute subsidies from the Supreme Council in advance... each person receives six thousand Magic Stones, which I will distribute after my speech."


    "The second is to get to know each other a bit and assign specific tasks to each person."


    "The last is to go and meet the apprentices who are participating in the Alus Association this time and to explain the precautions to them." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All right, if you understand, let''s get started. Come forward and receive your Magic Stones," urged Margaret briskly.


    "I didn''t expect Margaret to be leading the team... this is going to be tough for us."


    Colin hesitated slightly, casting a barely noticeable glance at Mayer.


    Mayer''s expression did not change, and he did not even look at him, just kept walking forward.


    But the mental conversation continued.


    "Don''t look at me, communicate using spiritual power."


    "Unlucky." Suddenly, Sovoc''s voice also came through, "Who doesn''t know that Margaret hates men... why would they let her lead?!"


    Colin remained silent.


    This must be a minor application of the transformed spiritual power after advancing to First Rank Wizard... but he had only just advanced and had never tried it before.


    With that thought, they had already reached in front of Margaret.


    "Thank you, Lady Margaret." Milo received the Magic Stones handed over by Margaret and respectfully thanked her.


    "You''re welcome," Margaret smiled back.


    Then, before Colin and others could approach any nearer, Margaret waved her hand.


    Swoosh¡ª


    The remaining three Magic Stone portions flew towards Colin and his group.


    Thud.


    Colin extended his hand to concentrate the force field and caught the six medium Magic Stones flying toward him.


    He didn''t really care about Margaret''s attitude... as long as she didn''t dock the Magic Stones he was due.


    Next, they discussed the tasks each was responsible for.


    Naturally, Margaret took on the easiest task.


    The remaining men Wizards had about the same workload, Milo''s share was slightly less, but only slightly.


    After the tasks were assigned, Colin let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Although Margaret had a nasty attitude, she was at least fair.


    "Let''s go, the apprentices are waiting in the yard outside."


    After completing these tasks, Margaret did not rest for a moment and quickly led them outside.


    ¡­


    "Lord Mulan, if I remember correctly, you too joined the Tin Saint School just this year?"


    In the yard, the apprentices participating in the Alus Association were chatting and networking.


    "Yes, I haven''t been a member for a year yet," Mulan replied, then flatteringly added, "¡ªjust like you, Lord Lex, if I remember correctly, you joined the school in the same batch as me."


    His demeanor was gracefully calm, his tone conventionally humble.


    From childhood, his mother''s training for such occasions came in handy, enabling Mulan to conceal his insecurities and sensitivities.


    In fact, he only showed his irritable and moody side when faced with people weaker than himself.


    At other times, his manners were impeccably polite.


    Lex''s face visibly brightened with pleasure on hearing this.


    "Across the entire venue, among our peers who advanced to Advanced Wizard Apprentice and are participating in the Alus Association... there are only a few."


    "Yes, among wizards, those with Talent are ultimately in the minority," Mulan responded, enjoying the mutual "praise" just as Lex did.


    "The Alus Association is the real test of a wizard''s Talent... if I remember correctly, during the entrance exam when you wandering Wizards joined the school, one apprentice''s Fireball Technique was quite stunning."


    "But it seems quite long since we''ve heard from him... perhaps he''s been lost in the crowd," Lex added.


    "There''s no need to worry, he''s already faded into obscurity..." A trace of disdain flickered across Mulan''s eyes, just as he was about to emphasize his statement, he heard the apprentices whispering beside him:


    "The Official Wizards have arrived!"


    Eager to make a good impression, he quickly shut his mouth and swiftly turned around.


    But as he turned, he froze.


    His brown pupils uncontrollably dilated with shock, his face registering disbelief. He blinked his eyes, trying to deny everything.


    Suddenly, an amazed murmur came from Lex:


    "Lord Mulan, that First Rank Wizard standing on the far left... am I not mistaken? Isn''t that the apprentice who took the entry test with you? The one with the powerful Fireball Technique?"


    Mulan''s slightly opened mouth closed back up.


    His lips moved, trying to say something, but for some reason, he couldn''t produce a sound.


    Lex suddenly turned to look at him earnestly and said:


    "Lord Mulan, didn''t you always want the pair of twin maids under me? I will gift them to you when I return... just ask for support in the Alus Association or say a few good words to that lord for me."


    Listening to Lex''s words, Mulan''s heart gradually calmed down.


    To be honest, there wasn''t any deep hatred between him and Colin... at most, there were just some minor frictions.


    Everything could be salvaged.


    Perhaps¡­ this could even be turned into an opportunity!


    The venue for the Alus Association was set so far away, the performance and even the lives of these apprentices were completely controlled by the five wizards standing at the forefront...


    Normally, Official Wizards stayed aloof, even those from the same faction were hard for apprentices like them to approach, let alone curry favor with.


    But Colin was different; they had already met during their apprentice days, and although there were frictions, thinking positively, the barrier to interaction was actually lower...


    With proper handling, it might be possible to turn this misfortune into an advantage!


    Mulan''s thoughts kept whirling, and his mood gradually stabilized from the initial panic and even began to savor the joy from Lex''s earlier words¡­

 Chapter 243 - 191 Worry

    A gentle breeze whisked the white clouds away, and golden sunshine poured down.


    In the small courtyard opposite the Yista School.


    "... and those are the points of attention for the Alus Association," someone said.


    "Finally, a reminder, the departure time tomorrow is at 10 a.m., and the gathering place is right here. Anyone who is late will face the consequences on their own." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now, you may disperse."


    Margaret looked around and, with these last few words, concluded today''s meeting before departure.


    "Yes!"


    The neatly standing Wizard Apprentices responded in unison with respect and then left one after another.


    Colin stood behind Margaret, exhaling a deep breath softly.


    ''It''s over, I don''t have to stand here and be just a backdrop anymore.''


    Throughout the whole process, the four Wizards from the affiliated Schools didn''t get a chance to say a single word; they had simply stood behind Margaret, serving as her backdrop.


    From start to finish, Margaret had controlled the entire scene, the only time involving them being the brief introduction she made at the beginning.


    Margaret seemed to know their names and other details like the back of her hand, which must be because the Yista School had their list...


    ''Finally, it''s over. Would anyone be interested in joining me for lunch later?'' Mayer''s telepathic message suddenly came through.


    From the reactions of both Milo and Sovoc in front, it could be deduced that Mayer''s telepathic range was the three Wizards from the affiliated Schools.


    The skill of telepathic communication for an Official Wizard like Colin wasn''t difficult, and after some experimentation during this period, he had successfully mastered it.


    Such a simple telepathic communication was only suitable for everyday conversation; unless encrypted with magic, it was easily subject to eavesdropping.


    On the other hand, close-range telepathic communication was hard to detect, only with specialized Detection Magic or the expansion of spiritual power, could one notice the projected spiritual power of the communication.


    So even though they were close to Margaret, they didn''t need to worry too much about being discovered.


    ''Tomorrow we depart, and after that, it will be at least two months before we can return. I need to handle some matters later... I won''t join you for lunch,'' Milo''s telepathic message rang out first.


    Seemingly feeling a bit bad for the refusal, she added another line.


    ''When we board the Airship, there will naturally be plenty of time for gatherings.''


    ''Lady Milo is right; I also need to go back and pack my things,'' Sovoc chimed in following her lead.


    ''That leaves just the two of us, Lord Colin...''


    ''Let''s wait until we''re on the Airship and everyone is together before we gather,'' Colin declined gracefully.


    Although the exchange of words was extensive, thanks to the efficiency of telepathic communication, it had only taken a moment in real time.


    "You may also disperse, and come half an hour early tomorrow," Margaret turned around and instructed before she left.


    Without a gathering, there was naturally no reason for these Wizards to stay, and they left one by one.


    Colin took a few steps when suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind him.


    "Lord Colin!"


    Turning around, he saw a young man with a handsome but somewhat gloomy appearance, smiling as he approached.


    It was Mulan.


    Before Colin could respond, Mulan reached into his pocket and took out a gray coin pouch, quickly extending it towards Colin.


    "Lord Colin, inside this is five hundred Magic Stones..."


    Colin frowned slightly, and an invisible force field emerged, keeping Mulan''s extended hand at bay.


    Colin had noticed Mulan while Margaret was speaking, but he hadn''t paid much attention...


    However, there was no issue; with the enhancement of his Superbrain, he didn''t need to devote much effort to notice what was around him; everything was naturally recorded.


    Just by reflecting on it now, he could recall the exact scene from earlier, and all its details became clear...


    Mulan''s shifting facial expressions and the barely moving lips of the Apprentice beside Mulan...


    Almost in an instant, he understood Mulan''s intentions.


    "We''re not close, Mulan."


    Colin spoke curtly, looking at Mulan whose face showed surprise from the force field''s obstruction, his tone calm and detached.


    Then, without further delay, he turned and quickly walked away.


    Now that he had acquired six thousand Magic Stones, Colin was eager to go back and break his limits.


    As for Mulan''s five hundred Magic Stones... they might be considerable to an Apprentice like Mulan, but to Colin now, they were but a drop in the bucket.


    What''s more, just now he had received six thousand Magic Stones, and by tomorrow, without accidents, the School was expected to issue a subsidy of ten thousand Magic Stones.


    So, there was no need to involve himself with potential troubles over a mere five hundred Magic Stones.


    Standing behind, Mulan''s face turned from pale to flushed. Clutching the coin pouch, his hand remained outstretched, frozen in place.


    ''We''re not close... Does that mean he''s not going to let me off the hook?''


    He replayed Colin''s indifferent words in his mind, a sense of panic inexplicably rising within, and his grip tightened on the coin pouch he held.


    An Official Wizard and their apprentices, their statuses were worlds apart.


    Regarding Colin''s words, he simply couldn''t afford to ignore them, nor could he help but indulge in wild speculations.


    "Sigh¡ª"


    Mulan took a few deep breaths of fresh air, trying to suppress the unease in his heart, as well as... the frustration and rage.


    But it seemed the unease was only fueling the rage, making his chest feel slightly warm.


    ''Damn Colin!''


    ''He''s nothing but a lucky cur who just happened to get ahead of me, a petty man gloating!''


    ''Once I''ve Advanced to an Official Wizard myself, I''ll definitely make him pay!''


    After cursively cursing in his mind, he finally calmed down.


    Carefully pocketing the grey pouch of coins, Mulan''s eyes darted around as he quietly pondered.


    ''When it comes to interests, any personal grudges can be temporarily set aside... If these Magic Stones can''t move Colin, then it must be because the benefits aren''t sufficient!''


    Besides Magic Stones, he had to obtain more bargaining chips... Mulan secretly made up his mind. He didn''t continue to linger, but walked alone towards the exit.


    As for new chips beyond the Magic Stones, an idea was already taking shape in his mind.


    ''It''s a good thing Lex, who had been standing by earlier, had already left and didn''t witness this scene.'' Walking alone, Mulan felt somewhat relieved.


    The next second, his pace hesitated slightly, and a flash of insight crossed his mind!


    Lex hadn''t seen this scene...


    That undoubtedly meant that, in Lex''s eyes, he was still someone who could climb the ranks by associating with the Alus Association as an Official Wizard!


    In that case...


    Perhaps, with just a bit of maneuvering, the stakes involving the Magic Stones could be increased!


    After all, aside from seeking the support of his backing Family, obtaining more Magic Stones was actually very difficult.


    But seeking support from the Family was even more impossible¡­ After securing his qualification to join a School, the Family hadn''t provided him any further assistance.


    More than two hours later.


    In a secret chamber, the Bright Crystals were deliberately dimmed slightly.


    Accompanying the serious atmosphere were Apprentices in Wizard Robes, casting a clandestine aura all around.


    At the main seat, Mulan was serious-faced, with a smiling Lex by his side.


    Click¡ª


    An Apprentice, wearing the standard Wizard Robe of the Tin Saint School, pushed open the door to the chamber and hurried to Mulan, handing over a pouch of coins.


    "Here, there are two hundred Magic Stones inside, remember your promise."


    Mulan gave Lex a meaningful glance, who comprehendingly took the pouch.


    "Don''t worry... But I must emphasize, the Alus Association''s rules are strict. Two hundred Magic Stones can''t make that esteemed person do anything, at best they might offer us a slight favor, prioritizing our rescue in life-threatening situations, increasing our chances of survival somewhat."


    Seeing that Lex had taken the Magic Stones, Mulan shifted his gaze, looking up at the Apprentice and spoke in a deep voice.


    Such a promise, strictly speaking, was almost akin to no promise at all.


    But when it came to a matter of life and death, there were always those willing to part with these Magic Stones.


    "Mm-hmm, I understand. As long as I can see that esteemed person nod, as long as it adds a bit more safety, that''s enough." The Apprentice nodded in response, without any argument.


    With Lex''s verification, he didn''t doubt Mulan''s ability to contact that Wizard.


    Thus, Apprentices gradually exchanged Magic Stones¡­


    But perhaps because it wasn''t broadly advertised, only spreading through close friends in a limited manner,


    the number of Apprentices trading Magic Stones wasn''t high, with just about ten including Mulan and Lex.


    There might still be other Apprentices unfinished with exchanges¡­ but it was getting late.


    Mulan pulled out his Pocket Watch and took a glance, deciding it was time to stop.


    Although the collection of Magic Stones wasn''t substantial, other than Magic Stones, he was actually more inclined toward a different kind of chip.


    ''After all, for a First Rank Wizard, whether it be five hundred or two thousand Magic Stones, they really aren''t much.''


    ''If I put myself in their place, facing such a situation, merely using Magic Stones isn''t enough to sway me... Colin likely feels the same.''


    ''It''s necessary to have chips other than the Magic Stones, perhaps only those carrying significant weight, to move Colin.''


    Securing all the Magic Stones on his person, Mulan let out a soft sigh, bid farewell to Lex, and quickly moved on to the next destination.


    Perhaps it was the overly cold tone in which Colin had spoken today, or perhaps it was his own previous appalling attitude toward Colin.


    The more he thought about Colin''s words today, the more unsettled and anxious he felt.


    No matter what, no matter how much he despised it in his heart, now Colin was an Official Wizard, and he was only an Advanced Apprentice.


    It was like someone he occasionally insulted and had conflicts with suddenly became his immediate boss¡­ in such a scenario, nobody could be sure that the adversary wouldn''t make things difficult.


    And in the current situation, during this Alus Association meeting, if Colin made things difficult for him, a slight misstep could cost him his life¡­

 Chapter 244 - 192: Venomous Anger

    An hour later.


    Hua Pei District, Lite Street.


    Mulan''s residence was situated right on the street that Colin always passed by on his way to the Tin Saint School.


    "Why have you suddenly invited me to dinner? Aren''t you going to attend the Alus Association tomorrow?"


    Leva sat across the square dining table, picking up her knife and fork as she asked. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The collision between the knife, fork, and porcelain plate made a crisp sound.


    Mulan paused slightly, feeling inexplicably irritable, but his face remained composed as he smiled and said,


    "I should see you before I leave."


    Of course, this was an excuse.


    But if one were to ask which of the apprentices who had joined the Tin Saint School at the same time as him was familiar with Colin¡ª


    It would undoubtedly be Leva.


    He still remembered the scene when they first joined the school, and Leva initiated a conversation with Colin... If he could persuade Leva to help mediate on his behalf, perhaps Colin would truly let him go.


    Leva looked surprised upon hearing this.


    Such words were not often heard from Mulan''s mouth.


    Then, the two exchanged a few more courtesies.


    Mulan forked a piece of the cut steak, and casually asked,


    "How well do you know Colin?"


    "Not well." Leva shook her head, then emphasised with feigned anger, "Mulan, I have never done anything to hurt you. The few times I encountered Colin at the Teaching Castle were just coincidences!"


    "That''s not what I mean. I just want to know exactly what your relationship with Colin is."


    Ding¡ª


    Leva put down her knife and fork, furrowing her brows and saying, "Mulan, if you keep this up, I''m going to get angry!"


    The sky outside was getting darker as the sunset had already fallen, and a veil-like darkness enveloped the earth.


    It seemed as if an invisible, eerie force had descended.


    The Bright Crystal chandelier above the dining table timely lit up with white light, reflecting Mulan''s increasingly anxious expression.


    ''Stupid woman!''


    He couldn''t help but curse silently in his mind.


    The time left to him was not much, like being on a train hurtling towards a cliff, with the passage of time, the panic and unrest in Mulan''s heart grew stronger.


    "Leva!" his tone a bit more urgent, "I really don''t mean anything else, just tell me, what is your relationship with Colin?"


    Leva eyed him suspiciously, somewhat puzzled by his anxious demeanor, but after a moment''s hesitation, she explained,


    "My relationship with Colin really isn''t what you imagine. At most, we''re just strangers who have exchanged a few words¡ª" Leva paused, then added, "Or perhaps even less."


    "At first, I thought he was a person worth getting to know, so I chatted with him, but I didn''t expect him to be nothing more than an ambitionless fool, so I wasn''t too friendly..."


    Leva did not think Colin had a good impression of her.


    People always tend to remember the bad in others, not the good.


    Although she had once introduced Colin to knowledge about advancing in the islands...


    But that had its own motives, and after realizing that Colin was just an ambitionless fool, she did not hide her disdain for him.


    Putting oneself in the other''s shoes, if it were her, she wouldn''t have too good an impression either.


    But... it didn''t matter. Colin was just a trivial little figure.


    Leva thought this as she prepared to fork another piece of steak.


    Clang!


    "Mulan, what are you doing?!"


    Leva stared in shock at Mulan suddenly standing up, then lunging at her. She instinctively dropped her knife and fork, swiftly retreating backward.


    But the gap in strength between her and Mulan was there, and caught off guard, she was knocked unconscious in an instant.


    Thud.


    Leva''s body fell to the ground, making a dull sound.


    Creak¡ªcreak¡ª


    The metal chandelier on the ceiling swayed continuously, while the white light from the Bright Crystal reflected Mulan''s changing face.


    He clenched his teeth, his jaw muscles stood out, his eyes widened slightly with unforeseen anger, his nostrils flared, and he breathed heavily.


    If one were to use Supersensitive Vision to observe closely, they could see that the Spiritual Light of humanity and knowledge on his body also began to flicker uncertainly with his changing expressions.


    Swoosh!!


    As if still not relieved of his anger, he lifted his right leg and kicked violently toward Leva!


    At the critical moment, as if afraid that Leva, who might have been knocked unconscious by witchcraft, would wake from the kick, Mulan changed direction and kicked a nearby chair instead.


    Crack.


    Under the powerful kick of Mulan, who possessed the strength of an Advanced Knight, the quality wooden chair shattered upon impact, and the debris struck the nearby white wall, making a loud collision noise.


    Lite Street, due to the recent unforeseen events, had not yet recovered, and there were fewer residents around than before, naturally making it much quieter.


    Thus, the sound seemed to carry far without hindrance, startling a nearby maid.


    Tap tap tap¡ª


    "Master, what has happened?" The maid walked in quickly, asking in a soft voice.


    Perhaps the poisonous-like rage had temporarily subsided, or maybe the maid''s puzzled voice had called back his reason.


    "...Nothing." Mulan straightened his collar and paused before replying indifferently.


    He stared at Leva, who had collapsed on the ground, feeling somewhat at a loss... Why had he suddenly attacked Leva?


    Mulan thought back carefully.


    Perhaps it was when his hope of having Leva mediate for him had failed, just after Leva had finished speaking.


    A rage like poison had suddenly eroded his brain, making him lose his reason in that instant!


    He was slightly alarmed and quickly began to examine himself.


    But a moment later, he found nothing unusual.


    ''It seems... I need to strengthen my training in mental fortitude...'' Mulan shook his head and quietly warned himself.


    For a wizard, the cultivation of the mind is very important.


    It allows them to maintain resistance to the corruption of knowledge, preserve their humanity, and avoid degeneration and falling into depravity.


    Pacing the room, Mulan carefully contemplated his next move.


    ''Having knocked out Leva, I''ve lost a bargaining chip, what to do next... Since Leva and Colin aren''t on good terms, seeking Leva out was a mistake to begin with... What should I do now?!''


    He pondered anxiously, looking over the defenseless Leva lying on the ground.


    The loose wizard robe on Leva''s recumbent form draped down, clinging to her body and outlining her shapely curves.


    Mulan couldn''t help but harbor wicked thoughts.


    Although he had known Leva for a while, she had never let him touch her...


    It must be said that the unattainable is always the most desirable... Leva''s tactics were indeed clever, quite unlike the women who used to fawn over him.


    Swallowing, Mulan suppressed the thoughts in his heart, when a burst of spiritual light suddenly flashed through his mind.


    ''Perhaps... delivering the unconscious Leva to Colin might work wonders?''


    Thinking from a different perspective, the more he thought about it, the more he felt this could be a viable path!


    However... A sinister smile surfaced on Mulan''s face, as he walked towards Leva.


    Before delivering Leva to Colin, he would have to have a taste himself, and as long as he used the Cleaning Technique afterward to erase the traces, plus with Leva in an unconscious state...


    In the end, neither Leva nor Colin would realize.


    Leva would only think she had given herself to Colin.


    Mulan approached her and was about to undo Leva''s clothes,


    But such an action seemed to trigger a predefined defense, and a sudden explosion of light and smoke burst forth!


    "Ah."


    A burning pain spread through him, causing Mulan to let out a low cry of pain and take a small step back, watching in shock as the smoke dispersed before him.


    Soon after, before the smoke had even cleared, the left window shattered with a loud noise, and a figure leaped out.


    Mulan''s face changed dramatically, and he quickly cast a spell to pursue!


    On the other side,


    The cool night wind blew.


    Leva, fighting the weakness in her body, desperately fled; she didn''t understand why Mulan had suddenly struck.


    But at this point, escaping as fast as possible was the best option.


    As she ran, she searched for members of the Law Enforcement Team... Unfortunately, Neustadt City had an aerial ban, and only Official Wizards were allowed to fly in the sky.


    Right now, she could only rely on the enhanced speed of her legs, boosted by witchcraft.


    The sounds of pursuit behind her were drawing closer, causing panic to rise in Leva''s heart.


    But for some reason tonight, as she looked around, she could not see a single member of the Law Enforcement Team anywhere!


    No miracle occurred,


    Swoosh!


    In no time at all, Mulan, the Advanced Apprentice, effortlessly caught up with her and reached out to grab her!


    Leva rolled swiftly to the ground, narrowly avoiding the attack by a hair''s breadth.


    But there was no trace of relief on her face, only despair.


    ''It''s over.''


    The next moment, two gleams of wizard light shot from Mulan''s hands.


    One shattered her barely constructed defenses, and the other... plunged her into unconsciousness once again.


    Breathing heavily, Mulan quickly surveyed the surroundings.


    No sign of the Law Enforcement Team, or even any people at all...


    The calls of unnamed insects rose, adding to the silence around him.


    He let out a slight sigh of relief but also felt puzzled... Something seemed off about tonight.


    If one listened carefully, they could notice distant shouts carried on the wind now and then... It seemed many people were arguing.


    Mulan shook his head, casting aside his doubts, he had more pressing matters to attend to.


    Controlling Leva''s body with the Puppetry Technique, he turned to survey his surroundings.


    That''s when he realized in astonishment, though Leva''s escape had been brief, with the power of an Advanced Apprentice, they had already run quite a distance.


    They had reached the next street over¡ªSaint Lio Street.


    This was exactly where Colin lived... Mulan thought of the information he had gathered and was momentarily stunned.


    He looked at Leva again, his interest having waned,


    After a moment of contemplation, he simply quickened his pace towards Colin''s residence.

 Chapter 245 - 193 Secret Operation

    Ding.


    The white porcelain plate in her hands slipped once again, dropping into the sink and colliding with the bottom, emitting a crisp sound.


    Renee patted her chest subconsciously, turning her head to look outside the window.


    For some reason, there were sudden shouts and arguments coming from outside tonight, startling her repeatedly.


    She picked up the white porcelain plate, ready to continue washing.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    At the door of the small courtyard, there suddenly came a knocking sound.


    Renee slightly frowned... Who could be visiting at such a late hour?


    She put down the plate, shook her hands, and stepped forward to open the door.


    "Excuse me, is this Lord Colin''s residence?"


    Upon opening the door, she was met with the smiling face of a gloomy man.


    For some reason, seeing his enthusiastic, ingratiating smile made Renee uncomfortably uneasy.


    Beside the man stood a skinny figure, covered with a gray hood, head drooping, face obscured.


    "Yes, this is Wizard Colin''s home," Renee replied.


    Mulan''s face lit up with pleasure, and he subconsciously stepped forward to enter.


    "I''m sorry, sir, the master is currently in seclusion and cannot receive guests at the moment," Renee shifted her feet slightly, blocking the doorway.


    Colin had told her earlier that day to not accept visits from anyone except for Lillian and a few familiar people; she had taken his words to heart.


    In fact, it was always like this whenever Colin was in seclusion, asking her to kindly refuse visitors. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mulan hesitated slightly, then insisted,


    "I have important matters to discuss with Lord Colin."


    "I''m sorry, sir, the master has ordered..." Renee shook her head and responded softly.


    Colin had especially emphasized the importance of this matter to her.


    During his seclusion, even if Lillian and others visited, they could only stay in the reception room and were not allowed to approach the Meditation Room or the basement at all.


    As for others, no matter who they were, unless they were Official Wizards, they were to be gently turned away.


    And the male wizard before her was clearly not an Official Wizard.


    Renee recognized the School Badge on Mulan''s chest... it had no golden feathers, just three silver feathers, indicating he was merely an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.


    "If Lord Colin is currently unavailable, could we possibly wait in the reception room?" Mulan suppressed the rage in his heart, forcing a smile and offering a purse to Renee.


    Renee subconsciously stepped back half a step, not sure if it was an illusion, but she saw a flash of red in Mulan''s eyes.


    "I''m sorry, sir, without the master''s permission, I cannot let you in," Renee steadied herself and continued to refuse, preparing to hand back the offered purse to the gloomy man.


    Just then, the skinny figure behind Mulan suddenly moved.


    Whoosh!


    It seemed that some witchcraft was used, and Leva dashed past Mulan towards Colin''s courtyard with the speed of lightning!


    Renee couldn''t dodge in time and was pushed aside.


    "Leva... you!"


    Mulan was shocked; he hadn''t expected Leva to break free from the puppetry''s control... when had that happened?


    In the courtyard.


    Leva''s footsteps slowly halted, she turned around, staring at Mulan.


    Although only a few meters away from her previous position, the sense of safety was markedly different.


    In fact, when Mulan had caught up with her earlier, she had prepared a backup plan and hadn''t been completely controlled by the puppetry.


    She was just waiting for the right moment to escape... Regrettably, on her way here, she had not seen a single member of the Law Enforcement Team.


    Now, as Mulan spoke with Renee, she decisively seized the opportunity and fled from Mulan.


    Though many thoughts raced through her mind, it all happened in an instant.


    Standing in the courtyard, Leva looked at the twisted, angry face of Mulan, about to speak.


    Whoosh!


    But in the next second, several vine tendrils as thick as arms, shimmering with golden patterns, suddenly attacked her.


    The speed was incredible, the power immense!


    Moreover, Leva had just escaped a perilous situation, and was at her most relaxed and unaware, she couldn''t react in time and was once again pulled out of the yard.


    Then, in the instant, she was flung out of the yard.


    Clang!


    The courtyard gate also closed at the same time.


    "Whew¡ª"


    Renee exhaled softly, lowering her raised wrist.


    "Thank you, Nado," she said softly.


    As the assimilated plants increased, Nado gradually acquired simple intelligence,


    and with Colin''s authorization, she also had partial control over Nado.


    Elsewhere.


    In the basement.


    Colin slightly furrowed his brow, waking from his meditation.


    ''Nado... seems to be some disturbance.''


    He quickly stood up, fortified himself with newly Limit Broken Defensive Witchcraft, and hurried towards the outside of the basement.


    But just in that instant.


    "So it is¡ª"


    A booming voice seemed to carry from the sky to every corner of the Huapei district, viewing all obstacles as nothing, clearly reaching every ear.


    "Foolish Divine, to expend so much effort just for this?"


    The voice, filled with disappointment and disdain, came from nowhere.


    Colin halted his steps, his body stiffening slightly.


    Although he couldn''t see the source of the voice, he felt as if he were being watched by a large predator, the chilling sensation making his throat go dry.


    The next moment.


    The air seemed to turn into liquid, a clearly visible semi-transparent ripple appeared from nowhere, abruptly in front of him, then swiftly swept across his body before continuing to spread outward.


    "Ahhhh!"


    Following that, screams erupted one after the other.


    One of them was very close, seemingly right at the doorway of the small courtyard.


    Colin gently inhaled, suppressed the tremble in his heart, and quickly walked over to the courtyard.


    Looking around, no enemies had entered, but the screams became clearer still, just outside the door.


    "Renee, what happened?" he asked quietly.


    Renee briefly explained what had just occurred, and after listening, Colin frowned.


    The screams outside continued but he had no intention of opening the door.


    Soon, the screams gradually subsided.


    Meanwhile, Colin keenly noticed that occasionally, the figures of wizards would fly across the sky.


    Knock knock knock¡ª


    A rhythmic knocking suddenly sounded.


    Colin pondered for a moment, then, with a thought, he had Nado open the door.


    A pale-faced female apprentice appeared, her expression one of unsettled fright.


    "Master, she was one of the wizards who came to visit just now." Renee reminded.


    "Leva?" Colin slightly furrowed his brow.


    "Colin¡­ sir."


    Leva looked at Colin with a complex expression, at a loss for words for a moment.


    Just then, after that noise resounded, Mulan, who had been attacking her, suddenly froze in place, then, screaming, fell to the ground as blood started to seep from all over her body.


    She appeared to be unconscious now¡­


    And the unsettled Leva knocked on Colin''s door instinctively.


    Swish!


    At that moment, a graceful figure suddenly descended from the sky.


    "Ms. Margaret."


    As the figure became clear, Colin was startled and, without paying attention to Leva at the door, instinctively walked towards the descending Margaret.


    "I didn''t expect you would be living here¡­ help me cleanse Li Ersen Street, Colin of the Tin Saint School," Margaret said with some surprise before speaking calmly.


    Then, as if afraid Colin wouldn''t understand, she took the rare initiative to explain:


    "Do you remember the two Divine Believer incidents on Huapei Street before? This time is similar, only it''s us taking the initiative!"


    "We a batch of wizards are about to leave, and we aim to thoroughly cleanse the remnants of the Divine in Neustadt City to ensure its safety before we depart."


    "The Nine Major Schools have jointly carried out a secret operation, and now, we are at the final stage."


    "Since you live here, I assume you are familiar with Li Ersen Street; I need your assistance."


    Colin was inwardly shocked, silently absorbing this sudden influx of information.


    "Come on, stop dawdling," urged Margaret.


    Then, as if she noticed something, she lightly exclaimed, paused her preparation to take off, and suddenly walked towards the door.


    Confused, Colin quickly followed.


    Seeing Margaret approaching, Leva at the door instinctively made way and moved aside, bowing her head respectfully and greeting, "Ma''am."


    But it seemed that in Margaret''s eyes, she was merely air, Margaret did not even glance at her but just briskly walked past.


    As for Colin¡­ he had no extra energy to pay attention to Leva.


    Margaret''s words were not long, but the information they conveyed was not slight at all.


    Colin had not expected that after two attacks by Divine Believers, the nine schools of the city had already prepared for a counterattack in secret¡­


    He hadn''t heard a whisper of it¡­


    In fact, Colin even thought that probably not even his Mentor and Lillian were aware of this.


    Tin Saint School¡­ was, after all, merely an accessory to Yista School.


    While digesting the information Margaret had just revealed, he closely followed Margaret''s steps, brushing past Leva.


    A moment later, Margaret stopped,


    She looked down at the figure on the ground and murmured:


    "Poor creatures contaminated by the Divine¡­"


    ''Divine contamination?''


    Just as Colin wondered internally and prepared to inquire,


    Boom!!


    A blazing golden beam suddenly shot towards the blood-stained figure on the ground!


    Like igniting paper, under the force of an invisible power, the figure instantly burst into flames.


    A human torch appeared before Colin, illuminating his astonished face.


    By the glow of the golden beam, unless he was seeing things, that figure was clearly Mulan, whom he had just seen this morning!


    "Let''s go," Margaret withdrew her arm and turned to him.


    "Yes." After a brief silence, Colin responded.


    Then he swiftly turned to Renee beside him and instructed,


    "Go back, take Demi and hide well, Nado will protect you."


    Swish!!


    Having done all this, he no longer delayed, applied the Flying and Diving Skill, and soared into the sky with Margaret.


    As he departed, once Renee stepped into the yard,


    The plants in the yard began to sway and rustle.


    The branches of the ancient trees stretched out a circle spontaneously, thick vines like writhing snakes covered the walls¡­


    And then, with a clang, the gate shut tightly.


    Shutting out the outside world, and leaving Leva, who was still at the gate, excluded as well.


    Leva stood outside, her face blank as she stared at the firmly closed gate.


    Instinctively, she looked up, observing the figures of Colin and the powerful witch disappearing into the sky¡­


    Her emotions were mixed.


    There was the humiliation of being ignored by Colin, the shock of Colin becoming an Official Wizard,


    and even some bewilderment¡­


    Thus, she stood there frozen.


    It was unknown how long passed before she suddenly realized, and quickly walked towards a safer place.

 Chapter 246 - 194: Conclusion

    The night sky was somewhat desolate tonight, devoid of twinkling stars or a bright moon.


    The only thing present was the howling cold wind, which made Colin''s gray Wizard Robe flutter loudly.


    In the strictest sense, this was his first full-strength use of the twice Limit Breaking Flying and Diving Skill for flight after advancing to an Official Wizard.


    It was also at this moment that he realized he had underestimated the Flying and Diving Skill that had broken its limits twice.


    Originally, the Orlan Flying and Diving Skill wasn''t considered an outstanding witchcraft during the Apprentice phase.


    Its speed in flight couldn''t compare to the Soaring Technique, nor could its diving ability match the Naga Transformation Skill; its only advantage was that it managed both flight and diving.


    But now, after two instances of Limit Breaking, the Flying and Diving Skill, which was once barely a Middle Zeroth Rank, had now barely touched the threshold of a Lower First Rank Witchcraft!


    In terms of flight speed alone, it had already far surpassed the Upper Zeroth Rank Soaring Technique!


    However... compared to Margaret''s flying speed ahead of him, his Flying and Diving Skill still noticeably paled by more than a margin.


    Colin turned to glance at Margaret.


    He didn''t know what kind of Flying Witchcraft Margaret was using, but from the outside, her body was surrounded by fiery red streams of light, emitting a warm glow...very dazzling.


    Moreover, apart from looking good, these streams of light seemed to have a certain defensive effect as well.


    "This is the place, go down and take care of that poor wretch polluted by the divine," Margaret instructed, pointing at a burning building below after a while.


    Colin looked in the direction she was pointing; next to that burning building, there was a constantly writhing mass of flesh that still vaguely looked human, spewing large amounts of dark flammable mucus.


    "Yes," Colin withdrew his gaze and lightly exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    The next moment, the brilliance of his Mechanical Mind passed over him.


    His heart, which was slightly quickened from tension, suddenly became rhythmic, maintaining a fast yet stable pace to provide his body with surging power!


    Superbrain Talent activated!


    Every fine detail around him was captured in Colin''s eyes, and with his mind running at high speed, it felt as though everything around him had slowed down. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crackling, crackling¡ª


    At the collapsed gray gates, bright yellow flames danced and flickered, licking the wooden gates and walls.


    Around them, apart from several charred bodies of ordinary people, there were no other figures, and the traces suggested that everyone had already fled.


    "Hiss¡ª!"


    The vaguely human-shaped flesh mass suddenly raised its head and hissed at Colin,


    Numerous black viscous fluids, like crude oil, poured continuously from its swollen and distended mouth.


    It was at that moment that Colin''s eyes flashed.


    The brilliance of a Fireball brewed forth from his hands.


    Whoosh!


    The next instant! An orange-yellow Fireball shot out furiously!


    Swish!


    Under the assistance of Superbrain, this strike hit with just the right timing and angle, shooting straight into the wide-open mouth of the Polluter.


    The flowing black flammable liquid was instantly ignited.


    But it didn''t end there; the remaining kinetic energy allowed the Fireball to continue shooting into the Polluter''s body.


    The next moment.


    Boom!!


    A violent explosion ensued, and orange-yellow flames billowed, with shockwaves surging like tides.


    The Polluter was exploded from the inside out, reduced to fragments.


    Colin''s thoughts moved, and under his control, the remaining debris continued to be scorched by the residual flames of the Fireball Technique.


    The entire process was as swift as a rabbit and as quick as a falcon. In Margaret''s eyes, it was nearly instantaneous; she only saw Colin shoot a not overly powerful Fireball, and the Polluter below was instantly turned to ash.


    "Lucky shot," she commented indifferently.


    Colin was slightly startled but did not argue. Instead, he silently admonished himself.


    He knew that, although the Fireball he fired seemed simple, ensuring the exact timing and angle was far from simple.


    The flesh monster was constantly writhing, its head shaking, its mouth opening and closing.


    Even a slight deviation would at most blast its mouth apart or blow off its head, rather than perfectly shattering the entire body, much less ensuring that each fragment was burning with the residual fire from the Fireball Technique...


    "Do you know Detect Evil?" Margaret suddenly asked him.


    "Yes," Colin nodded.


    "Good." Margaret pointed to a street on the right and commanded,


    "Continue down this direction and clear all the Polluters left in the streets."


    "Okay." Colin was briefly taken aback, then nodded in agreement.


    He had thought Margaret brought him here to lead the way... Now it seemed, it was more to find a laborer.


    "Under the Nois City Lord''s cleansing, all those polluted by the divine have already been revealed and are either dead or seriously injured, making them easy to distinguish. Remember to clean them up thoroughly,"


    Margaret emphasized again before hastily flying off in another direction.


    Colin''s lips moved slightly; he had many questions to ask... but Margaret had already left.


    Moreover, given her nature, even if he had asked, she probably wouldn''t have answered.


    However, from what he could see now, things seemed clear.


    Apprentices like Mulan who had been polluted were likely the secret hands left by the Divine Believers...only to be prematurely set off by the North City Lord.


    The night wind blew, with the sounds of witchcraft explosions and monster roars coming from not far away occasionally...


    There were no crowds fleeing on the streets.

 Chapter 247 - 194 Conclusion_2

    Just like during the initial chaos in Blackstone City, most people, including wizards, mostly chose to stay at home to observe the changes.


    Divine...


    Colin''s gaze flickered, and he gently exhaled a breath... feeling inexplicably light-hearted.


    At least this time, the wizards had the upper hand.


    Whoosh!


    He called upon the Flying and Diving Skill, soared into the air, and proceeded to search along the streets according to Margaret''s instructions.


    Next, he encountered seven Polluters, three of whom had already perished. He incinerated their bodies to ashes using the Fireball Technique.


    The other four were also completely eliminated by him.


    During this process, with Margaret not there to watch over him, he freely wielded the witchcraft he had mastered.


    It is worth mentioning that most of these Polluters were completely disfigured beyond recognition, but some not only retained their human form but even had some consciousness left.


    Crackle, crackle¡ª


    The merciless flames scorched the Polluters in front of him, slowly turning them to char.


    Colin withdrew his gaze as the energetic Magic Power inside him gradually calmed, and the golden openwork crown on his forehead slowly blended into his skin.


    "Without the Elf Armor, relying solely on a Steel Temperature Resistance Force Field after Golden Paper Limit Breaking, a normal First Rank Junior Wizard using Lower Rank Attack Witchcraft would generally be able to defend against it."


    He continued to watch the Polluters burn while silently pondering. During the process of dealing with the Polluters, Colin had focused on testing Defensive Witchcraft.


    "It seems that a Steel Temperature Resistance Field after Limit Breaking is roughly equivalent to a Defensive Witchcraft of outstanding quality among the Lower Middle Rank."


    "As for adding the Elf Armor, ordinary First Rank Junior Wizards would probably not be able to harm me unless using Upper Rank or higher Attack Witchcraft, or unless they are prodigies."


    However, in reality, if one could use Upper Rank witchcraft at the First Rank Junior stage, they would already qualify as a prodigy.


    Generally speaking, wizards of the same rank most often use witchcraft of the same rank.


    Restricted by their Rank, even if First Rank Junior Wizards mastered higher-ranked witchcraft, they would still find it difficult to successfully cast it.


    Thus, at least in battles among peers, the once-Limit-Breaking Steel Temperature Resistance Field was sufficient for his current use.


    Moreover, besides the Steel Temperature Resistance Field, he had also Limit Broke his Fireball Skill II to Fireball Technique III.


    As for its power, it hadn''t increased as much as the Steel Temperature Resistance Field... roughly just an ordinary level among the Lower Rank.


    Breaking Limits on both had cost him three thousand Magic Stones... Half of the Magic Stones he had just obtained today were instantly depleted.


    Fortunately, by tomorrow morning, another sum of Magic Stones would be credited to his account.


    The orange-yellow glow gradually faded, and the corpses of the Polluters had been burned to charred remains that would crumble into ash with a touch.


    This was the end of the street, and this was the last Polluter he dealt with.


    Whoosh!


    A gust of wind suddenly came.


    "Is it all cleaned up?"


    Margaret descended from the sky. Although her words were questioning, her tone was confident.


    Staring at the cluster of Polluter''s charred remains that still had some sparks left, Margaret was somewhat surprised.


    She had just finished cleaning the Polluters in the area she was responsible for and had flown nonstop to Colin''s side, intending to quickly deal with any Polluters that Colin had not addressed.


    However, on the way here, she was also checking.


    The area assigned to Colin was not small, and she had thought that Colin would not have finished so swiftly, yet to her surprise, he had already completed it.


    "If there are no surprises, it''s all cleaned up," Colin replied.


    "Um," Margaret nodded and said, "You can go back now."


    At her words, Colin nodded but did not hurry to step away, instead asking,


    "Ms. Margaret, these Polluters, how exactly were they contaminated?"


    It seemed that Colin''s efficiency had pleased Margaret; she paused and then exceptionally gave a brief explanation:


    "Through the servants at home... Wizard Apprentices are not easily contaminated, but those servants who are only Knights are a loophole."


    "Divine Believers lure and entice these ordinary servant people into corruption, then quietly place small amounts of contaminant sources next to wizards. Day by day, this plants the seeds of contamination in the wizards."


    "These... were they only discovered today?" Colin asked, his tone a bit strained.


    "Of course not." Margaret shook her head, "I knew about this half a month ago; as for when it was discovered in the city, it must have been even earlier."


    She then naturally added, "Without allowing it to grow and develop for a while, how could we possibly uproot these remaining Divine Believers completely?"


    Colin fell silent, feeling a shiver of dread in his heart.


    Thankfully, Renee had always heeded his words, rarely lingered outside, and seldom interacted with strangers. She hadn''t been tempted or corrupted...


    Otherwise, his figure might have been among the charred corpses of the Polluters today.


    The Nine Major Schools, high above... they wouldn''t consider the Lower Wizards; their aim was to solve problems thoroughly at the smallest cost.


    If it required the sacrifice of some wizards in the process, the Nine Major Schools...would not hesitate.


    Though many thoughts swirled in his mind, in reality, only a moment had passed since Margaret finished speaking.


    "Thank you for your answer," Colin said.


    "Right, if there''s nothing else, you can leave now," Margaret responded, while taking out a Communication Crystal.


    Colin didn''t linger any longer and prepared to head home.


    Shortly after, as he reached the second intersection,


    Boom!!


    A huge explosion erupted from nearby Lite Street, followed by a voice filled with defiance and anger,


    "Foolish wizards who know not true terror, my master will return!"


    The voice vanished in an instant, leaving only the sounds of intense combat.


    The fluctuating bright lights of the battle reflected on Colin''s furrowed brows.


    He watched as Margaret, a familiar figure he had just been speaking with, soared into the sky towards the location of the battle on Lite Street.


    ...A hint of curiosity arose in his heart.


    After pondering for a moment, Colin ultimately decided to head towards his home.


    He hadn''t taken more than a few steps when he seemed to remember something, causing him to pause briefly.


    ''Another week has passed...''


    Colin felt for the remaining amount of his Magic Power.


    After a moment of thought, an intention crossed his mind, and the ample Magic Power he had was suddenly reduced by a large amount.


    Anando''s Dice activated!


    An imperceptible golden dice descended from the sky, then began spinning rapidly.


    Moments later,


    before Colin, the golden dice slowly settled on a single point.


    ''The luck is somewhat poor...''


    He waved his hand, and the golden dice transformed into a streak of light that shot into his chest and disappeared.


    A location softly emerged in Colin''s heart.


    ''As expected...''


    With a soft sigh, Colin opened his eyes and looked towards Lite Street.


    As he had guessed, the location indicated by the dice was exactly where the intense battle was still unfolding.


    Perhaps his mastery over Anando''s Dice was still low, or maybe it was a flaw in Anando''s Dice itself.


    In any case, he couldn''t control the conditions under which Anando''s Dice sought treasures, what counted as a treasure, whether the treasure had an owner, etc.


    This made using Anando''s Dice in Neustadt City quite ineffective.


    The treasures it pointed out often belonged to someone else. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However... perhaps as progress was made, this aspect might improve.


    Even if it didn''t, he still had the Golden Paper Limit Breaking.


    Thinking this, he abandoned the idea of going to check out the center of the battle on Lite Street.


    While flying home, he opened the Golden Paper.


    The night wind billowed, but it couldn''t scatter the slowly gathering pale golden particles.


    A sheet of Golden Paper, hanging between the real and the surreal, appeared before Colin.


    On it, the progress of Anando''s Dice was prominently at 3 points.


    Regrettably, Anando''s Dice could only be used once a week...


    Advancing it would still take quite some time.

 Chapter 248 - 195: The Grey-Blue Airship

    Explosions, screams of rage, the sound of bricks and tiles shattering and collapsing¡­


    The sounds of battle had resounded nearly all night, only ceasing just before the break of dawn.


    On Holy Rye Street, Colin''s residence.


    Colin slowly walked out of the master bedroom, arrived at the large terrace on the second floor facing Rite Street, and slightly leaned forward, resting on the white stone balustrade of the terrace as a light breeze lifted the hair from his forehead.


    At this moment, the sun had not risen from the ground, yet the world was no longer engulfed in complete darkness.


    Apart from the lights that shone from his location, the flames on the distant Rite Street had not yet dimmed, tinging the sky with a slight reddish glow.


    A while passed.


    At the same time Renee had prepared breakfast and was knocking on his door, a sliver of golden light quietly emerged on the eastern horizon.


    "It''s time to leave," Colin took a deep breath and silently turned around.


    He had packed all his necessary belongings last night, now only needing to have breakfast before setting off to meet at the Yista School''s base.


    Before long.


    As the dawn sky blushed with red, Colin finished his breakfast.


    "Master, have a safe journey."


    At the doorway, Renee, pulling Demi along, wished him well together.


    "Mmm," Colin nodded, without saying much. With a thought, his toes left the ground, hovering slightly.


    The morning breeze fluttered his hair ends, and the rising sun cast a golden rim around him as his gray wizard robe swayed gently.


    "Master."


    Just as he was prepared to fly away, Renee suddenly called out to him as if remembering something.


    Colin turned his head, puzzled.


    Renee fumbled for a moment, then took out a coin purse from her person and handed it to him.


    "What''s this?"


    "It was forcibly given to me by a wizard who visited last night. I wanted to return it to him, but afterward¡­"


    Renee explained the reason.


    As he caressed the gray coin purse in his hand, Colin frowned slightly.


    "Mulan''s Magic Stone?"


    After pondering for a moment, he stored the coin purse in his storage ring.


    He was not so pedantic.


    Mulan was already dead; the coin purse naturally became ownerless¡­ and rightfully his.


    "Take care of the house."


    After doing this, he instructed Renee.


    The next second.


    Whoosh!


    He no longer hesitated, flying swiftly towards the direction of the Yista School.


    Behind him, Renee silently watched Colin recede into the distance.


    Only when he was no longer in sight did she retract her gaze, slowly patting Demi''s head and entering the house with her.


    ¡­


    "Ding-dong¡ª"


    Outside a white house, Colin pressed the doorbell of the small courtyard.


    He had originally planned to head directly to the Yista School, but Renee had given him an unexpected gift, adding a fair amount of Magic Stones to his possession.


    Therefore, he came here to Lillian''s place, intending to repay the Magic Stones he had borrowed.


    "Junior Brother Colin¡­"


    Before long, Lillian stepped out of the house, looking at him in surprise.


    "Good morning, Senior Sister Lillian," Colin spoke, about to state the reason for his visit, but then he heard Lillian ask.


    "Weren''t you at home last night?"


    "I was," Colin shook his head, confused.


    "Did you know about the battle on Rite Street last night?" Lillian was also puzzled,


    "Last night when I went to check on Rite Street, I happened to pass by where you live. I called out a few times with no response, and Nado resisted letting me land, so I left¡­"


    "Were you at home last night?"


    "At that time, a wizard from the Yista School had called me to help, and only the maids were at home. I ordered them to hide well¡­ Perhaps they did not hear your voice," Colin was slightly startled, and hastily explained.


    "I see¡­" Lillian nodded, silent for a moment before asking, "Do you know about last night''s events?"


    Colin nodded.


    "Um," Lillian paused, then advised, "Divine beings are cruel and cunning, you have just advanced recently. When you go to the Southern Sea Domain, you must be careful."


    "Okay."


    "Um¡­ Did you come to see me for something?"


    Colin finally found the opportunity to explain his intention, reaching into his storage ring and handing the Magic Stones to Lillian.


    "Senior Sister Lillian, I''ve come to repay the Magic Stones I borrowed from you."


    Lillian was momentarily taken aback, looking up at him in surprise before accepting the Magic Stones.


    Seeing this, Colin felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest, inexplicably feeling a bit lighter.


    Having no debts is indeed a relief¡­ this truth is unerring.


    After chatting with Lillian for a while, he then hurried off to the Yista School''s base.


    ¡­


    "Lord Colin."


    "Lord Colin¡­"


    Upon arriving opposite the Yista School, many apprentices participating in the Alus Association were already present, and they all greeted him as they saw him arrive.


    Colin nodded in response, moving to the instructor''s location¡­ he was the only one here now.


    The other accompanying wizards had yet to arrive.


    Among the apprentices.


    "Lex, where is Mulan?"


    A short and plump wizard apprentice came to Lex''s side, asking in a low voice.


    "It''s still early, perhaps wait a little longer and they''ll come; don''t worry," Lex reassured him.


    "Mulan isn''t afraid of missing such an important day today?"


    Next to Lex, another wizard apprentice complained as well.


    "Now that you mention it, did you hear that sound last night?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you talking about the voice of the Nois City Lord?" Lex responded instinctively, having just learned this information from his own instructor this morning.


    "So that was the voice of the Nois City Lord¡­" The surrounding apprentices all expressed their amazement, as the Nois City Lord was, without a doubt, a highly unattainable figure to them.

 Chapter 249 - 195 Gray-Blue Airship_2

    "Do you know what happened last night?" another apprentice asked.


    "Last night... Lord Milo!" an apprentice suddenly greeted, respectfully, to someone across.


    Lex turned his head and saw another accompanying First Rank Wizard, Milo, arriving.


    "Lord Milo," he greeted respectfully.


    Milo ignored the apprentices'' greetings, walked calmly to the instructor''s position, and spoke.


    "Good morning, Lord Colin."


    "Good morning," Colin responded.


    The two were not familiar with each other and, after exchanging pleasantries, they fell into silence.


    It was not until the time to depart was near, when Mayer and Sovoc arrived successively, that the atmosphere became less awkward.


    "Do you all know what happened last night?" Mayer asked first.


    "Last night?" Sovoc questioned, "Did something significant happen last night?"


    Although the Silver Ring''s location was in the south side of Neustadt City, just like Litt Street, it was also under the jurisdiction of the Yista School.


    However, if the Yista School''s residence was considered the center, then Litt Street and the Silver Ring residence were at the two farthest segments.


    Last night, although he heard the sounds of battle, by the time it reached the Silver Ring in the north, the noise was not very significant, so he did not pay much attention to it.


    "Lord Mayer, do you have any news?" Milo asked curiously from the side.


    Colin remained silent. Had it not been for his encounter with Margaret last night, a fellow wizard from an affiliated school, he would probably be in the same state of ignorance as Milo and the others.


    "I won''t hide it from everyone," Mayer shook his head and responded, "I am not entirely sure about the specifics of what happened last night."


    He then turned to Colin and added, "I remember that the Tin Saint School''s residence is right in the Hwapei District... Lord Colin, do you know what exactly happened last night?"


    Colin nodded, just as he was about to answer, when a female voice interrupted.


    "There''s no need to guess in the dark. Last night was a secret operation of the Nine Major Schools to raid the Divine Believers, which has successfully concluded and achieved great success!"


    Margaret landed from the sky, creating a gust of white dust.


    She wore a smile, looking somewhat tired yet in an unusually good mood... It was unclear if she had received some benefits last night.


    Then she turned around, surveyed the ring of apprentices standing before her, and slowly began to speak.


    "Among you, some might already know bits and pieces and might have noticed that some apprentices you saw yesterday... haven''t arrived yet."


    "Under normal circumstances, your Schools would have received detailed notices later today, but since you''ll be following me to the airship shortly... At the request of the Schools, let me briefly explain."


    "Firstly, those apprentices who haven''t arrived... well, those unfortunate souls tainted by the Divine, unless something unexpected happened, are likely all dead as of last night."


    As soon as Margaret finished speaking, some apprentices appeared somewhat shocked.


    Although last night''s incident was significant, its range wasn''t very wide ¡ª it was only within the entire Hwapei District, and the voice of the City Lord of Neustadt only covered that area.


    Therefore, aside from the apprentices of the Tin Saint School, the others were not very well-informed.


    However, such information, such a hugely successful secret operation, required stringent confidentiality during and widespread publicity after its completion.


    Especially now, as these apprentices were about to head to the distant southern seas...


    "Lex! Mulan still hasn''t shown up?!"


    The apprentices around Lex looked upset as they inquired.


    "I''m not sure either..." Lex shook his head, feeling a bit uneasy... Could it be as Lady Margaret said, that Mulan is already dead?


    Above, Margaret continued her speech.


    "This time, the believers lurking in the city corresponded with two Divines, the specifics of which should not be circulated... What you need to know is that the Major Schools undertook numerous actions, mostly happening in the Hwapei District..."


    "Regardless, the Divine Believers lurking within Neustadt have all been eliminated, and any conspiracies they secretly plotted have been nipped in the bud..."


    Colin listened attentively to Margaret''s speech... So, the city''s Divine Believers were actually two groups of people?


    But soon, he noted an even more crucial detail ¡ª


    Were all these Divine Believers primarily assembled in the Hwapei District?!


    He knew that the Hwapei District... was indeed the stronghold of the Tin Saint School.


    For some reason, he felt a slight heaviness in his heart.


    "The incident with the Divine Believers'' invasion, as Margaret stated, all the Divine Believers as well as the Polluters have been eradicated,"


    "However, this does not mean that the matter has come to an end,"


    "... usually the Tin Saint School that governs the Huapei District, I''m afraid they cannot avoid being held accountable."


    Colin sighed quietly.


    "Being a member of the School, in a larger sense, his fortunes were tied to the School''s; they thrived or faltered together¡­"


    "However, thankfully this incident did not lead to more severe consequences, so the punishment should not be too harsh,"


    On the other hand, Margaret''s speech was also coming to an end.


    "Over the past hundred years, the Wizard World had been in a temporary calm, with no massive descent of Divine beings."


    "But now, far south in the distant sea, the Divine are sweeping in again, and the reason why the location for this Alus Association meeting has been moved from the Secret Realm to the far southern sea is precisely because of this."


    Margaret''s expression was stern.


    "I won''t say more than necessary, but you must all know that the Divine are the eternal enemies of wizards..."


    Looking around, not one of the Apprentices below had a relaxed expression; although Margaret spoke diplomatically, they all understood¡ª


    "This Alus Association meeting, I''m afraid, will be very different from the previous ones."


    The likelihood of danger to life was far greater than ever before...


    "Follow me."


    Margaret concluded, taking the lead and walking towards the row of carriages outside the door.


    The Yista School''s carriages were parked on the road outside the courtyard, forming a long line.


    Margaret herself got into the very first carriage, which was reserved for her personal use.


    The carriage was a stark grey, cold as lime cement, and the creature pulling the carriage, with a bloodline of Demon Beast, also bore a pure grey coat to match the carriage, complete with two short horns grown from the sides of its head.


    Meanwhile, the four Official Wizards from their affiliated Schools each boarded one of the four carriages prepared for them.


    Once all the Apprentices had boarded the carriages, the one carrying Margaret at the front started moving timely.


    "Go!"


    Hooves in motion, wheels turning.


    Colin gently lifted the grey curtain of the carriage window, looking back.


    The carriages, seemingly cast from the same mold, lined up in a long procession, speeding down the broad road, stirring up thin dust...


    Watching this scene, Colin felt a moment of abstraction and involuntarily thought back to when he had joined the Tin Saint School, those who arrived after these Wandering Wizards, the Official Wizard Apprentices from the affiliated Schools,


    also a convoy of carriages, also in such a manner, wheels rolling, forming a long procession.


    Only, unlike that time, he was no longer a Wandering Wizard Apprentice standing outside observing the carriages...


    The departure spot was in the central square of Neustadt City.


    Perhaps because Margaret''s speech had taken some time, by the time they reached the central square, it was almost filled to the brim with carriages.


    Fortunately, it seemed that areas had been marked off in advance; Margaret''s carriage led them to the far left side of the square.


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    The carriages stopped.


    "Form up in a line here, stand in place, don''t wander around, and wait for my instructions to board the Airship,"


    Margaret commanded the Wizards Apprentices as they dismounted the carriages.


    Colin stood behind Margaret, surveying his surroundings.


    After all, this was his first real encounter with the central square of Neustadt City... Although he had passed it when heading to Copper Rose Street before, he had never entered it.


    Unlike the usually empty central square he had seen on other days, today it was much busier.


    Most captivating of all were the three steel Airships, large and two small, parked in the very center, all in a shade of grey-blue!


    Although he had experienced flying in airplanes in his past life, and once in a steel Airship in this world... it did nothing to stifle his current amazement.


    The size of the Airships was truly astounding, with the largest one almost half the length of the square!


    "Is this the Airship we are going to board..." Colin couldn''t help but marvel.


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